Mom at Shands, 19 Oct

Dear Family, The attending physican, Dr. Mooradian and the residents, including Dr. Seeram, met with Dad, Lang, Hong, Keeng and me during rounds this morning. The cytology report is final and the diagnosis is stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. It is inoperable. A consult with an oncologist is being arranged, but any chemotherapy that might be indicated would be pallative only. A procedure is being done that should help keep the fluids from reaccumulating. Basically, a substance (in Grandma's case, talcum powder) is being inserted in her pleura to thicken the tissues so that it is difficult for the cancerous nodules to continue to draw water from surrounding areas. This should prevent fluid from reaccumulating in her lungs for a while. To have this done, though, requires an entry point larger than a pigtail catheter can provide, so a chest tube is being inserted. The talcum powder will be put in after the chest tube has drained the extraneous fluid currently present. The idea is that the chest tube will be uncomfortable for Grandma in the short-term, but the lack of reaccumulation of fluid in the lungs will keep her more comfortable for a longer period of time. Also, the chest tube could be removed after the talcum powder procedure, while a pigtail catheter would be permanent, which involves risk of infection. I will continue to send updates when there is news to report. I am very sorry to have to share this sad news with everyone. Megan