Category — Mumma K Journal

My last update to the site was when we found out that Mumma K had 3 months to live. The good news was that she did indeed see Christmas. However on February 20th 2010 Mumma K sadly breathed her last breathe.

It back in November 2008 when diagnosis was confirmed making it a year and a few months until she passed away. The run up to Christmas 2009 was a stressful one, with Mumma K’s condition deteriorating considerably. Now almost completely completely bed ridden it’s a sad waiting game. Incredibly Mumma K surpassed doctor’s and our own opinion how much longer she had left to live. In the last 2 months she required round the clock supervision. Mumma K had expressed that she did not want to go into a hospice and her wish was granted. Various family members and nurse took shifts to care for her.

The strength to fight the effects of the cancer were incredible. Mumma K basically tried to not sleep (because she thought if she sleeped she’d never wake up). She would sit up in her bed and continuously keep one leg out of the bed with a foot on the floor – a subconscious indicator that she’s not going yet. Even right up to her last day she moved into the lounge – sitting upright fighting against the meds and the cancer to stay alive. Mumma K fought against the palliative drugs throughout the last few weeks, which were even doubled up to try and knock her out – so that she could at least have a normal night’s sleep.

On the final day the whole family had arranged to meet up round there at 6:30pm. A family tea was planned and i was going to make a chilli for everyone. Strangely everyone that was planning to go round turned up late, ourselves included. As we walked through the door about 10 minutes we discovered the horrific yet fateful news that moments earlier Mumma K just breathed her last breathe. Needless to say it was an emotional evening. Having seen my Dad breathe his breathe after having a brain tumour it was something i hoped i’d never see again.

Mumma K’s battle was long yet she always had a friends and family around her right to the end. She was a warm and loving lady which loved living life to the full. She will be missed but never forgotten.

A week or so after her death it was time to have her old bed taken away. Poppa K had purchased many gadgets to help him and one was a wireless doorbell. This meant that Mumma K could get help while Poppa K sat in the conservatory (or should that be sanctuary!). As the removal guys were taking the bed out the doorbell went off – it had been in the left in the kitchen. A confused and shocked Poppa K tried to work out was going on, and then it rang again! The batteries were soon removed after this scary incident. But we like to think that Mumma K was watching down on him and maybe cursing (in a good way) the removal of the bed.

In writing these blog posts i hope that at least one person will think again and attempt to give up smoking for good. It’s not easy but lung cancer is truly a horrible way to go. There are a lot of support lines available as well as aids to help quit.

It’s been quite a while since my last update on Mumma K’s progress. The last update in April was the relatively good news that the radiotherapy had helped shrink the tumour in the affected lung. However it was known that the cancer had already spread quite a bit. One of the things with lung cancer is most people don’t know they’ve got it because the symptoms are undetectable. It was the lump in the neck that spurred on an x-ray which confirmed the worst fears.

There are 4 stages of lung cancer and sadly Mumma K was diagnosed as Stage 3. This late detection being the main reason for the spread. What makes things worse is that 2 years prior to all this Mumma K had issues with her throat, yet even though doctors knew of her smoking, no chest x-ray was done. It’s all too easy to say ‘what if’ but who knows if this was an early sign of problems.

In August Mumma K was started on a relatively new chemotherapy drug called Erlotinib. Tarceva (it’s brand name) is a advanced non small cell lung cancer treatment for people who have already had chemotherapy which is no longer working. It comes with range of side effects, as most chemo treatments do, and it was noticeable after a week or so that the treatment appeared to make Mumma K’s breathing difficult. It was in the last few months that Mumma K was deteriorating substantially with even short walks becoming a struggle. In September we went on a family trip to Whipsnade zoo, which wouldn’t been possible without a wheelchairs and lifts.

A check-up yesterday confirmed our fears and Mumma K was given 3 months to live. Since diagnosis of the cancer back in December 2008 we’ve always remained staunchly positive around her and never allowed her to get down. The only good thing to come out of this news is that she’ll see one more Christmas. So we’re hoping to make this special and also we’re aiming to get her to London Zoo as soon as possible to see her much loved gorillas. Hopefully she’ll be well enough to make the trip as currently her back is in a lot of pain – which means that she’s doped out on Morphine.

I added a Facebook status last night aimed at my friends that smoke. “If you’re a smoker, give up now. If not for yourself, then do it for the people that care about you because they’re the ones that you will hurt most when you’re dying from it”. It’s a harsh statement. I know giving up smoking is a hard thing but if out of all this one person changes their life by giving up(or even giving it damn good shot) i’ll be a happy man.

We have some good news. Mumma K’s radiotherapy has reduced the size of the tumour in her lung. This is absolutely brilliant news and the doctor is very happy with the progress. It’s not over yet but this big step in the right direction.

Mumma K actually found the radiotherapy not as bad as the chemotherapy. It didn’t knock her out as much as chemotherapy however it did badly burn her throat which was big discomfort. Even her passion, chocolate, was hard to swallow!

Also i’m now a married man. The wedding day being a big success with much fun had by all. It was emotional but we always knew it would be. Now the wife and i are off on our honeymoon for 2 weeks. I think the Maldives will help with a much needed chill out

Hello all,

Well it’s been some time now since the bomb shell of the mother in law to be lung cancer diagnosis back in December 08. Read the first post here. It was straight after that that she was on to cutting down on cigarettes. The introduction of Nicorette inhalators is being used as weapon against the craving.

We now know that the cancer is in one lung but has spread to the lymph glands in the neck. This level of spread is known as Stage 3. Read more about the Stages of Lung Cancer here. As you can imagine this isn’t the best news in the world. Mumma K has been on a course of chemotherapy for the last 2 months. This has got her down, she has put on a bit of weight but other than that she’s in a relatively good spirit considering. This is something we want to concentrate on. Being positive is very important in times like this.

Last week we had the first progress report. A CAT scan was taken. Sadly the cancer in the lungs hasn’t reduced but hasn’t got any bigger. Despite no change there will be one more chemotherapy session for the next month. This means that the radiotherapy is definitely going ahead now and it might be brought forward. My wedding has been brought forward specifically to avoid Mumma K’s radiotherapy sessions so i’m not sure what will happen now. I think the doctors will work around the dates otherwise Mumma K won’t be in any fit state! I should know because i saw my poor belated Dad go through radiotherapy and knocks you for six.

Well Mumma K is now down to a few cigarettes a day with the objective to give up completely soon. The Nicorette inhaler has certainly helped.

I’ll keep all updated as to the progress.

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After an urgent family meeting yesterday we were told that my fiance’s Mum has lung cancer. After being rushed around without being told what was wrong i had a hunch it was going to be cancer. It’s so unfair… as my fiance’s Mum’s mum died of old age only a month ago. What a great addition to the turmoil.

Mumma K, as i will calll her on the blog, spotted a lump on her neck around 6 weeks ago, but because of events surrounding her mother decided not to tell us. It was after the lump was found that she had an initial x-ray of her lungs. Sadly a shadow was spotted on one of the lungs. After this a biopsy was booked in for the lump and it was confirmed as cancerous. It’s now a waiting game until further CAT scans are done on Wednesday next week.

I started Final Puff because the new Smoking Ban measures coming into effect in the UK, but it was also so i could vent my anger about fiance’s (who will be known as T from now on) parent’s smoking habits. It was when i started to sleep round on Sunday nights that i was subjected to the smoke chamber. Being an asthmatic meant that i hated it much more. I would open windows and generally irritate both Mamma and Pappa K about their disgusting habit to no avail.

In March, this year, i wrote the post about how to put up with passive smoking. It was also around this time that me and T moved out together to our first rented property. Apart from this being a big step forward in the relationship it was done to save my girlfriend from the smoke!

Despite both being upset we need to remain strong for all. I’m finding it even more upsetting though not just because I know how much Mumma K means to T, but because my Dad died of brain cancer when i was 16 years old. It’s a funny old life isn’t it.

I’ll be using Final Puff as a journal of Mumma K’s progress. Some might think that’s morbid but even if someone reads this and decides to stop smoking then its worth it.

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