Medical Update 3

Friday 7th October

Ambulance transfer, 7.30 am to Auckland Hospital.
admitted to acute oncology.
New Blood tests, saw doctor quickly and explained that the only reason they agreed to see Jen is because of mystery of the primary site and that the secondary site is being so aggressive.
Doc gave no hope, but said they wanted to investigate anyway, Jen not suitable for chemo, but started steroids.
Lunchtime transferred to Ward 63 in afternoon seen by on of the top NZ oncologists, he was very sobering.
He said to get Jens affairs in place this weekend, it could be all she had. They don't know though, it could be a few months.
Really nice doctor, said other factors come into play; The will to live and belief structure. He said Jen was too sick for chemo, it would kill her, also said would take time for the doctors to sort out what was going on, usually that is all established before they admit anyone to oncology dept. But since Jens case is proving to be a mystery , they let her come. He said there is a slight possibility that there are two types of cancer, but if you have squamous cell carcinoma in secondary site, likely to have it in primary site.
But the problem is they can not test for it because the test for lung cancer is barbaric and in Jen's weak state she would not survive. (they put a tube down the throat, under local anesthetic and punch through the lung for a biopsy) The doctor has seen from the CT and Xray that Jen has enlarged lymph nodes running up and down wind pipe so at this stage they are not doing a biopsy.
He said meetings after Gynecology exam on Monday and to rest over weekend and try and get a bit stronger, steroids have been helping and not so nauseous but still on medication for it. Jen is managing to walk with anti blood clot stockings on (cancer can cause clotting)
Moved to Ward 64, oncology ward. Room with nice ladies by window.

Sat 8th & Sun 9th October

No medical staff on in the weekend, feeling a bit stronger, still coughing allot, like a smokers cough but has never smoked a day in her life! Jen coughs and gets breathless when talking but is feeling OK.