After our wonderful weekend as sisters, Valerie began not feeling well. Diane left on June 15 and on June 16, Val made a trip to the emergency room. The CT scan showed a growth on her liver and so on June 18, Valerie had a liver biopsy. On Monday, June 22, Valerie was told that the mass on the liver was cancerous. First they got the phone call from the Dr. in the morning which told them about the cancer and then they went to a Dr. appointment later in the day. The Dr. told she and Greg that he believes the cancer did not originate in the liver but has moved there from another source. (How they can tell that is beyond me.) I have to assume that they can tell some of these things from the biopsy. The next step is to try to determine where the cancer is, other than the liver. Today they are doing an endoscopy which is a scope that goes down through the mouth and looks around. Tomorrow they will do a detailed MRI to try to gather more information. The Dr. believes that the cancer is in the intestines, or pancreas or stomach. They have to gather more information before they know the treatment and the prognosis.
Sylvia went to the appointment on June 23 with them because Valerie knew she wouldn’t understand it all. When I talked to Sylvia last night, she said when the Dr. told them the news, every bit of color drained from Valerie. Sylvia thought she was going to pass out at first. They had to have her lie down because she was so shocked. Sylvia said that Greg and Val had not even entertained the thought that it could be this serious. She has told her children and they are having a hard time. I can only imagine!! The endoscopy did not fine any cancer in the stomach or upper intestimes.
On June 24, she had an MRI and on June 25 she had a colonoscopy. I talked to her on Wednesday, June 24 and it was so good to hear her voice. She sounded weak but is trying to stay optimistic. On Thursday, June 25, Valerie was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma. It is cancer of the bile ducts. There are only 1-2 cases per 100,000 in theWestern world. On Friday, June 26, she will have an appointment with the oncologist to get all the results and determine the course of action. Linda and I plan on going over to see Val on Saturday.
As family and sisters, we are all in shock. It was just a little over a week ago that we were all together as sisters and had a great time. I can’t even begin to put my thoughts into words. Craig and I have talked about how fast life can change. It also forces me to put things into perspective. Family is everything! My children and my grandchildren mean the world to me. Please remember Valerie and Greg in your prayers. She is going to need a lot of positive thoughts and a lot of prayer. I love you all.
Sylvia went to the appointment on June 23 with them because Valerie knew she wouldn’t understand it all. When I talked to Sylvia last night, she said when the Dr. told them the news, every bit of color drained from Valerie. Sylvia thought she was going to pass out at first. They had to have her lie down because she was so shocked. Sylvia said that Greg and Val had not even entertained the thought that it could be this serious. She has told her children and they are having a hard time. I can only imagine!! The endoscopy did not fine any cancer in the stomach or upper intestimes.
On June 24, she had an MRI and on June 25 she had a colonoscopy. I talked to her on Wednesday, June 24 and it was so good to hear her voice. She sounded weak but is trying to stay optimistic. On Thursday, June 25, Valerie was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma. It is cancer of the bile ducts. There are only 1-2 cases per 100,000 in theWestern world. On Friday, June 26, she will have an appointment with the oncologist to get all the results and determine the course of action. Linda and I plan on going over to see Val on Saturday.
As family and sisters, we are all in shock. It was just a little over a week ago that we were all together as sisters and had a great time. I can’t even begin to put my thoughts into words. Craig and I have talked about how fast life can change. It also forces me to put things into perspective. Family is everything! My children and my grandchildren mean the world to me. Please remember Valerie and Greg in your prayers. She is going to need a lot of positive thoughts and a lot of prayer. I love you all.
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