Erin saw Dr. Adams, her oncologist, today. He said that she is holding her own. He didn’t recommend an MRI. He said that it would just show that the tumor was growing and would be discouraging.
I mentioned that Erin has had tension headaches originating at the back of the neck. He said that they are due to her friend, decadron, the steroid that she needs to take to reduce swelling in the brain. He says that the decadron causes a layer of fat at the back of the neck between the shoulders. The fat accumulation is called “buffalo hump”. She has iatrogenic Cushing’s disease. Iatro = doctor, genic = cause or origin. So, it is a doctor induced form of Cushing’s disease, due to the cortisone medicine the doctor prescribed.
Dr, Adams said that the steroid puts on weight around the middle and there is a thinning of fat in the arms and legs. I read that the disease also causes the reddish purple striations that she has around the middle because the steroid has caused a stretching and thinning of skin.
The decadron could also have changed the shape of her eyes and caused the change in prescription for glasses.
Dr. Adams said that Erin can’t control when she will die. He cautioned her to resist the temptation to control the future and to focus on her quality of life with her kids.
Barbara
Mar 24, 2012 @ 11:06:04
Dr. Adams sounds like a wise man. He has good insights and his explanations make it a little easier to understand Erin’s problems. When I read the blog I get the impression that all of you are trying to make life as good as it can be.- friends and relatives alike.
Today I am finally going to be singing in the chorale Brahms concert. We are so big that now we are just trying to find a good place to see the conductor.
Wish me luck.
Barb
Mar 24, 2012 @ 12:04:03
Erin, how do you react to Dr Adams cautions? It must be very difficult to”live in the moment” Wisdom is hard!
Mar 26, 2012 @ 14:23:28
Barbara, Thank you for all your posts, as difficult as some (many?) of them must be. My thoughts are very often with you, Erin, Steve, the boys, and your whole community of loved ones and caregivers. Please give Erin a hug for me and tell her I hope to see her soon!