Cancer Support Tips Wanted for frightened Disabled Girl

 Happy holidays & blessings to all! .

  My disabled 32yo daughter has been recently diagnosed with sarcoma, an uncommon but threatening cancer. The large tumor is in her left leg & is scheduled for removal (along with adjacent muscle tissue of 1 in all around) on New Year's Eve, in a hospital 200 miles from home. She is TERRIFIED as the needle biopsy was painful and cancer is such a scary subject in general.

   She has left brain injury which causes severe speech impediment & some confusion, as well as lack of gross motor skills which makes it more important than average that she keep the leg (some sample lymph nodes will be removed as well & if there is lymph involvement, the leg will have to go) since using a prothesis will be unusually difficult for her.

    Her social age is 12-13 but her post-encephalitis is causing confusion. In fact, I was planning to make a neurology appt when she felt a sharp pain on a Sunday in Oct with a sudden lump appearing the following day. I dont know if this confusion is somehow related to the cancer. She had a gall bladder removal in 2010 & handled the surgery well; I dont think she realizes that chemo may cause her to lose her waistlength hair.

    She HATES to be away from her 15yo calico cat, Christy. Christy's vet check included a body shave as we couldnt keep up with the fur mats - they found a tumor on Christy's left leg, in the same area as on my daughter. The vet doesnt want to biopsy cuz there's a strong chance it's SARCOMA  And I already assured my daughter that if she is away from home for more than a week, I will somehow rent a motel room & return home & bring Christy.

    Because of the speech problem, my daughter has virtually no friends except her cat. Her cat was priceless in helping her manage post-op gall bladder pain. Yet the stress of the cat traveling 200 miles at her age is not recommended.

    Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions??? I am so close to the situation, I am doubting my judgements

Not sure what you are asking us for here. But I do want to say I am sorry you and your daughter and facing this. I have a daughter who has had three bouts with cancer. I understand. I hope that the surgery can be done and your daughter will be okay and still have her leg. Prayers going out for your family.

Maybe it would be helpful if you discussed your concerns with a social worker at the hospital where the surgery is scheduled? Sending lots of good luck vibes to your daughter.

Most hospitals have "pet volunteers."  Typically the pet is a well trained, docile, dog that goes around with it's owner to visit patients.  You could ask if they have such a program and ask that the dog be brought in to visit your daughter.

I doubt very much that the hospital would permit you to bring your cat to visit her in the hospital because cats can be unpredictable and typically freak out in new environments.  An alternative would be to take home videos of her and the cat prior to her going to the hospital, and showing them to her while she is in the hospital.

Lots of vibes coming to you and your daughter!

I'm sorry I have no suggestions for you but I am sending best wishes to your daughter and hope all goes well.

You will all be in my prayers, including Christy.  If the hospital allows for pictures in the room, I would take some framed snapshots of Christy and put them where your daughter can see.  I agree with the suggestion of talking to a hospital social worker regarding the situation.  IMHO, hospital social workers are a blessing, at least the ones were that my family spoke with when a loved one was sick.  Please keep us updated on your daughter.     

Thank you for your kind suggestions & especially for the prayers and vibes. I will ask the hospital if I can speak to a social services worker & see if they allow pix. As far as I know, my daughter is expected to be in hospital for 2 days & then, it will depend on how soon the results of testing the tumor come back before we begin either a chemo-only or a chemo/radiation therapy.

   AS for her cat, I will need to keep a close eye on that situation since I don't want to neglect her because of this.

I don't ahve any suggestions, but I am certainly sending along some vibes!

Thank you all for your prayers and vibes! the tumor had calcified, forming a capsule around the abnormal cells. Tomorrow we return for her staples to be removed (hopefully) and get a final pathology report-I am praying that there was nothing found outside the calcification area, otherwise, things will get complicated - the calcification has formed on one wall of the artery, so in addition to c-treatments, a vascular surgeon will have to work on her as well. But we are thinking positive!!! And Christy, true cat hero, spends her days snuggled with her "meowmmy!"

that the results are good!

:cross: that it went well!