My mom has recurrent UTIs.

Posted by angierivas1 @angierivas1, 6 days ago

My mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2018 after experiencing postmenopausal bleeding in her late 60s. She underwent a complete hysterectomy and was staged 1B. Following the surgery, she had several sessions of radiation therapy.
A couple of months later, she began complaining of extreme pain in her coccyx. Her oncologist attributed the pain to arthritis and suggested that she use a patch for back pain. However, in December, I took her to the emergency room because she was in so much pain that she was crying. A CT scan revealed a large tumor in her coccyx, and the oncologist informed us that she was now stage 4 and would require additional radiation.
Mom was doing so poorly that we feared for her life, so we transferred her care to City of Hope. She began treatment with Keytruda and experienced significant improvement. Now, years later, her kidney and liver test levels have not been good, but her tumor has remained stable, which led her current oncologist to give her a break from treatment, stating that she was stable.
Since December 2024, she has been experiencing recurrent UTIs, with intense burning and pain when urinating.
Her primary doctor has been prescribing antibiotics and some vaginal cream since she may be experiencing dryness.
Recently, my mom noticed some pink discharge, which caused her to panic and worry, and we are all concerned.
The hospital where her oncologist practices is aware of this, and she has been asked to undergo a CT scan immediately.
I feel so guilty because, all this time, she hasn't had a pelvic exam, and I overlooked requesting one for her.
Although I'm grateful for all these years she has been with us, I can't help but wonder if she was misdiagnosed and was more advanced on the cancer than what they told us. Perhaps then she could have better treatment and could be cancer-free.
This cancer journey is so emotional, painful, and sad, 😔

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@naturegirl5

@angierivas1 It's reassuring your mother continues at City of Hope with her same oncologist and that she feels comfortable with him. Hopefully when she sees her oncologist they can talk together about the vaginal cream and whether or not to continue with that. Also, hoping that the City of Hope gynecologist sees your mother soon.

As I look back at my own cancer journey I also think of what I could have done differently. I wish I had gone to Mayo Clinic at the onset of the vaginal bleeding instead of the local gynecologist. But we cannot change what's already happened in the past. We can try to make our choices now and in the future based on what we've already experienced. Isn't this how you knew to get your mother to be seen right away because of your own cancer journey and that of your younger sister?

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This morning, I received a call from City of Hope, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they accommodated my mom. Although her oncologist is fully booked until June, they were able to schedule her preferred appointments in a short time. She is set to be seen this Thursday. I’m very grateful!

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@angierivas1

This morning, I received a call from City of Hope, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly they accommodated my mom. Although her oncologist is fully booked until June, they were able to schedule her preferred appointments in a short time. She is set to be seen this Thursday. I’m very grateful!

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@angieivas1 This is good news that you mom's oncologist will see her this week. Will you come back here and let me know what her oncologist advises?

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