Today we had the appointment at the office of the orthopaedic oncologist . We didn't see Dr Mcgrath , but had a consultation with his assistant , Robyn Rice. She explained to us that there are two immediate areas of concern - in the actual hip socket and also further down the thigh bone. The lesion in the femur measures 2.5x2cms and there is concern that mum is at great risk for a fracture. We will know by Friday if mum will need surgery and assuming she will need surgery, we will also find out what kind of surgery is recommended. She may need a total hip replacement and/or a rod for stabilization . After surgery, she will need to go to a rehab floor of the hospital for physical therapy and then "focal " radiation to zap any other pesky areas. She also suggested that mum uses a cane at all times to reduce pressure on the hip and give her more stability . We drove straight over to a medical supply store and picked one up. Its not exactly "pretty" but it does the job and I certainly feel happier. This is not the time to be "independent" or "stubborn" - mum is very fortunate that she has not had a fracture already given the state of her hip .
