That damn disease, CANCER!

[polkanut]

I'm so bummed out, my wife's best friend's brother died 9/4 and was buried today(9/8) from a very aggressive case of lung cancer. He was first diagnosed in mid-July, having felt crummy for about a month. He had quit smoking about 20yrs. ago. And a friend of mine is in the end stages of prostate cancer. It has spread to his spine, lungs, liver, and brain, and who knows where else. He is on a morphine IV 24hrs. a day. He too had quit smoking many years ago. I pray everyday that his suffering will come to an end soon as well. May God be merciful unto them.

 

[ptcruiser51]

You are not alone

My partner was diagnosed with lung cancer 6/98, died in two months - it having spread to his brain. My cousin had same diagnosis and was at death's door; mysteriously went into remission and lived two more years. Even returned to work! It reappeared and she passed quickly.

Where there is life there is hope. Try to convey peace to these friends; sometimes that's all you can do.

God bless.

 

[frigilux]

Tim, you're not alone. I lost a friend to esophageal cancer this summer. On the bright side, more cancers have a greater survival rate when caught early. Catching it early is the key.

 

[nmaineman36]

Interesting thread started here. Today 9/8 /2008 my partner and I found out that he has emphasema...I dont think I am spelling it right but its not an issue...anyways he was also told today that he has a growth on his thyroid. He goes for more tests on Wednesday. To be honest it hit me hard and i couldnt stop crying for an hour or so. Sobbing like my heart was ripped out thinking that I could lose him. And all i could think of was he has to get his Will updated and I was thinking who would take care of him if I should go first. Then came the cats and who would take care of them and where will they go. I know pathetic eh but the things running thru my mind was unreal. And thats not like me.
So tonight we went out and told a few close friends of ours what we found out and of course you get the smart ass ones saying.."oh your a great pair now...one has a heart attack and the other will need a tank of oxygen" or "when are you going to get your Scooter store scooter?" So I kinda saw the humor in it but knowing we will get thru this like everything else we have gone thru.
Life is so precious and short because lets face it when your dead thats for a long time. And I dont plan on taking a dirt nap anytime soon.

 

[frigilux]

That's a lot of news to process in one fell swoop, Mike. It's also normal for a million thoughts to race through your mind, although you don't want to let them get the best of you.

Write each of your concerns down on paper as a 'heading', so that when you think of ideas, or solutions, or make decisions about them, you can write them down underneath the heading and check off that particular concern. It's a psychological trick to help ease your mind. Keep it by your bed, so if you awake during the night with worry, you can access it.

Although it may feel uncomfortable to think about updating wills, etc., it's a good thing to do, and it will be a load off your mind.

 

[peterh770]

Mom had her Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer almost 2 years ago now. She's going in for her PET scan the first week of October and is scared she is going to get bad news. I say, she has already beaten the odds, why should it be bad? You can't tell her anything...

But, pancreatic is nasty and you never know with that one. We're just thankful for every day with her now...

 

[polkanut]

I agree totally with Eugene. My wife and I have even gone so far as to pre-arrange things at the funeral home. I know it sounds morbid, but your family will be grateful when the time comes, and come it does for us all. We have our burial plots too, with her parents.

 

[twinniefan]

Cancer

Tim, you are right about this terrible disease cancer,every member of my family who has died, has died from differnet types of cancers with the exception of my mother, she had a stroke had during heart surgery.
I was with my father on his last day in hospital with prostate cancer, and it was terrible watching him just writhing in pain despite large doses of morphine, and when he finally went, I did not know wether to feel relief that his suffering was over,or feel cheated that my dad was taken from me.
I did finally realise that it was probably better that dad went and was not suffering any longer,however it does leave a big hole in one's heart for a very long time.
I hope you find the strength to carry on and that your pain does not last too long.
All the best.
Steve.

 

[irishwashguy]

Oh my, i don't know what to say.

i had a friend that was diagnosed with the big "C' and died two days later on 08/07/2008 at the age of 44. My Gram has overian cancer for the fourth time and is hanging in there. I have a great family, Aunt Sharron is looking after her.She is having a hard time with the cemo, sorry, I am going to cry. .....It is hard to think about someone you Love having to go though it. I see my Gram and tell her jokes, to take her mind off of it., as well as it helps me and the rest of my family deal with it. My other Gram died six years ago on 03/19/2002 of a metastisized cancer that had started in her upper back . They took it out, but it had spread all over her little frame especially her stomach., she was only 5 feet tall, and sharp till the end. I am sorry, this is tough to think about. I am with you guys, my Grandma Chris made it to her 90th birthday, and like my other Gram, had an amazing attitude. It is still hard when you Love and care about someone. I am glad that she is not in pain anymore.

 

[toploader55]

My Sister...

Was a Figure Skating Instructor her whole life. Never smoked a cigarette in her life. Diagnosed with Colon Cancer,had an Operation, died a year later. Since then, I have been doing some research on the internet. Germany treats cancer by raising the body temperature for an extended period of time. Cancer does not like heat. That is one of the methods they use. Also check out the story of Harry Hoxie. Very Interesting.A Doctor from Italy is now treating Cancer like a fungus. Go to mercola.com and check it out. These are my opinions and personal thoughts:
I believe that the entire health system in this country are totally set up for profit.I really think BigPharma, the AMA,and the others in the "Club" give a Rat's Ass about anyone until it is directly effects their personal family members.Chemo is toxic and poison. And Radiation destroys the Immune System. I do know by a stroke of luck this has helped helped certain types of cancer.It certainly did not work for my sister.It's a matter of MORE MONEY.Having HIV for 27 years and never going on any meds for it,proves to me that through Nutritional Suppliments, a Good Diet, and an Herbal Tincture,people are too quick to follow the Dr's Orders.I truly believe in Alternative Medicine. I also go to Accupuncture for Immune System Boosts. If I someday do not feel like I'm firing on all 8s,I'll take a whole day and rest. I am in the Restaurant Buisness and I am Very Active all day. My Counts are good and I feel fine. I have never had a Pneumonia,Flu, or Hep Vaccinations because I don't believe in taxing an already impaired immune system. I have not had a cold or the flu in years.And also more and more information on vaccines are proving how toxic they really are. I had a patch of psoriasis (sp?) on my scalp for 12 years. I was using Selsun Blue and a topical cream. I finally stopped it all and bought a bar of Tom's of Maine Calandula Soap and started wshing my hair with that. Two weeks later, it cleared up.
I did not mean to get so off track, but I get very Angry when I hear about people dieing way before their time.
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone here.I am very grateful for finding such a nice group of people.
Eddie

 

[panthera]

I am very sorry to hear

of all these very sad situations. My fingers are crossed for all of you caught up in these problems.
I wouldn't place too much faith in the German and European cancer treatments. Yes, we have better treatment and recovery rates than in the US, but that has less to do with a more advanced technology than with a decent health care system for all.
I lost both of my grandfathers to lung cancer and it is a tough one to face. My partner and I have an armed truce on the subject of smoking, it is one of my greatest fears.
What I do not understand about care in the US is the stinginess on using effective palliative and ameliorative treatment. If you know someone is going to die of cancer, then for heaven's sake, give them the opiates and steroids and other help to make their last days pain-free. It took decades for medicine to win those concessions from the government in Germany, but now people dying can at least die without the incredible pain.

 

[joeinfl]

My thoughts are with all of you. I lost 3 of my Grandparents to Cancer and know how hopeless and helpless it can feel. I also used to work in a cancer center here in Florida (in IT) and saw patients all the time when I had to work in the hospital or one of the clinics. It's a terrifying thing. I always have that worry whenever I go to the doctor since it's in my family. Keep positive thoughts and if you want to chat just email me, I'm only a phone call away as I'm sure most of the members here feel. We're all family, here to help and support one another as best we can whenever needed.

 

[retro-man]

I can't tell you how much I hate this disease. I have lost way too many friends and family members to this. I don't think we will ever find a cure for this. The reason I say this is because if we take care of ourselves, eat right but who is to say what is right, take everything in moderation, well almost everything, and we live to a ripe old age of 100, guess what is going to end it for you. It is either going to be a form of cancer or a form of heart disease. These are the two final things that are going to get all of us. No way out folks. Have worked in medical for many years have spoken to so many doctors and professors and they all agree. I hate being a realist but those are the cards we are dealt with as human beings and I for one and NOT happy about it. You just feel so helpless watching a loved one going thru so much and declining in front of you. Faith and good friends and family will get us all thru these trials of life.
Jon

 

[perc-o-prince]

I pray everyday that his suffering will come to an end soon

Don't underestimate the power of prayer. In Rich's case, his body was not used to alcohol or drugs, so we expected a lot worse reaction to the poison (chemo). When it was all done, and we saw the oncologist, Rich mentioned that it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, and maybe that had something to do with it possibly being a pretty base dose of chemo?? Nope, she said. The treatment he got was one of the most harsh combos they administer!

But, he had a LOT of people praying for him (not to mention the mountains of prayers he said himself), including some he had never met like the parents of some of the kids I drive. I'm sure that made the difference.

Best wishes, and hopefully whatever the best is for your friend happens soon.

Chuck

 

[polkanut]

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement, it means more than mere words can express!

 

[perc-o-prince]

IMHO:

This thread needs to be brought to the top more than any other I've seen recently.

Chuck

 

[polkanut]

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[variomatic]

My mother got her diagnosis on July, 10th. She came home, when I was ironing some sheets and then I went down to ask what´s wrong (we knew before, that there´s something wrong, but we didn´t know what it was). So she told me, she had breast cancer. I was quite shocked and couldn´t do anything different as to cry. The following days were very hard for me and my mum. Some weeks later, my mum started her "chemotherapy" which made her loose all her hair, which of course is very hard to a woman. But now she´s wearing a wig and so it´s okay to her. Last week, she got her third (of 6) chemotherapys and the doctors also checked the tumors and they were almost disappeared. I think we will fight the cancer and I hope my mum and I will get back our lifes that we had before. It sometimes is very hard because my mum does not feel well and she also thinks she will die soon, which hurts me a lot. But anyway I help her a lot and i always try to be funny to improve her mood.

 

[retro-man]

You are a wonderful person and son. She is proud of you I am sure. I have to look but I know I have it somewhere on another computer. I got an email the other day about cancer and what you can do to help eliminate it from your body. It made perfect sense when reading it. I remember a few of the points. No red meat. Getting your body to an alykaline state instead of accidict thru diet. I will find it and post it tomorrow. I think everyone will get something out of it.
Jon