Cancer Sucks

[Irish Houstonian]

That's terrible man. FYI, if it's an option, here in Houston everyone raves about the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center -- supposed to be the best in the world.

I was thinking -- how do people discover their cancer? I mean, it's not like I go to the doctor a lot...Is there something we all should be doing regularly? Or do most people just have a pain or lump long enough that eventually they get it checked out?

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Fellow IE members, let me tell you that cancer sucks. As some of you may have read from a post I had put up back a couple of months ago, one of my brothers in law had been diagnosed w cancer. He continues to battle it every day and I truly believe (as does he) that he will beat it. We have in fact made a pact to ride the Trek Across Maine again next summer as a way to celebrate his victory.

To go along with this, my step daughters father is battling brain cancer, and he will soon be going into hospice care. Needless to say, my step daughter is devastated. This is not the whole reason I write this post tonight.

At 4:00 this afternoon, I received a call from my younger brother. It was a call I hope none of you ever have to receive. He was letting me know that my next oldest brother (18 months older than me) was diagnosed today w pancreatic cancer. It has already spread to one of his lungs. He has been suffering in pain for a few months but hadn't been to a doctor until last week, when he went in and had some blood work. Results looked ok, but doctor said she needed a CT Scan to figure out what the mass was in his abdomine. Now we know. The initial prognosis is grim.

Tomorrow I'll take him and my mother to the hospital to meet w an oncologist. It doesn't sound good. At this point in time my wife, my stepdaughter and myself all have blood relatives that are battling cancer. This disease sucks. Please say a prayer for my brother, my brother in law and my stepdaughters father. We need some miracles. God Bless all of you and God Bless my family.

I'm so sorry. I will keep your family in my prayers. God bless you.

 

[Irish#1]

That's terrible man. FYI, if it's an option, here in Houston everyone raves about the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center -- supposed to be the best in the world.

I was thinking -- how do people discover their cancer? I mean, it's not like I go to the doctor a lot...Is there something we all should be doing regularly? Or do most people just have a pain or lump long enough that eventually they get it checked out?

You find out in many different ways. A lot depends on the type of cancer. My mom kept having severe pains. Doctors didn't know what it was until the did exploratory surgery and saw it. By then it was too late. My daughter had a mammogram that showed nothing. A week later she felt a small lump. Found out she was already on Stage 2 of breast cancer. Mine was found via PSA blood test. Some have lower back pain.

A little fatherly advice to all you guys. If you're 40 or older you better be getting a PSA done annually. If you don't I will personally come to your house and kick your ***.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Feeling a little feisty tonight?

 

[dre1919]

Yes brother, cancer does suck. I have an oligodendroglioma (brain tumor) myself so I know firsthand. I'm 36 now and was diagnosed at 30, and like your brother-in-law, I am extremely confident I will outlast it. I was very fortunate...my treatment characteristics are extremely good, so say KUMED and The Mayo Clinic. I have a 3% cellular division rate (whereas 10% or lower makes them ecstatic) and the chromosomes 1P and 19Q which make me more susceptible to treatment. The Lord sent his swiftest and best Angels when that was determined to be the case, believe me.

Today, I take four capsules of chemo a month (all at once), and in fact, am about to take mine for this month tonight in a few minutes. The key for me is loving life and my family. I sympathize for you and will certainly say a prayer for you and yours my friend. We just gotta hold the fort until science catches up and overtakes this ****.

I'm sorry to hear of all the encounters with this crap you've had and wish you and yours a speedy and full recovery. God bless.

 

[Irish#1]

Yes brother, cancer does suck. I have an oligodendroglioma (brain tumor) myself so I know firsthand. I'm 36 now and was diagnosed at 30, and like your brother-in-law, I am extremely confident I will outlast it. I was very fortunate...my treatment characteristics are extremely good, so say KUMED and The Mayo Clinic. I have a 3% cellular division rate (whereas 10% or lower makes them ecstatic) and the chromosomes 1P and 19Q which make me more susceptible to treatment. The Lord sent his swiftest and best Angels when that was determined to be the case, believe me.

Today, I take four capsules of chemo a month (all at once), and in fact, am about to take mine for this month tonight in a few minutes. The key for me is loving life and my family. I sympathize for you and will certainly say a prayer for you and yours my friend. We just gotta hold the fort until science catches up and overtakes this ****.

I'm sorry to hear of all the encounters with this crap you've had and wish you and yours a speedy and full recovery. God bless.

Glad to hear you're doing well. You'll be in my prayers as well.

 

[Irish#1]

Feeling a little feisty tonight?

Probably. lol

 

[JughedJones]

My thoughts are with you and your family Me2SouthBend.

Stay strong man.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, PM's and other kind considerations, it has certainly been helpful over these last few days. Friday my stepdaughters father was moved to hospice and today he is struggling mightily. My wife has taken her to be with him for likely the last time in this form. She is devastated to say the least.

My brother will have further tests next week and a course of action if any will be given from there. He has been prescribed meds to ease his constant pain. It is hard to see.

My brother in law started his radiation and is doing his best to support his niece, his sister and me. He just sent me a link to an article which I will post below, it's worth the time to read. Needless to say he is a source of strength and motivation even during his own battle.

God Bless.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/opinion/dowd-why-god.html?_r=0

 

[Rocky2820]

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, PM's and other kind considerations, it has certainly been helpful over these last few days. Friday my stepdaughters father was moved to hospice and today he is struggling mightily. My wife has taken her to be with him for likely the last time in this form. She is devastated to say the least.

My brother will have further tests next week and a course of action if any will be given from there. He has been prescribed meds to ease his constant pain. It is hard to see.

My brother in law started his radiation and is doing his best to support his niece, his sister and me. He just sent me a link to an article which I will post below, it's worth the time to read. Needless to say he is a source of strength and motivation even during his own battle.

God Bless.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/opinion/dowd-why-god.html?_r=0

Thoughts and prayers continue to be sent your way, for you and for your whole family. God bless!

And thanks for sharing the link. I especially found the last three sentences poignant: "What I do know is that an unconditionally loving presence soothes broken hearts, binds up wounds, and renews us in life. This is a gift that we can all give, particularly to the suffering. When this gift is given, God’s love is present and Christmas happens daily."

 

[Jackalope1977]

I don't know what else to do guys. One of my best buddies in the world has been battling cancer for two years. I honestly believed he was going to beat it. He was a healthy 33 year old man when he got diagnosed. He is now on hospice care and his wife just told me I won't be talking to him again. I'm rapidly going through the stages of grief. But mostly I'm pissed. He was young and healthy, he always said he was going to beat it, he pounded through 38 rounds of chemo and experimental treatments and he was tough through all of it. I don't know what else to say guys. I'm super sad and super pissed. Please keep him (Adam) and his wife Jen in your thoughts and prayers.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Praying now

 

[Jackalope1977]

Praying now

Thank you. I'm sorry to even put this on here. Nobody wants to talk about cancer. I just wish I could do something.

 

[bkess8]

Prayers your way!

Fuck cancer!

 

[pkt77242]

I don't know what else to do guys. One of my best buddies in the world has been battling cancer for two years. I honestly believed he was going to beat it. He was a healthy 33 year old man when he got diagnosed. He is now on hospice care and his wife just told me I won't be talking to him again. I'm rapidly going through the stages of grief. But mostly I'm pissed. He was young and healthy, he always said he was going to beat it, he pounded through 38 rounds of chemo and experimental treatments and he was tough through all of it. I don't know what else to say guys. I'm super sad and super pissed. Please keep him (Adam) and his wife Jen in your thoughts and prayers.

Thoughts and prayers.

Thank you. I'm sorry to even put this on here. Nobody wants to talk about cancer. I just wish I could do something.

It is good and healthy to talk about it, it will help you to work through your grief.

 

[Bluto]

I don't know what else to do guys. One of my best buddies in the world has been battling cancer for two years. I honestly believed he was going to beat it. He was a healthy 33 year old man when he got diagnosed. He is now on hospice care and his wife just told me I won't be talking to him again. I'm rapidly going through the stages of grief. But mostly I'm pissed. He was young and healthy, he always said he was going to beat it, he pounded through 38 rounds of chemo and experimental treatments and he was tough through all of it. I don't know what else to say guys. I'm super sad and super pissed. Please keep him (Adam) and his wife Jen in your thoughts and prayers.

Will do. Take care.

 

[Redbar]

Stay strong man, and God Bless you all.

 

[irishff1014]

I don't know what else to do guys. One of my best buddies in the world has been battling cancer for two years. I honestly believed he was going to beat it. He was a healthy 33 year old man when he got diagnosed. He is now on hospice care and his wife just told me I won't be talking to him again. I'm rapidly going through the stages of grief. But mostly I'm pissed. He was young and healthy, he always said he was going to beat it, he pounded through 38 rounds of chemo and experimental treatments and he was tough through all of it. I don't know what else to say guys. I'm super sad and super pissed. Please keep him (Adam) and his wife Jen in your thoughts and prayers.

Terrible news about your buddy. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your buddies family.

 

[Jackalope1977]

Thank you all.

 

[ginman]

Thank you. I'm sorry to even put this on here. Nobody wants to talk about cancer. I just wish I could do something.

Thoughts and prayers for you and his family! If anyone wants to help, consider donating to cancer research! My daughter was diagnosed 5 yrs ago at age 2.5. She has benefitted greatly from experimental treatments (immunotherapy), which have progressed greatly in the last 10 years, and have improved both quality and quantity of life for millions of people. I cannot imagine where my family would be today without the research $.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Prayers to you Jackalope.

 

[kmoose]

Thank you. I'm sorry to even put this on here. Nobody wants to talk about cancer. I just wish I could do something.

God Bless you and your friend. But there is something you can do: Don't lament his death, but celebrate his life. Cancer may claim his body, but his soul and his spirit can remain alive, if you allow them to.

 

[Kingbish01]

My father was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer 90 days ago, and it had also spread to his lungs. He had his left kidney removed 4/24 and just now as I type this, he is wrapping up is first treatment at the Cleveland Clinic...So ya, cancer fucking blows!

 

[Irish#1]

My father was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer 90 days ago, and it had also spread to his lungs. He had his left kidney removed 4/24 and just now as I type this, he is wrapping up is first treatment at the Cleveland Clinic...So ya, cancer fucking blows!

Prayers for your dad, you and the family as well. God Bless.

 

[Bishop2b5]

I guess cancer strikes almost every family at some time. Hell of a thing. Last Friday my wife was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. Thankfully it was caught while it's still stage 1 and her prognosis is good, but we're still facing a double mastectomy in a couple of weeks and the whole thing is scary.

As a side note, don't just rely on a mammogram. My wife's annual mammogram from 2 weeks ago detected nothing. Because she's high risk (BRCA1 gene and both her mom & older sister have had breast cancer twice), her doctor sent her for an MRI as a precaution. It found two suspicious spots. A biopsy on Thursday confirmed it.

If your wife, sisters, or daughters are high risk, don't just rely on a mammogram. Encourage them to get an MRI too. Be sure.

 

[Big23Head]

This is one of the Scout reporters, his daughter was just diagnosed with an inoperable brain cancer

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The most difficult piece I've ever had to write is this one right here... <a href="http://t.co/udnjur6RP6">http://t.co/udnjur6RP6</a> <a href="http://t.co/o6MzNPgn5A">pic.twitter.com/o6MzNPgn5A</a></p>— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman/status/616451638774005760">July 2, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Overwhelmed by the support. So overwhelmed. Ready for Avery's fight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AveryStrong?src=hash">#AveryStrong</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pray4Avery?src=hash">#Pray4Avery</a> <a href="http://t.co/kUMqOiwdon">http://t.co/kUMqOiwdon</a> <a href="http://t.co/QYQknd5f9w">pic.twitter.com/QYQknd5f9w</a></p>— Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrandonHuffman/status/616829520536956929">July 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[dre1919]

I have fought a non-operable brain tumor for nine years going strong. I have been fortunate to be blessed with chromosomes that help make me very treatable through chemotherapy and a very low cellular division rate. But, it's a battle. The key I firmly believe is your mental state of mind. If you believe "I have cancer, cancer does not have me" this will hold true.

Just because we do not have a cure yet, science is always evolving and there is ALWAYS hope! Stuart Scott from ESPN, a fellow person with cancer who unfortunately perished, said "The way we defeat cancer is how we live our lives." I think that's very true as well. Stay strong my fellow fighters, give it hell as Fighting Irish would!

 

[Catholics_Rule]

I found out a few days ago my father has finished him chemo & radiation and is cancer free. He has Stage II lung cancer. He still has to do a PET scan to make sure its completely gone. We were scared for a while.

 

[NDBoiler]

Hate to bring up this thread, but I'm looking for some suggestions for family support, mostly for my wife and her mom. We found out a couple weeks ago that my father in law has stage 3 esophageal cancer. He is 61 years old, not a heavy drinker, non smoker, and not overly heavy, apparently just cursed with God awful luck. He is going through the usual battery of tests right now before they begin radiation and chemo, hopefully followed by surgery. I've scoured the Internet and the survival rate statistics are pretty grim (less than 20% survive 5 years after diagnosis at this stage). I don't dare tell my wife that though, as I want to make sure she stays as positive as possible. What I haven't been able to find is enough family support information for people going through the same cancer and treatments. My wife has been a wreck and I'd appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions that I can utilize to help her through this trying time, even if it is a book suggestion or something like that.

 

[kmoose]

Hate to bring up this thread, but I'm looking for some suggestions for family support, mostly for my wife and her mom. We found out a couple weeks ago that my father in law has stage 3 esophageal cancer. He is 61 years old, not a heavy drinker, non smoker, and not overly heavy, apparently just cursed with God awful luck. He is going through the usual battery of tests right now before they begin radiation and chemo, hopefully followed by surgery. I've scoured the Internet and the survival rate statistics are pretty grim (less than 20% survive 5 years after diagnosis at this stage). I don't dare tell my wife that though, as I want to make sure she stays as positive as possible. What I haven't been able to find is enough family support information for people going through the same cancer and treatments. My wife has been a wreck and I'd appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions that I can utilize to help her through this trying time, even if it is a book suggestion or something like that.

I'm really sorry to hear this, Boiler. Have you looked into this group yet?

Cancer Support Community Central Indiana | Providing Support With, Through and Beyond Cancer

Even if they don't have what you need, I'm sure they maintain a comprehensive list of local support groups?