Beating Cancer

“=)”

“Glad you're still around, BM”

“I'm glad we're ALL still around....you guys inspire me...”

“Hang in there, guys! You're doing great.”

“Sure hope it keeps going great.

---

Hrr! And all I can complain about are my knees. And my five bypasses don't count for anything anymore. And people are tired of hearing about my knees. Guess all that is left for me is to go backpacking and write trip reports.
last edited: 11/05/06 11:40:41 AM”

“Cheers to BM and Dani!
L'Chaim.”

“A big thumbs up to Bearmagnet and Dani.”

“Bear, Glad you are doing well.”

“had my 3 Month check-up today. After bloods we sat and waited. the Dr. came in and went over my CT scan from Last Thursday...

Dr: The nodules in your Lungs are bigger.
Me:...
Dani:...

She wasn't even looking at us. My face filled with blood. My stomach dropped and my heart started racing. I looked at Dani, staring at the Dr., and she seemed to have the same reaction. We both were thinking the worst: Lung Cancer.

Me: What?
Dr: ( never looking up)Mumbles......nodules.........mumbles......scar tissue. Flips some papers in my file.

Me:...
Dani:.....

Dr: They were big. We've seen these before. It's scar tissue.......mumbles..........your last PET Scan came back negative......these are expected...........

Me: I'm OK?
Dr: Yes
Me: Nothing to worry about?
Dr: No
Me: No Cancer
Dr: No
Me: Thank You
Dr: See you in March

Jesus #&%!$ing Christ She can give us heart attacks! I hate this #&%!$. But I'm clean so i think I'll have a drink.

Below is a picture of the house I vommited at after my first chemo (11/23/05). I took the picture today, it's the one on the right. Where I had vommited all over a mature tree now stands a new sapling. I wonder if I killed it? LOL!


”

“That's great news!”

“Really glad to hear it!”

“I think some docs must've got extra points at school learning how to scare the %&*%$ out of us...glad your check up came out OK...how's your heart?”

“My wife had cervical cancer. A few surgeries later & radiology, she has been cancer free for 5 years now. The experts claim that this type (99%)will never return after 5 years.

There is an interesting side note. I always thought that your intestines stayed pretty static within your body. That isn't true. The section of your intestines located on the right side of your body now could be on the left side tomorrow.

The only problem is that when you have surgery, the opening knits (heals) together. Sounds reasonably except that if there is any thing (organs?) nearby, this knitting action can "grab" it. (adhesion) Then when your intestimes roll around it creates a blockage until it un-twists or occasionally surgically removed from the abdominal wall where it adheared.”

“Yay! Excellent news!

Poor tree....”

“Glad the news was good.

Some docs really seem clueless about people. Thank goodness most of them know the stuff they specialize in.
last edited: 12/05/06 7:05:13 PM”

“Bear, great news and glad to hear the good report. I have a PET scan coming up at some point in the next month or two and I'm hoping it's good news.

Doctors can scare you, but if they have info for me good or bad, I'd rather hear it. I'd rather them be up front and give me the facts.”

“Thanks all.

Good luck, Rich. I like recieving info but you must know that feeling when you get bad news, it frikken sucks like nothing else, no? Being told the first time really sucked. Being told again seems to suck even more. Hard to even describe.

I wish PET scans weren't so damn expensive that Doctors resort to CT scans. They're so less intrusive and you can sleep through it.

;)”

“dang bear, as a Pathologist, reading that scared me. You must have been....

Treated HD does often leave scar tissue where disease used to be.

Your Dr. should have reviewed everything before coming into the room with you, so she knew what she was going to say and how to say it.”

“

"... so she knew what she was going to say and how to say it."
Pathman

Ha, do they ever?”

“I can't praise Lombardi Cancer Center (Georgetown University Hospital) enough. And I'm not sure if they do things differently but the Oncologists see patients once or twice per week. The rest of the time they're doing Hospital rounds. I don't think they really have time to go over files before they see their patients.

Or maybe there's a rating system, depending on seriousness of illness?”

“Thanks Bear, I know the feeling well about bad news because I live it each day. I had two biopsies done on my tongue 2 weeks ago and will probably hear again that it's precancerous or cancer. I hope not, but I'm prepared to hear it. I know I'm going to get cancer again at some point. It's just where and when so they might as well tell me straight out and get moving to do something about it. The key is finding it while it can still be eliminated before too much damage is done.”

“Ha, do they ever?”
nowslimmer


I did when seeing patients as an med student and intern.”

“But in spite of this vast body of knowledge, 1,500 people will die from cancer today and tomorrow and the day after that, often because the care they needed to prevent cancer or survive it was not available to them.

Kick some ass, Lance.”

“I miss read that at first, I thought you wrote "Kiss some ass" :D”

“[thepaceline.com]

Lance's CNN Fri Transcript Friday, January 12, 2007

Lance was interviewed on CNN today by Miles O'Brien prior to the big show this, "Saving Your Life" with Dr. Sanjay Gupta this weekend. Of course, The Paceline was there and has this transcript for you...

Link to Transcript”

“Anybody interested in forming a team for the Portland ride? My personal goals would be to raise $15,000, form a Spokane and/or TT Team, 5:45 Century, Qualify for the Ride for the Roses. email me, see profile.


LAF Announces Dates and Opens Registration for 2007 LIVESTRONG Challenge Series

Online registration is now open for the 2007 LIVESTRONG Challenge, the LAF’s signature fundraising effort. Presented by Nike, the Challenge allows participants can walk, run or ride to support the Foundation’s mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. Last year, Challenge participants raised a combined total of $10 million to support the more than 10 million American cancer survivors.

This year’s Challenge kicks off in Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 25-26, and then heads to Portland, Ore., on Sept. 29-30. The series culminates with a joint Challenge and Ride for the Roses celebration in Austin, Texas, Oct. 12-14.

“We have made significant improvements to the event series, now in its second year,” said Doug Ulman, Foundation president. “We’ve reduced the number of locations from five to three to better provide participants with a truly transformational experience, one that leaves them energized, inspired and empowered.” Sites were selected based on accessibility and geographic location, not on previous participation or fundraising levels.

“In addition, Lance Armstrong, who recently assumed the role of chairman of our board of directors and announced a $5 million gift to the Foundation, plans to attend all Challenge events,” he added.


LIVESTRONG Challenge riders may select from a variety of distance options, while walkers and runners will team up for a community 5K. The combined community walk/run will enable athletes of all skill levels — including those undergoing cancer treatment — to participate. As in 2006, all LIVESTRONG Challenge participants must pay a one-time $50 event registration fee. However, the minimum fundraising level for cyclists was lowered from $500 to $250. Although walkers and runners have no minimum fundraising level, everyone is encouraged to raise as much money and awareness as possible. The LAF suggests participants set a fundraising goal that is equally challenging and rewarding.

Visit www.livestrongchallenge.org to learn more and to register.
last edited: 1/26/07 12:50:27 AM”

“Having done the Ride for the Roses twice, it truly is inspiring and transformational.”

“bearmagnet asked me to post this here, too.

I'm hoping this is a ray of hope for others here, especially le subtil. From the article:

IT SOUNDS almost too good to be true: a cheap and simple drug that kills almost all cancers by switching off their "immortality". The drug, dichloroacetate (DCA), has already been used for years to treat rare metabolic disorders and so is known to be relatively safe. It also has no patent, meaning it could be manufactured for a fraction of the cost of newly developed drugs.

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19325874.700-cheap-safe-drug-kills-most-cancers.html”

“Proposal would cut cancer institute budget again
Updated 1/29/2007 7:17 AM ET
USA Today”

“If you go to the Action Center (under Advocacy) of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls), they have an "Urge Congress to Support Increased Funding for NIH & CDC in 2007" email campaign going.

direct link:

http://action.lls.org/c.lkL1J8MLKrH/b.1432555/k.8BF0/Action_Center/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=lkL1J8MLKrH&b=1432555&aid=7834”

“How bout we allow drug companies to make a (bad word coming here) profit if they create a good drug?

I have always believed the private sector can work a bunch better than GOVERNMENT.”

“By AMANDA SCHAFFER
Published: January 30, 2007
nytimes.com (health section)


The rates of some cancers, including colorectal, thyroid and testicular, are rising in people ages 20 to 39, according to the American Cancer Society. And a report released in August by the National Cancer Institute and Lance Armstrong Foundation found that even as cancer survival rates continued to improve in adults of middle age and older, the survival rates for people ages 15 to 39 had not risen substantially in more than two decades.

Cancer is the fourth-leading killer in that age group, behind accidents, suicides and homicides. In 2006, there were approximately 55,200 new cases of cancer in Americans 15 to 39, and 9,300 cancer deaths in that same group, according to the American Cancer Society.

“Cancer in adolescents and young adults presents distinctive issues,” said an author of that report, Dr. Karen Albritton, director of adolescent and young adult oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. “The gaps in our knowledge are huge.””

“LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Farrah Fawcett got an unbeatable gift for her 60th birthday: a clean bill of health.

The actress, who revealed in October that she was fighting cancer, learned this week that she is cancer-free, spokesman Mike Pingel said Friday.

Dr. Gary Gitnick, Fawcett's lead physician at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the actress "has had a full and complete response to treatment."

60 !”

“Why am I not me yet?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16655098/wid/11915773?GT1=8921”

“Looks like a great series of articles.

I think most of us go through much life with a certain illusion of invincibility or invulnerability. Some shrinks call it "healthy denial" - some events, like getting your ass kicked by cancer cut through the denial and we need to learn to cope with that new awareness of our vulnerability. We fell more aware of our finiteness and fallibility.

Ultimately, I think it can be humbling in a good way. It can leave us feeling more connected with people who have taken or are taking severe hits. The bubble which seems to separate us from the worst life has to offer, also separates us from other things.”

“Honestly, ped, that's beautiful.

My denial before i was diagnosed was not healthy, however. ;)

I didn't realize how difficult the recovery would be. Perhaps another form of denial?”

“Makes sense to me. It's hard not to feel raped by something that invasive and nasty. Sometimes the sheer enormity of it is best taken in small doses.

I'm missing my own denial with this new lump. Odds are its nothing, but until blood tests and MRI confrim that - part of me is going to be freaking out.”

“I'm one of many here that are rooting for you. I had my monthly burn survivors support group tonight. The big topic was how the hardest part of recovery was the mental stuff - how to pick up once you have survived.”

“Surviving. They don't talk about that at the hospital. They have a single mindedness focus - cure the cancer at all cost. Bless 'em for that. But recovery is as much the battle.”

“Bear, have you talked to your doctor or nurse about recovery issues? Maybe they can help you out with that. I know my head and neck surgeon has a network of social workers, speech and swallow therapists, physical therapists, survivor meetings, etc. It can take a long time to recover from cancer, but eventually you'll get there.”

“Yeah, RichB. It can take a long time. way longer then I thought. I'll get there. I just thought I'd be done by now. Guess I was naive, eh?

I volunteer for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society now. This Thursday is my first assignment - I'll be part of a survivors panel, talking to patients. Hopefully it will be therapeutic for us all.”

“I think it's been less than a year since you finished your treatment? The chemo is pretty much poison to your body and it can take a long time to get back to full strength for what you went through. For small cancers that don't involve chemo or radiation recovery can be a few months, but more serious cancers can take a year or more depending on the complications and side effects you have.”

“A friend of mine lost his battle yesterday. He was a former dentist who ran in 1994 for Congress...one of the most likable, down to earth Congressmen you could ever meet.”

“Sorry to hear that Dan.”

“Sorry, XL.

Rich - going on 9mos. I thought I would be fine after 3. Realized that was dumb and went for 6mos.........now 9mos.............

You would think I would learn, no? I'm a very self critical, impatient, stubborn son-of-a-#&%!$. LOL”

“Me, too. I'm sorry for your loss Dan.”