Beating Cancer

“TT cancer survivors:

RichB: squamous cell throat and lung

mataharihikerL squamous cell tongue

Le Subtil-multiple myeloma

bearmagnet-Hodgkins lymphoma

anybody I am missing?”

“Thanks, Matahari. The nodule on my lung was found by a PET scan last Feb. Two more have shown up since then. All were very small and growing at about 1mm per month. I had lung surgery last month to remove them, but the third one was still so small, the surgeon couldn't find it so it's still in there. I'll get a CT scan in two weeks to determine its growth and see if more are starting to show up. I hope not, but it's possible. The gameplan now is to use chemo to slow it down, but once cancer goes systemic it's more of a management approach, using chemo, radiation, surgery, etc. It's not likely to go away, but I'm looking at it this way, they've been chasing cancer on me in one form or another for 10 years. I'm only hoping there won't be too many cells out there to chase, but nobody knows for sure about that.

I think that's true about what you said about using surgery to remove cancer cells and not having to resort to chemo or radiation. The problem is few people ever find it and get treament that soon. Once chemo and radiation are used they damage the DNA of the normal cells so there will always be a risk of developing a secondary cancer. I'll never know for sure if that's why I got throat cancer again 6 years later.

Not all squamous cell cancers are slow growing and not all are painless. I say that because the second throat cancer I had wasn't. It was fast growing causing anemia, weird discharges and extreme pain. My first throat cancer didn't hurt at first and I didn't know it was there, but it became very painful the week before it was removed, but by that time it already had spread into my neck. Maybe that one was slow growing at first, but I really don't know that for sure. All I know for sure right now is that cancer sucks!”

“Pathman:

Radagast had cancer, too. I don't think he got sick from it or had radiation or chemo.

I had Parathyroid cancer which is very rare. (my wife, who has only posted a few times, had skin cancer, melanoma - no symptoms, no chemo or radiation). I got very sick from it before it was diagnosed (May 2001), but had no radiation or chemo - at the time they didn't believe there was any regimen that would help more than it hurt. So, for better or worse, I was spared that ordeal. I don't think what cancer put me through compares to what Rich, Bear, Le Subtil or Matahari experienced.
last edited: 9/17/07 9:46:33 AM”

“I forgot about Rad, he's here so infrequently. Anybody got his picture with the flames coming out of his head?

You are right about parathyroid cancer being rare! Like hen's teeth. ;-D

TT cancer survivors:

RichB: squamous cell throat and lung

mataharihikerL squamous cell tongue

Le Subtil-multiple myeloma

bearmagnet-Hodgkins lymphoma

Radagast

Pedxing-parathyroid

Mrs Pedxing-melanoma
Help with the list if you know of other TT'ers.

Vann
last edited: 9/17/07 10:05:08 AM”

“Path: When they first found the tumor, the things the endocrinologist said made me think she might suspect cancer, so I looked it up on the web. One site basically said, unless you've been told you have parathyroid cancer - don't bother reading this page, its too rare to worry about. Some estimates were that 1 in 1000 parathyroid tumors were cancer. I hear about 20 people a year in the US get that diagnosis. Given the odds, I'd rather have bet them in the megabucks lottery.”

“pedxing, I've been looking at parathyroid tumors for over 20 years and never seen a cancer except in a study set or book. What kind of luck you must have!”

“"To Rich, Le, mtngrl, and all who are fighting:

#&%!$ You Cancer!”
bearmagnet
9:10:43 PM
8/16/07

Pathman - you may want to add mtngrl to the list but other than the toast I quoted above I know nothing of her cancer”

“mtngrl of Idaho? Hot spring fan?”

“I don't know - maybe BM can clear it up - I am assuming a different person but I just don't know more than what BM posted - the long time TTer in Idaho is mTn GaL if I got the capitals on the right letters.
last edited: 9/17/07 4:11:56 PM”

“Thanks HOI, I'll wait for some confirmation.”

“Had my post-2 cycle CT scan yesterday. This scan was to see if chemo was working. Saw my doc today.

CT Summary: No evidence of disease progression
Doc's Summary: No evidence of disease.

Of course a PET might say otherwise. I'm to continue chemo. But I think it's good news.”

“Bear, that is indeed good news! I'd hug you if I could.”

“Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits!!!

I have tears in my eyes right now Bear!!! That is AWESOME news!!!”

“Radagast had cancer, too. - Path

What!?!? I did not hear of this! Was it while I was away with my stroke? How is he now?


Congrads to all the fighters!”

“Excellent news Bear!

Can I have a biscuit Jesus?”

“Stove - this was years ago. I don't want to say too much, becuase my memory of it is fuzzy. It wasn't major - nothing like what rich, bear, subtil or matahari had to go through. I remember it because when I found out I had cancer (back in '01) he was the only TT'er I knew who had it.
last edited: 9/18/07 12:25:36 PM”

“Thanks pedx, great.
I've been yaking and hiking with Rad. He seemed healthy as a
horse.”

“Bear, Great news and I hope things keep going well.”

“Give him a friendly shout out for me. I still miss having him on TT - he was a big factor in the thread that turned me from a lurker to an addict.

On second thought, kick his butt off a cliff or something for me. Its all his fault that I wasted so many frickin hours here.”

“It's been a couple of years, pedx. :-)”

“Thanks y'all. I'm kinda speechless.”

“Bear - I'm glad to read of your good news and step forward.”

“That's awesome, bearmagnet!!”

“Great news Bear!”

“Congrats BM.”

“GO BEAR! BEAT CANCER!


RE: Radagast. I believe his encounter was some time before I first came here near the end of 2000. He only mentioned it in passing a couple of times.”

“Thanks again, y'all. I'm trying to get wasted but my body isn't allowing it.............the cure is almost as bad as the disease. Almost.

:p”

“Will we be seeing you on a trail soon?
last edited: 9/18/07 5:34:21 PM”

“Hey Le - not sure if your aware of this but lls offers co-pay help to middle income patients. You can earn up to 500% of the poverty line and get ~1500 in help. I believe the 500% line is new.

http://ubb-lls.leukemia-lymphoma.org//all_page.adp?item_id=452658”

“Monday I saw my Onco. I showed her my veins and voiced my concern. I fought the good fight but they aren't recovering.

I get a port on Thursday. :(

I told her this will be the 4th week I've been fighting a tooth (dead) infection

She wants it pulled today if the infection is still there. :(

I was having horrible time with Dysphagia. It dissipated but She wanted to be sure. I had a Barium swallow yesterday. Got to watch the action. That was kind of fun.

Throats clear. :)”

“At least the throats clear. Sorry for the other aggravations. Do you have eating restrictions because of the dysphagia?”

“Glad the throat is clear. I know you didn't want a port but look at it as no more pricks and pokes!!! :-)”

“It only made eating feel like Hell for a day or two so no restrictions. Yet. And I am getting tired of the sticks. Even the phlebotomists are starting to miss. I just hate the thought of going under again and having a tube sticking out of my chest.

Oh well.”

“Bear, did the chemo cause sores to develop in your throat or did it just swell up? I never had that happen from chemo. The port isn't so bad and it'll be a relief from getting needle sticks. They cause scars after a while. Maybe they'll put the port in your arm on the inside of your bicep. I had one there and it wasn't bad to deal with.
last edited: 9/25/07 10:26:00 AM”

“Evie's cord blood met all the requirements, so its ready to be used for transplants.

Spread the word that there are PUBLIC (i.e. FREE) cord blood donation banks out there. Most people don't end up donating the cord blood because its quite costly at those private banks (thousands of dollars). I filled out three pieces of paper, brought the kit to the hospital, and now there's cord blood available for someone. Its SO easy.”

“i dunno rich. by the time i had the barium swallow my throat was normal. it was never sore, though. and i think my port goes in my chest.

the dentist cleared the last of the infection with a laser and saved the tooth. hopefully.

i'm on the phone, on hold, with icore trying to figure out why my neupogen wasn't delivered today.

i'm really thinking about dropping the flagyl b/c i need a drink”

“LOTS of hugs!!!!......thinking of you!!!!”

“#&%!$heads #&%!$ed up. Being delivered on Friday when I need it. First chance I get I'm drinking until I forget what species I am.”

“good thoughts heading your way B-dog!”

“Hey, bearmagnet...what are you taking flagyl for? Pick up amoebic dysentery? giardia? I like the new mint flavored barium...by the time I usually get it I'm so hungry I think of it as food...it is fun to watch those videos...

I wish I had asked for a port...my veins are all scar tissue now and I hate needles...it got so bad they were checking me into the hospital a night before procedures because it was so hard to get a decent vein...mine are thin and shifty...

Glad your throat is clear, the dentist saved your tooth and hope your body cuts you a break...”

“I hear you!”

“Its kind of funny, mhh. For us with weird sense of humor from all this. I went in to my CT scan. I get nose, throat, abdomen, thoracic, pelvis ("Whole Body") CT with contrast. As it happened, my Diverticulitis was flaring up. I was in a bit of pain but it happens. It just happened during an onco scan.

I didn't think twice about it - even after they did an extra scan of my abdomen.

The Research Nurse called me an hour later all concerned that I have Diverticulitis. I told her to check my file, its in there. The doc gave me flagyl as a precautionary. Kind of sucks.


In hindsight, my abdomen must have lit up like the white house xmas tree, looking like an explosion of cancer to the untrained eye, freaking out the techs who called my doc.

:D
last edited: 9/26/07 2:40:48 PM”

“Yep, that would of woke them up...did you get any pitying looks or were they the cheerful, surviving sorts that learn not to identify with the scans? I have met some great folks while getting various scans...I love the pros that have been doing it for years...”

“He was really good. Had me lower my arms to take a shot of my neck then a few minutes later came back and in a very nonchalant manner told me to raise my arms so they could take another shot below my neck. He was disarmingly calm and "business-as-usual" about it. Didn't phase me at all.


Next time I'll tell them if I'm having a flare up. Maybe.”

“The x-ray people during my first diagnosis - Stage IV with tumors all over my lungs - could not hide their concern. They sucked ass. But it was in my GP's building - they probably don't often see sheeite like that.”

“I told the doc I have a high tolerance for Novocaine and most locals. I take 5-7 shots at the dentist. And yet, through the whole 45min procedure of implanting a dual (news to me) port in me I remained lucid. The anesthesiologist continued to inject me throughout the procedure. Noting my wincing, curling toes.....shocked that I wasn't out or at least in a "twilight state".

In the end, I had to wait an hour before going home, SOP. The anesthesiologist showed me her injection record - about 15. And I could've #&%!$en driven home.

That kind of sucked.”

“Pulling for you, BEAT IT BEARMAGNET!

LAF Manifesto

I'm off to Portland tomorrow. Nearly $1.5 Million raised FOR YOU and all Survivors. $2 M and counting in Austin. $2.4+ M in Philly.

”

“sucks that you have to go through all this bear...

have you tried aloe vera juice for the diverticulitis?”

“Thanks, pathman!

Twig - my high fiber diet usually does the trick. The chemo, assorted drugs, stress make it difficult to completely control. That's why I added an OTC lax/softener.

But I never heard of using aloe vera juice. I'll look into it. Thanks.”