Do You Know Anyone Who Has Cancer?

LinaBo

On my mom's side: my grandfather passed away of what we suspect was lung cancer. He was a smoker. He refused to really share with the family what exactly he was sick from, but we knew he was sick. My uncle also had colon cancer, which was fortunately caught early and dealt with simply, without chemo. I encourage anyone 50 and over to get screened, and 40 and over if you have a family history of cancer. Don't fear the colonoscopy; it's a very treatable cancer if it is caught early, but very deadly if it's not. By the time you notice symptoms, chances are it is advanced. I have a friend who lost his mother at age 58 to colon cancer. It's not worth losing your life just because you are bashful.

On my dad's side: one uncle has had stomach cancer, my other uncle (who was long estranged from the family until the last couple of years, and who still is in part. They're a stubborn lot) currently has terminal throat cancer. It's a real shame, and a lesson in life being too short to hold grudges. I have never met this uncle due to what was likely a petty falling out between him, a sister, and my now deceased grandmother. No one will even talk about what the falling out was, and I bet most don't even remember. I honestly cannot fathom what could be so terrible as to hold a grudge against your own blood for over 3 decades. It's not like anyone tried to sell the other's firstborn for crack or something; they're f***ed up, but not THAT f***ed up. Life's too short for petty BS amongst families. My uncle now only has a few months to live, and as he lives in Illinois (and I'm in BC, Canada), and I'm broke, there is a snowball's chance in hell I will ever get to meet him.

blonde71

So many people - too numerous to list.

Only 2 really stick out:

1. My mom died of lung cancer back in November 2007. She was only 65.

2. My sister's husband, who is only 44 has esopheagal cancer. It's advanced to stage 3. The prognosis is grim.

Cancer sucks in plain English. My mom dying of cancer was what prompted me to get off my rump and start taking my health seriously. I WILL NOT DIE OF CANCER. That's a promise I intend to keep.

paulaviki

A friend of mind from work died from breast cancer last year. She was 25 when she was diagnosed and had surgery, chemo and radiotherapy and went into remission. In 2010 she went back for some routine tests and they found a shadow on her lung, the cancer had spread to her bones and lungs and all they could do was palliative care. She was amazing and grabbed the time she had left with both hands but died just a few weeks before her identical twin sisters wedding at the age of 27. She really was an inspiration and was very open and honest about facing death. I think about her often and still can't quite believe she's gone.

apedeb09

My grandma had ovarian cancer 30 years ago but had a hysterectomy and she's still alive today.


My grandpa is battling leukemia, skin cancer and COPD right now and he has been for years.


My husband's grandpa has kidney cancer.

My husband's great grandfather died of lung cancer.

12by311

When I was 18, my 16 year old cousin died from leukemia. She was diagnosed in July, passed in February.

My uncle died from prostate cancer.

My mom passed away 4 years ago. Had breast cancer that spread. Wasn't proactive with her health = going to the doctor, regular paps, breast exams. Had cancer quite a long time before going to the dr. Diagnosed in Jan, passed in October.

Seeing my mom go through that has scarred me for life.

Ladies, get regular exams, paps, do regular self check breast exams.

charlena48

My best friend from school was just diagnosed with breast cancer and will be having surgery soon.

Nfairley

I work in GYN Oncology (cancers of the uterus/ovaries/tubes/vulva/vagina/cervix) and I've met some incredibly strong ladies there. Through massive surgeries, chemo, radiation...recurrences after years of remission, some who never even get the chance to fight due to old age or super aggressive tumors...it's very sad, but it definitely makes me grateful to be in good health. I am trying to lose weight and eat healthier foods so that I never have to be on the receiving end of the care I give.

Nfairley

I cannot stress how important routine gynecological care is. No one likes pap smears and mammograms but it is always better to be SAFE than SORRY.

_Calvin_

My father beat colon cancer about 10 years ago.

Lost my mother to pancreatic cancer a year ago. She was diagnosed in December and passed in July. It was horrible. I would not wish that disease on my worst enemy. Luckily I could be with at the end. I had just moved back home from another state about 11 month before she was diagnosed so she got to see her grandkids grow a little. Now she can see them every day. Miss you Mom and I love you!!

donyellemoniquex3

my uncle recently died from lung cancer
my dad might have lung cancer
lost my best friend at a young age from a rare from of bone cancer

stroken96

My husband was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in July 2012.
Helpful advice welcome..........

StarIsMoving

My great-grandmother and grandmother on mother's side both passed of cancer.... my grandfather on father's side also. Watched them all. One of my uncle's on father's side beat cancer, another one has the blood cancer that there is no cure for. My mother has also beat it. All over the family and running a 5K in March to help stomp out childhood cancers.

shelbyfrootcake

I just lost a friend to lung cancer. She was 51. Diagnosed just before last Christmas, and she passed away last month.

I work in a specialist cancer hospital and have been working with cancer pathways for 8 years, the stories are always tragic.

SuffolkSally

I F*ING HATE CANCER. My mom has had it three times.
She got breast cancer the first time I think in 1993 and was given a 30% chance of living and how the hell she survived we still don't know. She was a stage 3B. Her first mastectomy at age 46. 16 years later she got breast cancer a second time but it didn't spread to the lymph nodes or in her blood like it did the first time and it was so small that they really couldn't see it and it was a totally different kind of cancer and a stage Zero almost so they told her she could have a lumpectomy but she said, "Nope, take it off". But that cancer would never come back. Once the surgery was done it was gone. Well, now 6 years later with no breasts at all she gets it for a third time. Metastatic breast cancer which went into both of her lungs. She is considered a stage 4 terminally ill patient right now and is like the 1% who this happens too. They say its almost unheard of for anyone to get cancer 20 years later.1% of cancer patients will have it come back. The cancer she has now is from the very first cancer that she got and has been laying dormant for all these years, 19 years actually. They usually give you like 5 years and then after 5 years you go to 10 and after that you're in the clear and they pretty much take you off of all pills and give you the high five. But they have no idea what is going with her on and want to study her at UC Davis and OHSU. She also works with cancer patients.
You would never in a million years know that my mom had cancer ever. She went to work bald running her business of 1500 employees day after day after, chemo session after chemo session. She was on chemo for almost a year and they wrecked and collapsed all of the veins in her arms and hands and started using her feet. After her 1 hour chemo session she'd get in the car and drive herself back to the office. She never once let anyone help take care of her. She was just too tough and didn't want to be looked at as "sickly". The second cancer she called it, "A piece of cake, this is nothing. Lets go on vacation since they gave me six weeks to rest" lol.
The cancer she has now, she doesn't even act like she has it and is out doing things living life telling me she is fine and that she's not going anywhere. She'll be 67 on Christmas day. My mom is a BADASSSS. The second time she had cancer she fought with them and told them 30 minutes after her surgery to, "let me out of here, this place is f**cking depressing" and forced them to let her go home. Next thing you know I'm wheeling her out to the car and she says, "Lets go to the mall". I was like "WTF? Thats the anesthesia talking" and she said, "Bull$hit that's me talking. I'm bored and been in that hospital since 5am this morning" I was so pissed cause she stood there fighting with me and I refused to take her and she said, "well then you better take me to Safeway or somewhere" haha.
I have been worrying about my mom now for exactly half of my life and scared to death every day for 20 years. Its been hard and it just feels like its never going to go away, and now, its not. She will be on Arimidex for the rest of her life. But I would rather deal with the stress of it then to have her pass away. Good new though. The spots on her lungs are very tiny, there were 3 on one lung and 4 on the other. She just got results back from the doctors last week or so and they said that they cant even see the 3 spots that use to be on the left side no matter how many Xrays and are hoping, but not suggesting that they are gone. I have a feeling my mom will outlive me and I really hope she does, she is my best friend ;(

Even if you don't read all of this it felt good just to get it off my chest. I have ulcers and gray hair from worrying and think this is partly why I have insomnia and don't eat.

I read it and I'm so sorry - your Mom sounds wonderful. I've lost my grandmother, my uncle and one of my brothers to bowel cancer. They were all rather brave about it.

ChunkieNuts

Yes,
My Grandad had throat cancer
My Nan had Cancer on her Liver
My Auntie (Mums sister) had breast cancer which spread to her brain
and now my Dad has cancerous tumours attached to his liver...He is still living and coping well.
Its a horrendous disease :-(

AngryDiet

My elder child's school does a Terry Fox day. In it the students coloured in a picture if a shoe signifying the walk they did (signifying the run Terry Fox did to raise awareness and money for research) and had the opportunity to state who they were walking for. A friend, family member, whatever. If for no one in particular, then they could write "Terry." These where hung along the walls of the gymnasium, and there were rather a lot of them.

Very few were dedicated to, "Terry."

It seems that most families know at least one person.

reasnableblonde

My aunt had breast cancer, fought it, and won. My uncle beat throat cancer.

My stepbrother had testicular cancer, delayed treatment when it returned, and eventually passed away earlier this year. He was 31.

JenniBaby85

Several people. My Great Grandmother died of breast cancer (I never knew her), my great Aunt had breast cancer, went through chemo, was all good, then it came back. She fought it for 5 years before it took her :frown: . (I did know her). My Aunt had breast cancer, but not now, and same with my second cousin.

A friend of mine has some kind of cancer, but is almost done with chemo. . I knew an awesome lady who died from it, and another lady who had it, fought it and is now back to preaching church to church.

SuffolkSally

1 in 3, apparently...

SoViLicious

My aunt has stomach cancer and we found out last night that she will not make it through the week. My sisters boyfriend has live cancer. My friend from high school has a four year old with leukemia. So much cancer...Too much Cancer.

ptsmiles

My mom had uterine cancer, had a hysterectomy and is now cancer free. My maternal Aunt and a cousin had breast cancer and beat it, my paternal grandfather and a maternal uncle had/have stomach cancer and last but certainly not least, I have a very dear friend, who's breast cancer has spread to her bones, and now 70% of her liver is covered in tumors. It is a horrible disease!

RobinvdM

My mom's aunt died from stomach cancer, my uncle died from cancer, my mom had breast cancer - surgery and survived, I had to have minor laser surgery done to remove some pre-cancerous cells from my cervix after my 2nd child was born, another uncle of mine had a brain tumor.... Well, long story short, it's very thick in my family so I take this very seriously.

Much love to those who have posted about losses and beating the odds.

digitalbill

My Father has had cancer for about 14 years now.
About once a month, he tells me that he only has about a month left to live.
for 14 years...

Personally, I think pure anger has kept him alive.

My wife had cancer cut out. It was either overies or uterus (some female part). It was scary but, she is clear.

I have had a bit of skin cancer taken out (welcome to the Sunshine State.)

PJmetts

I lost a sister to Cervical Cancer, because her FEMALE GYN told her to just deal with her symptoms of heavy bleeding and clots because she had a negative pap smear 6 months prior and was just going through her changes.....LISTEN To YOUR BODY and never take NO if your body is telling you something isn't right!
I also lost my dad to leukemia and lung cancer.......hate Cancer

scapez

My friend and co-worker Wes was 47 when he died in 2009 from lung cancer. I vividly remember the day he got "the call". I was the only one in the office besides him (my cube was right next to his) and when he got off the phone he stepped out of his cube with all kinds of things going on in his eyes. I looked at him and didn't know what to say...so I just went up and hugged him.

He fought a brave fight but died less than a year after diagnosis - he was stage 3 or 4 when they found it.

FlyByJuly

In 1984, I was 25 and lost my 29-yr-old husband to acute myelogenous leukemia, after a 2.5 year battle.

Two years ago, a really good friend was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. She opted for no treatment, as she'd been suffering for months before the diagnosis. She'd been laid off from work, had no insurance, and doctors kept pushing her off to "somebody else" because she didn't have insurance. Finally, one doctor cared enough to take a closer look at her and made the discovery. By then, it had spread to her spine, up her neck, and into her brain. In the span of a month, she went blind. Less than 2 wks after dianosis, she passed away.

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer this past Valentine's Day. Six days later, I had surgery and they were able to get all the cancer (complete hysterectomy). I've had a 6-month check-up since then, and everything looks good. Will continue with check-ups for 5 years to determine if I'm cancer-free.

Oh, I'd like to add....ladies who are post-menopausal...if you experience spotting, please see your doctor. That was my signal. But I'm sure I waited way longer than I should have. I just dealt with it, didn't really give in until pain started accompanying the spotting.

randomtai

My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer 3 years ago... she is still fighting and going strong...

heagler870

My Grandmother died of ovarian cancer.

My father had kidney cancer 3 years ago. Had his kidney removed and is completely free of cancer now.

laurenz2501

My fiancee passed away in 2007 from brain cancer. 2 months shy of his 31st birthday. He made it a year from being diagnosed.

blueraidermike

I survived neuroblastoma as a child, they removed my right kidney. Now I have Renal Cell carcinoma in my left kidney at age 48. Two completely different cancers. Its in my lungs, I have a spot on my brain and liver but they are not sure if they are just imperfections or cancer. So in the middle of the battle. Trying to shrink the primary tumor on my kidney before surgery - will know on Tuesday. If not, surgery on Nov 13 to remove the tumor and save enough of my remaining kidney to function, then go after the cancer in my lungs. Its been a crazy 3 last three months but I am so thankful, still. I have been able to impact many others lately, I consider it a gift from God.

Now cancer still sucks. But we all need to count our days whether we are sick or not. Make them count!

Still using MFP, still working out!