Do You Know Anyone Who Has Cancer?

one of my dear friends is 82 years old. She has lived through two bouts of breast cancer...and beat it both times. two years ago she got a lump which was cancerous in her neck...she went through chemo for a year, couldn't eat solid food for a whole year and today she is healthy and can eat anything she wants....so awesome to see her each week

My mom was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in April of this year. She was receiving a combination chemo which included the platinum based componant which while killing the cancer also began shutting down all of her primary systems. She is now on a different combination We will not know if it is working for another few weeks. Her numbers are going down again but I want to see the CT scan which will be ordered soon. Watching her suffering has been awful and we are enjoying seeing her feeling better. I even took her shopping for some clothes that actually fit. She said she always wanted to be thin but this wasn't what she had in mind! Obviously her sense of humor is intact. I have been running my office, commuting to her office 2 hours away and working for her, then staying with her and my dad for a few days and taking care of their personal stuff. People ask me how I am doing it but the fact is I consider myself pretty blessed to have this time with her.

Update: Mom deceased May 2012. Sad but suffering is over.......stupid, hateful cancer:grumble:

Great news about your mom!

An aunt died of breast cancer. My grandma had slow-growing skin cancer (spots removed, absolutely fine now).

My partner of 9 years mom (age 48) was diagnosed last june with stage IV pancreatic cancer w/mets to her lungs and liver (the tumors on her liver combined is about the size of a grapefruit). Doctors estimated about 4 months for her, but HOPED to get her through the holidays and her birthday (1/7) at least, if possible.

Even though her dad & aunt had both died of pancreatic cancer, MIL (so to speak) opted for treatment to prolong her life. At first she had pretty much every not-uncommon complication, and then despite the chemo the tumors were still growing. She changed chemo regimens and things started to get better. Her markers dropped from 22,000 to <2,000. Doctors ended up estimating her prognosis to now be 11 months from diagnosis. She was hospitalized only once for 3 days for an infection that had just started when they caught it.

Ended up renting a cabin for a few days to go to with friends, and bumped her normal chemo one week later to do so with the consent of her doctors. That was a few weeks ago, and since then she's had increasing problems with pain, feeling sick, and increased falls and weakness. They did an MRI of her brain and spine which was fine. Basic bloodwork fine. Not sure on markers yet or the results of her routine CT which was done this past week (she should get the results when she has chemo on Monday).

I'm happy to say that with such a strong family history of such a deadly cancer, my partner talked to her doctor at her appointment last week and although there isn't a blood test to predict if someone is at risk for pancreatic cancer, as there is for some other cancers, her doctor has referred her to a genetic counselor to help her with this, and plans to physically monitor her closely, herself.

Lots of them, unfortunately. My grandmother died of lung cancer almost 12 years ago. My mother had breast cancer. My great uncles all died of some form of cancer and my father in law had skin cancer recently. It's an ugly disease :frown:

Lost a number of family members to various forms of cancer .

I was diagnosed in early 2009. Spent the rest of 2009 and the first half 2010 riding the chemo/radiation roller coaster. I'm now 2 1/2 of 5 years into adjuvent therapy. Hate what the meds do to me but it sure beats the alternative . Life is good.

My mother first contracted breast cancer when I was eight years old. She battled it, beat it. She was told she was 10 years cancer-free... but there was a blip on her mammogram she was never told about.

Three years later, the cancer had spread to her liver, lungs, and eventually her brain.

She passed away November 21, 2005... On December 8, 2005, her first grandchild was born, my nephew, Rowan.

Monday makes 6 years, and I miss her every day. I'm not sure how well my diet is going to go that day... but I really don't care. It's mom's anniversary... I have other things to think about.

I'm so sorry to hear that your Mom's anniversary is coming up, and I relate to you having other things to think about on that day than how well you eat. I lost my Mom to ovarian cancer 21 years ago, about six weeks before her first grandchild turned one. Like you, I miss my Mom every day...the world is just a bit less bright without her in it.

My father had level 3 cancer (tumor) in his brain. Seizures took the use of his left side and ability to function as a normal person would. He was told he had 6 months to live. Lived 16 years, after much prayer it went into (I forgot what they call it....) remission?

It did, however, come back. And took him within a year or so after it did.

Army Green Beret, 82 Airbourne, Had done work as an Officer (cop) and also as an Army Medic (1st class) paratrooper. Later an accountant husband and fab father. (I'm a daddy girl)

In his younger years he resembled Brad Pitt. Older a more attractive Patrick Swayze. Until the cancer got bad of coarse. My how it can age ppl.


Also a few others, 2 Aunts who suffered Breast cancer. Alive and well.

I have been breast cancer free for almost 6 years!!! I was diagnosed in 2007 at 33y/o with invasive ductal carcinoma. I had 6 surgeries (including mastectomies, breast reconstruction & ovaries removed), 8 rounds of chemo, 1 year of Herceptin, & 5 years of Arimidex. Some days are rough & some are a little easier. Trying to keep myself healthy!!!!

My dad had advanced Prostate cancer at the age of 41, he wasn't supposed to even have a prostate exam but the doctor decided to do a full body test anyway because my dad hadn't been to the doctor in years. And my family is so glad he did, no one knows how long it was there. He went through a 7 hour robotic prostatectomy and then several weeks of radiation after that. As of September 17th of this year he is 4 years free of cancer! He made it to my high school graduation, my first move into my apartment on my own, and has so much more to go! Every year I run a 5k for Prostate Cancer research and do Relay for Life... SO important to get routine checks for ALL cancers!! Especially if it runs in your family!!

To those fighting or have fought you are all my heroes and you are all so brave and strong!! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!!

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2006. She wound up having a double mastectomy, and has been Cancer-free since then, but my grandmother (her mom) had Ovarian Cancer back in 2007, but succumbed to it on January 30th 2008. Her death really hit me hard, since i was really close to her, and i looked out for her after my grandfather passed in 2001.

WOW! My first thought was "who doesn't know someone..."

Too many suffer, or worse, from the various forms.

IMO, the casue is in our water or food supply, or perhaps the packaging.

What are we going to do about it? That would be a cause worth "occupying" something for.

This!

Cancer isn't genetic. 100 years ago, it was rare. Now everyone is getting it.
I think we need to overhaul the food industry.

Wow! I am glad to hear your mom is doing well. My mom had uterine cancer. She has been cancer free for 15 years now. I had pre Uterine cancer cells earlier this year and had a hysterectomy and oopherectomy because of it. My sister in law has been battling breast cancer for the last year and a half (triple negative type) and she is not doing real well now. She is strong and fights every day, but she is starting to struggle to breathe. It has got into her brain, lungs, liver, all over. My grandmother died of stomach cancer when my dad was 8. My aunt died of a brain tumor in 1992. My other aunt died of a brain tumor 6 years ago. I am tired of everyone getting cancer and really am ready for cancer to be cured and fought harder.

I pray for you all and your families as well. Cancer seems to really hit home to everyone now a days and it stinks. It is nice to see everyone being very supportive of each other and it helps to think as positive as we can to be there for our loved ones. Prayers to all.

I had liver tumors removed along with 2/3 of my liver this year. Luckily found out they weren't cancerous they were caused by my contraceptives. I was on a cancer ward and met some very courageous people. It kept me fighting but has left its mark on me as one of the women passed away, a few minutes after I'd just been chatting to her. It was a blessing though, she really suffered. Although on the day of her death she was better than she had been in ages. Hear that happens a lot.

I'm so glad I dodged the bullet. I still have 1 tumor remaining and have a scan Monday and results Friday. The tumors strangle the liver. I'm hoping it's stopped growing since I've stopped contraceptives... Feel I couldn't get through another resection. Can't imagine how people go through that plus chemo..

MIL had skin cancer on her face, they removed it... Did an amazing job! You'd never ever know. There are some amazing surgeons out there!

Zara x

My mom has Stage IV Inflammatory Breast Cancer, she beat the odds and is now 7 months past how long they thought she would live, but the cancer is growing again.

My wife 2xis breast cancer survivor (knocks on wood) been 6yrs now:))