Any DU'ers survived cancer?

[McKenzie]

I'm interested in your experiences coz I've been there twice. Three days on a chemotherapy drip each treatment times six; two doses and then four. Icy cold chemicals flowing into my veins, lying on the toilet floor puking every five minutes and seeing things on the wall. I still get checks for it every three months and then wait for a phone call in the 3-4 days thereafter.

To be told "you have cancer" is one of the scariest things you will ever experience.

[Not Me]

1. My doctor caught a melanoma pretty early on...

Had it removed and the site radiated, and it has not returned....knock on wood.

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. Ditto. "in situ", i.e. limited to one place....

... as in 'clear margins' when the melanoma was removed.

Scary stuff. No chemo. I go back every three months to be looked over as we ( you and I) are at, apparently much higher risk of recurrence.

I didn't have the site radiated. Don't know why. I got a second opinion that I was being treated properly and the cancer was 100% cured.

Hmmm....

[trof]

19. miz t. too, on her neck in 2001.

Excised along with 3 affected lymph nodes.
Outpatient surgery and no rad or chemo.
All is well so far.

[graywarrior]

2. Not me, but I know many who have.

God love ya for what your going through. Surviving cancer ain't for wimps.

[demforever]

3. I have

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002. It was a fairly large tumor (2.1) and it went to one lymph node. I had a lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. I lost all my hair which has since come back, of course. It has been four years, and so far so good.

[Pam-Moby]

4. I am sorry that you are going through this.

My Mother had wide spread cancer but would not take the chemotherapy. I also had melanoma 8-10 years ago. It has not returned.

[Burning Water]

5. No, but my wife did.

Breast cancer. Eleven nodes.

It's scary for those that love you, too. We had two children who hadn't yet graduated from high school at the time, including a daughter of 10.

Thank God she lived. But it was a scary and miserable time till her treatments were complete.

[China_cat]

8. My youngest sister was 10

when our mother died of breast cancer (at age 40) It has affected her to this day.

[Burning Water]

29. I can see how it would.

I don't know what I would have done if my wife hadn't made it. I know nothing about raising girls.

Very sorry about your mother.

[serryjw]

17. 13 year Breast cancer survivor

13 nodes! 5 cm tumor, bi-lateral mastectomy, chemo and 5 years of tamoxifen....BUT I'm still here to fight the evil. I hate hearing people getting sick. Never did. They infuse you with an anti-nausaea drug before chemo.

[Burning Water]

28. It's a terrible disease.

and emotionally very wrenching for all concerned.
best of luck to you in the future.

[serryjw]

30. Happy to hear your wife did well

thanks for the good wishes
Namaste

[Nite Owl]

6. Not me but my son had

leukemia, ALL. as a baby. He was diagnosed at 15mos. I wished it were me going through what he had to endure. I know what you mean about waiting for the phone calls.
He's 21 now and in college but the thought of it is always there, I can't help it when I see a bruise on him or he has a fever to get scared.

My mom had colon cancer, she was 85 and refused any chemotherapy. I think she was just ready to go and didn't want to go through the chemo that would have made the end just that much more painful for her. I wish she had but respected her wishes.

[babylonsister]

7. Here's some encouragement:

I've been cancer-free for 23 years!

It's very scary; I was only 27 and had to have a big part of my body
cut off to get rid of it. I do remember the icy drips, though never had
reactions like yours because I'm sure I didn't get the mega-doses of chemo
that you are.
Hang in there, McKenzie.:hug:

[choicevoice]

9. Mine apparently not as bad as most

I was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the age of 25. A simple vaginal hysterectomy took care of the problem with no recurrence. I am now, well lets say no longer in my 40's.

[Tripper11]

10. AML - Leukemia here....3yrs plus

Diagnosed in June of '03. In the hosipital for 8 weeks for chemo and recovery. It went into remission after a week of chemo.
A couple rounds of consolidation chemo, then Nov 27th 03, birthday #2.
Stem cell transplant.
My brother's blood is now my blood 100%
My blood type even changed.
I was very lucky, got through it all very unscathed compared to so many others.

[McKenzie]

11. To all who replied...thank you

Cancer, and other scary diseases, will affect a lot of us. The odds are something like one in three or four for cancer.

I posted partly to let anyone who ain't been through the process of treatment know that it's scary at first but it's beatable. Some of you guys have been there already - thanks for sharing the experience.

I am lucky coz I'm a Brit and we have a good, health care health system. We don't call our nurses "angels" for no reason. Sure, our health care system has its problems but it worked for me. I met many people who were thankful for the care we all received.

I also posted to raise the health care issue. Fight like bloody hell if your health care system is attacked because once you have been in need of care you will know that health care is one of THE most important issues worth fighting for.

Good night DU'ers and long may you live to fight for what is right.

edit: spelling

[wicket]

12. No, lost my 10 year old cousin to it though this past October

:cry:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

14. I watched it take my grandma

I had to stay at her house for two weeks one summer, and I got a good closeup look at what cancer does as it eats your insides up. She passed later that year. I was 12 at the time. She was 86.

This is a picture of her shortly before she went.

[TX-RAT]

15. Papillary Cancer of the Thyroid, twice.

Had 2 surgery's last year. Now it's moved to a lymph node, going back in 2 weeks. This times going to involve Chemo, last 2 were radiation only.

[Skidmore]

44. Me, too.

Once, though. I had my thyroid removed last April, followed by ablution with radiation. Go in for blood check this next week and another scan in a couple of months. It's scary to think that it can come back even when you have no thyroid.

My mother died of renal cancer. My father and my brother both died of lung cancer.

[ulysses]

16. yup.

Hodgkins, 11 y.o. Suck, it did.

[KitchenWitch]

50. I had Hodgkins as well

I was 22 when I was diagnosed.

[WarNoMore]

18. Yes. 2002

Breast cancer--4 lymph nodes. Went thru' the chemo and radiation. It hasn't been 5 years yet, it kinda hangs over you. Lol--my son was concerned I wasn't telling him everything and I told him I wasn't going anywhere 'til I voted Bush out of office.

[xchrom]

20. me. twice -- skin cancer.

chemo twice -- i injected the drugs at home.

and you're right about the icy coldness of the drugs -- they are cold of course, but you don't expect to feel it.
i described the feeling as bone wrenching -- cause i felt like someone was bending my bones -- it hurt that bad and that deep.

horrifying.

not sure if i would do it again -- to tell you the truth.
the second time was much, much more difficult -- they even lowered the dose -- it extended the time a little -- but i was more sick.

[FormerRepublican]

21. Both my parents died from cancer.

My mother had it 3 or 4 times. My dad twice.

[NashVegas]

39. I'm So Sorry

My dad died of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. It was wretching to see him start to come back, only to ultimately lose the battle.

[nosmokes]

22. hodgkins disease

caught very early, was cut(to have lymphnodes removed) burned and poisoned; that was well over 12 years ago so i'm now considered cancer free as far as the hodgkins is concerned. but 11 years ago i was diagnosed with a primary brain tumor totally unrelated to the odgkins and cut burned and poisoned for that as well. after a treatment protocol that lasted the better part of 2 years the tumor was essentially dead until last march when a cyst showed up on the MRI and i went under the kife again, which turned out to have been a mistake, but hey, i'm still kickin. good luck to ya!

[trackfan]

23. Hodgkins, 25 years ago

I had 9 months of chemotherapy, some of it pretty miserable.

[KoKo]

24. No Text...

[Tracer]

25. Yes. Ovarian.

Of course, I don't know if I've "survived" it yet, since my last chemo was just this past November.

I was operated on, and then went through 5 rounds of chemotherapy (Taxol and Carboplatin). I realize that everyone has a different experience, but I never found the actual chemo infusion to be bad at all. They put a load of Benadryl in the drip which put me right to sleep each time.

And, I have to say that I was one of the few lucky ones who never became nauseated - ever. But that's some small tradeoff for the bone pain, the nerve pain, the neuropathy, the exhaustion, the hair loss and the inner worry.

Since my cancer was Stage 1a, I've been told that I have an excellent chance of recovery.

One day, I asked my oncologist (a friggin' saint!) how he managed to stay so upbeat and positive, while having to deal daily with so much suffering. He said, "because of successes like you".

[OzarkDem]

32. Oncologists are saints, aren't they?

It has to be a special calling. Heaven knows the rewards aren't great and the pay is much higher in other specialties.

I'm crazy about mine, he's kept so many women alive far longer than anyone expects.

[VOX]

26. Prostate cancer in my early 40s, caught by a PSA blood test...

Elevated PSA; had four biopsies over three years (will spare the details), and it was finally caught early. When I first had the elevated PSA I freaked, and began to research the hell out of cancer specific to that organ. I read all the horror stories of what can happen if the cancer extends beyond the prostate (basically, you die, but it's slow and agonizing). When my urologist finally found the cancer, it was actually a weird relief -- I just said, "Okay, let's get on with treatment now."

There are a couple of proven treatments available, each with its pluses and downsides. I chose to have radioactive seed implants (brachytherapy). Can't recommend this treatment as recreation. ;)

One of the things that's rarely discussed about John Kerry is the fact that he too had PCa. He opted for surgery (radical prostatectomy) shortly before he began to campaign in earnest, as I recall. I've spoken with many guys who've had surgery and radiation, and it's no walk in the park, no matter how much it's downplayed. You don't sleep for beans; you wear a trail in the floor to the bathroom; you're catheterized off and on for some months, if necessary; you learn the location of every public restroom on your commute; and there's the constant worry that the cancer will come back. During the 2004 campaign, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Kerry was in some considerable discomfort, and not a peep out of him about this. :thumbsup:

McKenzie, your courage is admirable. This is probably the most difficult journey you've ever had to make. Think of it this way -- the rest of life is comparatively easy! :) You probably also have a more philosophical perspective on your life now, which is good! Cheers -- :toast:

[doc03]

27. I had ocular melanoma, that's a tumor inside the eye

on the retina. In October last year I was in the hospital for 5 days with a radioactive plaque in my eye. My eye site has completely recovered and it had not spread elsewhere. I go to the Oncologist for my first check-up in February.

[thebigidea]

31. just found a massive tumor, have no insurance, am scared shitless

gotta love that health care system, especially doctors suggesting I try tylenol for the pain.

thanks doc, never occurred to me!

[OzarkDem]

33. Where do you live?

Don't make health care choices based on what you think you can afford. Get in there and get treatment and worry about the cost later.

[OzarkDem]

34. Breast cancer - 8 yr survivor

Fast growing, large tumor, with 30% chance of surviving 5 yrs. Neo-adjuvant chemo 4 cycles ACF (which got rid of a 5 cm tumor after 2 treatments), bilateral mastectomy, 4 cycles of docetaxel, 30 radiation treatments. Anti-nausea meds were good, but had a lot of bone pain, neutropenia. I too had tons of benadryl, but never fell asleep. My head would roll around on my shoulders and I would babble while the doctor said "I can't believe she's still awake".

They're making tremendous advances in cancer treatment, esp with targeted therapy and genomics. We just have to make sure everyone has access to affordable health care.

[Maru Kitteh]

38. Lot's of places won't even give you an asprin or let you walk through the

door without insurance or a fat wad of cash or the deed to your house. It's brutal out there for the uninsured who are not rich.

[thebigidea]

40. yeah, pretty poorly handled.

a few years ago when I started feeling occasional odd feelings and fatigue I went to an emergency room in a California hospital and this guy was sneeringly condescending, insulting, told me they couldn't do anything and I should see a specialist. Should've just gone somewhere else where someone could've explained my options instead of just going into deep denial until it started to get excruciating.

I think I found an insurance provider, i'm in the midst of arranging that and another round of tests. I'm sure whatever it is will be awful, and my black humor is about to become a few shades darker.

[Maru Kitteh]

35. OMG. Is there ANYTHING you can do like sign up for studies

relocate, anything? I'm so upset about your situation! WTF is WRONG with this country?????

We didn't have health insurance for 14 years and sweat buckets every minute of every year. Our benifits start next month and we're luck enough to be getting Blue Cross Blue Sheild with no exceptions for previous conditions. I know it's a long shot but are you capable of looking for something like that somewhere?

I mean, who cares what the job is if you can get the insurance.

[thebigidea]

36. yeah, i'm i'm in the process of getting insurance now to see what it is.

of course, its been festering away for 4 years or more so its bound to be jawgrindingly awful. I was sort of in denial for a while, thought it was just stress, couldn't afford a doctor, ignored it until you could feel the damn thing. Lovely.

I guess I had some weird complex about accepting any kind of charity, embarassment or something.

the previous conditions thing is driving me mad. How dare people who aren't perfectly healthy want insurance? The monsters. MONSTERS!

[Maru Kitteh]

41. Don't be too hard on yourself

It's a guy thing. The important thing is you can fight the bastard now. We'll keep you in our thoughts. I'm glad you can do something about it now.

When the MIL kept asking us what we'd do if we got cancer I said, I guess we'll just go home and die. She said "That's not funny". I told her it wasn't meant to be funny - If her son got cancer he would die just like his dad did and maybe she should think about that next time she stepped in the voting booth. She hates McChimpy now.

I'm glad you're getting insurance TBI. :thumbsup:

[thebigidea]

42. the worst part is...

... imagining Rita Cosby croaking: "he was a
promising though disturbed filmmaker whose harsh
anti-bush rhetoric landed him in obscurity...(wheeze)
then cancer struck, resulting in a brave fight... it
seemed to go into remission, until it struck again -
rotting his body from within... up next my
exclusive interview with a guy who once poorly loaded
film cameras with him. but first, more on the natalee
holloway mystery: was there a third man?"

[Maru Kitteh]

46. Dammit TBI.........

Curse you for making me laugh at your cancer! :rofl:



---->Veganistan:spank:

[bonito]

45. Just me, passing information

What I would do is take omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) 6, 3 times a day. and cut down on omega 6.
Peace

[MellowOne]

37. My aunt

had breast cancer at 45, she rejected all conventional means and cured herself using only natural means. She's now is better health and shape then when she was in her twenties. And she looks amazing!

[Obamarama]

43. Malignant melanoma - twice.

Took Interferon Alpa-B injections after second incident. The side effects were terrible, but still not as bad as what chemo does to you, though.

Coming up on five years this summer without recurrance.

[Solly Mack]

47. Currently awaiting results from 2 biopsies - due back the 13th.

Odds are on my side(against) - but we'll see. We'll see.

[Liberal_Andy]

48. head and neck cancer, moved to lungs

squamous cell carcinoma...getting Erbitux (Imclone)and Taxotere now, 3rd round of treatments. Stable for now.

[AlienGirl]

49. Tongue cancer (squamous cell carcinoma): 2002

I went through surgery, chemo, and radiation. In rapid progression I lost some teeth, a third of my tongue, my voice, my sense of taste, my hair, my hearing, a third of my body weight, my husband, my kids, my house, most of my stuff, and the entire life I had built.

So now I'm cured, it's years later, my hair's come back, I can taste and hear and talk but can't eat the spicy stuff I used to love. My teeth are bad because my salivary glands are completely burnt out, and I can't really afford the dental work I ought to have done. I catch all kinds of weird diseases now; my body is just not healthy anymore. I see my kids occasionally and am in a long-term relationship with Everythingsxen, who manages to put up with me.

Tucker

[Roon]

51. My exlover had nonhodgkin's lyphoma (sp)

He beat it with half dose chemo, half dose because he was hiv positive. Towards the end of treatment, the chemo made his appendix blow up and he had to have emergency surgery. It was a rough ride but he made it! He is still in remission as we speak.We broke up 6 years later.