Archive for September, 2006
Hello, my name is Cherrylyn and I have a cancer story.
I am the 7 of 11 siblings in the family. My father, Rodolfo is now 67 years old. Four days ago, my niece rushed her to the hospital and he was diagnosed with Dengue fever, stage 2. Dengue fever is up to stage 3 so he is very close to death. Good thing, he survived from that one. I am very thankful for the doctor in Baguio Medical Center for providing him an excellent medical attention. After a few days, my sister sent me a text message saying that my father has a Colon Cancer. He was given up to six months to live and a surgery will prolong his life for only another up to a year. The cancer already covered up to 2cms of his colon and is groving rapidly. If his bowel movement goes abnormal then he will die right away. There’s an option, though - a surgery to insert a tube straw which is called colonic stent.
My father cried when he found out that he is dying of cancer but happy because he is saved by God through Jesus Christ by accepting him as his personal savior. He think that he’s ready for this since he already finish his obligation with us by bringing us up to be a good person and a blessing to everybody.
I just hope and pray that my father will not suffer a lot before he goes away. Father, for all that you did, I love you and you will be missed. We will see you in heaven.
Cherrylyn
September 26th, 2006
Hi! My name is Tracy S. from Eastern Ohio. I’m a 40 year old divorced mom of one son who will be 14 this month.
I have a cancer story to share. Actually, I have two, as I went through cancer 8 years ago at the age of 32 and am now going through it and the treatments once again at present.
I can only hope that my experiences can maybe, in some small way, but hopefully in a big way, help even one person find the courage, hope, faith and strength to cope and get through their own trying time or that of a loved one or friend.
One very important thing I want to say right at the beginning is..NEVER ever give up. Please, the biggest part of the fight is just that, the fight for the will to live. 
Your inner strength will play one of the biggest parts of the therapy and healing. It all starts at home…within you. And each and everyone of us has that inner strength…you just may have to dig a little deeper to find it. No pity partioes will help you….be strong and FIGHT!
8 years ago, I was experiencing a lot of pain and abnormal bleeding. (I promise never to get graphic). I went to my gynecologist and had a regular pap smear…oh and yes, just my luck, there was a power outage right in the middle of my exam!! Anyway, as soon as he had a look-see, he knew right then and said that it was displasia, which is pre-cancerous cells. It must have been pretty bad if he could actually see it without waiting for test results. I was floored. Cancer. My mom had died of lung cancer when I was just 18 and now I was going to face cancer….without her? I was so afraid…for about the first 5 minutes and there it came, this inner strength. I found it somehow and knew right then that it was do or die. Period. I have lived with the most positive attitude out there ever since and it has got me through things I never thought possible.
The test results came back and it was full blown cervical cancer that was invasive, which means that it was spreading. I had 2 surgeries to try and get it all to no avail. I was sent to one of the top 14 hospitals in the country and still have the very same oncologist now as I did then. We did the normal MRI, CT Scan and PAP’s and sat down with a plan. Did I want more children? Yes, but I wanted to save my life so I could be there for my husband and my only child. I saiod I was ready for the radical hysterectomy, which is something like a compltete (full) hysterectomy but they had left the ovaries to save me from going through premature menopause at such a young age. Needless to say, it didn’t work and at the age of 32 I was having the night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings and everything else that applies to menopause. 
That was ok though, my surgery was over, I was healing and it was time for the radiation therapy to begin. 12 weeks of intense radiation to my abdominal area. It wasn’t bad though, there was no pain, no burning, no iotching or anything. I did however, start to feel a bit nauseaded for about the last 3 weeks off and on, but nothing too major. I also got fatigued more often and quite sleepy, but I got through it like a real trooper. (Remember that inner strength?)
It was over within about 4 months tops. I felt good and was healing ever so nicely…and so very happy to have that disease out of my body once and for all. I was very, very happy and relieved and felt I had been given a second chance at life. When people say that colors are more vivid and scents smell stronger and the world seems sweeter? It’s true, at least in my case it was. Many things changed about me, some better, some worse. But, because of the changes, I am no longer married. That is a whole other story though. 
One thing I would like to mention is this. When I said about the pain and bleeding? Those were all symptoms I never really should have been having. They said that I shouldn’t have really had any symptoms whatsoever! Tell me that wasn’t like a tap on the shoulder from someone watching over me!!
So, 8 years later rolls around. I am now having pain in my lower abdomin where the appendix would be. I fought with it for about 5 nights and got really scared, so I went to the ER. They said it was way too low to be the appendix and thought maybe ovaries or gallbladder. I had an internal ultrasound and they found absolutely nothing…NOTHING to be causing the pain. Not one thing! They sent me home. I followed up with my regular doctor who also found nothing. He told me that instead of passing the buck, so to speak, that he wanted me to go back to Magee Women’s Hospital where I had went before. I was more than happy to go back there since they were the wonderful people who had saved my life.
I got back to Magee, had a CT Scan which showed clean and my wonderful oncologist requested me to have what they call a PET Scan. This is nuclear medicine now that we are talking about and a very expensive test. He wrote a 19 page report on my existing and prior case and the test was ok to have, the insurance would cover all of it!! I was scheduled and went it for it. One week later, on April 5, 2006, my 40th birthday, my oncologist calls me and tells me in such a nice kind way that, “Trac’, I want you to have a round (6 cycles) of chemo”. I asked, “I have cancer again?” and he said “Yes Chief, you have 2 infected lymph nodes to take care of”. Once again, my world crumbled for about an hour and there were tears and horrible images going through my mind. I was afraid and very much alone without my husband with me this time around. That inner strength? It came back. Again it would pull me through some of the deepest darkest places I have ever been. Everyone has it within them, you just have to be wise enough to see it and smart enough to use it. It’ll save your life. Trust me.
Again, the pain I was having? There was absolutely nothing to cause it. The lymph nodes were both on the right side, one by the kidney (very small tumor) and one by the lung, just a little larger of a tumor. So again, another tap on the shoulder from someone watching over me? Had to be. And if it wasn’t for the PET Scan being done, I most likely would have been a goner because before my chemotherapy got started, 2 cancerous lymph nodes turned to 5…quickly. And if I wouldn’t have had that scan, it would have went undetected for God only knows how long and would have eventually become invasive and aggressive and invaded the major organs. So I can only thank God and my Dr. for this test.
I finished up one round (6 treatments) of two different types of chemo, one being the older Cisplatin and the other being the newwer experimental chemo Paclitaxol. They have been outstanding for me! I am now back down to 2 very small (.6 mm) sized tumors and have just finished up chemo number 7 with one more to go. They feel that this 7th one took care of what it needed to do but the 8th would be for good measure. I pray this is so. I want to be danicing with NED (No Evidence of Disease) for Christmas and have my hair growing back!
Ah yes, the hair falling out. I ended up having a 16″ ponttail cut off and it now sits in a large freezer bag in my drawer as a reminder to me of yet another bout with a very serious killer disease. And yes, it started falling out right after my very first treatment. BUT, I am on some pretty heavy duty chemo, this will not always be the same senerio for everyone. As a matter of fact, I lost most of my body hair, but hey ladies, no more legs to be shaved for quite some time!
Now for the side effects of the chemo. With having 2 different types, it’s harsh to the body, mostly the stomach and the nausea can be brutal at times. The metalic taste in my mouth makes ever=n water taste burnt. Fresh fruits and vegiies are the key to getting through this. I stay away from fried, heavy and greasey foods because they irritate the belly and make it all worse. I take in a lot of fluids to help flush out the excess chemo (which needs to be done since some of the older chemo can be hard on the kidneys). I have been prescribed some really top of the line anti-nausea meds that work wonderfully. There are so many medications that can be prescribed to get you through the hard times and nausea, etc. Chemo is a very dramtic thing to go through…physically, mentally, emotionally…every way possible. But, there are people out there who are more than willing to help out and be supportive so that NOBODY will ever have to go at it alone…ever. I have made wonderful friends through a place called “Chemo Angels”. I have 2 women “Angels” who sent me gifts and cards once a week to keep my spirits up and they couldn’t be more wonderful. I have made a new best friend through one of them and we keep in touch. She has also went through cancer, so she knows exactly where I am coming from and headed.
Well, that, in a nut shell, is my story. I could go into more detail, but wanted to just get the important things in here for you to read. Eeven though I have been through some of the most life transforming things anyone could imagine, I still have so much faith, hope and strength and wish that all of you could find that within you or someone you are trying to help cope with cancer. Just being a friend and offering words and a shoulder…always willing to listen and offer that shoulder for them to cry on makes all of the differenc einthe world. Offer to cut grass and do yardwork and don’t take no as an answer. Any cancer treatment will be rough and will really sap the energy out of a person, so just go and do it for them. Nice cards and a phone call to say HI is more than wonderful. Just letting that person know you care is more than you could ever imagine.
All of my very, very best to you. May God be with you all during the hard times you may face.
Tracy…..
September 23rd, 2006
On October 10th of the year 2004, my Aunt Dianne went into the hospital to have surgery on what the doctors were calling a fibroid tumor on her ovary. When she went in for surgery and they opened her up, they found that she had stage four Ovarian Cancer. There wasnt anything they could do as far as surgery went because the tumor was attached to some major organs. My mother and my Aunt had promised on another years ago, that if either one ever got really sick, they wouldnt do chemo and whatnot. Well, that was before my Auntie had two sons. She tried. She went through the chemo four times. It was having no effect, she just kept getting sicker, she couldnt go to the bathroom, she couldnt eat…. Things got really bad, really fast. In December of 2004, she was hospitalized because she was so sick and they had to give her tube feedings. I went to see her on Christmas, and it was the hardest thing I have ever done. She didnt even know who I was, the cancer had invaded her brain. She tried, she fought with all she had in her, but on January 2, 2005, my poor sweet Auntie passed away, at home with her brothers, sisters, and youngest son holding her hand. This isnt the end. One month later, on February 11, 2005, my Aunt Debbie wasnt feeling well. Her stomach was hurting and she went to the doctor. They did all sorts of blood work and an ultrasound and found that she as well has ovarian cancer. stage 3…. My aunt debbie is a fighter. She went through chemo for a few months and went into remission!!! All was looking well, until around July, when I myself started to feel really lousy. I couldnt sit down because it caused severe pain, I couldnt make love to my fiance because it felt like a knife was tearing away at my insides, so I went to the doctor. I had a smear and it came back extremley abnormal, so I then went in for a colposcopy. When the results came back from the biopsy, my heart hit the floor. I had CIS(Carcinoma that has not invaded the deeper epithelial tissue). I was so scared. It took me a few months to find a doctor that I was comfortable with seeing as how I was having surgery on my reproductive system. In October of 05, I went in for surgery and it was a success. I have now been cancer free for a little under a year. I feel in my heart, that my Auntie Dianne got sick to save us. To spare me and my aunt , to teach us that if there is pain, dont ignore it because something may really be wrong. If it wasnt for her, I would have kept dismissing the pain as gas or whatnot, until it was too late. Out of death, comes new life……. Thank you Auntie Dianne, for opening our eyes and our minds. We love you and miss you deeply.. This was my story…
Janelle Liss
September 12th, 2006
This is a little different from the other cancer stories posted here…just something I’d written in my blog, I’m coming from a different place than most others so please bear with me.
I get frustrated by others’ inability to understand or empathize with what I’m going through…and frustrated more so when they even begin to try. I hate being viewed as “someone with cancer” and that being the be-all, end-all of who and what I am. That just isn’t so.
I hate that people feel as if they need to “learn” how to cope with this aspect of myself, like they need to do research, or buy books or find out all they can. I’m not something you can study, experiment with, what have you. I think those with serious illnesses probably detest being stereotyped or somehow branded, clumped together wholly as a demographic with no other common traits besides being ill, and then somehow analyzed. This isn’t a cattle call and I don’t want to be analyzed….I can’t be. I can’t be fit into some nice, neat package of how I’m going to act, respond, feel, think. It changes daily. And varies certainly from person to person.
Regardless, it bothers me that people even feel as though they need to learn how to “deal” with me. I don’t want to be dealt with or put up with, don’t write off my inconsistencies as a man, as a person, simply because I’m ill. I never asked anyone to deal with me, I never asked anyone for anything — expect simply to allow me to deal with MYSELF. I’m not like anyone else, so my journey, my struggles are altogether foreign to everyone - most of all to me.
This is all new, every day is new. A new battle, a new fight, a new Robert. I don’t see how it could be any other way.
I have to admit, I greatly admire those that can go through what I’m facing right now and feel completely positive about the outcome. The ones that don’t wake up bitter or angry — the ones who don’t allow fear to perpetuate. But that isn’t me. Most days, I’m petrified about what could happen to me, to my son. Other days, I’m angry. I mean, we all have those “Why me?” moments, right? So seriously…why me?
Sometimes I end up in this dark place where I begin to act cold and callous. Two things I know aren’t truly inside of me, but still manage to rear their ugly heads. I’ve never been so uptight, unhappy in my life. Ask Jess, I was always happy before - this. Probably happy to the point that it agitated others, but I didn’t care. That person is long gone, I‘m almost certain. Happy is now one of those transient, fleeting things that I try desperately to cling onto when it finds its way into my life. But it often leaves so quickly, leaving nothing more than a residue of its previous existence. An idea, a notion…simply a nod.
It shouldn’t be that way, right?
So then why is it?
September 10th, 2006
I found out that getting cancer is becoming very, very common. Must be the water we drink, pour in pot for soup, etc. Or the air we breathe even. My first instinct, after I was diagnosed, was to check on my anti-depressant Celexa, I upped them from 20 to 40 mg. I’m still not sure if that did the trick. But I sure wasnt depressed. My doc told me I got a minimum of 5 years. He stressed “minimum”. Hmmm, I thought. Since I’m into ghosts and spirits (but am pissed that I dont ever get to “see” one), I got my best friend, Duane, to promise to shout out loud at my death bed: “DO NOT go to the light!!”. I think that’s the turning point. Once you reach out to “That Light”, you’ve crossed over and bye bye. I arranged with other good friends, that their red pens would roll by themselves on their desks. Heh heh, my job: Accounting Manager, I LOVED using my red pen. Seems very authoratitive, to dele or emend a line heh! After that, I calmed down. Cest la vie. I ALMOST wished to die NOW. So that I dont have to wait too long. Then all my golf ball tumors disappeared, after 6 months of chemo. So I was confused. What now, I thought. Start counting from now till 5 years, like what my doc said?? Nahhh I thought, what a waste of time.
I was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, have finished 6 months of chemo, am going through maintenance IV drips once a week for one year. But I’m antsy. I aint willing to hang around till my 5 year mark is up. Nope!! I must say though, my Celexa (anti-depressant) works TOO well
::::::: GRINS:::::::::::::::
September 10th, 2006
When I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer back in October 2004 all that came to my mind was that I was going to die. That word CANCER will scare anyone into thinking that they are about to die. All my hopes and dreams of becoming a mother was dashed. But there was some light, my nephew Remy (who was 4 at the time of my diagnosis). He was my strength to beat this because I wanted to be here to watch him grow up. I had a total hysterectomy on November 5th 2004 and they had reached my cancer in its early stages and it didn’t have a chance to spread anywhere else so I didn’t have to undergo any chemotherapy or radiation. I was lucky!
I was watching TV one day and I caught the segment of the Oprah Winfrey show where she did the story on Lance Armstrong and about his cancer story. At that point I was beginning to feel like I was a fake and that I cheated somehow. I was feeling like such a fake and I convinced myself that I WAS NOT A SURVIVOR. In my mind I didn’t survive anything. I had surgery and that was it. I didn’t go through anything that Lance had gone through so how can I be a survivor. I convinced myself that I WAS NOT A SURVIVOR. My Mom also saw the story on Lance Armstrong and she suggested that I get one of those “LiveStrong” bracelets. I didn’t deserve it, so I thought nothing of it.
My nephew came for a visit about 2 months later and we were waiting on breakfast one morning at Starbucks. This older gentleman sitting in the nice comfy chair asked my nephew about his yellow bracelet. This is what he told him…”I wear this for my auntie who had cancer but went into the hospital and is better now…” I asked him who gave him that bracelet, he said grandma did. He said he wanted everyone to know how much he loved me and he didn’t want me to die. Right then it hit me, I AM A SURVIVOR! It took my little nephew of all but 4 years old, to realize that yes, I am a survivor of cancer and yes I WILL LIVESTRONG. I purchased a whole lotta bracelets and handed one out to every single friend that I have. I attached a little note to each one saying that I thanked them for all their love and support and I asked them to wear this bracelet to show their support. I told them that I had donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation so that others who didn’t have the love and support that I did could find some…I have a reason for living strong and its for my nephew…. REMY!
September 10th, 2006
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24. I wasn’t sure if my boyfriend at the time would want to stay with me, with all the surgery, radiation, chemo that I would be going through, not to mention the losing of half my breast. Before my surgery, we attended his company picnic and won a free couple’s getaway package at a local hotel. We decided to take the weekend a week before my surgery. I was looking forward to it, since I was really nervous about surgery, and couldn’t wait to get away. As we were getting dressed for our free dinner at a great place, he proposed. Completely surprised me! Life after that was a whirlwind. There was surgery, chemo, and radiation, and all that goes with cancer treatment. Yet there was also wedding planning! It was wonderful to have something to distract me, and wonderful to have such a caring person to stand by me.
We planned on our wedding the next fall. We didn’t realize at the time that our wedding date was the exact day, a year later, that I started chemo! What better way to celebrate? Things were coming together. The only thing I got to miss out on was getting my hair styled. I had to wear a wig for my wedding, which I think turned out well, but wasn’t what I pictured as a little girl. Marrying my prince charming was, though.
It is so great to have a person like that in my life. I can’t imagine going through this on my own, and having a boyfriend stick around through it. I believe if it weren’t for him, and of course for God, that I wouldn’t have gotten through it.
September 9th, 2006
I have been working as a Nurse in a nursing home for the last 2 years. One of my patient daughter was diagnosed with rectal cancer at age 42. The cancer was so advanced by the time when it was diagnosed, such that she had to get a colostomy.
The cancer formed a fistula to the vagina and so the bowel content could be seen coming out of the vagina. This is my most horrifying thing I have ever seen in my carrer.
She has been on hospice care for over 6 months but she is still hanging in there. The most disturbing thing is that her family want her to die, to stop the pain she goes through. The pain is both physical and psychological, due to colostomy and folet catheter.
Thats my story
September 6th, 2006
About two weeks ago, I met an amazing woman when I was making a home visit to a terminally ill patient. I normally make such visits in my mission to touch the hearts of the sick and hurting people.
In the home, I met a lady by the name Nicole. She was taking care of the sick person I had gone to visit for a wage. I could tell she had a passion on doing that.
After visiting the terminally sick patien, who happens to be Nicole Grand father, Nicole offered me a cup of cofee and we sat down for a chat. When I was about to finish my cup, I realized that Nicole had not even sipped her cofee once. I couldn’t help to think that Nicole, 28 YO, was admiring me but I kept on assuming hoping that the right moment would arise and say what she had in her mind.
Nicole started her story and told me that she has been divorced twice by the same man. She has a 6 years old who suffers from ADHD… and so she continued with a long story. I noticed her etes were becoming red as we continued talking. “My former husband divorced me because I have cervical cancer”… she said. “I am the last born in our family and all of us have cervical cancer”.
In my thoughts, I realized that I had come there in that house for a very special reason… to reach the sich, hurting and desperate. I couldn’t do much to help her situation but I had something to give. I had my ears to listen to her as she vent out her pain of living with cancer.
Nicole feels rejected because of her cervical cancer. She is scheduled for a hysterectomy (surgical removal of uterus) this november but she has no one to take care of her during her recovery. She has parents who lives in another state and her operation is scheduled in Dallas.
I realized I had something even bigger to give Nicole. I have some hours I can volunteer and teach her about preparing for the surgery. She had mild anemia and so I thought that should be the first thing I will talk with her.
Nicole has become my close friend. My fiance’ and I will be there for Nicole even after surgery to help keep up with recovery and her ADHD 6 years old.
My story is actually longer than this.. it could be 10 pages long but I have tried to cut it short to avoid boring readers.
Thoughts for the day
Live to give. You may not have material things to give but someone needs your hug. Someone needs your ears. Infact, these are more valuable than material gifts to someone in pain.
Quote of the day: “You have not lived your day until you do something for someone who cannot pay you back”
:-) :-O
September 5th, 2006