I believe it was John Wayne who coined the phrase. I suppose it is everyone's worst fear, or at least in the top 5.

Cancer.

Got the word last week, colon cancer. CT scan and blood work thus far hasn't detected any spreading outside of the affected area, but they're still planning a few more tests to make sure.

Surgery for sure is in my future, probably chemo and/or radiation.

Meanwhile my oldest brother (turned 66 in September) lost his pancreas and half his stomach to pancreatic cancer early in the year and it has now spread to his liver and lungs. Time and current medical science is not on his side.

Prayers appreciated.

Prayers on the way.

Prayers sent! I had to search the forum to see how long ago I had colon rectal cancer. lol
I found out around Thanksgiving too going into the Holidays. One thing that helped me was since it was the Holidays, eggnog was popular. I would drink a quart a day. Enough sugar that it was like drinking candy bars and the cream coated my stomach. I actually gained my weight back during chemo and radiation after going down to 120 lbs. I hadn't been that weight since junior high.

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3142219/4

You got it. Prayers inbound for a speedy recovery.

Well, sh!t.

If they caught it early, colon cancer is one of the ones with high success in fighting.

But well wishes and a supplication to the Almighty to speed your recovery.

I wish you a speedy recovery.

Best wishes for a quick recovery and positive thoughts sent your way F4UDash4.

I think the medical industry is a fkking scam and I get pissed when I hear about people with cancer.. no cure,, yeah right..

anyways.. sorry to hear ... start eating a high alkaline diet with no simple sugars.. they have been getting good results with this in Europe..

Prayers inbound!

Take care of yourself.

You are in my thoughts and wish you and your brother well.

My best wishes to you. Ignore the rubbish about the medical industry concealing cures for profit.

I speak as someone diagnosed in 2009 with prostate cancer. After surgery, radiation and chemo I am still here, though struggling at times.

Remember that the tumours don't care whether you are optimistic or otherwise.

Don't give up and maintain the rage against this foul thing.

Tell the conspiracy theorists to go to hell.

My thoughts are with you, F4U. Kick it in the nuts.

I think Max said everything else I might have.

Good luck to the both of you.

Thoughts and prayers. Keep Fighting!

Trust in God and keep praying.

You can beat this man.

Quite a few of us Cancer survivors here.

I avoided doing any internet research etc. I just did what my Doc's told me...well most of it.

Here I am a year later fighting to not get fat from eating too well.

Just don't dive into the pain meds as heavy as I did. I was using them not just for pain but to help alleviate the wonderful side effects I was having with chemo. Tell em to start NOW as soon as they have a attack plan.

Done. Do you know what stage it is? Colon cancer is far easier to treat if it has not metastasized.

Guy's, if your at that age, get a colonoscopy. It's not the answer for everybody, but it can catch a lot of stuff early. Like most guy's, I kept putting it off for the usual reasons and it turned out to be no big deal. The evening before was 'interesting', but the procedure was nothing. I was in and out of there in an hour with no after effects. I was lucky and they found nothing, but I went years after I should have had one. Just saying.

Thanks for the encouraging words and prayers.


I second Fitz505's advice: GET A COLONOSCOPY.


I got my first 6 years ago, got a clear bill of health. I only got another recently because of changes in my bowel habits.

That's another sign you need to watch out for. If things change from your normal routine for weeks on end, see a doctor.

Sending heart felt prayers your way, for all who are suffering.

Sorry to hear this Dash. I have been fighting colo/rectal cancer for 2 years now. Chemo, radiation, surgeries, ostomy bag, etc.. It will get overwhelming. When it all started, I thought there was no way I could handle it. Now 2 years later, I am amazed at what I was able to handle. Family and friends are key. It will get tough for them too. I wish you and your brother the best.

I'll have you guys in my prayers.

You've got this! Do what they say, keep your spirits up, let your loved ones help you out.
Cancer isn't what it was 30 years ago, even 10 years ago.

I don't know why they don't lower the suggested colonoscopy age by 5 years. Right now it's 50, but most guys I hear about having colon cancer are around 45, thinking waiting until they hit 50 (like I did) was the thing to do.

I wish I would have not waited until I was 50. I was always afraid of the colonoscopy. Turns out, it was easy. The prep part sucked a little. My health insurance wouldn't pay 100% until I turned 50. I was about 47 when I started noticing going to the bathroom wasn't as easy as it once was. I thought it would just go away. Pretty stupid. They really won't know how far it has spread until they do surgery and get at your lymph nodes. Another thing to be mindful of is lymphedema. After they take most of your nodes out, edema will become an issue. The stage they give it, and whether it has gone through the colon wall will be pivotal. Again, it is a long hard road, but it does get better.

FYI:

http://www.lymphedemapeople.com/thesite/lymphedema_and_colon_cancer.htm

My mother had colon cancer in her 60's (lived to be 85) and now I have it at 54, so my doctor has advised me to advise my two sons that they should start having colonoscopies at age 40.

I'll be sure to spend time asking for your healing!

You got me scared now, just hit the double nickle today. Hate going to the doctor.
Hang in there, you have my prayers.

Dude, a colonoscopy is NOTHING. Even the prep is super easy, you drink a lot of gatorade with your miralax and sit on the toilet reading "American Rifleman" or whatever. Be sure your procedure is scheduled for early morning since you can't eat until it's over, you go in, they start an IV, you fall asleep and ta-da it is OVER. Enjoy a good meal and go home.

DO IT. SOON.

God bless and stay strong. Keep your head up and in your darkest hours, don't forget that he's there for you. He'll take your fears out of your hands if you let him. Praying for you.

Best wishes to you and stay positive. I had a colon check 10 years ago. Time for another after reading this

Hope all goes well F4UDash4
A positive attitude really helps.
I had blood tests and a ultra sound last week, i have a enlarged prostate.
One of the blood Tests was for the big C as well. i will find out this week.
Did not to tell my family about the tests no point in worrying them till i know for sure.

Best of my thoughts for you, and fingers crossed. Colon Cancer is thankfully one of the better treatable versions... hang in there!

Damn, I'm sorry to hear that. Besides the advice, I'd feed off the fighting attitude of the survivors here.

I have no doubt that my wife will have a colonoscopy scheduled for me next August when I turn 50. Been that way since 2008, she schedules whatever and I go and endure it, a promise I made and won't break.

Stay positive! Well wishes and prayers your way.

That is a hard blow. Prayers sent. Stay strong and positive.

Very good report from my surgeon today. The location of my cancer makes it relatively easy and safe to remove, we had been concerned that it could have been lower which would have been more difficult to treat. Also my CT scans appear to be clear and I won't require any pre-operative chemo or radiation. I will only require chemo after surgery if cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes that she will remove along with the tumor / section of colon. My surgery hasn't been scheduled yet but it will be before years end.

Thanks for all the kind words and especially your prayers. God is good.

I am happy to hear that things came back as well as they did - sounds like the best result, given the situation.

All the best in a speedy and complete recovery.

Thanks for the update F4U. I hope everything turns out ok.

That's great news!


Regards,
4 <S!>

I wish you all the best and a quick recovery !

Surgery scheduled for 12/19

Best wishes on that, and I hope it gets the job done and you are back to normal!

Good luck with the surgery! Best wishes, and a quick recovery!

Good luck with the surgery F4UD

Best of luck from another survivor!
Danced with the devil in 2005, slash poison and burn, and I'm still alive and kicking. You'll be fine.

Welcome to the club, F4UDash4! I didn't even know there were this many survivors hanging around here.


Guys, I'm trying to remember the name of the oral chemo I took. Weird ass #%&*$# that made my fingers instant freeze when touching a metal door knob. Had to wear gloves to get anything out of the frig.

Not to scare F4UDash4, but maybe we should start a list of symptoms that the doctors don't know to tell you about. Both good and bad.

I'll start...

My hair did not fall out, but actually got darker and a little thicker. I remember that happening to my mom also.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts F4U. I hope for a speedy and complete recovery.

Best wishes, F4U!

Falstar, was it Xeloda (Capecitabine) ? Chemo is a #%&*$#. Until you go thru it, you have no idea. No, not trying to scare you F4Dash4 either, but it sucks. I'm sure you will handle it quite well. It does weird things. Everything tastes like metal. You get hand / foot syndrome that makes your skin fall off (very painful) . Oxaliplatin made touching everything cold hurt. Couldn't drink or eat anything cold for a while. Very weird stuff.

Thanks LB, yeah Xeloda, but now Oxaliplatin sounds familiar too now. /shrugs

While on names... What's the "Date Rape" drug they give you for the colonoscopy? The doc laughed at me when I called it a Ruffy, but she agreed that it was close to the same thing.

Which brings up another thing. The women doctors I had during my cancer ordeal (being filleted open twice) where great.. Understanding, supportive, great sense of humor...compared to the male doctors, kind of butt heads.

I went for the General for my two colonoscopies. Call me a wimp, but I wanted to be knocked out for them.

I wasn't given an option for my colonoscopies, I've been given a general for both of mine. I was wishing I had a general, or even a local, last week when my surgeon performed a "rigid sigmoidoscopy" to pinpoint the exact location of my tumor, but I had to literally sweat that out fully conscious!

That's what I had done a few years ago. Fully conscious, chatting with the doctor and female nurse while watching it all on a screen. Uncomfortable in multiple ways.

Oh Lord I couldn't chat at all, just grunt and maybe get a yes / no out occasionally. But I felt like Christmas Morning when it was over!

I was lucky, I was out for the colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopy. My bone biopsies I was awake. They put me on my side (drugged up on valium and painkillers), and then inserted two large needles into the back of my pelvis. At on point the doctor seemed to be actually using a small hammer to get them in further. Each time a nurse held my hand as I writhed in pain. I just remember the doctor saying, 'just a few more minutes, one more pinch, we are almost there" over and over. I have seen and heard of people who have endured much worse. I have been in waiting rooms with little children who were much braver and stronger than me. SO, I feel bad complaining. Early detection is KEY ! Because when they think it has spread, you will get worked over.
I have also had my fill of arrogant , aloof, doctors. I am forever grateful to the kindness and compassion shown to me by many over worked nurses.

Your dignity is the first to go. A sense of humor will help you greatly.

Getting ready to start my prep for surgery on Monday, no solid food all day Sunday and other "unpleasantness". My biggest issue however is that my brother is rapidly slipping away, I don't know if he'll make it long enough that I'll be able to attend a funeral. So tomorrow I have to be prepared to see him for what may be the last time. He's 12 years older than me and the epitome of what I think of as a "big brother". I don't think we've ever had a cross word. I can't imagine what life is going to be like without him.

I agree LB...the nurses are usually much more compassionate.

Good luck with your surgery F4.

Best wishes, hope all goes well and you bounce back quickly.

So sorry to hear about your brother.

Good luck with the procedure. I am sorry to hear about your brother. I have an older brother that I have always looked up to also. I wish your family strength and some peace at this time.

Best wishes on your procedure, I hope it's 100% successful and you recover quickly!

And I too am sorry to hear about your brother, and I hope you are able to spend some time with him.

Surgery went well. Very little physical pain thus far. Just walked around room and urinated without aid of catather.

Otherwise heartbroken, best big brother ever passed at 0430.

Love you Steve.

My condolences F4U.

I send you all the strength i can.

Wow, that is painful timing. Think happy memories.



The Jedi Master

My condolences F4U. I am sorry to hear this.

Best wishes, F4U. I lost my older brother to pancreatic cancer about three years ago. It's tough. It sounds like you guys had a great relationship. As Jedi said, think about the happy memories.

My condolences as well, F4UDash4.

I too am very close to my older brother (by 5 years, also named "Steve" for "Stephen") and have always looked up to him, even following him to Atlanta in the late-80's (until my wife's job transferred her to Jax, FL, but we both traveled frequently to visit). The leather wallet I still use today was his groomsman gift he gave me in the mid-80's for being in his wedding, he was Best Man in mine. He looked after me when we were kids.

He's been very good at making DVDs/MP4s of our old home movies (starting before I was born) to his own home movies (wife and I are in almost all of them), to the many cruises we've been on (always together except for the first one). Recently looking over his family photo albums, I'd forgotten just how close we really were when we lived in closer proximity, harder to do now with distance.

I hope you have these kinds of recorded memories to go back to, to remember the many good times.

Oh no. I'm so sorry to read this. My condolences.

Stay strong!

At home, doing well. Thanks for all the kind words and prayers. Visitation for my brother this evening, funeral tomorrow. Thankful I can be there to say goodbye.

Condolences for your heart breaking loss. I am glad to see that your surgery went well, and that you can be there with the rest of your family to memorialize Steve's life.

Dude:

I just spotted this thread. I wish you all the best and am so very sorry for your loss.

Steve

F4UDash, so sorry you have had so much heaped on you, especially the loss of your brother.

Damn, Dash. I'm sorry to hear that. Prayers for a speedy recovery and for comfort for your family.

Sorry about your brother man. Hang in there and kick cancer's ass!

Glad to hear your surgery went smoothly and my condolences on the loss of your brother, F4U. I lost one of my brother-in-laws in November and I lost my only brother (half-brother on my dad's side) many years ago to a kayak accident.

Minor surgery tomorrow to install chest port (or "port-a-cath") for the chemo which starts Friday.

Good luck.

Gee, it's hard to post "Hurray for you!" and "Deepest Condolences" at the same time.

And yet it sums up my feelings.

Sending good vibes your way F4U.


Wheels

oh man, sorry to hear such bad news, prayers coming your way.

Hoping it goes well.

Good luck Dash. My surgery was easy. Your shoulder will be soar for about a day. After that, the fun stuff starts. I wish you the best.

False alarm. Thought I was going to have port installed today, it turned out to be just a consultation about the port. Kinda ridiculous as I already knew everything they told me. The doctor said that patients come in all the time thinking they're going to have their port installed that day because the cancer center had not explained the process clearly. Oh well, scheduled for surgery tomorrow.

You will be in my thoughts Dash and my deepest condolences for your brother.

Lost my younger brother to cancer of the oesophagus in 2006 and my mother to cancer of the colon in 2003, he was 49 and my mother was 75.

I have to have regular check-ups on my oesophagus as I have the same problem as my brother, the difference is that I had mine treated early and so far cancer has not developed. We all urged my brother to go and get his chest pains/heartburn seen to but he rubbished the idea and never went for a check up, mean while I had been on medication for a few years to control the acid production (proton pump inhibitor)and had to watch as he ignored the symptoms, that was hard especially when he finally got the diagnosis and that it was terminal, it had spread to his bone marrow and liver.

The last day I seen him alive was one of the hardest things I have had to do, leave him in hospital while I drove my wife back home to Belgium, I knew I would not see him again. He passed away just as I got on board the aircraft to fly home.

It still scares me that it could develop into cancer if I don't take precautions.

not a doctor or pharmacist but have extensive experience working with the industry

only advice i have is not to rely only on your doc's or pharmacist's medication choices without due diligence

docs and pharms are not bad and i do not believe that "big pharma" is out to get you, but the docs and pharms usually only know about the drugs that they were taught about in med / pharm school or that were pitched to them by a pharma company representative in the last few years. many doctors are reluctant to switch meds or just don't know that there are other meds available (perhaps recently developed, or perhaps just have fallen out of favor for XYZ reason).

this means there may be a lot of other medications out there that better fit you if you're experiencing severe or uncomfortable side effects or adverse reactions to medications. in general there are a lot of medications that provide the same benefits without the debilitating side effects.

get busy on google and search the hell out of your symptoms and your medication combinations if you're having bad side effects. not all SE's can be avoided but some of them can be by a simple switch to a different med.

good luck with your chemo. never had cancer and hope i never experience it but current medical technology is very advanced and i am sure you will have a positive outcome. eat healthy, live healthy and give your body every advantage you can while dealing with this.

Great advice VF9. The only thing with Googling everything, you can scare yourself from time to time. If I have learned one thing, is that you have to control the dialogue with the doctors (mostly the oncologist). Make sure they here you and answer all your questions. I had to learn a lot of that the hard way.

I did 8 months (on and off) of Zeloda pills and Oxiliplatin thru my chemo port. The Oxi was a cruel #%&*$#. It has been 5 months and I still feel like I have chemo brain. I hope your Onc's office had a nurse give you a good idea about what to expect. Again, I wish the best of luck.

I agree with one caveat. They are out to get money. Either from you or preferably your insurance company. However, they are not trying to make you sicker or anything like that.

Think of it this way--if you live longer, the greater the odds that you will need more products from them in the future. The older you are, the more meds you need, the more they make off you. It is counter to their interests to have you die, especially if they get sued for it.

They WILL argue against generics all day long (if one exists) and fight to get exclusive rights so they can charge more for it, but they legitimately want you to live.




The Jedi Master

And avoid the snake oil peddlers. It's easy to think eating hamsters and sticking organic carrots up your bum will cure all. But there's a reason doctors don't prescribe that sh*t.

Affirmative U-ish.

It's pretty much down to how early you catch it IMO. The radiation/chemo tried and true combo is working in a LOT of cases. The #%&*$# is, in my case (Cancer of the larynx) the treatment almost killed me. Couldn't eat....I loved Morphine..

F4 Dude;

But....Here I am man. Alive and grinning. Just kick back, don't read squat on the internet, laugh with your friends and just KICK CANCER'S ASS! Do the regimen (I read EVERY Tom Clancy novel again), and just cruise.

PLEASE talk to me about pain meds. Man, I am seriously a freakin EXPERT on this subject and am in your corner. I can help you ALOT.

Again, #%&*$# Cancer!

Ah, the "port". The wife hated that, but did ease the treatment. Have they talked about Neulasta treatment
with you? It's to help ease the affects of the chemo. If not, ask the docs.

Prayers for your health!

I think the big thing with the port is how much is it going to get used. Once a week for a couple of months is tolerable. When you have a break in the action you have to have it flushed out with Heprin. Mine had actually moved, so the nurses had to "manipulate" it so they could access it. That did suck. Unless you have what they call good veins (which I don't) the port is a big help. I think it will set off any metal detector at the airport. So make sure you have the card they give you if you are going to fly.

Thanks all, I know where to come when I have questions!

While I'm heartened to see so many survivors here, I'm also a bit down that there has been so much of it among just our small forum.




The Jedi Master

Laughter, it has been said, is the best medicine.

So...


We are the Borg. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated

This was me last September at the tail end of the chemo. Check out my little great grand daughter.



This is me now



Listen to Nixer, he knows that of which he speaks.

Max That is one little sweetheart you have there.And one proud great grand daddy.....Went through Chemo back around 1985..I too lost my hair decided I liked it and have been shaving my head ever since also lost most my teeth and well got used to it..Bless you and that baby

One thing I am kicking myself for not doing is keeping a log and not asking more questions about the products used.

In my case, I have a hernia at the site of the removed ileostomy. The mesh, they put in has been replaced two times.

Now there is a class action lawsuit. You may have seen the commercials on TV. But, I don't know the brand of mesh they used.

Adorable little girl Max. That will give you hope for sure. F4U - that carry around bag looks tough. I just had to go in once a week. Good luck man.

Falstar I just saw my surgeon yesterday about swelling and pain were my ileostomy bag was. The sight of the stoma wound hurts a lot. He says I probably have a incisional hernia. I already have an inguinal hernia on my left side from the 'trauma' of the original surgery. I was was hoping my battle was coming to an end. What is the mesh called? Now I am concerned.

Didn't mean to scare you. The law suits are dealing with Hernia Mesh mostly installed about 10 years ago. There are different brands. Physiomesh, Bard, Marlex, UltraPro, ect... I don't know which brand I have. Google just makes my head swim.

No prob. I sent you a PM.

I'm only on the pump for about 48 hours, once per 2 weeks. I go in for about 4 hours of in office chemo then I take the portable pump home for an additional 48 hours, I have to go back in tomorrow to disconnect and return the pump. Then I repeat in 2 weeks. Having some issues with nausea today, hoping that subsides once I'm off the pump.

The nausea is pretty tough. I know they used to put medication in my IV for it when I went in. Your Onc should give you an anti nausea prescription if you ask. I'm sure they told you about neuropathy. The bottom of your feet might get soar and the skin might get rough and fall off. The stuff I was on, I couldn't touch anything cold or drink anything cold (it would cause your throat to close up). The first session is tough. Chemo brain is very real too. It can be a very humbling experience.

I had pain in my limbs, dizziness, confusion, loss of taste and smell and massive weight loss. 11 kgs in just a few weeks. Of course hair loss also, virtually all body hair as well. Also constant tears streaming from my eyes.

I'm only now feeling normal after the chemo ended in October.

BUT my PSA shrunk from over 6 to 0.26. The cancers, whilst not eliminated, have been set back massively.

Strangely I only lost hair where I had radiation. I had electric like shocks in my mouth and jaw. My teeth really hurt too. Felt like I had a mouthful of cavities. When they put a breathing tube down my throat during one operation, they knocked two crowns loose on my top front teeth. They actually cracked the half teeth in my gum line that held the posts. Still waiting for the chemo effects to wear off to get that fixed. My mouth tasted like metal and food tasted completely different. My eyes were red and weeping all the time. I looked stoned , and felt stoned. I am hoping the chemo brain wheres off soon.

I forgot all the little sores in my mouth and all over the body. They were the worst thing of all as well.

The main thing is to just get through. I had a lot of support from my SimHQ mates here, and that significantly helped me through. I'd hate to tackle it alone. (apart from family of course)

Found out today that my wife has breast cancer. A small, 5mm, nodule that will require surgery. Slow growing so the surgeon is confident that she should be fine.


I really hate the word cancer these days.

Well you got it wrong there mate; isn't it supposed to be t'other way round?

Man F4U, sorry to hear about even more bad luck. I swear it seems that almost half the people out there are getting diagnosed with Cancer. I live in an area with a very high rate of it. There seems to be no where to hide.

The genetic defects and causes of cancer have existed since the earliest days of homo sapiens but the environmental causes have most certainly increased.

Hope all goes well with you and your wife F4, my sis in law had a lump in her breast too, they were able to remove the lump and the lymph node under her arm and she got to keep her breasts, she was lucky.


With my father, father's brother, my mother, her father and my younger brother all having succumbed to cancer it scares the cr@p out of me.

Still remember the day when the doctor told me about my mother, his mouth was moving but I never heard a word he said, later my brother said that that's what happened to him too, even though I had known my mother had cancer for a few days, when I got home and went to see the doctor with her it still came as a shock as he spelled out what the prognosis was, 3 months if she was lucky.

My brother ignored his symptoms and didn't go to the doctor until too late, they gave him 8 months and he checked out just after 3 months had past.

People used to die of other stuff (flu, TB, infections, typhoid, whatever) before they got cancer. As we cure the old reapers of humanity, the remaining ones gain prominence. Couple that with longer lifespans (the odds of getting cancer when you live past 80 are a lot greater than when you die by your 50s from something else) and a much larger population (it's triple what it was just 60 years ago) and it's a foregone conclusion that you'll see a lot more people getting cancer.



The Jedi Master

Diagnosed with it at age 50. Lucky me. Every Oncologist office and Radiology office I've been to has had a full waiting room. Seemed to be mostly people my age. It is such a nasty, cruel illness. Another thing not mentioned, is how it financially destroys many people. Even people with health insurance.

No doubt about that. You are expected to pay for the privilege of not dying at once.

You can see where the conspiracy theorists get their ideas from---would a company put out a sure cure if it only cost a grand, instead of relying on the prolonged money maker that is traditional chemo and radiation?




The Jedi Master

The problem I have with conspiracies like that is that there would need to be way too many people involved leaving way too much of a paper/electronic trail. It would be impossible to keep secret.

Not really. All you need to do is fudge the efficacy of a treatment, make it seem like it won't work, and you can have it thrown in the discard pile. It would only take a couple of people to bury it at an early stage.

Yes, if it got thru trials and testing and they'd prepared to roll it out and THEN canned it that would be hard to cover up.



The Jedi Master

Exactly. And a cancer cure would mean huge bucks to the one that came up with the cure, and they wouldn't care one bit about the other cancer med producers losing money.

You might reduce your risk with lifestyle, but you can't eliminate it. Everyone is at risk so everyone wants a cure, even the pharmaceuticals, I would think.

F4UDash4, sorry about your wife. It sounds like it was detected early, thank goodness. We had our first scare last year which turned out benign (she still had the lump removed) and it's made us even that much more diligent to keep current with screenings.

I don't buy the conspiracy theory about a cure for various cancers being hidden for financial reasons. My docs at every stage are, I am convinced, fighting in my corner. BTW at my review on Monday my PSA was logged at 0.090 down from 2.65 in January.

The tumours infest my bones but are thoroughly suppressed just now.

Well, I am lucky. Just a little bug making my prostrate swell...irritating, but not a problem.

Doc says after it calms down I'm up for another exam an a PSA (?) test.

Colonoscopy last year had them pull out several of those pre-cancer type blobs. Doc said because they were the kind that turn bad, he recommends the Roto-Rooter treatment for me every three years.

OTOH, after a chest x-ray the doctor asked me if they got the chart right, as it says I'm a smoker and the lungs were really clear. But it's more a hobby than an addiction. Some days I might not smoke at all; others it's over half a pack. Unless it's football time. Then I'm going through all 20.

Run. The. Damned. Ball.

Sheesh.

Finished up my last chemo session yesterday. Glad that's over, the last 2-3 have really just sapped every ounce of energy I had. Will need to do a follow up CT scan in a couple of weeks.

My wife just passed the halfway point on her radiation treatments for her breast cancer, she will be done with them altogether in about a week.

Meanwhile just got the news last Friday that a local restaurant owner and icon has stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to his bones. He and his family have been very kind to my family through my cancer, my wifes cancer and my brothers death from cancer all in the past few months.

It's been a rough year, but I can still say I am a blessed man. Thank you Lord.

Thank you for the update F4UDash4, and I'm happy to hear that you finished that up. Wishing only the best for you and your wife to get through your treatments and get on with enjoying your lives together!

That's great news ! Congratulations sir, that ain't easy...

btw, my wife has her last chemotherapy treatment tomorrow (#18).

Here's to the rest of the year. Cheers!

Hopes and prayers for you guys, your wives, and families.

Good news sir ! I know how hard the last stretch of chemo and radiation can be. There are times that you feel like you are hitting a wall, but somehow you push through. I hope you and your wive can get some much needed relaxation now.

It really saddens me to hear that so many members and family are touched by this terrible affliction.

Thanks for all the kind words.

My wife and I were just watching a cooking program where the celebrity chefs are playing for various charities. One chef said he was playing for a pediatric cancer foundation. I just teared up at the thought of a child going through this.

One time when I was in for my last hospital stay, they wheeled me down to the cancer ward for some tests and scans. In the pod room next to me was a young couple with their 2 year old daughter. The little girl had lost all of her hair and had a tube down her nose. She looked really sick. The young parents both looked completely destroyed. I wasn't trying to listen, but from what I heard things were not going good. I will never forget the look on the faces of those young parents. Cancer is a rotten, disgusting scourge.

One last comment from a bystander. If you ever doubt what the human spirit can endure and fight, go to a cancer infusion treatment center.
Young, old, any color, male, female, or it. They brave it out. And they do it with style and grace. It's humbling to witness.

Get to work shan...we need a cure.

Most definitely but it's easier said than done. Many cancers derive from defects in the human DNA code. There may have to be some DNA sequence rewriting involved to totally eradicate the disease.

I really feel for you guys.

My aunt, who helped raise me and was really my second mom (also a big reason I even had any chance with dating my wife) succumbed to cancer in her early 50's. Never smoked, rail thin (naturally), ate really healthy (mostly fresh fish and from their large vegetable garden) and exercised daily on a stationary bike or walk. Didn't matter, cancer still took her at what I'm now realizing, a young age.

So I'm no fool to think that lifestyle can save you, just that it might allow you to live another day the way you want to live. What's important to me today wasn't important years past when I took life for granted. Every day is a gift, every really good day even that much more. So I'm hoping for you and yours going through this, lots and lots of consecutive good days!

So much cases lately, i would really like to know whether this has been there all the time (just not recognized), or if it is something new having to do with our contemporary kind of living, like stuff we are exposed to.

Chances are better when it is recognized early, like in your case.
Wish you all the best, and a speedy recovery.

A lot of the the cancers we know about are indeed the result of lifestyle choices (ie food diet, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, etc.). I would like to think that certain cancers like lung and mouth cancer have dropped since at least in the West, less and less people are smoking tobacco.

I have little doubt that my love of red meat, plus my mother's history of colon cancer, attributed to my case. In my wifes case, she has a history of breast cancer in her family.

No doubt genetics and environment play a huge role in the risk factors. I don't like the fact that I grew up around, and now live so close to "Cancer Alley"...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancer_Alley

...but it's a bit over-hyped.

When I think of having a 'healthy lifestyle', it's not just about diet and exercise, I also think of getting regular checkups and screenings. I have no doubt that my first rotor-rooter job is already on my wife's calendar (turning 50 in about 7 weeks) and who knows what else.

I do believe mine was from my love of bacon, a good steak on Friday night, and having a desk job for the last 25 years. I exercised a lot until I blew my knee out and had surgery at age 40. I got lazy too. Started working afternoons and mid nights (studies have shown shift workers have higher rates of cancer), and started to bring in frozen type dinners to eat at night. Big mistake. Processed food a big no no now. I never was a drinker ( I did like a beer with my steak on Friday night). I was also told that processed lunch meats have been linked to colon cancer too (never really ate them, was a deli guy). There is not really any family history of cancer (mostly heart disease). The area I live in now does have a very high cancer rate. It seems like almost every women I know over 50 has had a breast cancer scare. Now they are seeing a high rise in colon cancers in people under 35 in this country. Something is going on, and it is scary.

http://www.businessinsider.com/map-...there-were-2803-cases-reported-in-2013-4

Everything in moderation is my motto. Having the occasional steak or burger isn't going to significantly increase your risk for cancer. Eating red meat on a daily basis is a different story.

do a high alkaline diet ... they are doing this in Europe and its supposed to help keep you in remission... besides, its healthy anyways.... there are list of foods that are high acid and high alkaline... keep the high acidic food and simple sugars off your menu.

We're working on it, piper.

As for rewriting someone's DNA, although some genes do increase the probability of certain cancers, they appear to require a switch to activate in almost all cases. If it were otherwise, you'd have newborns with cancer. So, being able to control the switches should be enough to eradicate cancer.

However, I'd love to be able to get rid of some diseases such as hemophilia, colorblindness, deafness, etc. by editing deleterious genetic code.

Almost 4 weeks after my last chemo and my peripheral neuropathy is getting worse not better. Tingling, needle prick feelings in my fingertips are the worst they've been, never got this bad while I was doing chemo. Also having same tingling / needle prick feelings in my feet, never had any such "foot" symptoms at all while I was on chemo. Really weird how these things get worse after chemo ended, hoping it starts to subside soon. At least my tastebuds are slowly returning to normal.

Thanks for the update F4U and I'm keeping you in my thoughts.

F4UDash4,

Good news on the taste sense returning, that warrants a good hearty meal I think! You are in my prayers for the rest buddy.

I know what you mean. It sucks Mine was bad first thing in the morning. My primary care doctor suggested Lyrica or Gabapentin for it. What I found on Google about these drugs made me opt out on that idea. Mine finally just went away on its own. A few nights I had to break out some old pain pills, because it was driving me nuts. Chemo is just pure evil. Has your doctor made any suggestions ? And yeah, what it does to your mouth is nuts. Have you had any dental work since. Getting a cleaning isn't so easy any more.

After a doppler test on my arms to find a place for an IV, I was told I have the veins of a "10 year heroin user". I wish I had some advice. Maybe your oncologist can help.

F4UDash4 I know what you're going through. I had four lots of chemo last year. I was covered in small angry sores, even in my mouth. Never felt so bad in all my life. You are in my thoughts.

BTW the hair grows back curly, at least mine did..

I see my oncologist again in about a week and a half, if this hasn't subsided any by then I'll ask him for advice.

Thanks all.

I bet if you called his office and told him what was going on, he might be able to get you in much quicker. Good luck man.

Thanks, it's not to the point of being that bad yet. If it gets worse I'll give him a call.

One member here, a good friend, put it all in perspective for me. He said that everyone has a Last Day, but only once, and tomorrow isn't it. Now I try to ignore any anticipation of the last day, after all it's not something you want every day is it? I know it's hard but just living each day for itself is enough.

Listen to people on this site F4U, they are truly good people, and their advice is sound. Be strong, mate.