We found out on Tuesday while I was visiting them in Cali. Im terribly afraid for our family, for my 4 year old niece, for my sister. It was caught early but that doesn't make it any less scary. I almost broke down on Thursday, in fear. But my sister is very strong and very brave and that gives me some strength. Though I heard right now she is panicking. I don't blame her. I bet she has been reading info on websites that probably scared her. Please if anyone has any positive experiences you can share with me, now's the time. Really appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I don't have any information(certainly none different than the web.) But I want to offer my thoughts and prayers to your sister, you and your family. Health is so scary because of how fragile it is, it can seemingly go the other way in the blink of an eye. And the loss of vitality is actually devastating to an individual's psyche. But when it comes to something that can possibly be fatal, it's especially devastating. I'd say the family should build a strong support system around her, be there with her in any way possible and help give her the emotional strength she'll need to pull through. I've no doubt that those kinds of steps have already been taken but that's what I have. I'm praying that all is resolved well .
I'm sorry this happened Ron, but try to find out the facts before you go off the deep end. What she needs right now is for you to be HER strength, not for her to give you strength. Be a good brother Ron and focus on how you can help, not what this might mean.
Coincidentally, I've just started Folding@Home today. Anyone interested in seeing cancer beaten might want to participate! It's super easy to download and use their software on any Mac or PC (Windows and Linux supported).
im doing my best but its hard from 3,000 miles away. im already emotionally prepared to fly back out there, soon. i will talk to my parents about this today.
With all the junk we eat (plastic, hormones, additives, preservatives, etc) and all the electromagnetic radiation from wi-fi, cell phones and so on, we would be lucky if we live to be DJ Trump's age. You sister is one of many.
My cousin found a lump, had a mammogram and biopsy and was told all was benign. Had it checked again when it got worse and found out it was cancer all along. She had to have a double mastectomy, but she's healthy now even after the delay in her diagnosis. I hope for the best for your sister...I know this is a terrifying ordeal, but we have doctors that know what they are doing regarding this.
I'm sorry to hear the news. I wish the best to you and your family. The 5 year survival rate for stage 0 and stage 1 is virtually 100% Even for more severe situation the survival rate is very high.
Could be she understands that in this society, profit will come first, her care be damned, hope her family can somehow manage to hang onto their dwelling/shelter.
Oh, absolutely there are positive stories out there. We need to be careful saying flippant things to people with illnesses like "Oh, don't worry, they are finding cures every day!" While that i a cruel and careless exaggeration, it's in fact partly true: I have a close friend who was diagnosed at least 30 years ago with testicular and is perfectly fine now. Also have a friend, maybe 60, who had colon cancer last year and is doing very well now, after intensive treatment. Again, I don't mean to minimize or belittle your concerns, which are realistic, but cancer doesn't mean today what it meant 50 years ago. Best wishes from Texas, Chef
Been there, done that. I was freaked out too. Do this or that, is that better than this? lumpectomy or mastectomy. It was a rough couple of months. But, they got it all because I am 5 years this coming december 19th, cancer free. They caught mine early too. To take her mind off the worry, have her do her homework. Google google google..talk to Cancer Society. Talk to others who went through it. My thoughts are with you and yours. And pm me if you want to talk further in private. I will be happy to help if I can.
Haven't been here for awhile. Very sorry Ron about your sister. My advice to her and that is all it is is MY advice is.....get as informed as possible and make sure your happy with what you decide, Ron your part is to just let her talk if she needs to. I am not into radiation, chemo as much as diet and exercise which most people can't seem to do. I don't like big pharma or big medicine especially the American Cancer Society, but some swear by it. Every family member we 'hubby and I ' have lost in past 20 years from cancer all tried conventional treatment and suffered greatly from treatment but lost the battle. Do those who take the radical treatments live because of the treatment or in spite of it? Don't know. Just another opinion and that is all it is.
Sorry to hear that Ronstar. Give her opportunity to talk if she wants, but don't mention it unless she does. Don't keep putting it in front of her.
I have a friend whose malignant cells were picked up early, and she decided she was going to 'scare it away', by sheer force of will. She did lots of very focused meditation, and became a veritable fury of positive thinking and activity. Rock climbing, sailing, skiing, swimming, etc etc etc. When she went in for the lumpectomy, they could find no trace of the mass. 5 years later, still no sign of it.
All cancers are different. For some, conventional treatments cause horrible side effects, but can seem to make the cancer go into remission. Unfortunately, if/when it comes back it can come roaring back - and then treatments so terrible that the person is ready for death for the effects of the treatments if no other reason. The standard of "cure" for cancer is 5 years of survival. Quality of life is irrelevant. THE REAL concern for cancers that are a tumor is that if to be surgically removed they MUST get it ALL and without puncturing it. If they do, they have spread it all over the person's body. So the cancer seemingly is gone - and time bought - but the battle impossible to win in the long run. Unfortunately, all a person can do is HOPE the surgeon doesn't breach the tumor - and the patient will never know if it was or not. There are advanced. A few decades ago, France - who then described American cancer treatment as "torture for profit" - and also a study in Britain - showed that people for most cancers who had NO treatment of any kind not only had a higher quality of life - but lived longer. For breast cancer, if they DO get it all? There can be 100% true cure. So his sister has a real chance of full cure given he said they caught it early.
Even back then, quite a few people did very well long term. I know a woman who survived ovarian cancer 40 years ago, then an apparently unrelated colon cancer 10 years ago. She's still trucking along, at age 70. Another friend who survived bone cancer at age 12. She's now in her late 50s. She has some unfortunate scarring where surgeries were done without recourse to plastics, but that's the worst of it.
Just wanted to add that it's hard when there are young kids involved. I imagine your sister has more fear for her child, than for herself. It'll be hard work for a few months, but then things will start to return to normal, and everyone will be looking ahead again.
me and my parents have agreed that we will go out there to help, if help is requested. perhaps we could also pay for a nanny to help out. even simply to make lunches and pick up and drop off little one to pre-K.
ive seen more than enough very positive stories from conventional treatment that im confident it will do the trick. operation is Tuesday, fingers crossed.