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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Cancer SUCKS
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
It sucketh mightily.
My sister has finished her second round of chemo and has been put on Zejula for life or until she can't tolerate the side effects. The nurses say if she makes it through the first month it'll be much better.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
I don't know that one. What are the side effects?
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
Not as bad as rhubarb gin.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
From memory, just about everything. GI problems and leukemia (! rare, though) are what sticks in my mind.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Stercus Tauri
Shipmate
# 16668
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Martin60:
Not as bad as rhubarb gin.
I wish I'd heard you say that four years ago when I was doing the toxic chemo performance. A hellishly unfunny experience otherwise.
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Thay haif said. Quhat say thay, Lat thame say (George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal)
Posts: 905 | From: On the traditional lands of the Six Nations. | Registered: Sep 2011
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
The only things worse than the effects of having chemo are the effects of not being able to have chemo.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Pomona
Shipmate
# 17175
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Posted
A friend has an aggressive stage 4 cancerous brain tumour, discovered while on holiday on a break from her PhD studies. She's 25. Devastatingly unfair, particularly as cancer has stalked her family before. Fuck cancer.
A mix of ![[Mad]](angryfire.gif) and ![[Votive]](graemlins/votive.gif) .
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Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? [Ecclesiastes 7:13]
Posts: 5319 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2012
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
Dammit, Pomona. I'm so sorry.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
((Pomona's friend)) - hope she'll pardon the liberty...
and indeed.
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10149 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Stercus Tauri:
quote:
Originally posted by Martin60:
Not as bad as rhubarb gin.
I wish I'd heard you say that four years ago when I was doing the toxic chemo performance. A hellishly unfunny experience otherwise.
I utterly inadequately apologize.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
My PSA's down to 7.2 - another six months without the perineal biopsy! That's used to wake the dead.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Brenda Clough
Shipmate
# 18061
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Posted
A friend of mine was diagnosed with oral cancer at the beginning of this month. She went into surgery last week, and they took out most of her tongue and 14 lymph nodes. All of these were discovered to be malignant. In one week she has moved from state 1 to stage 4 cancer. She is ferociously writing as fast as she can, beating off the nurses in hopes of finishing her novel before the chemo and radiation flake her out. She has refused to consider death.
The only thing I can think of to do is to solicit prayers for her over in Heaven. (She lives on the West Coast so there is no chance of seeing her.)
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Science fiction and fantasy writer with a Patreon page
Posts: 6378 | From: Washington DC | Registered: Mar 2014
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
It's the speed with which some cancers operate that's really scary.
One of my neighbours, some years ago, went to the doctor about a cough he couldn't shake off. Apart from that, he was (apparently) fit and active, and only in his mid-60s. After a short while, lung cancer was diagnosed, and three weeks later, he died. That was one aggressive bastard of a cancer, no?
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10149 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
I have, only last week, been told of a 54-year old woman (the daughter of a former church member) who had a scan in the New Year which was fine - she had had a tumour in her breast years ago. Then, just this month, she was diagnosed with an aggressive liver cancer and died a fortnight later. Horrendous.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
Yesterday I went for a brought-forward apt from January. I wanted to know much more about why an op was not recommended. It seems that the breast tumour is not doing anything, except shrinkiing a bit, and not going anywhere, so I am reassured that it is better to take the Letrozole. She (the doctor) said that after a year or two, I could be discharged as an out-patient. Always with the option of an op if things change. Sort of good news I suppose! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
That seems to be the usual best outcome SusanDoris. One year, month, week, day, hour, moment at a time.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
Indeed. No one knows the day or the hour when it will rear up and bite us again. But I've become pretty aggressive about bugging my docs when something feels wrong.
(Get your flu shot, everybody!)
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
Martin60 and Rossweisse
Thank you for posting. I think that having cancer certainly makes one appreciate each new day just that little bit more.
Having this thread to post on is a good thing.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Yes, indeed.
@Rossweisse - Yes, Ma'am! My GP's first flu clinic is fully booked, so hopefully I'll get a place in the next one.
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10149 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
...Having this thread to post on is a good thing.
It gets a bit heavenly from time to time (candles, even!), but I appreciate the hostly tolerance we've been shown.
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
...My GP's first flu clinic is fully booked, so hopefully I'll get a place in the next one.
Make it so.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
Fuck cancer and the broken-down nag it rode in on.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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RooK
1 of 6
# 1852
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Posted
quote:
Get your flu shot, everybody!
I was thoughtfully given both my seasonal flu shot and my 10-year tetanus booster - because I was in the hospital anyway, getting a CAT scan to ensure I merely bruised my spleen instead of rupturing it when I separated my shoulder, broke my shoulder blade, broke rib #3 and bruised 4 others, and collected a concussion. #mountainbikingisfun
Still infinitely better than cancer. Fuck cancer.
Posts: 15268 | From: Portland, Oregon, USA, Earth | Registered: Nov 2001
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
Oh, yikes, RooK. That sounds awful. Are you doing better now?
I got my flu shot on Monday, ahead of the crowd. One bright side to living with Stage IV cancer: My internist's office reserves a dose of the super-duper flu vaccine for me when it comes in, and someone calls and asks me when I'm coming in for it. They don't mess around.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
Bright side! ![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif)
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Martin60:
Bright side!
We takes our bright sides where we finds 'em.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Yes, and these seemingly small things do matter. The staff at my GP surgery, and at our local village pharmacy, all know me now, and address me by my first name. In an increasingly isolating world, these points of human contact are welcome.
It's just a shame that one has to be fucking ill, though. There, I used the f-word, coz this is Hell, and I'm allowed to!
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10149 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
All the regular oncology nurses at the cancer center know me by the name I actually use. I have colleagues at work who don't remember.
(Always be friendly and polite, even when you feel like crap. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it pays off in the long run.)
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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RooK
1 of 6
# 1852
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Rossweisse:
Are you doing better now?
Well, it's only been a few days, but I'm confident that I'll be back to risking life and limb on my bike in 6-8 weeks. BUT, it is awfully annoying that the very elbow that caused the splenic hematoma needs to continue to grind against it because my shoulder is immobilized. Feels rather like sporting a massive black eye, and getting to have the goon's fist continually grating in your face for weeks afterwards.
Still better than cancer. Fuck cancer.
[ 28. September 2017, 23:11: Message edited by: RooK ]
Posts: 15268 | From: Portland, Oregon, USA, Earth | Registered: Nov 2001
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
Nice bike!
I am reminded of how (mostly) fortunate I am in the health department when I go in for my regular ScanFests (bones, brains, innards) seeking after tumors. One of the many, many forms shoved at me each time is a solid page, in 11-point type, of Things You Might Have, from heart problems to diabetes to prostate (not my issue) to lung issues.
Really, all that I have to complain about at this point (knock on wood - my skull will do) is a mild case of rosacea (you can't be too rich or too thin, but you can be too fair-skinned), a worsening case of scoliosis, and... Stage IV breast cancer, metastasized to my sacrum, hip, and cerebral cortex. (We zapped the last of these, but it left me having trouble counting when singing. I'm working on it, though, and it seems to be getting better. And I'm still singing, although I don't think I want to solo anymore.)
But I'm still working (part-time now), I'm still traveling, I'm still driving, I'm about to rediscover what it's like to live independently, and I am daily reminded of how many people have things worse than I do.
Deo gratias for all good gifts. Still, cancer sucks massively, and that's an understatement.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Huia
Shipmate
# 3473
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Posted
Fuck cancer, it killed both my parents.
Some people just take things for granted. A woman I overheard was complaining that she had to go to the other side of town (maybe half an hour by car) for a free mammogram because it interrupted her life. I was sooo tempted to interrupt and ask how much breast cancer would interrupt her life.
I've only ever had benign lumps, but I remember the uncertainty and the fear, and the support from so many people.
for everyone posting on this thread, whether for themselves or others.
Huia
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Charity gives food from the table, Justice gives a place at the table.
Posts: 10382 | From: Te Wai Pounamu | Registered: Oct 2002
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Twilight
Puddleglum's sister
# 2832
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
In an increasingly isolating world, these points of human contact are welcome.
My friend has just come out in public after a four month round of chemo followed by dangerously low white count, followed by more chemo etc.
His first outing was to our book club where, with tears in his eyes, he thanked all of us for the cards and phone calls and said that, for him, the very worst thing about cancer was the feeling of isolation.
Yesterday he came over for lunch, where he found sitting up at the table too uncomfortable, so he ended up eating in the recliner where he got so comfy he stayed for four hours, just so happy to have a change of scenery and people to talk to. I was near tears a few times just seeing how much human contact means to a gregarious, retired teacher who lives alone.
![[Tear]](graemlins/tear.gif)
Posts: 6817 | Registered: May 2002
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Martin60
Shipmate
# 368
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Posted
What awesome people.
Except Rook of course.
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Love wins
Posts: 17586 | From: Never Dobunni after all. Corieltauvi after all. Just moved to the capital. | Registered: Jun 2001
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
I was just wondering - does anyone here know where I could find statistical data on number of women with breast tumour who are on Letrozole and are 'doing well'?? I thought I would try phoning the ONS next week as it would be interesting to know.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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mr cheesy
Shipmate
# 3330
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
I was just wondering - does anyone here know where I could find statistical data on number of women with breast tumour who are on Letrozole and are 'doing well'?? I thought I would try phoning the ONS next week as it would be interesting to know.
Susan, I don't think you'll get anyone who knows the answer if you "phone up the Office of National Statistics" - unless you know for certain that there are official statistics about this medical condition. I doubt that there are.
I'd have thought that you'd be better to look up the statistics in the official medical repository the eMC.
I am not a doctor or a medical statistician, but it appears to me that the numbers you are looking for are in Table 4, halfway down that link.
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arse
Posts: 10697 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Stercus Tauri
Shipmate
# 16668
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Posted
The statistics may be interesting, but remember that by their nature, they draw a very broad picture. Each one of us is a single data point, ranging from the poor sod down in the bottom left corner of the survival graph to the happy winner over on the right. Hardly anyone sits right on the curve. The first question any cancer patient asks is, "What is my life expectancy?", followed by "How well does this drug work?" The honest oncologist will give very guarded answers. Had my share of that stuff.
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Thay haif said. Quhat say thay, Lat thame say (George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal)
Posts: 905 | From: On the traditional lands of the Six Nations. | Registered: Sep 2011
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Nicolemr
Shipmate
# 28
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Posted
Not in the same league as the other stories here, but cancer none-the-less. My cat Bjorn that I've been writing about on the prayer thread and the animal companions thread in All Saints,probably has lymphoma.
This sucks, sucks sucks.
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On pilgrimage in the endless realms of Cyberia, currently traveling by ship. Now with live journal!
Posts: 11803 | From: New York City "The City Carries On" | Registered: May 2001
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Nicolemr:
...This sucks, sucks sucks.
It does. I lost a dear little cat, Despina, to a brain tumor when she was only 9. (She stopped eating; we tried giving her antibiotics mixed with baby cereal - there was an infant in the house at the time - via syringe down the throat. She did put on some weight, but then stopped again because it wasn't an infection but a tumor.) Is there a treatment?
As for meds such as Letrozole, they will often work for a time and then stop, for no discernible reason. Letrozole and I got along for about a year before it quit.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
mr cheesy, Stercus Tauri, Nicolemr, Rossweisse
Thank you for your replies.
Thank you for the link and the information, mr cheesy, I will look that uptoday.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
Thing I have learnt in the last couple of years:
- What's true for one's not true for another
- It's usually best not to know
- Sufficient onto the day is the evil thereof
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
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SusanDoris
Incurable Optimist
# 12618
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Thing I have learnt in the last couple of years:
- What's true for one's not true for another
- It's usually best not to know
- Sufficient onto the day is the evil thereof
The various links have all sorts of information, but statistics seem to be elusive. For me personally, knowing all , with no euphemisms or softening of facts is what I want to know. It would be something of a shock, but I'd rather face the shock and deal with it. I had an aunt who did just that. I hope I could follow her example.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
Posts: 3083 | From: UK | Registered: May 2007
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mr cheesy
Shipmate
# 3330
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by SusanDoris:
The various links have all sorts of information, but statistics seem to be elusive. For me personally, knowing all , with no euphemisms or softening of facts is what I want to know. It would be something of a shock, but I'd rather face the shock and deal with it. I had an aunt who did just that. I hope I could follow her example.
From the link I posted above:
The 5-year Disease-Free Survival (DFS) rates were 84% for letrozole and 81.4% for tamoxifen.
There is some other information, but that seems to be the overall message.
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arse
Posts: 10697 | Registered: Sep 2002
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mr cheesy
Shipmate
# 3330
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Posted
Of course, you'd need to discuss this with your doctor to understand exactly how it relates to your situation.
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arse
Posts: 10697 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
Sensible advice, but I guess most of us with cancer, tumours, etc. have actually thought of that ourselves.
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10149 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by mr cheesy:
Of course, you'd need to discuss this with your doctor to understand exactly how it relates to your situation.
And so I have, and continue to do.
Different medications also have different side effects, and different people are affected by them (yes!) differently. But I'm hoping it never comes to tamoxifen for me from what I've heard about it.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Bishops Finger
Shipmate
# 5430
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Posted
One or two of the meds I'm on now have the potential side-effect of 'death', so it's as well to read the small print, along with talking to one's GP and/or consultant!
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
IJ
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Our words are giants when they do us an injury, and dwarfs when they do us a service. (Wilkie Collins)
Posts: 10149 | From: Behind The Wheel Again! | Registered: Jan 2004
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mr cheesy
Shipmate
# 3330
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Bishops Finger:
Sensible advice, but I guess most of us with cancer, tumours, etc. have actually thought of that ourselves.
IJ
For sure, I was just meaning that the quoted statistics might not necessarily apply directly to your situation - which appeared to be information that Susan was asking for.
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arse
Posts: 10697 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Rossweisse:
But I'm hoping it never comes to tamoxifen for me from what I've heard about it.
I took tamoxifen for four years after removal of a stage one breast tumor. I didn't have any side effects for the first two years. Then I developed muscle aches; I already had digestive problems, and something, maybe tamoxifen, made them worse. It's almost six months since I went off tamoxifen, and I still have the muscle aches and the digestive problems.
Moo
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Kerygmania host
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See you later, alligator.
Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
I'm sorry to hear that, Moo. (It affected a friend of mine so badly that she gave up on it after just a couple of months.) I'm hoping my Ibrance pills keep working for me, since tamoxifen is one of the possibilities my oncologist has mentioned if/when it stops.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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