BS: Cancer invading friends

Subject: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 02:51 AM

2005 has started badly for a lot of our friends.

Helen (45) Breast cancer. Mastectomy. chemo.
Ann (57) Myleoma & lymphoma. Heavy duty chemo.
Anne (56) Lymphoma. Chemo but died.
Patricia (62) Bowel cancer. Extensive surgery.
Margaret (65) Ovarian cancer, Chemo.


We know that it is co-incidence that so many have been hit but we are starting to get a little anxious whenever letters etc arrive.
We tried to find any common linkage between our friends, none of whom know each other.

They're from different parts of the UK: Perthshire, Lanarkshire, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Devon. All non-smokers. All strong women who have been do-ers and with a strong, positive attitude to life and to helping others.

I and Mrs BtC have seen the inside of too many hospital wards this year and we are not finding it too easy. We have to be strong for our friends, but it hits us afterwards.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 04:41 AM

I'm so sorry to hear of the illnesses of your friends, it does seem a dreadful tragedy, my good wishes to the friends who are going through treatments, they wil need a lot of support and love.
I'm sure the stress on you and your wife is enormous, I well know this type of stress and wish you strength and comfort.
Regards from a friend.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 05:13 AM

Even given the fact that our life expectancy and expectation of life being that much greater these days, that is a more than you would expect of friends in a year.

We are living longer and suffering ailments that previously were masked by more serious and sometimes fatal problems.

However - the recieved wisdom is that a positive attitude gives any canxcer patient an edge. More survive and more have a better quality of life during if they fight it mentally.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 07:33 AM

My Mum. Lung Cancer
Christianne..terminal Cancer.
Linda..Breast Cancer(x2).
Julie, terminal cancer (died).
Babs, terminal Cancer.
Several others who I vaguely know...all of whom are women. I know men get testicular and bowel cancer but I don't know of any who have. Do we men just not tell people or what?. All those mentioned above are women.
Best wishes.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: MBSLynne
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 07:39 AM

I lost two friends to cancer in the first 23 days of this year and several otheres over the last few. There's alos at least one fighting it at the moment. I've thought that there seems to be a big increase. It's awful.....

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: kendall
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:19 AM

I've had a running battle with squamous cell carcenoma for the last 4 years. It would kill me if I allow it, but I'm going to fight and do whatever it takes to get rid of it.
47 years of smoking caused it.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: jacqui.c
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:24 AM

I was lucky - had cancer of the womb but they caught it early and a total hysterectomy got rid of it completely.

My heartfelt good wishes go out to all of you who are supporting friends and loved ones through cancer treatments.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:47 AM

Mudcat lost three of its best to cancer, last year: Rick Fielding, Walking Eagle, and Giac.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: *Laura*
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 02:23 PM

I'm sorry to hear of your friends and relatives illnesses.
Something needs to be done about this. It spoils too much.
Stay positive!
love Laura x

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 02:39 PM

Johanna, Edith, Gary...

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: ard mhacha
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 03:31 PM

We have been told that we are living in the area [north Armagh] with the highest rate of cancer in the world, three of my friends, one aged 48,died this week.                                                       I could go to list the number already down with this fateful disease, a few have battled through and are thankfully doing well.
I wonder how many lives would have been saved had a fraction of the money used in war had been put into research to combat this ailment.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 04:53 PM

Not all this year, thank goodness, but:

Bob: stomach cancer (smoking, dead)
Steve: throat cancer (smoking, dead)
My wife, Pat: thyroid cancer (x-rays to combat poison ivy, living!)
Esther, my mother: lung & pericardium (dead)
Junie: lung (non-smoker, dead)
Howard: lung (non-smoker, dead)

...and the list goes on....

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 07:38 PM

Carrie (Lung Cancer, Deceased)
Ray (Deceased)
Harold, aka Gramp (Deceased)
Bette (Colon, Deceased)
Bonnie (Skin)
Al (Deceased)
Charlotte, my mail-lady
Jackie
Penny (Ovarian)
Robert
Anne (Diagnosed as Terminal as the cancer has spread despite long term treatment)
Anzie (Deceased)
Maggie (Deceased)


In other words....FAR too many people. :(


Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: open mike
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 09:46 PM

the big "C" is a horrible thief.
a young niece was victim to it (perished)
and another young woman I know (in her 20's) who is a belly dancer
has had breast cancer as a teen and has re-curring cancer now
several elders in my community lost their lives to "IT" this year
and musician friend Jimmy just last month.
I recommend carefully following scheduled Mammogram and self exam
and getting Colonscopy to detect colon cancer. early detection is
the best way to make sure you are a survivor!! they can do colon
scans now using MRI technology.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Rapparee
Date: 06 Feb 05 - 11:28 PM

A friend of my wife's has breast cancer. She's 32. It could have been picked up on a mammography EXCEPT that the insurance company said that she was too young and a mammography wasn't needed. Another friend of hers, younger, is fighting (and losing to) cancer in both breasts for the same reason.

I have had two pre-cancerous polyps removed during a colonoscopy. The prep is awful, but the consequences of NOT having one are worse.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Crystal
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:58 AM

Cancer is terrifying.
I'm currently studying the effects of nutrition on Breast Cancer for my PhD. Sadly so much work needs to be done before we can get close to a cure.
Every so often there is a flurry as somone finds somthing remarkable but then the drug companies get bored waiting for somthing salable to come out of it.

On a personal note my great aunt had osophogeal cancer but it was caught early and the radiotherapy and cheamotherapy did it's job.

Sadly people often don't catch the cancer early enough, it is a tragic loiss of life every time.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 07:34 AM

Many thanks for messages of support. Much appreciated.
And to those suffering similarly, my heart goes out to you. Horrible, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 09:12 AM

Mudcatters Little John Cameron and Winter's Wages.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 10:04 AM

It's life-altering, whether you have it or come near it. We live in a toxic world, and live caustic lifestyles.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Mooh
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 10:24 AM

Fishing buddy George, cancer of everything by the time he was diagnosed.
Dad has prostate cancer but died of heart failure.
Sister Barb had ovarian cancer and lasted less than a year from detection to death.
Aunt Katherine had brain cancer.

These are the ones that affected me most, all were strong and brave and defiant. My sister's passing hurts the most as she was still in her 40s, otherwise healthy, hearty, and beautiful inside and out.

I believe that someday a cure or a treatment will be found...give generously to those charities my friends.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: jeffp
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 10:35 AM

My first wife Melanie, brain cancer, married in 1984, diagnosed in 1985, died in 1992.

My cat Bibi, fibrosarcoma, born 1998, diagnosed 2000, right hind leg amputated at the hip, still ruling the house.

My wife Bonnie, gall bladder cancer, married in 1999, diagnosed in 2003 after gall bladder removed for other reasons, metastases discovered in 2004, surgery last October, currently going through chemotherapy. Prognosis is good.

CANCER SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: PoppaGator
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:32 PM

A year ago today, I was just starting radiation treatment for a cancer on the right tonsil. I was very fortunate, and can live to tell about it. Seven weeks of daily radiation treatment, plus seven concurrent once-a-week low-dose chemotherapy infusions, successfully eliminated the tumor. I had been told that the treament would probably only shrink the tumor, and that surgery would be necessary to remove the remaining cancerous tissue, but no trace of the tumor remained at the end of the seven weeks, eliminating the need for surgery.

All I need to do now is recover from the radiation. That'll take another two years, but I'm pretty much back to normal now.

Some types of cancer, including mine, have become well-known to the medical community and successful treatment regimes have been developed. Sadly, other cancers remain a mystery and no one knows how to fix 'em.

Early detection and a positive attitude on the part of the patient both make a big difference. My tumor was highly visible and close to the surface (a big lump suddenly appearing on the side of my neck), so early detection was not a problem. Then, I was told that my prospects for successful treatment were very good, so it wasn't too difficult for me to keep up a good attitude.

Living through the process of treatment was somewhat arduous ~ I won't pretend otherwise. However, because I was able to realistically maintain a level of confidence about the eventual outcome, it wasn't too terribly difficult to live through. In the end, I was able to look back at the whole deal as an interesting (if intense and unpleasant) experience.

I certainly hope that the various cancers of anyone reading this, and of any of your loved ones, can be treated as successfully as mine. Please keep in mind that cancer can be beaten; every case is not an automatic death sentence. However much hope your doctors can offer you, try to keep it in mind and accentuate the positive. A hopeful and positive attitude can be an important factor in eventually achieving a positive outcome.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: *Laura*
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 04:46 PM

F*ck cancer it sucks.
My best wishes and support to all those in contact with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Peg
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 11:43 PM

I have lost several loved ones, both grandfathers, an uncle (40s), a cousin (early 20s), and several friends (one only 33)to this wretched disease. Had a bout of it myself (cervical dysplasia) in graduate school. Attitude does seem to have some connection, but given the horrors of the illness and the stress of some of the treatments, having loved ones around to help cope with the fear and trauma must surely also be a blessing and a boon to those fighting it.

My condolences to those who have lost loved ones and my blessings to those still fighting! Don't give up.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Peg
Date: 07 Feb 05 - 11:44 PM

Forgot to say I have also known people who have fought this illness off, beating what doctors thought were insurmountable odds (including one brave young woman who is now free of inoperable brain cancer after a long struggle). It is possible.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: Kaleea
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 12:47 AM

A large percentage of the kids I went to school with have died from cancer/leukemia/serious respiratory diseases, in their 20's, 30's, 40's & + now. The refineries are mainly in that section of the old hometown. I lived somewhat farther out-& I lived a few years in Colorado in the middle of my growing up years, so brothers & I did not get these cancers. But asthma, allergies & chronic rhinitis, tinitis, etc have been a constant. Not that many years back, somebody noticed that at least 1/3 or more children from that part of town have always had respiratory problems. Duh. Why is it that the more "progress" we have, the worse off we seem to be.

Subject: RE: BS: Cancer invading friends
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 04:56 AM

Crystal, good for you in studying nutrition. I know I've read about the lower occurances of cancer in some Asian countries, believed to be partly due to large consumption of soy products.

My mother had uterine cancer way back in 1970/71 and lived until 1999, after arduous treatment, including surgery and radiation. Sometimes, it can be beat, as others have said.

jeffp...good to hear how your cat is doing. Good wishes and all for you and your wife.

kat