Obit: Keith A of Hertford Nov. 2018

Subject: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 01:12 AM

I start on Monday having been turned down for surgery.
Not looking good.
Anyone out there had any personal experience of chemo? I have been told it is less debilitating than it used to be. Hope so.

I am getting a briefing about it at the hospital today.
Will report back later.

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Oct. 17, 2018 announcement from Keith

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Nov. 23, 2018 post from Lynne Heraud

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:25 AM

Good luck, Keith.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:41 AM

The real me to the real you.

Good luck. Listen carefully and remember to take in the positive as well as the negative aspects of what they say. Chemotherapy is a group term and no two situations are the same, being a combination of your body and the help these drugs give it in suppressing or deleting the problem. Oncology has come on in leaps and bounds over the years and as someone involved at periphery of care, I see the increasing quality of life these interventions can give.

It's the result not the process you need to focus on. But vastly more importantly, listen to the experts, not the irratic world of blokes on the Internet. That said, you'd be surprised how many on here have been there.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:47 AM

Good luck, Keith and sincere wishes for success of the treatment.

Cheers

Dave

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Kampervan
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:50 AM

Absolutely agree with everything that Musket has said.

But also,Be Positive.

The way that you approach this can make so much difference both to the process and the outcome. Go into it confidently, knowing that it's just something that you've got to do and then you can move on. And as Musket says, listen to the professionals.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: fat B****rd
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:59 AM

The very best of good luck to you, Keith.
Charlie

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,hiLo
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 05:09 AM

Best of luck to You Keith .

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 05:12 AM

All the best from me, Keith. Keep yer pecker up!

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Will Fly
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 05:35 AM

And from me too, Keith. As Musket and others have said, focus on the positive, end results more than anything else. Good luck.

Will

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 06:26 AM

a local friend is going through it. He reported tiredness for a day or two after each episode. But he was in the Farmers' Market with his dogs & wife supping tea 4 days later so I would suggest - get in the DVDs and a good book.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: gillymor
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 08:58 AM

Chin up, Keith, it looks like you've got a lot of folks rooting for you, myself included.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 09:18 AM

Laughter is the best companion to chemo, if not precisely the best medicine, and friends who have found watching old episodes of the funniest programs they can find to be helpful. I'm not sure what those might be on your side of the pond, but I'm sure a list will form if you ask. The flip side of that is to spend less time fighting on mudcat. Stick with the music threads, they'll always do you right!

Wishing you a great outcome, Keith.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 10:02 AM

Thanks for the good will everyone.
It means a lot to me.

My talk was encouraging too, but I was warned it can effect some folk worse than others.

There were a few people in the suite receiving treatment, and they seemed comfortable and relaxed. Some quite jolly!

My wife Mary has just been diagnosed with breast cancer, but we do not know what her treatment will be yet.

Thanks again. So grateful for the good wishes.
I will tell you how I get on.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,wysiwyg minus cookie
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 11:29 AM

Keith, it's different for everyone and yet in many ways the same. You will both find your best support from people who've been through it, and this often starts with one's fellow chemo-appointment folks.

Don't forget to take some music on earbuds with you, and to be kind to yourself. And laughter-- it may come in odd places and will always do you a world of good.

Thanks for telling us about it. And telling and telling, in the days ahead.

It's a marathon, not a sprint... take time to look about, on this journey.


All the best,

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: olddude
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 11:51 AM

All the best, please keep us posted. My wife's path was not too bad at all. She was tired and slept a lot but it was ok. In my prayers and thoughts. Just listen to the docs and make sure you eat good healthy stuff to keep up your strength

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: EBarnacle
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 11:56 AM

Have faith in yourself and in your future. If Jimmy Carter can beat the Dark Side, the odds are always improving.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: akenaton
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 12:04 PM

Keith is one of the strongest and straightest people I know, if anyone can beat this , it will be Keith....very best wishes my friend.

PM you later.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,Peter from seven stars link
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:33 PM

Wishing you well keith, and posted with a prayer. Blessings. Pete.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:43 PM

My wife is on permanent low dose chemotherapy medication for her bone marrow disease. Sorry to hear of your bad luck and wish you all the best.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:46 PM

Keith,

   I went through chemotherapy and would be happy to answer any questions you have as best I can. :) There are some tips and tricks to making some of it easier. Send me a PM and I'd be happy to share.

OXOXOXO

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 02:54 PM

Eat well to keep your weight up and do some pot if you suffer from nausea and need to stimulate your appetite.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 03:08 PM

I am deeply touched by everyone's kindness, and shared experiences.
Thanks everyone.

As yet I have no pain, or any symptoms except I can't eat so much.
I think pancreatic cancer is often like that.
I still would not know I had it but it blocked my bile duct turning me yellow!

A clever man with an endoscope and a stent fixed that for me, but the cancer was already too far gone for surgery, unless the chemo shrinks it.

My onc. reckons a one in four chance.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: gnu
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 03:35 PM

My thoughts and prayers, Keith. Visit the Jane's Rainbow thread if you care to... we sail in this ship together.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 06:31 PM

Reality puts dancing on the head of an angel (or whatever the analogy is) into perspective.

In the real world, we have many things to consider and take stock about.

I genuinely look forward to completely disagreeing with you in the strongest terms you or I can articulate on a keyboard on the many issues of life that frankly don't affect either of us at all.

Your journey back to where you started is about the real world and in that, I am thinking about you. Not praying because I don't don't that. Not muttering platitudes because I don't do that. But can't wait till your energy is back to a level where we can both enjoy the cathartic joy of winding each other up. You enjoy it as much as I do. A close relative is perhaps a couple of months further into their treatment than you for the same problem. DVD box sets seem to keep her from being bored. Bubble gum entertainment is not so bad when you feel knackered till you get used to the treatment.

I am sat in a hotel lobby right now because I don't enjoy the disco. I am at a Chrimbo dinner for a cancer charity Mrs Musket and do voluntary work for. The people around me right now have been where you are and are enjoying themselves. Yeah, listen to the experts as I said earlier but you and your good wife should also listen to yourselves and don't let the bastard grind you down. Mrs Musket cures and contains your wife's issue for a living and the success stories give her the impetus to enjoy her work.

Ian.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 09:22 PM

Keith, I have no personal experience with this-yet. I know many who have been down that road as you probably do, too. I'm sending love and positive thoughts and hope you will update us as often as you can.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 06:18 AM

Thanks again everyone.
Musket, I agree with everything in your post and you are also right about me.
Not often I can say that!
Thanks Musket and all for taking the time to write.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: maeve
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 10:09 AM

Here you go, Keith. Enjoy in good health!
Click here to laugh!

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,Lanfranc sans cookie
Date: 19 Dec 15 - 05:41 PM

Keith

We're going through some of the same at present. Elizabeth goes into hospital in Ipswich on Christmas Eve for a hysterectomy necessitated by a tumour. We're still coming to terms with it as it has only been a few weeks since the symptoms first arose.

At our age I suppose that we should expect such problems, but the eternal teenager within still expects immortality.

We wish both you and Mary all the very best.

Alan

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 04:58 AM

So sorry to hear that you will have a worrying and difficult Christmas Alan.
Please send our love to Elizabeth, and many thanks for the e-card.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 05:36 AM

Hi Keith

I have had Chemo - about 20 years ago.

There is some good advice here especially by Musket.

listen to the medical advice and think of the goal ahead.

In my experience the oncologists were fantastic as were all the other medics that were involved.

I found the treatment debilitating at first but my body ( or was it my brain?)soon began to adapt and I lived with it with the help of my wife and family.
As you said Chemo treatment has improved since I had it and so has the total approach to the disease.

I also had to have Radio Therapy and again this has improved over the years.

I was treated at The Christie in Manchester ( Then called Christies).
Hospital). I was given all the help,assistance and advice from the staff that helped me enormously. I was given a telephone number and told if I had any problems to call it. I did have one panic attack in the middle of the night and the then Head of Oncology came out to see me and assured me that the problem I was having was part of the treatment and quite normal.

Best Wishes

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 08:26 AM

Thanks.
The staff at Lister, Stevenage have been very good too.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: olddude
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 11:35 AM

Hi Mike, I am so happy you are doing well after 20 years. All the best, happy holidays

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 09:06 PM

Alan, I hope things go well for Elizabeth.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Janie
Date: 20 Dec 15 - 09:40 PM

No first-hand experience or knowledge to offer, Keith. But all my good wishes for you and also for your spouse. Will hold you both in my thoughts and meditations.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,MikeL2
Date: 21 Dec 15 - 05:24 AM

Hi Dan

Thanks for the nice comment.

Great to hear from you. hope your are keeping well . Take care.

Best Seasonal wishes to you and yours.

Regards

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 02:50 AM

Keith, I just found this thread via another one - sorry I'm late arriving!
I've no experience or advice - never been in your situation - so all I can offer is my genuine best wishes to you and your wife, and hope for a good outcome for both of you.
I will be thinking of you as, I'm sure, all on Mudcat wil be.
Best,
BWM

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Stu
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 03:10 AM

All the best to you and your wife Keith, and keep your eye on your goal. I hope it goes well for you both.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Will Fly
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 04:30 AM

I have a set of my village photos as postcards for sale in a local shop - all profits from the sale of which go to the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

You would find it difficult to buy the postcards without walking up my village street, but the link to the PCRF is here if anyone feels moved to contribute.

And, if you're curious, the postcards.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,#
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 09:14 AM

Keith, there are so many well-wishes to you and I'd like to add mine in a meandering way.

1) Cancer sucks, and there ain't no doubt about it.

2) Attitude and determination: Know you have a fight ahead of you and decide now that the winner's gonna be you.

3) "Like, stay positive, Dude." I knew someone who talked like that. I think he was from California and really liked the 1960s.

4) Keep your sense of humour. It will be one of your best friends in the times ahead for both your missus and you.

Draw on your reserves of strength, your reserves of philosophy. You have much of each, Keith, and lots of folks behind you.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 09:20 AM

Your messages mean so much to me.
Thank you all.
My chemo day was not too bad, but we lost our much loved old dog today which has set us back a bit.
Bless you all,
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,Peter from seven stars link
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 12:03 PM

Glad the session was reasonable. Always sad to lose a long loved dog. How long had he been part of the family ?

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Teribus
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 12:10 PM

Very sorry to hear your news, lots of very good advice above, above all stay positive. My thoughts and best wishes are with both yourself and your wife in seeing you both through this.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 08:40 PM

A friend who helped his wife beat a "death sentence" of a cancer some years ago, recently sent me the following for a friend whose husband was refusing her the use of cannibis:


http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq
This info/source is as conventional as it gets, with reticence in terms of hemp/cannabis as having cancer curing qualities/potential, but still opening the door politely....
Second: introduce hubby to the fact that conventional cancer treatment in North America is dollar driven, and cheap cures are anathema; or, in more simple language, cures = loss of medical/pharmaceutical income. Just a fact.
Third: Encourage hubby to educate himself: Go on internet and type in "cannabis and cancer" etc.
For example:   http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279571.php (headline:
Cannabis reduces tumor growth in study)

My friend's wife is alive and healthy and working as a nurse.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 09:28 PM

Keith - I'm not going to be my usual flippant piss taking persona...

petty forum personality clashes and political wind ups fall into a greater perspective
when confronted by reality of illness and hospital treatment..

take care, be strong, get well...

come back her fighting fit....

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Dec 15 - 10:45 PM

or even come back here...

.. Keith I realise I don't actually know much about you..

how old you are ? what you do in real life ? if you are a musician ?...

But remember music therapy is a wonderful aid to well being
and mudcat is a place to find comfort and inspiration in times of stress and upset
from us assorted bunch positively odd and bonkers music obsessives... 😎

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,wysiwyg no-cookie
Date: 24 Dec 15 - 10:59 AM

(((Keith)))

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 25 Dec 15 - 10:14 PM

Keith, I'm sorry about your dog.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 26 Dec 15 - 07:06 AM

Feeling the effects of the chemo today and yesterday. A good thing I suppose.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Dec 15 - 07:47 AM

Wish I had something more useful to say but, nevertheless sending more good thoughts your way, Keith.
Charlie.

Subject: RE: BS: chemotherapy
From: GUEST,#
Date: 26 Dec 15 - 07:59 AM

Hang tough, Keith.