Cancer SUCKS

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  • Dancing in joy for you Ross. Thanks for sharing the news.
  • NicoleMRNicoleMR Shipmate
    Excellent news, Ross!
  • DooneDoone Shipmate
    Good news, Ross!
  • Happy to hear the good words from Thunderbunk's friend and Rossweisse. I never bought into the idea of calling this thing a 'journey'. It's an adventure, and the good times can be pretty good. Carpe diem!

    Had a brief moment of excitement the other day when the physio told me about a surgical procedure being developed that may make it possible to transplant healthy lymph nodes to replace cancerous ones. It looks as if it might work just after initial surgery; less likely to work for those of us who did it a while ago. Still, it might help new patients in the future. (I hope I worded that cautiously enough not to offend the medical advice rule).
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    edited July 2019
    ...I never bought into the idea of calling this thing a 'journey'. It's an adventure, and the good times can be pretty good. Carpe diem!
    One of the best cards I ever received (and from someone I don't know that well) put it perfectly.

    I am blessed to have had many good times since my initial and subsequent diagnoses. Sometimes you have to work at it, but I can truthfully say that I have very few regrets, because I made the decision to travel while I could, try new things while I could, hang out with people I love while I could, and otherwise spend time on what was really important while I could. It's gonna get me in the end, but I'm making it work hard to do it, and I refuse to pull the covers over my head until the End is certifiably Nigh.
    ...It looks as if it might work just after initial surgery; less likely to work for those of us who did it a while ago. Still, it might help new patients in the future. ...
    I agree!


  • Oh thank you God.
  • DiomedesDiomedes Shipmate
    Amen to that!
  • Ross - great card and I am bowled over by your attitude...
  • Happy to hear the good words from Thunderbunk's friend and Rossweisse. I never bought into the idea of calling this thing a 'journey'. It's an adventure, and the good times can be pretty good. Carpe diem!

    Had a brief moment of excitement the other day when the physio told me about a surgical procedure being developed that may make it possible to transplant healthy lymph nodes to replace cancerous ones. It looks as if it might work just after initial surgery; less likely to work for those of us who did it a while ago. Still, it might help new patients in the future. (I hope I worded that cautiously enough not to offend the medical advice rule).
    I am glad you mentioned it, thank you. The reason is that a recent CT scan (to check lungs clear of infection) apparently showed a node in my neck. I naturally assumed it was connected with the breast cancer and am just slightly annoyed that no-one has mentioned that neck nodes are connected with head and skull. This I found out this morning with a quick google search. Last week I saw the Surgeon, referred by GP, and she said they could offer chemo, but the effects would be far worse and they don't recommend it, in view of the smallness of the node and, I suppose, my advanced age! I shall however be checking back with GP.

    And, as always, all warmest best wishes and (atheist non-praying!) thoughts to all on this thread.
  • AravisAravis Shipmate
    That is great news Ross.
    Hugs to Susan Doris and hope the node remains fairly stable - thinking of you
  • All my best wishes Susan Doris, and I too hope the node stays stable.
  • DooneDoone Shipmate
    Me too, Susan Doris.
  • Thank you. Actually, I think I might well have found a more positive answer. I have just phoned the Breast Clinic help line number where you speak to one of the Nurse Practitioners. She checked my case and said that the ultra-sound scan, which was done as more of an afterthought last Thursday, showed no anomalies in the neck, so perhaps the CT scan was misleading. `
  • I hope that is the case...
  • DooneDoone Shipmate
    Oh, that would be great!
  • OhherOhher Shipmate
    Excellent news, Rossweisse. You are an astonishment.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    As I'm sure I have said before, I am ornery. It's a trait that sometimes gets me into trouble, but which has served me well over the last 8+ years.

    One thing that I have learned beyond a doubt in that time is the importance of community in fighting something like cancer - and this community is a blessing to me.

    I hope that all proves to be well, @SusanDoris. No surrender!

  • Went to a lymphoedema information session today hoping to update my knowledge a bit. I asked about the transplant procedure I mentioned above, and was told that I was mistaken, and in fact it is applicable to patients long after the original surgery. I still don't know who is a good candidate for it or what might disqualify anyone, but will be talking to my own GP about it soon.

    A kindly nurse once suggested that I give my compression stocking a pet name to make it seem more friendly. I had to tell her she wouldn't want to hear what I already called it.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    ...A kindly nurse once suggested that I give my compression stocking a pet name to make it seem more friendly. I had to tell her she wouldn't want to hear what I already called it.
    Agreed. Let's keep it clean here.


  • @Rossweisse and @Stercus Tauri wishing you both mighty ornery attitudes and a continuing sense of humour.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    I got a sucker punch this morning: I went to see my radiation oncologist and oncologist, and the former told me that my scans were not good, that there are new spots on my liver. (Somebody initially misread them on Friday.) I think he was distressed to realize that it was news to me.

    My oncologist is going to send me for a liver biopsy, and then decide on further treatment. It will probably involve more chemo. (Damn!)

    The good news is that he thinks that further treatment is still in order, but for the first time, he said that the time is coming when one of us won't think that. And he's now speaking in terms of a life span of a few months. Damn.

  • @Rossweisse multiple phalanxes of prayers ascending
  • Wordless prayers for you radiating from here.
  • And from here, @Rossweisse!
  • MelangellMelangell Shipmate
    Oh Ross: many damns indeed, as well as mega prayers for you.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    {{{Rossweisse}}}
  • Also strikes me as a pretty shitty way to discover the situation, so several Valkyre-like spears descending on those responsible for your horrible surprise.
  • NiteowlNiteowl Shipmate
    Prayers continuing for you Rossweisse. 🕯
  • DooneDoone Shipmate
    Oh Ross! Damn and blast and prayers.
  • HuiaHuia Shipmate
    Rossweisse, 🙏
  • Oh, Rossweisse, that's horrible.

    I'm just back from helping at a Race for Life event raising money for cancer research - so many stories there, including a baby in a buggy, with her whole family racing for her.

    (We've done this every year for the last five or six years, our Guide pack mans the final, handing out the medals and water bottles to everyone who finishes.)
  • OhherOhher Shipmate
    I'm sorry, Rossweisse; hard way to get hard news. Invoking massive flights of Orneries to come defend you.
  • Well Rossweisse as my mother use to say when really upset. Poop Rose, so sorry for that news and so sorry you had to receive it in that manner. Loving prayers continue for you. You are my hero for your grace, encouragement of others and good humor thought it all.
  • Prayers for you, Rossweisse
  • That stinks all kinds of stinks, Ross. Prayers for you and doctors.
  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host
    (((My friend, Rossweisse)))
    I have been praying and bothering God every day for you.
    No Surrender! #teamRossweisse
  • TwilightTwilight Shipmate
    Oh Rossweisse, so sorry, it's a sucker punch indeed.

    Graven Image said it so well, you're a hero for all of us.

  • NicoleMRNicoleMR Shipmate
    No words, Ross. So very sorry, and so sorry you had to learn in such a way.
  • RossweisseRossweisse Hell Host, 8th Day Host, Glory
    Thank you all! Three friends (including the estimable Lamb Chopped) came by to see me (or, in one case, take me out to dinner) this afternoon and evening. That has made things easier. Tomorrow I shall have to talk to my daughters, and that's likely to be hard.

    Still, for now, no surrender!

  • yeesh. Always praying.
  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Praying on #teamRossweisse
  • What a bummer..... Graven Image speaks for so many of us. All thoughts with you Ross, and prayers.
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Oh, how terrible. Prayers from us.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    Oh Ross.
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    So sorry to hear this, @Rossweisse Praying daily.
  • GalilitGalilit Shipmate
    Oh, rats!
    Knew something must be up when I saw so many new posts

    [Lesson learned - read posts before PM'ing]
  • GalilitGalilit Shipmate
    Little multi-shaded purply candle lit
  • Galilit wrote: »
    Oh, rats!
    Knew something must be up when I saw so many new posts

    [Lesson learned - read posts before PM'ing]

    Yes, so did I.

    Graven Image speaks for all of us, I think...
    {{Rossweisse}}

  • Rossweiss I am so very sorry to read the above and send you strong wishes for the continuance of the courage you have shown all along.
  • Courage feeds on courage, I'm sure, so Rossweisse's sharing of her journey has been - and will continue to be - a help to others.

    So there.

    No surrender!
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