Dug up this thread because it's touched some friends of mine. I found out yesterday a Canadian friend of mine is in hospice care, he was diagnosed early this year with esophogeal cancer, now it's spread so far they've stopped treatment. I got the number to the hospice yesterday so I'll try and get in contact with him tonight, just to tell him that it's a pleasure to know him, and I've prayed for the good Lord to allow him an easy passing.

Another good friend of mine was just diagnosed with terminal lung cancer spread to his liver, he's got a year at most according to the docs. He's been a friend and mentor for the last 25 years, and it's going to be a tough one.

Sadly, looks like I'll be dusting off my dress uniform, damn cancer...

Was diagnosed at the age of 27 with oral cancer in October of 2007, with my first born being 4 months old. Underwent 10 hour surgery on December 17, 2007 where they removegd half of my tongue, and replaced it with part of my left wrist, which was then covered by a skin graft from my left thigh, and topped off with a peg tube. Under went 4 treatments of chemo and 30 treatments of radiation in February and March 2008. Took 6 months for my mouth to heal from the radiation burns. Made the bi-lateral hip replacement I had at age 24 from my Rhuematoid Arthritis look like a walk in the park.

I'm being treated for prostate cancer that has spread to my blood and my bones. I got the news the Monday before Thanksgiving in 2009. Dr. #1 said I shouldn't be alive. Dr. #2 said I wouldn't see the end of this year. Dr. #6 says that I shouldn't worry about dying from cancer. He thinks I'll get killed on my motorcycle first.

Dr. #3 said that I am the toughest patient he has ever had. He is coordinating all the treatments and says that I am responding better than he expected. I told him that I wanted a 110% effort to combat this cancer; 110% is for winners, 90% is for losers. That's what my college football coach told me.

Was the cancer detected early? No. Was the cancer detected in time? Only time will tell.

Everyone; please get a PSA test. It could save your life. And arrange for a colonoscopy, too. I had two pre-cancerous polyps removed. The key word is "pre".

I had to give up my nose to cancer dec 2,007. Had I not recently married I may have taken my chances. They had gave me 2 to 6 months. I am cancer free and okay now. It was harder on my wife than me. I am showing three pictures. Just before, just after and just now. Hope I dont have to pay for your lunch!

God Bless all of you who have fought cancer or are fighting it now.

Moosedog

SWCA #1308

I lost two uncles to cancer the first one in 1996 when i was 11 and the second one in 2003 when i was 18. I have just one more thing to add Please forgive me if this offends anyone CANCER REALLY SUCKS!

Not to belittle anyone, I am glad the Lord healed those that have gone thru it---He doesn't heal all.
Death is a door that we will all walk thru.
We need to be aware of that one fact--it never comes at a convienient time.
There are good theological reasons to not fear death, personally I look forward to it.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

God bless each of you for having the courage to fight this disease or other debilitating/life threatening problems. Many folks just give up and die. The winners fight, fight until the end.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

To those that are fighting this with dignity and grace, you have my prayers and thoughts.

To those who are on the mend after fighting your way through a crisis of radical treatment, my respect and my wishes for continued improvement.

A brain tumor killed my younger brother over half a century ago, and I'm still angry about it. My grandfather was expected to die of cancer in 1922, but it went into remission and gave him more than another 50 years before multiple myeloma got him in 1974. That meant I got to know him. I am still grateful about that.

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David Wilson

Nobody knows how long one has.

My father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1975 when they told him he might make it a year. He fought it long and hard but passed away in 1989.

I was found to have malignant colon cancer in August, 2004. They gave me less than a 30% chance of making it three years and only a 10% chance to make it five years. It is now 2011 and I am still here and so far, cancer free.

The only time one will depart this earthly life is when the Maker calls B-23 and your number is B-23. I have attended funerals of young, healthy people and have relatives that should have been dead 20 yrs ago but still living good lives.

Keep a sense of humor, continue medical care even though it sometimes gets rough and be optimistic.

I really dont know about all these cliques. All my life I have heard how "brave" so and so is in fighting cancer or something else. Maybe so, but whats the alternitive? All we do is take a treatment or whatever. I wonder if will or no will has anything at all to do with it?
I do recall a female cousin dieing with cancer. She probley was about 24 (50 years ago.) Her mother grieved very bad and reportedly prayed to God to get the same type cancer doris had and go through what she did. She got her wish! She got the same type cancer and died with it not long after! You either dont take the medicine, treatments or surgery and effectively commit suicide, or you take the treatments. What has will or bravery to do with it?

Prayers sent to your friends and you. Cancer is a terrible thing. Seems like there is so much of it. I lost a very good friend about a year ago to colon cancer. He was only 50.

My mom only has a couple months to live with stage 4 brain cancer. Words can't express the pain one feels when watching a loved one fight with everything they got and go through chemo.

Usually I enjoy your contributions but I have to disagree with this one. A little to cold hearted for my taste. Obviously you have not experienced a CLOSE loved one battle this terrible monster. And I hope you never do.

When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 it was like the doctor had hit me in the face with a 2x4. The shock and terror is unbelievable to anyone who has not gone through it. She showed me tremendous courage that I didn't know she had, and today she is cancer free, praise be to God. My mother died from cancer at 61, my mother-in-law at 63, one brother had intestinal cancer attributed to Agent Orange exposure while he was at Da Nang in the late 60's, and my other brother has skin cancer. I was just diagnosed with my second skin cancer in the past 10 years and am facing surgery in the next 2 weeks.

President Kennedy inspired the Nation in the mid-60's with his challenge to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. The whole nation focused on the goal and we accomplished what many thought was impossible. Why can't the same energy be focused on ending this hideous disease once and for all? The answer is money. People get rich from cancer patients. If a cure were discovered tomorrow and the disease was eliminated completely, many hospitals would close, and thousands of people would lose their jobs. How much longer will it take before real progress is made in eliminating all aspects of this disease??

More than I can count. I also lost three women with cancer over the many years. One of them died right at home in bed with me. One of the last things she told me that night was, I am going to beat this! Also my mother died with it a few hours after a long phone conversation with me. I suppose I been around more dieing loved ones than most non medical field workers. I think I am a soft guy, however I admit that I seldom show little visable emotion. Just the way I am wired.
The lady I mentioned had been in the hospital for about a month. She fought the hospital to be released so she could die at home with me. The older you get the more you learn not to jump to conclusions.

this is a REAL issue with me - was told in July that I have Stage 3 Adenocarcenoma of Lung - what a hoot - HUH? 6mo to 12 mo and I will show them wrong - what choice do you have? - do what Dr says and die or do not do what Dr says and die - I live each day to the fullest and enjoy every minute of it!!!!!!!!

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Fair winds and following sea