Just gloating for a minute

[rubiranch]

Congratulations, it sure takes courage to fight that disease.

I did business with the Huntsman group (in chemicals). One executive told me that Jon Huntsman's goal was to grow his company enough to reach a cap value of $ 10 billions, then sell it and find a cure for cancer. Looks like his people and clinic are doing a great job.

John Huntsman was an amazing person who wanted to eradicate cancer completely.

He has invested over $2.5 billion into the Huntsman Cancer Institute and left another $1 billion in a foundation to further its cause.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJEaTRPtvpE[/ame]

Here's a short video that talks about what kind of a hospital he build.

Since this video they have added another $14 million addition for the research of child cancer with plans for another huge expansion.

This is truly a remarkable place with amazing people filling the halls.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Thank you soo much for thinking about my daughter.

This is the third time I'v done one of these appreciation lunches and she has come in from Medford for all three.

I have 4 daughters, 2 have jobs and the other one was out of town.

They are who I live for. And my 13 grandkids.

The family has it the toughest.
I came to realize that during these fights with cancer, I was busy making decisions and being treated, the medical staff were busy doing what they do, but the family was helpless, worrying about me and the unknowable.

You've a wonderful family and been blessed many times over. May it always be so.

 

[ameridaddy]

Rubiranch, I surely don't want to steal your thunder or barge in on your glorious day, but I thought I'd mention that I'm 9 years cancer free as of last May, and one of the things I remember vividly is that first year clean announcement from my doctor. I felt as though I was born again, given a new life. I walked about in wonderment all day. I hope you feel that way too!

 

[rubiranch]

The family has it the toughest.
I came to realize that during these fights with cancer, I was busy making decisions and being treated, the medical staff were busy doing what they do, but the family was helpless, worrying about me and the unknowable.

You've a wonderful family and been blessed many times over. May it always be so.

I kept my girls on top of everything. I didn't want to make things worse for them but I felt that they needed to be aware of what was going on rather than keeping things from them.

They are awesome. I never dreamed I would be a lucky as I am to have them in my life.

They were behind me every decision 100%, except for the first clinical trial I signed up for. Two of them weren't too happy that I was letting them inject me with drugs to see what would happen.

I was grateful that I had been given the opportunity to possibly make someone else's life better. Not something everyone gets the chance to do. Once I explained that to them they were behind me too.

Life is good.

 

[rubiranch]

Rubiranch, I surely don't want to steal your thunder or barge in on your glorious day, but I thought I'd mention that I'm 9 years cancer free as of last May, and one of the things I remember vividly is that first year clean announcement from my doctor. I felt as though I was born again, given a new life. I walked about in wonderment all day. I hope you feel that way too!

Oh Heavens no you're not stealing my thunder - you're adding to it by letting others know that cancer's *** can be kicked.

Good on you and congratulations!!!!

I was the one who told my doctor the cancer was gone. She asked me how I knew that because she hadn't even looked at my scans yet. I told her I just knew. She looked at my scans and turned around with a huge smile on her face.

I love that woman more than she knows.

That was a big day for both of us.

 

[joeintexas]

It truly is wonderful to hear cancer success stories like yours. Congratulations on winning that battle. I am still in mine, going on 3 years chemo and radiation, could not have gone this far without family and friends support and a wonderful medical team. My hats off to you and anyone who is determined to beat that monster. Life is good. It's worth fighting for.

 

[rubiranch]

It truly is wonderful to hear cancer success stories like yours. Congratulations on winning that battle. I am still in mine, going on 3 years chemo and radiation, could not have gone this far without family and friends support and a wonderful medical team. My hats off to you and anyone who is determined to beat that monster. Life is good. It's worth fighting for.

It looks like you're winning too and that's awesome.

Gratitude and attitude goes a long way when fighting cancer.

 

[rubiranch]

I don't know how many of you have ever watched this DVD. Its about how you attract and bring good into you life.

Its not magic or a cure it just reminds you to be grateful for the good you have in your life and to stay positive.

You can buy a copy from Amazon or if you sent me your address in a private message I would be more than happy to send you a copy for free.



A few years back I received SRS, Stereotactic Radiosurgery - a direct beam radiation treatment for the tumors in my brain. They molded this mask to fit my face and bolted my head to the table so I couldn't move during the treatment. It was a fascinating experience.

Later that evening while having dinner with a gal I was dating she looked at me and asked, "why are you in such a great mood?".

I asked her why I shouldn't be in a good mood. I'm always in a good mood.

She said, "you have cancer in your brain, look at everything you are going through!"

My reply was how awesome it was what they had done for me today. It was simply an amazing experience.

She asked if I had ever seen the Secret and I said no. She told me that my attitude and being soo positive follow what the talk about. So I bought a copy and watched it. In fact I'v watched it several times.

Not all of it applies to me and some of it I question. The bottom line is there is stuff in there that has helped me to stay positive when I needed to be.

Thanks for all your kind words and support.

I don't mean to sound soupy or anything like that but I am soo grateful to be here and soo grateful for all the good I have in my life.

 

[Sevens]

Fantastic story!

 

[cherrypointmarine]

You give those of us going through tough times a hand reaching out to grab on to . About 2 months ago I went to the dermatologist , living in Florida we go every year . At 60 , I feel I have been lucky so far . This year , she found a spot on my cheek she didn't like and did a biopsy , A week later I get a phone call , it came back that it's cancer . I just finished my first 6 weeks of applying Fluorouracil to the area twice a day . I get six weeks off , then another six weeks of the stuff , then another biopsy . If you don't know what the stuff is , it basically burns the skin , leaving a wound that is pretty nasty . Anyways , it's good to hear a story like yours , it gives one hope . And it's great you're giving back . I do by taking my Aussie to the VA center as a therapy dog .

 

[Bajadoc]

You are an inspiration. Thank you and continue your good works. You elevate all of us.

 

[rubiranch]

You give those of us going through tough times a hand reaching out to grab on to . About 2 months ago I went to the dermatologist , living in Florida we go every year . At 60 , I feel I have been lucky so far . This year , she found a spot on my cheek she didn't like and did a biopsy , A week later I get a phone call , it came back that it's cancer . I just finished my first 6 weeks of applying Fluorouracil to the area twice a day . I get six weeks off , then another six weeks of the stuff , then another biopsy . If you don't know what the stuff is , it basically burns the skin , leaving a wound that is pretty nasty . Anyways , it's good to hear a story like yours , it gives one hope . And it's great you're giving back . I do by taking my Aussie to the VA center as a therapy dog .

Thank you, I love giving someone even a little hope.

Some of the new treatments are amazing.

One of them that they talked about in particular at the symposium was that some cancers become immune to the treatment and actually become dependent on it.

So when they quit giving the treatment the cancer cells start to die off because they can't live without the drug. Once they start surviving without it they start administering again until the cancer becomes both immune and dependent on the drug again and they stop the treatment, and it starts dying again.

Its a roller coaster but it works in some cases.

They have made more progress over the last four years in melanoma cancer treatments than they have in the last 40 years.

Good on you for spending time with our Veterans and thank you.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I still have my full shoulders and face radiation mask. The grandkids put it in the window on Halloween.

Makes a dandy colander, too.

 

[rubiranch]

I still have my full shoulders and face radiation mask. The grandkids put it in the window on Halloween.

Makes a dandy colander, too.

That's AWESOME!!!!

 

[moosedog]

Congratulations on beating the cancer. You are inspirational and kind hearted and your post is very moving. God Bless.

 

[The Big D]

Congratulations.

Hearty congratulations, sir! And thank you for giving back with you volunteerism. Proud of you!

Be safe.

 

[chaparrito]

Your message strikes home, congratulations!
Just a year ago I had a strange, itchy, under the skin lump taken off my back. Derm Doc said not to worry it's an infected cyst but sent it to a different path lab as it was deep. Came back as Metastatic Melanoma. I have never had any kind of skin cancer and this thing was not a mole, which meant it came from somewhere else.
I got into Mayo Clinic Phoenix and met with the docs. They said "we're going to scan you every which way from Sunday and we'll most likely find something in your liver, lung or brain or some combination.
My scans came back as "no evidence of disease". They advised me that I could go home then and do nothing, but if I did I only had about a 15% chance of no recurrence, and urged me to undergo immunotherapy treatments with Nivolumab. They said "we have cures, if 90 year old Jimmy Carter can do it, you can".
So I have been doing the monthly infusions and quarterly scans and remain cancer free. I have two treatments left. Side effects have only recently cropped up. I developed type 2 diabetes and colitis. Small price to pay to beat one of the deadliest cancers. I'll be on quarterly scans for at least 2 years.
There is hope. You guys who are putting off getting something checked, do it now!!

 

[rubiranch]

Your message strikes home, congratulations!
Just a year ago I had a strange, itchy, under the skin lump taken off my back. Derm Doc said not to worry it's an infected cyst but sent it to a different path lab as it was deep. Came back as Metastatic Melanoma. I have never had any kind of skin cancer and this thing was not a mole, which meant it came from somewhere else.
I got into Mayo Clinic Phoenix and met with the docs. They said "we're going to scan you every which way from Sunday and we'll most likely find something in your liver, lung or brain or some combination.
My scans came back as "no evidence of disease". They advised me that I could go home then and do nothing, but if I did I only had about a 15% chance of no recurrence, and urged me to undergo immunotherapy treatments with Nivolumab. They said "we have cures, if 90 year old Jimmy Carter can do it, you can".
So I have been doing the monthly infusions and quarterly scans and remain cancer free. I have two treatments left. Side effects have only recently cropped up. I developed type 2 diabetes and colitis. Small price to pay to beat one of the deadliest cancers. I'll be on quarterly scans for at least 2 years.
There is hope. You guys who are putting off getting something checked, do it now!!

Congratulations chaparrito. Today's treatments are amazing and they work. They talked about Nivolumab during our melanoma patient symposium. The doctors are very pleased with its results.



Oct 19, 2011 - 7 years ago today was the first time I ever visited a dermatologist. He told me it was ugly and might take more than one surgery to remove it all. That's for the one above my ear. The one on my ear lobe was basil cell carcinoma. I think the punch sample took it all because it never came back.

The one above my ear was stage iv metastatic melanoma which they later upgraded to aggressive stage iv.

I was clean after the first surgery. My first re-occurrence was Feb 2013.

Since then I'v had a brain MRI and ct-scans nearly every 12 weeks up until Aug 1st of this year. No more MRIs or scans til Jan 2019. If they're clean - which I know they will be then we'll wait for another year for more scans.

Its been a long road but I'm here to share my story and that makes me happy.