Relay For Life - End cancer in our lifetime

[saint]

Forgive me for getting personal a moment here. A dear friend of mine is participating in the Relay For Life, as she does every year. Her page for donations can be found here.

This past November 9th, my mother passed away from lung cancer after a 2 year fight. Everyone loses someone dear to them sooner or later, but cancer is a particularly evil disease. The fight against it is as hard and as devastating as the disease itself, raising hopes one day and then dashing them the next. It not only robs you of health and vitality, but also dignity as well.

The last two weeks of my mother's life she was in an obvious decline, and we felt the end was near. Wednesday they visited the doctor for what was likely to be the last time, only to get the astonishing news that her tumor had shrunk by a significant percentage. My mother, so weakened by her treatments and the cancer that she no longer had the strength to even get herself out of bed, and whom had already made her peace and arrangements, was asked if she wanted to give up or continue to fight. She said she wanted to continue to fight.

The next morning she died.

Cancer is an evil evil disease that is likely to affect someone close to you in your lifetime. If you can, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society relay for life.

I miss my mom.

--- saint

[Ginsu Victim]

Contact your local hospital if you wish to get involved in some of the Relay for Life activities. Here in Duncan, OK, Duncan Regional Hospital raises money for this cause every year. My mother works in their home health care department and has contributed time and money every chance she's had. She is a cancer survivor and currently my grandmother is undergoing radiation for bowel cancer.

Please consider donating even a small amount to such a good cause.

I'm sure our waistlines will appreciate one less trip to Taco Bell, anyway.

[Ginsu Victim]

I'm very disappointed in the number of views this thread has received.

[Kevin Mullins]

No kidding.

I was having a hard time finding the right words to respond with to the thread in general.... my girlfriends father has cancer in his liver.
It wasn't a super good trip the last time they got to visit which was just recently in California.
Her parents actually live in Holland.... so it's really tough right now in that aspect.

[abzman2000]

I'm actually going to be participating, as part of my rotaract club. 

[dreamakuma]

My mother passed away Of ovarian cancer when I was ten, after a two-year struggle With it the enitire family had been pushed beyound any recovery. After her passing, My dad began to drink, I began to rebel, and life became hell for a long time, haunting me for another ten years just to recover. I think things would've changed if she were here. I'll do what I can if it means no more lives destroyed by this.
No kid should see their mom slowly die because of cancer.

[Bender]

My Grandfather, my uncle and my cousin have all scummed to cancer

My Poor aunt had to watch a 7 year old son be taken from her, then her husband a few years later NO ONE should have to go thought that.

I've put these things to the back of my mind because they're so painful, but its really important not to forget and to do what we can to help, so that others hopefully won't have to suffer

Thanks for reminding me, Saint

[Dizzle]

I'll definitely be making a contribution.

My father was just diagnosed with cancer two weeks ago.  Our family's journey has just begun and to be honest, I still don't think I've completely come to terms with that's happening.

[ultrageek]

So far, I have been lucky enough not have had to live through anyone in my family going through this. I had a great uncle die of cancer, but it was when I was less than 2 yrs old, so I don't even remember it.

I have made it a point to give to the Lukemia and Lymphoma society every year since I got married (15 yrs) since my wife has had several people in her family die because of one or the other.

I can only imagine what it's like to watch someone suffering through trying to recover, and then succumb in the end anyway. How heart wrenching.

Thanks for posting this Saint and thanks for sharing.

[Blanka]

Problem with cancer is that its the best example of an ageing disease. By the time all diseases are cured, we will still have cancer. It's like Alzheimer on the cell level. The cells get retarded. So in 50 years we either have cancer and die, or we take the euthanasia pill.

[newkillergenius]

Saint, I'm truly sorry to hear how things ended up for your mother.  Be well my man.

[Kevin Mullins]

My girlfriends father has been a wonderful example of the other aspect we all need to keep in mind when we have family of friends with some form of cancer....

And that's quality of life !!

After his fourth treatment of chemo he said he had had enough of feeling sick and just wasting it all away.
So days after his last treatment he goes out and buys himself a 2001 Porsche 911 Carrera.
And he's gonna enjoy it too I'm sure. 

Now of course not everyone can go out and do something quite like that, but regardless of treatments, surgeries, illness and any other "medical" aspects they may endure....
always consider helping out by simply making their quality of life more enjoyable. If you put a serious downer about it, then they will see and feel the same. And lord knows it's miserable enough.

[newbee]

 
I am sorry for your loss.

[Level42]

Saint, wanted to share our condolences for you and your family.

Lost one aunt and one uncle due to cancer.
A very good friend lost her brother who was only 18 years old still about a year ago.

My wife participates in the cancer-fund collection so we're doing our part to help the fight over here.

Wish you all the best !

[Todd H]

My condolences as well Saint. Cancer has taken away many of my loved ones over the years, including my grandmother last year of lung cancer.

In 2001 my nephew was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and died on Christmas Day. He was only 16 months old. Watching him waste away only to die in his mother's arms was quite possibly the most heart breaking moment I have ever witnessed.

I participate every year in the St. Baldrick's Foundation fund drive in his honor. Basically, I get my head shaved in honor of those children that lose their hair because of chemo. If anybody is interested in making a donation just visit my web page:

 http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-329221

Saint, I'm definitely going to make a donation to Relay for Life for you. Hang in there man.

[Cyberflexx]

I just found this thread,  very sorry to hear about your mother.

My dad has been fighting colon cancer for a few years.  The cancer shrunk and stopped growing for a year, then on his check up PET scan, they noticed it was in his liver,kidney and lung as well.  He had part of his liver removed ( it will grow back to normal size) and the spot on his kidney laser zapped and now he has a tube in his kidney to get the fluids to where it's suppose to go.  He tool his treatments and the cancer was all gone, even his lung spot, according to the next PET scan and he didnt have treatments for 8 months.  On his next PET checkup scan, the cancer was back,  so he is once again on treatments.  I can tell over the past few months he just looks sick and not very full of energy.  He is always tired.  His hair never fell out with this treatments but I told him if it did, I would shave my head with him.   Cancer is the devil and you are right, it robs you of everything.

Edit:  I spoke with my father yesterday and I asked him if he ever thought there would be a cure. He said " Maybe, but wont be available because to many people are making big money off the drugs and equipment for a cure to be readily available"   

[XYXZYZ]

I don't mean to be a wet blanket here, but I'm with Cyberflexx' father about the medical industry. (in the US anyway) Cancer patients are a gold mine for the medical corporations, and if a cure is ever found they'll illegalize it, cut it into pieces, bury it, kill the guy who discovered it and pretend it never happened. For all we know they may have already discovered a cure.

I lost my mom to cancer as well.

[HaRuMaN]

Hey... lets keep the politcal / conspiracy theories out of this thread, m'kay?

My wife is doing the relay for life, she lost her mother to breast cancer.

[matman]

So when is the relay?   Are there multiple relays a year?  I would like to make a donation, but not sure if the event has passed.

[RetroACTIVE]

I don't mean to be a wet blanket here, but I'm with Cyberflexx' father about the medical industry. (in the US anyway) Cancer patients are a gold mine for the medical corporations, and if a cure is ever found they'll illegalize it, cut it into pieces, bury it, kill the guy who discovered it and pretend it never happened. For all we know they may have already discovered a cure.

I lost my mom to cancer as well.

Edit:  I spoke with my father yesterday and I asked him if he ever thought there would be a cure. He said " Maybe, but wont be available because to many people are making big money off the drugs and equipment for a cure to be readily available"  

These are defeatist attitudes and I know its difficult to see our loved ones in pain so its easy to go down this path... but research and development is expensive... in any industry... so is care...  this is where the American Cancer Society really really makes a difference... it not only provides funding for research but it also provides direct assistance and care to patients and care givers.  Without donations and support from local communities we would have drastically worse survival rates.

Do your homework... look it up and see what the survival rate of breast cancer is now vs 20 years ago... that didn't happen from doing nothing.

I'm thankful for the hard work, support and donations, my wife is here today because of it!

BTW: My wife is the chair and I am the co-chair for our local Relay For Life!

[Silas (son of Silas)]

For all of those who have experienced this disease themselves or who have lost a loved one to it, my heart truly goes out to you.

My best friend has spent his life battling Hodgkin's disease (cancer of the lymphatic system). My mother (rest in peace) had non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (another cancer of the lymphatic system) and my father currently has an inoperable tumor of the prostate (prostate being the number one cause of death of men in his age group in the UK.) Fortunately (and this is kind of weird to say) a heart attack killed my mother before the cancer did, so her suffering was shortened.

Here in the UK 1 in 3 of us will be diagnosed with cancer, 1 in 4 of us will die from it. I take every opportunity to bang the 'please donate' drum because I know first hand the world of hurt this disease causes.

Silas

[denmiclaw]

Both me and my wife have lost family to cancer.  Lung, breast, heart.. you name it.

My wife was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 2 years ago, in Jan 07.  Luckily, they caught and removed it before it spread further.  She still had to go through Chemo, and radiation.  Because it was a particularly aggressive cancer, they hit her with the drugs and radiation faster than they normally do.  She had some fairly bad burns from the radiation you can still see today, and of course she lost her hair.  She was 28.  She hasn't had a re-occurance yet, but it's something that goes through your mind every day, with every new test, with every new mammogram.

She now has a condition called dermatomyacitis, which basically is a skin/muscle condition that was either brought on by the cancer, or is a pre-cursor to the cancer coming back.

Obviously, the doctors can't tell which.

Anyway, we sign up every year for the local Relay for Life.. I recommend it for people even if they don't know someone with cancer.. chances are at some point in your life.. you will.

As people have said before me, it is an atrocious disease.

[HaRuMaN]

My wife's mother passed away from cancer.  I did the Relay for Life this year with my wife.

[Blanka]

They recently identified enzym's that are responsible for the spreading of cancer. Maybe in a couple of years they can deal with them, so that cancer can stay a local phenomena in most cases. It was really a very important discovery in health science.

[loess]

I'm worry about my parents? So many peple nowadays has died in cancer. 

[Goz]

As a person afflicted with Cancer (currently in remission for the second time). This thread really strikes home. Saint sorry for your loss and thanks to any and all who have contributed to the cause.