Cancer Survivors Network

Hey Betty,

Loretta and I howled with laughter when we read your letter about Layne's "Kryptonite"!

When the "mouse is away, the cat will play". I've reversed this order because cat's so love milk. Loretta prefers the nicer sounding word "diarrhea" instead of the more violent sounding word "dumping", but the terms are synonymous. You could say about Layne's 2 glasses of milk--"two glasses in--two glasses out" and I mean "in a jiffy".

Seems like he could have listened to my advice about going easy on milk and ice cream. Now you must also "hide the candy jar". I'm like a kid in a candy shop. I love sweets and ice cream. And now that I'm 72, I can eat my dessert FIRST!

Now Layne must also watch CHEESE. All these foods taste oh so very good going in, but like I said, "my body talks back". Oh yes, we survivors, have "talking organs". Layne is finding that out. His eyes see the food, his mouth waters, his stomach growls, and the tussle begins. But the intestines get the last laugh. The intestines may be the last to "eat", but he takes a lot longer to "expel" the food than the eyes, taste buds, and stomach took to "consume" it.

Now a word to the wise is sufficient. Looks like Layne has to "learn the hard way". By the way, some over-the-counter "Lactose intolerant" pills will help greatly (preferably taken before consumption of milk and cheese products). Furthermore, milk and cheese can create excessive gas. The reaction can be very soon afterwards, so Layne should not gorge on milk and cheese and then expect to be a "welcome guests" at parties--if you get my drift. He will be anything but the "life of the party". Sometimes this has happened to me when we are out shopping. I always try to pretend it is not me expelling gas, but I really know it is. Meanwhile, Loretta escapes to another part of the store, pretending we don't know each other.

Layne is making a miraculous recovery, just like I did. I told you Loretta had me downtown shopping in no time.

May I offer a suggestion as to why Layne is now feeling the cold. He no longer has the extra coat of blubber, pardon the expression, that he once wore. Surely you remember the word to parents to keep their children properly clothed, because their skin is much thinner than that of adults. They will get chilled more quickly. (We often gasp at the way young parents let their children play out in the cold without adequate wraps on.) So now, Layne will have to put on a coat when he takes his walks. A great price to pay for being a "Cancer-free Survivor"!

A great testimony. We are so very happy.

William W. Marshall (&Loretta)
AKA "William66"
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

P.S. Have you considered buying a 4 oz. baby bottle and doling out the milk to Layne in "dribbles"--forcing him to drink through the nipple of course? Looks like when Betty's away, "the cat, the mice and Layne will play!

Betty,

Isn't it fun, when they spend the night in the bathroom when they don't listen to what the doc said, I too had to laugh as we have had several nights in the bathroom jeff takes the paper and its there until he finishes his dumping ha ha, glad he is so much better, I know in reality he will even get better, Jeff has had a few set backs but we will make it. Just know now you are a survivor of EC CANCER, be sure and help others, and like William said, they love candy, Jeff's taste buds sure has changed since surgery wants to eat pickles olives, and popcorn all the time, I always ask him when the BABY IS DUE, he just laughs I swear he is like a woman pregnant and craving pickles I had to go to our little convenience store the other night to just get him pickles I felt like he was pregnant, too funny, Jeff too is always cold, where before he complained it was too hot in the house, and now he keeps it warmer than I like.

BETTY, MUMPHY, WILLIAM, DONNA70, AND K_ANN AND OURSELFS have everything in common something to be thankful for this THANKSGIVING.

Keep in touch and watch the milk

Lori aka MOE