Cancer Survivors Network

Cathy is my wife's name except hers is spelled with a K. My case is also simular.
I am on my 4th different cancer to go along with my 5 brain tumors I am on my 4th ear
cannal and drum as well as alot of bone loss. Unfortunately some of us get more than we truely deserve. I wish you well dear. Hang in there all, and stay positive

Thanks for the kind words. I wish you the best too during the "interesting" journey we have. Guess we won the wrong kind of lottery! Staying positive here!

That is remarkable that you has survived 4 times, I had NPC 3 times and I know I could not survive it again, it really takes its toll on your body. I am just at the 5 years mark from my last treatment and hope that it is gone for good.

Take care

Am very happy you have survived cancer for the 4th time. I am into the 3rd year of my x3 cancer survivor.

1st time it was cervical with 19 tumors in uterus. Had hysterectomy but no chemo or radiation. That was in 1988. In 1999 was diagnosed with labia cancer - they removed my labia
without requiring chemo or radiation. In Jan 2008 - was diagnosed with anal cancer. The tumor was 5 1/2 cm. Couldnt remove the tumor and this time had chemo - 2x 96 hour drip, and radiation - 30 sessions over 6 week period. Halfway thru radiation got radiation burn so bad treatment was postponed for 2 weeks and then resumed.

There is still no sign of cancer, but the radiation has left a severe path of destruction. stenosis of the rectum, stenosis of the vagina, and a miriad of other symtoms. What they dont tell you is the radiation can continue to cause damage for up to 20 years. I have developed illnesses I never had:(ie: fibromyalgia, IBS, recurring pneumonia, asthma, etc.

It is a constant battle to maintain some sort of normalcy - but I am alive. I cherish the life God has given me, but do on occasion get into that "why me" mentality.

Keep the faith....prayers are with you.

Sorry to hear of all the problems you are still having and you are so right as the side affects we get continue after the treatment stops for many years.

Welcome here to CSN, I do hope you plan to stay

God bless and keep you while in his workshop
Hondo

Hope you read this because I like you have had cancer 4 times. At 15 I had lymphoma, then breast cancer at 28 then the other breast at 36, and last year cervical. I have been looking for someone who has survived for a long time because it is different than shorter diagnoses. Had a pet scan and mri last month...thankfully everything looked good. Just dealing with skin cancer right now. Had some taken off today on my face...ouch! Hopefully we can figure out a way to talk about it.

Hi Pam-

For all you have gone thru you sound like me keeping a good attitude

I also had cancer when i was a teenager - Leukemia (ALL) when I was 16 in 1983 then due to relapse had a bone marrow transplant in 1985 (my deceased brother was a perfect match - had Total Body radiation then - did you have TBI??

Had heart issues due to adriamycin in 1988 - fine now

then 2008 due to radiaition I got thyroid cancer - had thyroid surgery and RAI treatment and then on meds - pretty lucky and hate to say an wimpy cancer

then this year got Salivary gland cancer again from TBradaition - no lymph nodes affected but due to my lucky background currently half way done with head/neck radiaiton treatment

and oh my lets not go into the skin cancers (mostly basil cells) i have at least 40 on my legs and arms since 2000 - again this is a side efffect from radiation.... have skin checks every 4 months and am thanful when it is just a few basil cells - mostly treat them myself with Aldara cream but yes some she has biopsy only had one on my face and had Moh's surgery years ago -

each af my many scars have a story ???? sound similar??? would love to hear more from you

I sure god spares me from breast and lung cancer (another side effect that can happen)

we both had enough!! But I am thankful I am alive!!!

Regards, Wendy

Also didnt know there were others- Did you receive Total Body Radiation??

Due to TBI for my Bone Marrow Transplant in May, 1985

Leukemia ALL in Sept, 83 relapsed

then cardiomyopathy - 1988

then 2001 Hep C due to blood transfusion (they didnt check the blood before 1988)- now in remission

then 2008 thyroid cancer follicular - RAI treatment - meds doing goof

then March, 2011 - salivary gland cancer - successful surgery but due to my background doing radiation - head and neck radiation is the worse - 4 more weeks to go!!

seems like God only gives us so much to handle .... he can go to someone else now

Best Wishes

Best wishes to you on your latest challenge.
Do you mind me asking, what were your symptoms for the salivary gland cancer?
Thanks,
Cathy

Hi Cathy-

No problem asking any questions it helps- Well about 2 years ago a lymoh node under my chin seemed to pop in and out but it seemed to be everytime I had a sinus infection so ignored it and chalked it up to sinsus issues

then last October it stayed out and seemed a little larger - so while at the dentist he said due to my background and prior radiation I should see a oral surgeon in his office ..who sent me to his ENT

so no real symptoms except for the enlarged lymph node - guess for us - enlarged lymph nodes are not good mist of the time

Take care Cathy

thanks Wendy!

Comparing notes is very helpful for me! I have burning mouth syndrome, that's whyI asked. Not sure if it is from GERD, surgically induced menopause and/or stress. The last few weeks I'm feeling a twinge under my tongue. Just trying to stay on top of all the possible long term effects from our treatments.
Cathy
HD 1989 - RADS
HD 1994 - ABVD
IDC 2008 - DB MX

But at the same time, diagnosed 4 days apart in April 2010. Breast cancer and endometrial cancer, both early stage, low grade. Scared the you-know-what out of me. I've been told I'm at a higher risk for other cancers. Unfortunately, I think this is common.

Suzanne

Wow sure seems like a lot of us here who have fought this fight more than once and are still here to tell about it.

Life is still good even after many treatments
Hondo

dito

Reading everyones post about having cancer more than once or even twice stuns me. Breast cancer stage 2b 2008 and now lung cancer stage 2 2011. I pray everyday that this will be the last I have to battle. Now reading all the post, I think I will step it up on the praying. I do pray that all recover and that none of us will ever have to battle this again!

Several members of my family have had two different primary cancers; my sister has had three primaries, all early stage and treated only with surgery (renal cell carcinoma dx 1995, papillary thyroid cancer, dx 2004 and non-small cell lung cancer, dx 2004. She is now cancer free and has never had a relapse of any of her cancers. However, this year, when her doctor scheduled annual follow-up CT scans, her insurance company refused to pay for them. We have genetic cancers in our family, and are in the process of appealing.

I have read that 10% of cancer survivors have a second primary, and 0.01% of allsurvivors have three primaries.