my visit with my gny-onc this morning after first post treatment ct scan

maggie_wilson
maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
sisters,

my doctor checked out my scan and seemed quite unconcerned about my one slightly enlarged periaortic node, and said there were definitely a number of benign reasons why a node might become enlarged. (of course, i didn't think to ask, like what? at the time.) he also noted that several other nodes had decreased in size or resolved, which was a good sign. he also gave me a physical exam, and said all looked fine, so right now i'm feeling quite good. he agreed with the chemo doc to watch for 3 months, then have a ca 125 and ct/pet. he also mentioned that if the node were in fact cancer, that there were options: radiation, chemo, but he didn't really want to discuss these at this point, only if we crossed that bridge. this is what i like about him, he doesn't get too far ahead of himself or me, really one step at a time.

i asked him about the possibility of a needle biopsy at some point to do an assay to see what chemo might work best with this particular cancer. he nixed that by saying that not enough tissue could be gotten from a needle biopsy to do the assay. so, we'll see. right now i'm feeling quite good physically and emotionally, and have the tinniest bit of hope that maybe the node isn't cancer. and if it is, i'm doing everything i can with my acupuncturist's help, to stave off any growth.

here's hoping everyone's news will be good news.
sisterhood,
maggie

Comments

  • kkstef
    kkstef Member Posts: 688 Member
    Your Good News!
    Maggie, I am so excited for you. It is great that BOTH doctors concurred that a "wait and see" approach made sense. Sounds like you have a good medical team!! You are doing everything you can do to be healthy and kudos to you!

    I'm thinkin that little node is NOT cancer too!

    Enjoy your good news!

    Karen
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    kkstef said:

    Your Good News!
    Maggie, I am so excited for you. It is great that BOTH doctors concurred that a "wait and see" approach made sense. Sounds like you have a good medical team!! You are doing everything you can do to be healthy and kudos to you!

    I'm thinkin that little node is NOT cancer too!

    Enjoy your good news!

    Karen

    karen, love your comments

    karen,
    i had to laugh, but also was close to tears, at your last comment re: thikin that little node is Not cancer. of course i loved that you think that, and that you said it, and how you said it. it touched me, and i really appreciate it. and, it is also true, i have two great doctors, who, i have to say, are not always on the same side of issues, but respect each other and thankfully concur re: the 3 months reprieve.
    thanx so much, karen,
    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    Good News!
    Maggie,

    Oh we all have to ride out the "positive" news in hopes it continues. I do like the "wait and see" attitudes from most others, such as Linda. I've not had any issues on scans and glad to hear we have this option. Anything is better than the standard chemo and radiation.

    Do want to ask, what are your thoughts on acupuncture? What are the reasons for using it -- assuming it does have positive waves for our avoidance of cancer? Many years ago I had back issues and did go to a local acupuncturist, which gave me excellent results. Not quite sure where it plays into our cancer.

    Lastly, with the "wait and see" on nodes, do they feel they'll get better aligned with what we call "normal"? Not understanding if nodes just get inflammed for other reasons and docs like to see how and if they change. Guess I need to google a bit more on nodes. I had cancer in only 1 pelvic node so I'm always interested is how nodes can change, etc.

    Best to you Maggie...and great news!!! Enjoy a nice cold green tea with lemon to celebrate~

    Jan
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    jazzy1 said:

    Good News!
    Maggie,

    Oh we all have to ride out the "positive" news in hopes it continues. I do like the "wait and see" attitudes from most others, such as Linda. I've not had any issues on scans and glad to hear we have this option. Anything is better than the standard chemo and radiation.

    Do want to ask, what are your thoughts on acupuncture? What are the reasons for using it -- assuming it does have positive waves for our avoidance of cancer? Many years ago I had back issues and did go to a local acupuncturist, which gave me excellent results. Not quite sure where it plays into our cancer.

    Lastly, with the "wait and see" on nodes, do they feel they'll get better aligned with what we call "normal"? Not understanding if nodes just get inflammed for other reasons and docs like to see how and if they change. Guess I need to google a bit more on nodes. I had cancer in only 1 pelvic node so I'm always interested is how nodes can change, etc.

    Best to you Maggie...and great news!!! Enjoy a nice cold green tea with lemon to celebrate~

    Jan

    acupuncture, etc.

    hi jan,

    acupuncture helps with moving energy around, supporting our immune systems, and more. right now my acupuncturist is helping me get off meds altogether, as well as taking a more aggressive approach re: cancer with herbs, teas, drops, etc. in terms of nodes, in this same last cat scan it showed some other nodes having diminished or resolved over the last months, so they're watching this one slightly enlarged node to see what it does in the next few months. obviously, i want it to diminish, or at least stay the same, and not grow, if in fact it's cancer. so, that's the wait and see what happens. in the meantime, i'm eating lots of raw ginger and tumeric and drinking green tea.
    hope this helps,
    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    jazzy1 said:

    Good News!
    Maggie,

    Oh we all have to ride out the "positive" news in hopes it continues. I do like the "wait and see" attitudes from most others, such as Linda. I've not had any issues on scans and glad to hear we have this option. Anything is better than the standard chemo and radiation.

    Do want to ask, what are your thoughts on acupuncture? What are the reasons for using it -- assuming it does have positive waves for our avoidance of cancer? Many years ago I had back issues and did go to a local acupuncturist, which gave me excellent results. Not quite sure where it plays into our cancer.

    Lastly, with the "wait and see" on nodes, do they feel they'll get better aligned with what we call "normal"? Not understanding if nodes just get inflammed for other reasons and docs like to see how and if they change. Guess I need to google a bit more on nodes. I had cancer in only 1 pelvic node so I'm always interested is how nodes can change, etc.

    Best to you Maggie...and great news!!! Enjoy a nice cold green tea with lemon to celebrate~

    Jan

    acupuncture, etc.

    hi jan,

    acupuncture helps with moving energy around, supporting our immune systems, and more. right now my acupuncturist is helping me get off meds altogether, as well as taking a more aggressive approach re: cancer with herbs, teas, drops, etc. in terms of nodes, in this same last cat scan it showed some other nodes having diminished or resolved over the last months, so they're watching this one slightly enlarged node to see what it does in the next few months. obviously, i want it to diminish, or at least stay the same, and not grow, if in fact it's cancer. so, that's the wait and see what happens. in the meantime, i'm eating lots of raw ginger and tumeric and drinking green tea.
    hope this helps, thanx for your good wishes,
    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member

    acupuncture, etc.

    hi jan,

    acupuncture helps with moving energy around, supporting our immune systems, and more. right now my acupuncturist is helping me get off meds altogether, as well as taking a more aggressive approach re: cancer with herbs, teas, drops, etc. in terms of nodes, in this same last cat scan it showed some other nodes having diminished or resolved over the last months, so they're watching this one slightly enlarged node to see what it does in the next few months. obviously, i want it to diminish, or at least stay the same, and not grow, if in fact it's cancer. so, that's the wait and see what happens. in the meantime, i'm eating lots of raw ginger and tumeric and drinking green tea.
    hope this helps, thanx for your good wishes,
    sisterhood,
    maggie

    Great news Maggie
    So happy to hear your great news. Enjoy these next 3 months before your next tests.
    In peace and caring.
  • livealot
    livealot Member Posts: 19
    Ro10 said:

    Great news Maggie
    So happy to hear your great news. Enjoy these next 3 months before your next tests.
    In peace and caring.

    Great News!
    it does sound like things are moving in the right direction. I have read California_artist's profile a couple of times and am in awe. I want to know how she's done it but I need to go back and read all of her posts. Maggie, it sounds like this is a good approach and your results WILL continue to improve.
    Take care,
    elizabeth
  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379

    acupuncture, etc.

    hi jan,

    acupuncture helps with moving energy around, supporting our immune systems, and more. right now my acupuncturist is helping me get off meds altogether, as well as taking a more aggressive approach re: cancer with herbs, teas, drops, etc. in terms of nodes, in this same last cat scan it showed some other nodes having diminished or resolved over the last months, so they're watching this one slightly enlarged node to see what it does in the next few months. obviously, i want it to diminish, or at least stay the same, and not grow, if in fact it's cancer. so, that's the wait and see what happens. in the meantime, i'm eating lots of raw ginger and tumeric and drinking green tea.
    hope this helps, thanx for your good wishes,
    sisterhood,
    maggie

    Thanks - acupuncture
    I know acupunture is helping with energy flow, as just had to ask since dealing with cancer. If I could find one here that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'd hop over. My insurance won't cover and truly hate to pay the large fees. I think I'll have to stick with my yoga and deep breathing during my fast walking and running. We all do what works for us.

    How do you take the tumeric? Green tea I'm getting into, but did you know Green Tea that's Japenese is the BEST. Get more bang for you buck!!! Listings of a few good ones are in Anti-cncer book.

    So happy you're feeling positive and trying your best to control the nodes...you go girl!!

    Jan
    ((((( hugs )))))
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596
    jazzy1 said:

    Thanks - acupuncture
    I know acupunture is helping with energy flow, as just had to ask since dealing with cancer. If I could find one here that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, I'd hop over. My insurance won't cover and truly hate to pay the large fees. I think I'll have to stick with my yoga and deep breathing during my fast walking and running. We all do what works for us.

    How do you take the tumeric? Green tea I'm getting into, but did you know Green Tea that's Japenese is the BEST. Get more bang for you buck!!! Listings of a few good ones are in Anti-cncer book.

    So happy you're feeling positive and trying your best to control the nodes...you go girl!!

    Jan
    ((((( hugs )))))

    thanx ro, elizabeth and jan

    hi sisters,

    it always feels so good to post and receive such supportive, loving responses in return. thank you for those.

    my girlfriend made up a mixture of tumeric and pepper in a shaker, so when i eat salads and soups (even in restaurants), i take out my trusty jar and shake some of the mixture on. seems to work. what i really love is raw ginger, and i grate or slice it and put it in my fruit and yogurt, or my fruit and cereal, everywhere i can. i know not everyone can tolerate it in large quantities, but i find it's yummy. the tumeric i tolerate.

    my acupuncturist is very reasonable; clearly she's not in it for the money. being a two time breast cancer survivor herself, and helping her mother live 11 years longer than anyone thought she would with ovarian cancer, has made her into the remarkable acupuncturist and person she is.

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • livealot
    livealot Member Posts: 19

    thanx ro, elizabeth and jan

    hi sisters,

    it always feels so good to post and receive such supportive, loving responses in return. thank you for those.

    my girlfriend made up a mixture of tumeric and pepper in a shaker, so when i eat salads and soups (even in restaurants), i take out my trusty jar and shake some of the mixture on. seems to work. what i really love is raw ginger, and i grate or slice it and put it in my fruit and yogurt, or my fruit and cereal, everywhere i can. i know not everyone can tolerate it in large quantities, but i find it's yummy. the tumeric i tolerate.

    my acupuncturist is very reasonable; clearly she's not in it for the money. being a two time breast cancer survivor herself, and helping her mother live 11 years longer than anyone thought she would with ovarian cancer, has made her into the remarkable acupuncturist and person she is.

    sisterhood,
    maggie

    a real treasure in your accupuncturist!
    after my first round of chemo, I was so achy and felt so old, I felt I just needed a massage! although i was a physical therapist for 20 years, I felt that massage was such an indulgence. I had only a few in all my life. (Thank goodness my husband gives agreat massage.) when I saw my gastr-enterologist, a WONDERFUL woman, I told her how I felt. she referred me to a massage therapist. i called made an appt. and asked about cost- $85/session. yikes but I really needed something. she took my health history and made the appt. when I got there, she said she doesn't charge anyone who has had cancer. she believes that massage should be a part of their healing process and life for all it's benefits. my mouth dropped open. she insisted. it was the best massage of my life. such positive energy and healing hands! she scheduled me for WEEKLY massages ad infinitum. such a truly amazing woman. I haev given friends gift certificates to go there and sent my daughter and husband who also need some healing touch. I can't tell you how helpful that has been for me!

    As for tumeric, I just had my brunch- Multi-grain thin slice roll, hummus, half a sm. avacado, slice of tomato heavily sprinkled with tumeric, a couple of drops of GOOD olive oil and several leaves of purple and green basil from my garden. so yummy!

    to your health and serenity,
    elizabeth
  • california_artist
    california_artist Member Posts: 816 Member

    acupuncture, etc.

    hi jan,

    acupuncture helps with moving energy around, supporting our immune systems, and more. right now my acupuncturist is helping me get off meds altogether, as well as taking a more aggressive approach re: cancer with herbs, teas, drops, etc. in terms of nodes, in this same last cat scan it showed some other nodes having diminished or resolved over the last months, so they're watching this one slightly enlarged node to see what it does in the next few months. obviously, i want it to diminish, or at least stay the same, and not grow, if in fact it's cancer. so, that's the wait and see what happens. in the meantime, i'm eating lots of raw ginger and tumeric and drinking green tea.
    hope this helps,
    sisterhood,
    maggie

    maggie
    Hey, re the node thing. I had two nodes that had begun to grow a few months after my surgery, I may have mentioned this to you before, cant' remember who I've said what to, but once I began my ginger, green tea, turmeric routine, they stopped growing and have remained stable for a year and a half or there abouts and even though they are 1.5 cm have not shown to be metabolic on any PET/CT scans.

    We're in a holding pattern. I intend to continue with the food approach as I surely don't want those two suckers to come in for a landing. I also use raw garlic, or at the very least garlic that I've smashed the begeezzzzys out of and let rest for ten minutes prior to cooking, and brocolli, cabbage and some other cruciferous veggies. Are you liking the book?

    Here's to really hoping we get through this alive and well. What if, with all the other things some of us are doing to effect a cure, we are the first group to beat the odds, now that would be something to go on the Oprah Show about, or maybe even have tea with the First Lady. heehehhhheheheheheeh

    Your Delighted sister in hope,

    claudia
  • california_artist
    california_artist Member Posts: 816 Member
    livealot said:

    Great News!
    it does sound like things are moving in the right direction. I have read California_artist's profile a couple of times and am in awe. I want to know how she's done it but I need to go back and read all of her posts. Maggie, it sounds like this is a good approach and your results WILL continue to improve.
    Take care,
    elizabeth

    Hey, speak of the devil or you know what I mean
    I think the key is to look first for the things you may have inadvertatly done to give your cancer a leg up so to speak. I should probably go back and read my bio.

    could not have done it without these informative things:

    a book by Dr. Boik called Natural Remedies ==I will have to look that up on the net. He is the one that gave me the insight into how natural substances work synergistically to beat cancer at the many levels it tries to get a foothold in your body. He works at Stanford and will answer emails.

    Then there was a book called The China Study. This one opened my eyes to the way milk or rather the caesin in milk, allows cancer to form a shield, that doesn't allow chemo or even our own immune system to fight against cancer cells.

    Then there was of course the book Anti Cancer A New Way of Life which has some fantastic chapters, not only on food stuffs, but also how our minds and emotions, our stress levels, and our fighting spirits help us fight cancer.

    A dvd I particularly liked was called Healing Cancer from the inside out. Very eye opening information that made me think about the whole cancer and health care situation.

    Early on a read a book called The Secret History of the Way on Cancer. There were things in there that let me know, I should look very carefully at how I can best care for myself, becasue those in charge may not have my best interests at heart, but have instead their own best interests at the top of their "looking after" card.

    I liked the dvd Crazy Sexy Cancer mostly because she said how she had fought and her spirit was simply unstoppable, gave a girl hope.

    Another book I read was something called Racing for the Cure, he was an early cancer person looking to the pharmaceutical companies, think he was involved with Genetech way back when, but he was mostly just trying to cure his cancer.

    Look out for yourself, become aware of what it is that cancer needs to survive. And especaillly what is needs to spread.There are foods out there that part of daily diet or should be that will fight angiogenesis. Without those little capillaries, cancer simply can't harm you.

    Well, the library is closing so I gotta go, I also looked on line day and night for anything I could think of tha tI might be able to research

    The very best of luck to you and everyone on the board,

    we are all winners

    Claudia
  • norma2
    norma2 Member Posts: 479

    thanx ro, elizabeth and jan

    hi sisters,

    it always feels so good to post and receive such supportive, loving responses in return. thank you for those.

    my girlfriend made up a mixture of tumeric and pepper in a shaker, so when i eat salads and soups (even in restaurants), i take out my trusty jar and shake some of the mixture on. seems to work. what i really love is raw ginger, and i grate or slice it and put it in my fruit and yogurt, or my fruit and cereal, everywhere i can. i know not everyone can tolerate it in large quantities, but i find it's yummy. the tumeric i tolerate.

    my acupuncturist is very reasonable; clearly she's not in it for the money. being a two time breast cancer survivor herself, and helping her mother live 11 years longer than anyone thought she would with ovarian cancer, has made her into the remarkable acupuncturist and person she is.

    sisterhood,
    maggie

    great idea!!! about the turmeric/pepper shaker
    I am going to set up a shaker today with that mix in it!!! What a wonderful idea. I have started putting turmeric and black pepper in a lot of foods when I cook for my family. I was reading that it is also thought that turmeric could possible help men from developing prostate cancer.

    Maggie, you have given me a desire for some raw ginger. Now to find some where I shop. I am going to ask the local grocer if they will stock it. I like it sliced extra thin and eaten with capers, a dollop of sour cream or unsweetened yogurt, salmon, minced herbs (fresh parsley and basil)on melba toast. Yummy!!!

    Hugs to you, dear Maggie!!!....Norma
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    norma2 said:

    great idea!!! about the turmeric/pepper shaker
    I am going to set up a shaker today with that mix in it!!! What a wonderful idea. I have started putting turmeric and black pepper in a lot of foods when I cook for my family. I was reading that it is also thought that turmeric could possible help men from developing prostate cancer.

    Maggie, you have given me a desire for some raw ginger. Now to find some where I shop. I am going to ask the local grocer if they will stock it. I like it sliced extra thin and eaten with capers, a dollop of sour cream or unsweetened yogurt, salmon, minced herbs (fresh parsley and basil)on melba toast. Yummy!!!

    Hugs to you, dear Maggie!!!....Norma

    Hi Ladies
    Just thought I'd drop in after being away for a week - visiting family in El Paso.

    Maggie, I'm happy that you have a reprieve from treatment and are joining the wait and watch group. I enjoy reading about your alternative methods which I have been doing myself. I am contemplating accupuncture. Thanks for the tumeric and pepper shaker idea!! Claudia, you are a trooper with that raw garlic. I will have to experiment on how to do that. I did buy a large bottle of powdered garlic that I sprinkle - maybe I will add that to the tumeric and pepper mix!!

    My suggestion - cinnamon is a good antioxidant too. I add it to most anything that makes sense - over toast, yogurt, cottage cheese, fruit, oatmeal - it seems to sweeten things a bit.

    I am eating 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 2T flax oil daily too. I'm getting blood work this week and I'm anxious to see the result of my diet and supplements. I'll keep you posted.

    Blessings to all. Mary Ann
  • Ro10
    Ro10 Member Posts: 1,561 Member
    daisy366 said:

    Hi Ladies
    Just thought I'd drop in after being away for a week - visiting family in El Paso.

    Maggie, I'm happy that you have a reprieve from treatment and are joining the wait and watch group. I enjoy reading about your alternative methods which I have been doing myself. I am contemplating accupuncture. Thanks for the tumeric and pepper shaker idea!! Claudia, you are a trooper with that raw garlic. I will have to experiment on how to do that. I did buy a large bottle of powdered garlic that I sprinkle - maybe I will add that to the tumeric and pepper mix!!

    My suggestion - cinnamon is a good antioxidant too. I add it to most anything that makes sense - over toast, yogurt, cottage cheese, fruit, oatmeal - it seems to sweeten things a bit.

    I am eating 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 2T flax oil daily too. I'm getting blood work this week and I'm anxious to see the result of my diet and supplements. I'll keep you posted.

    Blessings to all. Mary Ann

    Mary Ann hope you had good visit with your family
    I did miss you while you were gone. Hope all your new diet changes will be reflected in your blood work. I too am going to try the tumeric, pepper mix to add to foods. Have a good week. In peace and caring.
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596

    maggie
    Hey, re the node thing. I had two nodes that had begun to grow a few months after my surgery, I may have mentioned this to you before, cant' remember who I've said what to, but once I began my ginger, green tea, turmeric routine, they stopped growing and have remained stable for a year and a half or there abouts and even though they are 1.5 cm have not shown to be metabolic on any PET/CT scans.

    We're in a holding pattern. I intend to continue with the food approach as I surely don't want those two suckers to come in for a landing. I also use raw garlic, or at the very least garlic that I've smashed the begeezzzzys out of and let rest for ten minutes prior to cooking, and brocolli, cabbage and some other cruciferous veggies. Are you liking the book?

    Here's to really hoping we get through this alive and well. What if, with all the other things some of us are doing to effect a cure, we are the first group to beat the odds, now that would be something to go on the Oprah Show about, or maybe even have tea with the First Lady. heehehhhheheheheheeh

    Your Delighted sister in hope,

    claudia

    claudia

    i can't tell you how much i appreciate your comments. no, you have not told me about your two nodes after surgery (almost exactly the size of my enlarged node), and i am so hoping that with my tumeric/pepper, green tea, raw ginger routine, and now raw garlic, that i, too, will be able to keep that bloody node at bay. claudia, are you assuming your nodes are cancer, or do you know? i'm assuming mine is, even if there are other benign reasons for it to be enlarged.

    yes, i am really, really liking the anti-cancer book; its informative, lucid, hopeful and very helpful. thank you for that recommendation. it's the best i've read thus far. i live in northern california where commonweal is, the retreat for people with cancer begun by michael lerner, to which the author refers. in fact, my partner and i are on a waiting list to go for a week. it's very popular, unfortunately so many people with cqncer here, that it will probably be months before we get there. still, it's supposed to be utterly amazing, and oh, so nurturing and informative as well.

    i'm with you in hoping we get through this alive and well; if anyone can beat the odds, i'm betting on us. in fact, my partner and i are gamblers, though we can't quit our day jobs to do it full time. we are going to the world poker tour women's event in vegas next weekend, so wish us luck.

    by the way, i note in your later post that you don't drink milk. what about eating yogurt, since it is also a dairy product. hoping it doesn't act in the same way milk does. thank you also, claudia, for all your other suggestions of books, dvds, etc. you are a true resource, and a wonderful sister-in-hope.

    sisterhood,
    maggie
  • maggie_wilson
    maggie_wilson Member Posts: 596

    Hey, speak of the devil or you know what I mean
    I think the key is to look first for the things you may have inadvertatly done to give your cancer a leg up so to speak. I should probably go back and read my bio.

    could not have done it without these informative things:

    a book by Dr. Boik called Natural Remedies ==I will have to look that up on the net. He is the one that gave me the insight into how natural substances work synergistically to beat cancer at the many levels it tries to get a foothold in your body. He works at Stanford and will answer emails.

    Then there was a book called The China Study. This one opened my eyes to the way milk or rather the caesin in milk, allows cancer to form a shield, that doesn't allow chemo or even our own immune system to fight against cancer cells.

    Then there was of course the book Anti Cancer A New Way of Life which has some fantastic chapters, not only on food stuffs, but also how our minds and emotions, our stress levels, and our fighting spirits help us fight cancer.

    A dvd I particularly liked was called Healing Cancer from the inside out. Very eye opening information that made me think about the whole cancer and health care situation.

    Early on a read a book called The Secret History of the Way on Cancer. There were things in there that let me know, I should look very carefully at how I can best care for myself, becasue those in charge may not have my best interests at heart, but have instead their own best interests at the top of their "looking after" card.

    I liked the dvd Crazy Sexy Cancer mostly because she said how she had fought and her spirit was simply unstoppable, gave a girl hope.

    Another book I read was something called Racing for the Cure, he was an early cancer person looking to the pharmaceutical companies, think he was involved with Genetech way back when, but he was mostly just trying to cure his cancer.

    Look out for yourself, become aware of what it is that cancer needs to survive. And especaillly what is needs to spread.There are foods out there that part of daily diet or should be that will fight angiogenesis. Without those little capillaries, cancer simply can't harm you.

    Well, the library is closing so I gotta go, I also looked on line day and night for anything I could think of tha tI might be able to research

    The very best of luck to you and everyone on the board,

    we are all winners

    Claudia

    what we may have inadvertantly done to give cancer a leg up

    claudia,

    you've asked this question in a different way before about what we might have done in the last 5 years or so that may have inadvertantly contributed to our getting cancer. i thought a lot about this question and honestly couldn't come up with anything different or out of the ordinary that i've done these years. and then it hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks what the last 7 years have been like:

    7 years ago january my best friend and colleague died suddenly and unexpectedly of asthma! at age 53. in may, my good friend for over 30 years died of leukemia within two weeks of diagnosis. he was 63. the following year in january, my next door neighbor and dear friend died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack; the following year my former partner and friend for over 30 years died of colorectal cancer at age 63--this was expected, and not so sudden. and two years ago my beloved sister-in -law died of a condition not unlike emphysema; she was 68. so five big, painful, premature losses in 7 years. so really, i've been in a low grade, chronic depression, angry and in grief for most of this time. in fact, it was shortly before i was diagnosed that i realized i wasn't depressed anymore. so that's what was going on for me before cancer. i couldn't do anything about all these deaths of loved ones, and i'm not sure what else i could have done about my feelings other than what i did--talk to people, join grief groups, live my life as best i could. i'm sure the stress, sadness, and shock of these deaths lowered my immunity and may have opened a pathway to disease. who knows? but i'm glad you asked the question, claudia, because the possible connection between these losses and cancer had been deeply buried.

    sisterhood,
    maggie