Looking for words of encouragement

Monicaemilia

Hi everyone: Dx'd Nov. 05 with FAP, Stage V with mets to liver - had full colectomy, 9 months of chemo, day before liver resection surgery was cancelled as spots on the lungs were discovered. Another 7 months of chemo and was told there was very little else they could do. I went to Argentina where I was put on Erbitux and Irinotecan, had liver resection in July 2007. I have been doing great, and was a week away for lung surgery to remove the nodules, when one lytic lesion was found in the iliac bone (hip bone). I now have a full bone scan scheduled for tomorrow. My problem is that there are no more chemos they can give me, so I am being referred to the Phase I clinical trial clinic. Not what I really want to be doing. I suggested that perhaps if the bone scan shows one solitary lesion, then we should proceed with the lung surgery. I am really devastated because I truly started to believe that I could outrun this disease, but it seems determined to thwart me. Don't get me wrong, I am far from giving up, but my options are becoming much more limited. I would love some prayers and advice. Monica

RunnerZ

Encouragement! You got it sister!! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT...WIN WIN WIN WIN!!!!! You have done so great so far in fighting this disease, just keep approaching it with the same tenacity! Don't let one stupid little lesion wreck and otherwise perfect record against this stupid disease! Go with the best doctors you can find and live as healthy and happy as you can each and every day!!! That, my dear, is how we beat this disease...by defying it in every imaginable way. No GO AND WIN!

nudgie

RunnerZ said it all. Don't ever give up the faith or the fight. You never know what is around the corner

cjf2006

Prayers have been lifted up. If I were told I could have no more chemo , I would go gung ho on dietary supplements ( I take a lot already) and diet. Others seem to be doing it better than I am, and with good results. Since the dr s won't give you chemo, they can't be bothered by the claim that certain supplements interfere with it. I know that's not much help. I'll keep you in my prayers.

jenhopesprays

Hi Beautiful Lady, I know you are in Canada. Could you possibly talk them into the surgery and have them remove the dang tumor on your hip bone. I know it has been done.

If you find a clinical trial in Southern California, you may live with me and mine along with your sweet little guy. We will care for you and him too. I do sincerely mean this.

Keep fighting! We will pray for you every single day!

Love hopes all things!!

Jennifer

tootsie1

I would echo what others have said. Don't give up! Keep yourslf in the best shape you can with diet and supplements and keep searching form someone who can do something to help you. We'll all be praying for you!

Gail

betina61

Of course Monica we all know that you are not ready to give up,anyway we will not let you, I pray the Rosary every morning at 5:30 AM is a group of people that get together through Radio Paz a Catholic radio station, and tomorrow I will try to put you in their chain of prayers,I do believe in miracles,and are already visualizing one of your future posts letting us know of great news. If you want you could e-mail anytime you need to talk to someone and I can give you my phone number.Are you from Argentina? I am cuban and live in Miami. Lots of hugs to you.

jenalynet

Keep being the fighter that you are..I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that things start to get better for you..Hugs to you, Audrey.

AveriRN

You are more powerful than this disease could ever be!! I also envision a post in the near future that this struggle will be gone. Sending prayers your way.....

Sincerely,
Averi

hopefulone

Hi Monica and a hug...prayers on the way always for you and all fighting this battle. I know what a fighter you are and I know you have no intention of giving up. And why should you? You've come such a long way and we all know this journey has many ups and downs. You need to believe there will be more ups! In the race between the rock and the stream.... the stream always wins , not by strength, but by persistance. You hang on to that thought g/f.
God Bless,
Diane

valeriec

FIGHT, FIGHT , FIGHT, MONICA. ONE DOOR MAY CLOSE, BUT ANOTHER WILL OPEN. I PRAY FOR YOU DAILY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. YOUR STRENGHT HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO MANY. LOTS OF LOVE AND PRAYERS COMING YOUR WAY.
GOD BLESS-
VALERIC

jim115

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your courageous battle. Something that has helped me in my years of dealing first with stage 3, then stage 4 colon cancer is trying to live more in the moment -- through whatever method or practice that works at the time. Sometimes just sitting and paying attention to my breath going in and out is enough to calm the non-stop clatter of thoughts and fears banging around in my mind -- and allow me to become fully aware of my body and where I am and what I am doing -- to become mindful, to be fully alive in the present moment. Sometimes drawing or painting a group of pears or a pleasant landscape moves me fully into the present. I believe strongly that being fully aware in the string of moments and hours that is the present is to truly live. The past is gone and the future isn't here yet, so the moments that are happening now, in the present, are the only ones we can concsciously live.

You may already be aware of the practice of mindfulness -- of training yourself to live more in the present, but I wanted to pass on a recommendation. The book, "Full Catastrophe Living; Using the Wisdom of your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness," by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., is excellent! Dr. Kabat-Zinn developed the mindfulness training described in this book for the University of Massachusetts Medical School -- and the training is being offered at several hundred locations across the US -- and, I think, Canada.

Another recommendation is the book, "The Power of Now; a Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment," by Eckhart Tolle. Again, you may already be very aware Tolle and the work he is doing. The book is on the NY Times best seller list -- and Tolle was on Oprah's show - and she is strongly endorsing his philosophy and approach to living in the now. In fact, Oprah and Tolle are leading 10 on-line classes that take you, chapter by chapter, through Tolle's new book, "A New Earth." I just learned of Tolle's work with Oprah from a woman sitting next to me on a shuttle bus taking me back to my home town from the cancer center where I have chemotherapy. She was reading "A New Earth" and told me about the classes -- and said that several of her friends have said that the book changed their lives. I haven't read "A New Earth" yet, but intend to -- and intend to plug into the on-line classes.

Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jim

vchildbeloved

Monica, I will lift you up at my prayer meeting tonight at my church. God can do what NONE OTHER can.

Many prayers,
ValerieD

falcon08

Monica,

You have such a strong spirit. Keep fighting and don't give up. There are still options and good ones out there. I have friends that have had great success fighting cancer with nutrition. I can provide you more information if you are interested.

It is also important that you have doctors that see your glass as half full not half empty. I worked hard to find a doctor that matched my outlook. There is a woman who recently wrote a book, I think it's called Crazy Sexy Cancer. You might want to look up the book. She is a very up lifting spirit and had an amazing outlook on her stage 4 brain cancer.

I will be praying for you. Sue

kristasplace

Monica, you are so very strong! Others have survived because of their positive outlook, and i believe you can do it too. I agree with everyone else here, especially Jim. Use that inner strength, and you will beat the beast! I will join my energy with everyone else who is praying for you!

Many hugs,
Krista

Limey

Hi Monica, never give up to this darn cancer. I know how it feels to run out of chemo options. At present, i chose not to try phase I trials and I am just going on my juicing and other alternatives.

I am praying for you that this bone met is not significant and that you can still get on top of this.
Mark

Monicaemilia

Thank you SOOO much. I needed to be kicked out of my funk, and you all did that. I think that I will be going in on Tuesday demanding lung surgery, and I'll worry about the bone mets later. I guess if they refuse to do it, I may just have to take another trip. Again, thank you so much. Monica

yag41chi

Monicaemilia said:

Thank you SOOO much. I needed to be kicked out of my funk, and you all did that. I think that I will be going in on Tuesday demanding lung surgery, and I'll worry about the bone mets later. I guess if they refuse to do it, I may just have to take another trip. Again, thank you so much. Monica

Hi Monica,
Stay in the fight.. You look Cancer in the face and tell it to die. YOu don't let it get you. Keep moving. I juice daily and use supplements. Juice, juice juice..Stay in prayer and fight.

rmap59

Monica,
Big Prayers to you!! God did not promise an easy life on earth but he did promise to be with us every step of the way. You Go Girl and stay strong.
Robin

jsabol

Monica,
My heart and prayers go out to you; you have been such a warrior in this fight, this news just stinks. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers, and pray that you and your docs find a way of beating back this disease.
Good luck with the scan results; are they sure about the lesion? I know that you are not giving up; many prayers coming your way as we all stand behind you. Stay strong and keep us posted, Judy

fedester

monica,
you are a strong person with a great attitude. you will win this battle. you will outrun this disease.
be well
never,ever give up!!
bruce