life expectancy

mp327

jena58 said:

Horsepad

Like you, I was stage 4. Diagnosed April 2010, finished treatment July , November had left lobe of thyroid removed (cancer), May 2011 back for another 6 weeks of treatment when lymph nodes in neck showed up on PET , metastasis from AC which showed up after completion of first treatment. Given a very low chance of survival and the tactful suggestion to get my 'affairs in order' I was guttered. I had a moment of clarity on the way home and thought - just because that's what the statistics say doesn't mean I have to conform to their number game. That's all they are, numbers. I dug my heels in kept saying "I'm ME, not a number". I think I thought (believed) that if i dwelled on those stats and got 'my affairs in order' , I would fall prey to them. I finished treatment in July 2011 and so far all scans have been clear. I guess those stats are referring to the chances of recurrance. That is something I dread and fear everyday. Like you I wake up every day and go to sleep every night counting my blessings.......neuropathy, chemo brain, diarrhea... LOL. Glad to be here and plan on kicking Those stats to the S*** H**** !!!!!!

jena58

You have the right attitude for sure!  It is hard to get sucked into thinking the statistics apply to all of us, but they don't!  I hope you can keep on kicking cancer's ****!

NYinTX

melbas2 said:

life expentancy
Good Lord Nina, how can you stay so damn positive?? I've been post tx for a year now, and I can't stand the fatigue, the pain in my muscles and joints, the inability to walk more than a half a block before my breathing makes me stop, the bloating, the bleeding, etc. I've read and sent so many posts, I hear the stories about no lingering problems, the recurring problems, and I try to stay positive. Sometimes it's just too hard. I went in last week, had 2 liters of fluid drained from my stomach, recieved 2 more units of plasma, and after 2 days in the hospital, the bloating came back and the exhaustion is worse. Some days I take my meds and some days I blow em off. I woke up yesterday and turned my alarm clock off so I missed my onc appt. What's the point anymore? Nothing they do helps. I'm tired of dr appts every week, hosp stays are getting closer together and I keep hearing "Well...let's see if THIS treatment works. NOTHING is working. And I am too tired. Melodie

melbas2

I feel exactly like you do.....see my post today under "Mitomycin side effects"; I've accepted limited life expectancy and have dropped everything in my life, like career, etc.,and focusing on what i have always wanted to do and projects I have put off and now have the luxury to pursue....

NYinTX

jena58 said:

Horsepad

Like you, I was stage 4. Diagnosed April 2010, finished treatment July , November had left lobe of thyroid removed (cancer), May 2011 back for another 6 weeks of treatment when lymph nodes in neck showed up on PET , metastasis from AC which showed up after completion of first treatment. Given a very low chance of survival and the tactful suggestion to get my 'affairs in order' I was guttered. I had a moment of clarity on the way home and thought - just because that's what the statistics say doesn't mean I have to conform to their number game. That's all they are, numbers. I dug my heels in kept saying "I'm ME, not a number". I think I thought (believed) that if i dwelled on those stats and got 'my affairs in order' , I would fall prey to them. I finished treatment in July 2011 and so far all scans have been clear. I guess those stats are referring to the chances of recurrance. That is something I dread and fear everyday. Like you I wake up every day and go to sleep every night counting my blessings.......neuropathy, chemo brain, diarrhea... LOL. Glad to be here and plan on kicking Those stats to the S*** H**** !!!!!!

Jena58 recurrence

Right on.....stats are based on group averages not on individuals, so you are so right in not succumbing to the numbers game, which MDs, poorly educated in stats, are often bound to do. However, I didn't know that metastasis occur after end of treatment....they were there during trreatment and not picked up by scan? No that concerns me as I just completed stage 2-3 radiation/chemo treatment 3/18/13.....metastasis can still occur?

RoseC

Marynb said:

Phoebe
I really want to go soon. My grandparents were from County Kerry, not sure exactly where, but I can find out. It does feel like a longing to go home, even though I am second generation American!

Ireland

My mom took a bunch of us to Ireland in 2007. We visited our ancestors' area - the very northern tip of Ireland, a place called Malin Head. What a wonderful trip - I'll never forget it. Such a beautiful place, and so much history.

jena58

NYinTX said:

Jena58 recurrence

Right on.....stats are based on group averages not on individuals, so you are so right in not succumbing to the numbers game, which MDs, poorly educated in stats, are often bound to do. However, I didn't know that metastasis occur after end of treatment....they were there during trreatment and not picked up by scan? No that concerns me as I just completed stage 2-3 radiation/chemo treatment 3/18/13.....metastasis can still occur?

NYinTX

I believe it was there all the time but missed either because it was so far away or maybe because it wasn't big enough at the time of the first scan to show up. They didn't really have an answer. 

horsepad

jena58 said:

NYinTX

I believe it was there all the time but missed either because it was so far away or maybe because it wasn't big enough at the time of the first scan to show up. They didn't really have an answer. 

Jenna, I like your attitude!

Jenna, I like your attitude!

NYinTX

jena58 said:

NYinTX

I believe it was there all the time but missed either because it was so far away or maybe because it wasn't big enough at the time of the first scan to show up. They didn't really have an answer. 

jena58

so that means that if they were there during treatment, treatment didn't get them.....and that the scans have limited diagnostic ability (which we all know but which the MDs donot really honor), and that we must be vigilant....thanks for sharing your experience with us

jena58

Missed node

The scans usually are chest, abdomen and pelvis, I believe. This node was in the neck area above the collar bone. It was picked up when I had a scan for the thyroid cancer. I guess having thyroid cancer was a blessing in disguise! Sorry if I didn't explain this clearly,  chemo Brain - I just don't think or remember clearly sometimes. Luckily I kept a journal during treatment.