has cancer really changed

ron50
ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi all,
I was thinking about a comment that Kat made in a post about how cancer has changed. I wonder if more of us are surviving now or is it because of the net that we hear more about it. I had a form of chemo that was developed when chemo was first used,as did some others like Virginia(Foxy). Perhaps it is not modern science that is improving our survival. Perhaps it is the availability and fanatical support provided by forums like this that are the cause. In the past if you did not know what to do or where to turn ,you did nothing and went nowhere. What chance of doing nothing or going nowhere once our mob gets involved. You may not know it folks but I am sure we are part of the cure. Dr Ron.

Comments

  • davidsonxx
    davidsonxx Member Posts: 134
    #2
    I totally agree. There have been many studies that verified the impact our state of mind has on us phyically. When I was taking treatments It was not feasible for me to get out to a support group. If I had not found support on the internet it would have been a much harder journey with a longer recovery.

    The other thing I have found here is knowledge. The NY Times article on cancer talked about uneven health care and I have seen evidence of that from the posts on this message board. When I was first dx I knew nothing about crc. I now know a lot more about it and treatment options. It has helped me be a much better advocate for myself.

    I know the support I found and the knowledge I gained at this site have positively influenced my battle with cancer.
  • Limey
    Limey Member Posts: 446 Member
    #3
    Ron, I totally agree, think of what the conversations will be like in ten years on this site. people will be talking about how thier doctors are combining natropath and chemo regiments etc. I do believe we are creating the road to what will become of cancer treatment- chronic and cure. And.... I am fully convinced that attitude plays a huge role in extending life, and helping people go NED. Where else do we get such unconditional love, something that we reach out for from birth.
    Limey
  • levensweg
    levensweg Member Posts: 55
    #4
    I think their is a new attitude slowly forming in the world of cancer. their must have been many stigmas in the past. Both of my grandparents were not interested in even hearing the word "chemo" when they were dx'd. They didn't talk much about it either and when they did, I realize now as a survivor that they didn't know a whole lot about their diseases.

    I don't think this was their fault. That's just the way it used to be. I spoke with a retired doctor who told me that in clinical trials during the sixties the most important thing to study was toxicity to the body. Look at how much we know now, and how easily survivors can share stories and hope together.

    lev
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #5
    Hi Ron,

    Hope all is well with you...

    You're right. Having support is a boost to survival. We lean on and learn from each other. CSN is a wonderful resource and a huge life line.

    I did mention the other day that the face of cancer is changing. What I meant by that is people now talk about cancer. We can not only say the words colon, breast, ovary, ecetera, but we can now put a face to a disease and make it more personal.

    In the sixties my great aunt died of...shhhhh, "female cancer." Later Gilda Radner wrote about life with ovarian cancer. In the fifties my grandmother died of...shhhh, "intestinal cancer (we think)," that turned into, shhhhhh, "female cancer." Later President Ronald Reagan, and recently Tammy Faye Baker Mesner put a graceful face to colon cancer. My other grandmother died in the fifties of, shhhhh "female cancer," which was breast cancer. Later Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow were featured on Oprah to speak about breast cancer. Heck, we can even buy a pink Waring blender or crock pot!

    People like Rob in Vancouver and our newest member, Karen are helping in spreading an important message. They are putting a young survivor's face to colon cancer and are showing people everywhere that cancer is not an immediate death sentence. It's very personal...we can relate to their stories and find hope and strength in their journey.

    Cancer treatments are also changing. New drugs, new treatment modalities, blending of Eastern and Western medicine, and access to massive amounts of information and support are netting more survivors everyday. My grandmothers in the fifties had none of this. All they had were brutal surgeries and injections of morphine given by my grandfathers as death quickly overcame them.

    I look forward to the day when people will no longer suffer from cancer. Until then, I will work to offer support of my comrades and advocate for awareness and change. And I do look for hope where ever I can, which is why I'm here.

    Thanks for acknowledging what a blessing our CSN community is...the people here show me amazing grace everyday - everyone here is an earth bound angel.
  • foxy
    foxy Member Posts: 188 Member
    #6
    Hi Ron, just to change the subject a little, have you heard of anyone since our treatment time that has had the dreaded Levamisole? Just wondering!

    Love Virginia.
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #7
    foxy said:

    Hi Ron, just to change the subject a little, have you heard of anyone since our treatment time that has had the dreaded Levamisole? Just wondering!

    Love Virginia.

    Hi Virginia,
    No I haven't,I know it was awful stuff and it made us dreadfully ill but we had none of the problems with neuropathy that the recent treatments cause.
    I dropped in and saw my oncologist last week(just a social visit)and discussed long term effects of the chemo with him and in my case whether it had anything to do with my developing gall and kidney stones. He laughed and said that unless the stones were crystalised 5fu they were nothing to do with him. He believes the chemo saved my life and that the major danger of chemo was whilst you were having it.
    I finished my heart tests and it appears I have a heart like an ox despite having high blood pressure and cholesterol all my life. They seem to think I may have torn an existing hiatus hernia whilst trying to pass the last kidney stone.
    How are you getting on ? Over the flu? I hope you are feeling well . You deserve some good times. Hugs Ron.
  • foxy
    foxy Member Posts: 188 Member
    #8
    ron50 said:

    Hi Virginia,
    No I haven't,I know it was awful stuff and it made us dreadfully ill but we had none of the problems with neuropathy that the recent treatments cause.
    I dropped in and saw my oncologist last week(just a social visit)and discussed long term effects of the chemo with him and in my case whether it had anything to do with my developing gall and kidney stones. He laughed and said that unless the stones were crystalised 5fu they were nothing to do with him. He believes the chemo saved my life and that the major danger of chemo was whilst you were having it.
    I finished my heart tests and it appears I have a heart like an ox despite having high blood pressure and cholesterol all my life. They seem to think I may have torn an existing hiatus hernia whilst trying to pass the last kidney stone.
    How are you getting on ? Over the flu? I hope you are feeling well . You deserve some good times. Hugs Ron.

    Hiatus hernia, me too Ron ha ha. It seems the bug was a virus that keeps coming back on you. My son who started the ball rolling is now having another dose, but I am fine at the moment. Just had my latest CEA and no news, so all must be fine, I have stopped ringing for results as that just makes me more nervous. Very glad to hear your heart is ok. Yes some of the chemo treatment effects now sound awful. That dreaded L. must have saved us. Hugs to you too Ron, love Virginia.

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