Against the odds

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have2believe
have2believe Member Posts: 134
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hello neighbor,

I recently saw a post on here regarding hope and being realistic...especially when it comes to being stage 4. Personally, I think it's important to know what you're up against and then try and beat those odds. Of course quality of life is extremely important. And to choose to go through aggressive treatment or any treatment at all is a personal decision. The truth is, even if someone has an 80% of being "cured," there's the 20% it doesn't happen, and just the reverse, even if someone has an 80% of not living more than x number of years, there's 20%...or even 5% that do. And you try and hope that it will happen to you.

Well, just wanted to pass on a post about Patrick who's wife was active on cancercompass.com, and who live 6+ years....actually 6 yrs, 2 months and 9 days to be exact. Even during his treatment, he was active, even serving as a hospice volunteer and maintained a good quality of life. Not long ago, there was a 5fu shortage and it was during that time, without the drug, that his reoccurance could not be managed.

http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,64840,0.htm

Above is the link to the post and you can also read her previous posts by clicking her username. I wish that he was still alive w/ good quality of life and perhaps that would have even given more hope to those fighting...but 6 years is like quadruple the statistics and if that's possible, more years is possible.

The truth is, there are people who fight like heck and maintain a positive attitude and do whatever they can to beat the odds, but they're battle is short. And it's not fair. I honestly think that it's just (the injustices of) life and I just hope everyday w/ all my heart that my mom becomes that outlier. I think miracles just happen - not because one prayed more than another person, or one clensed him or herself of negative feelings....it just happens and you just hope you become one of them.

Comments

  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #2
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    Welcome,
    No matter what the
    Welcome,
    No matter what the stage is, keeping a positive attitude is so important. How a stage 1V is treated is a personal decision. We've had some on here that fights with all treatment they can get. Others decide not to. I respect all their decisions. I am NED after stage 111. That is one thing I have asked of my friends and family, let me decide what to do. I'll take them in concideration, but I'll want to do what I think is right for me. After having gone through the fight already, I don't think I would go through it with stage 1V, but until I faced it I really don't know.
    Even if we decide to take treatment, I beleive we will know when to say " that's enough".
    Miracles do happen. I pray for everyone on this site to be a miracle, and it's heartbreaking when one of our family loses the battle. I question why a young person with young children leaves us, and I'm still here. I feel quilty sometime, and I don't understand but I know that God has an overall plan.
    I join you in prayer for your mom to beat the beast.
    Hugs,Sandra
  • laurettas
    laurettas Member Posts: 372
    #3
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    sandy1943 said:

    Welcome,
    No matter what the
    Welcome,
    No matter what the stage is, keeping a positive attitude is so important. How a stage 1V is treated is a personal decision. We've had some on here that fights with all treatment they can get. Others decide not to. I respect all their decisions. I am NED after stage 111. That is one thing I have asked of my friends and family, let me decide what to do. I'll take them in concideration, but I'll want to do what I think is right for me. After having gone through the fight already, I don't think I would go through it with stage 1V, but until I faced it I really don't know.
    Even if we decide to take treatment, I beleive we will know when to say " that's enough".
    Miracles do happen. I pray for everyone on this site to be a miracle, and it's heartbreaking when one of our family loses the battle. I question why a young person with young children leaves us, and I'm still here. I feel quilty sometime, and I don't understand but I know that God has an overall plan.
    I join you in prayer for your mom to beat the beast.
    Hugs,Sandra

    I so agree with these
    I so agree with these comments. One thing that I struggle with is saying that prayers are what is making my husband's treatment go so well. I can't help but think of the so many people who, I am sure, pray better and more sincerely than we do and have hundreds of others praying for their return to health who do not do well and die quickly.

    It's not that I don't believe in God--I do very much--but I can't deal with how that comment might make someone else feel whose loved one did not fare well with their illness--after so many prayers and sacrifices being offered for them. And, as you said Sandy, I have read of so many people with young children who have died quickly from the same cancer that my husband has--and so many young children who die as well. I cannot sort it all out.

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