Cancer Survivors

Yesterday I finished my fourth of four treatments in my latest battle against my cancer, met with my oncologist, and the prognosis is good, fairly certainly for the next year. That means 7+ years surviving with an incurable cancer due to the marvels of modern medicine.Today, this morning, my dad died of complications due to prostrate cancer and the treatments for it that left him weak and liable to fall. What one hand gives the other taketh away.Sorry if I'm a little out of sorts.Paul

Prayers still going out for all of you.

Razd,I'm sorry to hear about the loss of you father. I lost mine just before Christmas of 2010. He was on Plavix and he fell off his bicycle (wearing a helmet) but the neurosurgeon couldn't operate to remove blood on his brain due to this drug as there is no way to reverse the blooding thinning properties of it. If he had been using the older drug, Coumadin, they could have transfused some platelets and operated. That said the Plavix may have made him live longer than he would have even though it contributed to his death.Edited by kjsimons, : No reason given.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. I'll add my prayers to jar's.

Sorry for your loss.Glad to hear your treatments went well, stay strong.

Sorry to hear about your dad RAZD.Glad to hear about your prognosis. I pray you continue to be in good health.

RAZD posts: We even went so far as to permit brain surgery to remove the blood clot mass in his brain from a subdural hematoma in the hopes that he could regain the ability to swallow (s. hematomas display identical symptoms to strokes). He was very frightened of falling and accurately predicted his demise in that manner rather than the metastasized prostate cancer that was steadily advancing through his bones and who knows what all else.Like RAZD observed here long ago - you are cured of cancer when you die of something else, and dad did. This means that we three sons have now officially lost both our parents in the last 6 months and have been orphaned - all successfully over 60 years old.But do not weep. They led a very successful life together - each reaching 91 - and right up to his end dad kept saying how lucky they were. 66.6 years of marriage, both getting Ph.D.s and working at multiple universities, a major house on the ocean, no embarrassing misbehaving (except possibly for myself)...no - no reason to feel sad. They were both running victory laps at the end.We will celebrate long & loud this summer.But on another note, RAZD adds: I cannot possibly give enough respect & admiration & tears & love for how much my brother has been dealing with his wars and our wars. He is my hero.Edited by xongsmith, : time spanEdited by xongsmith, : sameEdited by xongsmith, : hollywood

Hi crashfrog. I believe today's strip confirms this" Feel pretty much the same about it, though mine started in 2005 and I'm a bit further on learning to live with it. The white ?? area for me is bucket list stuff, things I really want to do, etc.Posting here helps too.Enjoy.

Cancers back, this time with some lymphedema:

quote:

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Lymphedema (lymphoedema in British English), also known as lymphatic obstruction, is a condition of localized fluid retention and tissue swelling caused by a compromised lymphatic system. The lymphatic system returns the interstitial fluid to the thoracic duct and then to the bloodstream, where it is recirculated back to the tissues. Tissues with lymphedema are at risk of infection.

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Symptoms may include severe fatigue, a heavy swollen limb or localized fluid accumulation in other body areas, including the head or neck, discoloration of the skin overlying the lymphedema, and eventually deformity (elephantiasis).

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Lymph is formed from the fluid that filters out of the blood circulation to nourish your cells. This fluid returns through venous capillaries to the blood circulation through the force of osmosis in the venous blood, however, a portion of the fluid which contains proteins, cellular debris, bacteria etc. must return through the lymphatic collection system in order to maintain tissue fluid balance. The collection of this pre-lymph fluid is carried out by the initial lymph collectors which are blind ended epithelial lined vessels with fenestrated openings that allow fluids and particles as large as cells to enter. Once inside the lumen of the lymphatic vessels the fluid is guided along increasingly larger vessels, first with rudimentary valves to prevent backflow which later develop into complete valves similar to the venous valve. Once the lymph enters the fully valved lymphatic vessels it is pumped by a rhythmic peristaltic like action by smooth muscle cells within the lymphatic vessel walls. It is this peristaltic action which is the primary driving force, moving lymph within its vessel walls. The regulation of the frequency and power of contraction is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system. The movement of lymph can also be influenced by the pressure of nearby muscle contraction, arterial pulse pressure and the vacuum creased in the chest cavity during respiration, however, these passive forces contribute only a minor percentage of lymph transport. The fluids collected are pumped into continually larger vessels and through lymph nodes which clean out debris and police the fluid for potential threats from dangerous microbes. The lymph ends its journey in the thoracic duct where it re-enters the blood circulation.

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Exercise helps the lymph system to operate, and this is why it improves your immune system.Loading your system up with junk (alcohol?) impedes the lymph system by adding to the work load.Tomorrow I start chemo again, with an aggressive approach that takes 4 days a session with one session a month for 4 to 6 months (depending on response).Sadly this will mean I miss my annual birthday ride for a friend (64 miles this year), although it was looking like I wouldn't be completing it anyway with my levels of energy and fatigue.I will have wifi for the duration, so I will likely still be posting here.Thanks

Best of luck, brother!

Good luck sir.

Hit 'em hard RAZD and get through this. I'm counting on you.

RAZD,You are an inspiration to us all. We wish you the best and know you will beat this. Our thoughts, wishes, and prayers (for some of us) go with you.Dave

What a fucking bastard of a disease. Words will have little effect on it, but I still wish you the best of luck with what appears to be a tortuous treatment.

Hi RAZD, good luck with the chemo. We're all rooting for you, you're such an obstinate bastard that I don't give the cancer much hope. Anyway, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep us updated - even if you feel crap and are worried that all you're doing is moaning. We can take it and it'll help you get it off your chest, maybe saving your family from the worst of your grumps. Take care of yourself
Fiona xxxxx