The Unknown...

Wow, where do I begin.  My family just got through one family member diagnosed with cancer and just when things where getting back on track.. Which was only 2 months; another family member was diagnosed with cancer.  My name is Julia (aka.jewelz) My stepfather was diagnosed and treated for colon cancer.  Luckily, he was diagnosed in within a couple weeks, he was in surgery and they were able to get it all out.  No radiation, no chemotherapy!  God was good.  We are so thankful that he's doing well. 

So.. My brother Lou, 38 years young.  Never smoked, never drank and has great oral hygiene.  Was diagnosed with tongue cancer.  Disbelief was the initial reaction.  It started off as what he thought was just from him biting his tongue.  And just 2 months later he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. 

 My family and I initially had a hard time with the news.  But my brother has been the one to keep us grounded.  He's endured so much in the past 20 years from Bi-polar and being in and out of mental institutions that he was able to find faith in God.  He's been very strong and I just hope that I can gain my strength from him.  The hardest part for us right now is that the doctors haven't staged his cancer yet.  They've already preformed the PET scan and MRI and the oncology nurse contacted my mom to inform her that he will need Chemo and radiation after all.  Where initially it was just going to be 35 sessions of radiation.  Now with Chemo/Radiation, this will require a PEG tube.  UGH!  So to say the least, we are scarred. 

 Please, if I can just gets some words of wisdom, peace of mind that I can relay back to my family... it would really help us prepare for this journey and help us see the light at the end of the tunnel, it would really help a great deal.

 thank you so much for any and all support,

sister jewelz

Bless the hearts of everyone in your family. One kick is bad, two like this is the kind of cruelty of life that would make anybody ask with anger, "Why me?"

When we first find ourselves up close and personal with cancer, we tend to naturally over react. Almost everybody who comes to this board has been through that. But today--and this important to keep in mind--cancer is not necessarily a death sentence and your brother seems to be holding up well.

If he has his faith in his God and you have the strength to support him and his medical team, you might find this experience more fulfilling than horrible.

That may sound ridiculous now, but as time goes on, regardless of how the disease does, you will most likely find this true. Nothing opens ones eyes to the miracles of this world more than a crisis of this proportion.

You might like to take a look at my blog to get a better idea of what I am talking about:

David Foster Kick's Kidney Cancer's Arse

www.mpablog.typepad.com/david_foster 

Bless you and your family.

Dave