What Are You Doing In "Remission"?

I managed to get rid of a plasmacytoma in my spine with radiation treatment. Now, here I am just waiting and watching my blood tests hoping it waits ten years to return. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I might do while I am waitng. I have changed my diet and environment to eliminate unecessary toxins in my life assuming that might help my body's immune system operate better. Anybody have any ideas or information on what one might do to prolong the return?
Please post, even if it is a little off subject.

Hi Dudley,
Please refer to my email under colon cancer "10 years and counting". It outlines the approach I have taken to survive. I was stage 3 when diagnosed in 1994 and became stage 4 in 1997 with a spread to the lung and the brain. You'll notice I'm still here and doing well.

Good Luck!
Penny

Dudley,
For one thing, you need to live for today and not view life as "waiting for the next bad sign." I have been where you are, just waiting and watching for the next sign that it's back again. I have wasted a lot of precious time. Being aware of your diet and what you put into your body is great and important. Next, you need to get rid of as much stress in your life as possible. This often involves a whole new perspective. I am not living life for the future as much as for now. And, be positive, even about small everyday things. Be optimistic. This holistic approach will surely affect you physically. I believe it has helped me. Good luck! LW

I was treated for stage III breast cancer in 2004 at CTCA in Zion Ill. I am now in remission. I bought a wonderful book entitled "Beating Cancer With Nutrution" by Dr. Patrick Quillin - head of nutrition at CTCA. I would definitely recommend this informative book to anyone who is fighting the 'monster', as I am. I can relate to your fear of it 'coming back'. I feel like this book has given me more power to 'fight my monster'.

I have recently completed treatment for Renal Cell Carcinoma , Adenocarcinoma of the uterus and cervix and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomoa of the cervix. I had my right kidney removed and a radical hysterectomy. I then went through chemo (cisplatin and itoposide) and then radiation (internal and external). I just had my follow up Pet Scan (six months post treatment) and it came back clear. I had a Phys. tell me that I was cured...that seemed a bit strange because I was told all along that they would try to get it in remission but it had a very poor long term survival rate. It is the small cell neuroendocrine of the cervix that they were most concerned about. does anyone have a past experience with this or know what the recurrence rate is??? Right now I am just trying to make some decisions about work and life etc...

Hi,

I am so happy for you!

I was dianosed in May, went through chemo, radiation and surgery, and unfortunately, my December Pet showed a recurrence in the pelvic area.

Since there is no standard treatment for this the doc's don't have a specific idea on what to do. I am considering a clinical trial.

It's hard to think about pumping all those damn chemicals in my body again, since I feel fine.


Don't put your life on hold worrying about a recurrence!

You know the old cliche, "you could be hit be a bus tomorrow".

Just try to enjoy your life.

Well I must say I have asked that question myself plenty of times....and the best one can do is what you are doing change your diet, exercise but most of all be happy you are here today, so enjoy as much as you can because its all we have right now. Give back join a support group and try and help someone who is going through what you went, help them, give them hope. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and I am in remission as well but complications from my surgery also left me without my right foot so I am now an amputee, before I started chemo I had to learn to walk again so I did. I am working raising my son and started a support group for amputees. The thing is we think we have it so bad but there are many people out there so much worse then we are, I am not a victim I am a survivor and everyday I will help someone else. I wish I had someone to help me through the process..call the local hospital and see what you can get yourself involved with, make a difference...emailed me if you want to caht some more. Love. Mia in Maine.

I was lucky I had a dermatologist find a melanoma in 1999 on my upper back where the sun does not shine. I had surgery and the lymph nodes were clear but oncologists told me I have a 1 in 3 chance of cancer showing up somewhere in my body in the future.

I am frustrated because they don't offer any way of finding cancer before it is too late. I cannot afford the body scan as its not covered by insurance (Medi-cal, Medicare).

So I worry about where it might pop up... Does anyone know how to prevent cancer from appearing BEFORE it gets to the stage where I will find a lump somewhere? Would a body scan be the best way and is there any way to get it done when you have no money?

Thanks, Sylvi
Check out my art at www.SylviART.com
Creating ART is what keeps me going...

Hello and congratulations for your "success". Even if found your message so late, I hope that you are still with us.
I am a care giver; my father has lung cancer with mets on the bothe lungs. He was diagnosed one year ago. He finished the chemotheray (10 months) but the tumor is still there. In about 2 weeks he will have a check-up and I am very, very nervous about it. It is very hard to control myself and I have that feeling that I can not support at all these emotions: going to the hospital, X-rays, etc.
Do you have any "magic formula" in order to stay on such a long term remission? Please tell me what have you done for it? I don't want to loose my father.
All the best and God be with you!