I Have Just Been Diagnosed

Dear Kristy: I seem to be in the same boat you are, but in the opposite. I am 73 and have four children, and they are reeling. I am in the position now of gathering information and have more test to do next week to determine if this has spread to any other part of my body. I am looking into (on the computer) Cancer Centers of America. Does anyone know about this center? Does insurance cover the treatment? Have you heard of anyone surviving through their treatment? I was encouraged by Peggy B’s report concerning her son, but I am a bit older. Also, August Z, you note was also encouraging. My Dr. didn't seem to have any hope for any thing when he gave me the news. He did say I probably would not be a candidate for surgery due to long time smoking. I feel so much alone. I don't even want to tell my husband the bad news I have discovered in my research, so I am seeking something to tell him that will keep him from worrying so much. Thanks for being there. I will look forward to hearing from everyone that can give me something else to hang on to right now. Thanks, Robbie R.

Hi,
I am so sorry to hear your news. I have not had cancer but I have lost two people that I love to that disease. My mother in 1985 when not as much was available and the man I have loved most of my life on December 2,2002. His death caused me to go in search for answers and to make a difference. I truly believe that attitude makes all of the difference in the world. Not just your attitude but especially those who treat you. Already I would say your doctor sounds like a loser where attitude is concerned.

The only thing I know about CTCA is that they offer hope. They will treat a person not just the disease. I had my man an appointment with them but we never made it there. The attitude of his doctors saw to that. The post 'Information to help and a story to make you aware" is my post. Please read it and if you want to read John's story let me know. I will be happy to send it to you. It teaches some valuable lessons. His story is long and will take a long time to both send and read if you request it. I am more than willing to take the time. I could cut it down but I really believe that it is important for people to know the whole story. Then you and everyone else may be better prepared to protect yourselves from the attitude and indifference that so many times accompanies a diagnosis of cancer. God Bless and hold you so you can get through anything that lies ahead. Remember you have 3 very important tools to fight your battle with. They are LOVE HOPE and FAITH with them you stand a good chance of winning your battle. Without them you lose too much.

Lillian

Hi Lillian,
I am now expierencing the attitude from the medical profession that you are talking about! Want so badly to use some alternative methods that I have hope in but cannot get the doctors to talk about it, even tho it might save me a lot of grief for me as well as my family.
If you can send me a copy of John's story, would like very much to read it, and who knows, maybe become involved in a effort to change the attitudes of medical professionals some! Anyway, let me know what I need to do to receive the story!

God Bless and Good Luck,
David

David,
All you need to do is send me your email address. I will be more than happy to send you Johnny's story. Most who hear it cannot believe how terrible his treatment was. The medical treatment at first did wonders for him. That along with his attitude could possibly have sent him into a very long remission. It has been 9 months tomorrow sense he died and the more I remember the more I know that it was not cancer that killed him but attitude. The attitude of the medical profession toward cancer and in some cases their own power. Do not expect any of your doctors to discuss alternative treatments with you. They won't. I have heard that they are not allowed to but I seriously doubt that. You are in the right place to learn. The web is a great tool but there is so much out that is just garbage. Go onto this and other message boards. Read other people's stories. You will see stories of despair and heartbreak but too you will see stories of hope and survival. The people that you will meet in these places are the ones who have the most information. They stand to gain nothing by sharing with you other than a sense of giving back to others. They are the ones who have been there. You will see much about the alternative treatments and have a chance to assess them by what you read. Many say they are using these things behind their doctor’s backs and the doctor cannot understand why they are doing so well. You sound like you have a fighting attitude. Keep it and don't let anyone take it away from you. If a doctor starts talking like you are a dead man walking get rid of him and find another. Read Johnny's story and you will see why I say that and why I am so intent on changing the attitude toward cancer. The very best of luck. My prayers are with you and your family. Just remember always the best tools you have are FAITH HOPE LOVE AND ATTITUDE!!!!!! Lillian

Thanks Lillian! Just had a PET scan today and will get the resultsin 2 days! My diagnosis is Stage II Cancer at the base of the tongue next to the throat! Have been doing gobs of research and found several things that I would like to try instead of Cut, Burn and Poison but none of the Doctors that I have seen will talk about it and one or two are downright hostile to it! Thanks again for your reply! David

Thanks again Lillian! I am excitedly anticipating recieving your information about Johns expierence with the medical profession! Maybe, just maybe, in some way, it will help me on my journey to beat this evil thing called cancer!


God Bless and Good Luck
David

Hey David! .... We hope all is better for you! ;-) We, Dennis and I, have something more than
eeriously similar to you .... Not meaning to be offensive to you (or ANYONE else), we are indeed
a Gay couple, but one that is established of 15 years, with 3 adult kids and 4 wonderful
grandchildren ..... Dennis has Laryngeal cancer and so much, thankfully, I have been able to
move his initial radio/chemo treatments up by nearly 2 months, even more than our Docs were
able to .... maybe it's due to the breeze beneath my late Mom's wings .... she told Dennis that
he's her "acquired son" several years back .... and just today we were told by the radio-doc that
he is VERY pleased with the results thusfar of that gawdawful poisoning of his system to SLAY
this alien.

Thank the great Spirit, we are doing well as we go into week 4, but am now looking to expand
our cooking library to include more garlic, shallots and as many other anti-oxidants as there may
be into who knows how many different recipes we have on hand ......

I sure do hope for your wellness and we of course extend our thoughts ... our BEST ones ... on
to you. Don Xuiote has always been my guide!!!!!

TO THE WINDMILLS!
Billy D.

My cousin has just been told she has cancer, and has been given only 6-8 weeks to live, or 9-14 months with chemo treatment. She is told she has it in her breast, hips, stomach, pelvis & under her arm…she has no hope left. I want so much to give her hope and I have tried to tell her not to give up. But she seems to have her mind made up she will not survive this. She was told the type of cancer she has is spreading triple about every 28 days. I can't stand the thought of her not being here anymore. I love her so much she has been there for me our whole life. She is just like a sister to me and she treats everybody well. She would do any thing for anybody. She is a great person and I want so much to keep her around, so we can grow old together. Plus she has grandbabies who love her so much and need her more then anything and also a grandchild on the way soon. She is terrified of the thought of not watching them grow, and my heart is hurting for her. Can you send me the Johnny story? Please I will read it and I’m looking for help on giving her hope. I just watched my father pass away from cancer in 99 and it was the worst experience I have ever seen. It was inhumane and I pray every minute of the day this does not happen to her also. Thank you...Glenda

Robbie,

I just lost my husband at age 44. He had Stage IV lung cancer. He also had a terrible time with his doctors. We were ran around to all kinds of doctors and did all kinds of test and no one was telling us anything and no chemo or radiation was suggested. I finally took it upon myself to take him to Cancer Treatment Center of American in Tulsa. They did more in the first week he was there, than had been done in 3 months with his other doctors. They were wonderful and there are cancer survivors that come out of Tulsa. It's worth the trip to have them do some testing and they are coming up with new technics everyday. There are even new cancer drugs (Iressa) that are helping people everyday. My advice would be don't let grass grow under your feet. Take it upon yourself to seek other avenues for treatment. Some of these doctors, just don't want to give you any help and I think it's a tragedy that these onocologist can't suggest alternative treatments and let you make the decisions on what treatment is right for you.
We had a doctor that was very cold and uncaring about any treatment. He called us in on Christmas Eve to tell us the news because he was leaving town for the holidays. It's sad, but some doctors have a cold heart. Just make the call to CTCA and talk to a nurse and see if it's right for you. They do not only the medical part of it, but also the spiritual & nutritional part as well. You met the greatest people there and everyone is there for the same purpose and are helping each other.
The only reason my husband did not stay at CTCA was because I think we waited too long to get to CTCA and it had already spread to his adrenal glands and then to his brain. I had to bring him back to Missouri to seek a doctor here, due to the distance, our daughter and other commitments. He got great treatment from the doctors here as well. It just was too late and he fought with all he had and lost to the ugly monster.
Research every site you can find and look into the Cancer Treatment Center of America. Just make the phone call or go on the website and send an email, that's how I decided.
May God Bless You and Keep you. I will pray for you and your family.

Connie S.

My brother-in-law was just diagnosed last night with cancer. Lymphona to be exact. They are still running tests to determine whether it's Hodgin's or non-Hodgkin's. We have already contacted CTCA and they are contacting the hospital arranging plane tickets, car, guest housing, etc. My family has been touched by so much tragedy lately. Their are 4 of us, three girls and a boy. I am the oldest, and due to fact we lost our father in 1984 and our mother in 2001, I don't know how much more we can take My sister whose husband was diagnosed, was recently diagnosed with MS and 4 tumors on the brain causing her to go blind. She has recovered most of her sight due to the shots, but last week she started to lose the use of legs. She was in the hospital when they diagnosed him yesterday and made them release her to go to the hospital he was admitted to. My other sister has cystic fybrosis, burrcitis, bronciectesis, and was in a horrible car crash a year ago. But when I read your story, I was compelled to reply and would love to read John's story. Any support and info is very helpful and comforting at this time. Thank you, Jonette