I have just been diagnosed

Dear Lillian,
I have just been diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. It has spread to my spine, ribs and pelvis. I am very interested in reading John's story, if possible.

Thank you so much Lillian. You're a lifesaver!

Lauren

I have a story to tell you too. My precious husband of 10 months has just been diagnosed with squamus cell carcinoma of the neck and tonsils. He has just finished the first week of radiation. Has 5 more to go. We elected not to do the chemo part. One specialist called our home 3 times last week trying to make us reconsider and add chemo to an already painful treatment. We are trusting God through this and feel that we will have a wonderful life and many more years together. We have a beautiful story of our love. He is 52 yrs. and I am 51 yrs. We were each others first sweethearts in 8th grade. We found each other again after very painful marriages. I have much more to tell, if you are interested.
Hope to hear from you, and please send the story. I am very interested.
Thanks,
Darla K.

My Mom, a young 75 just DX stage 4 and like you, she was long-term smoker. She is very informed on alternative meds and is considering chemo that the drs seem to promote. She was on oxygen at first but has shown 02 level improvement so only uses as needed. She is already shopping for a wig in prep for the chemo but we realize that life is in God's hands and are unsure of the next step to take with treatment. We live in Mass. and enjoy a close family so we cannot imagine living without her, however quality of life for her is what is most important. Please remember my Mom in your prayers as we remember you as well. God bless.

My Mom was just dx stage 4 ovarian CA. Can you forward Johnnys story to me?
At present her attitude is good and she believes in alternative med however the drs are pushing chemo so she may compromise and do both.
We need a miracle right now it seems and appreciate any information and prayers you can send her way. We will include Johnny and the many others in our conversations with God and wish you the best. God bless.

Hi Guys:
My Mom recently diagnosed and we are still in shock as she remains active at 75. She believes in alternative meds although drs push chemo treatments so she may combine the two.
We have asked for copy of Johnny's story from the originator and welcome any information you may have.
We will include you in our prayers as we give thanks for each day that we can all share together. Our family has always been poor but we are extremely close and I can't imagine life without my Mom.

Hello Darla, my name is Ron B, I to had squamus cell carcinoma of my right tonsil and lymphnodes.
Had tumor, right tonsil,lymphnodes and part of tongue which is the part in my throat removed.
Had surgery and a month later started 6 weeks of radiation, which I worked through intil the 5th week, I have left alot out but wanted to let you know I feel what your husband is going through.
It has been a year and a half that I have been clean, so far so good!
I would like to know how your husband is doing and if there is anything I can do to help in letting you know what I went through and see if we have been throught the same thing.
Hope to hear from you, Ron B
My prayers are with you!

Hi Ron, I do have a few questions for you, too. How old are you and when did you go through this? My husband's healing is taking far longer than we ever imagined. He had to quit working after 3 weeks of radiation. He lost his taste buds and saliva very early, suffered lots of throat drainage, lost his voice, and fought nausea a lot and still does. Treatment ended for him Dec. 1, 2004. He has since regained a voice, but much lower tone than before. (He is a singer and this bothers him). The doctor says his throat is healing and still looks very swollen. He ended up having maximum radiation/7 weeks, total. He did not do chemo, and we are glad now. He still has a feeding tube and can't eat solid food. He does manage to drink 7up, Sprite, etc, during the day. We both feel that since he had the lump in his neck removed, 9 teeth removed, both tonsils/etc, and then was cooked in that area,for so long, that he is healed. We now just pray for signs of recovery each day. He still doesn't have much energy and tries to be more active, each day. He has had the feeding tube much longer than anticipated. My husband is soon to be 53 years old, and only smoked a little, years ago. At the moment, he can taste very little, still has no saliva, has difficulty swallowing, nausea/off & on, spits up thick mucos during the day and sometimes at night. Thanks for the message, and we will look forward to hearing from you again. His next Pet Scan is this month. So far, the CT Scan was clear.
Darla K.

Hi Darla, It was Jan of 2003 at the age of 53 that I found out I had cancer. I had never smoked or a real drinker. In Nov of 2002 I had swallow my normal vitamins and felt like one had gotten caught in my throat, swallow more water still wouldn't go down, so I felt in time it would go away, Jan morning brushing my teeth when I coughed up a quarter inch piece something, took it to my doctor and a week later found out I had a cancer call SCC, set up an appt. with a nose and throat doctor and later had full body scan, found no cancer anywhere else, just in the throat area. March of 2003 went for throat surgery, was told they might have to break my jaw to get to the cancer if they couldn't through my mouth or the incision witch would be on my right side, luckly the were able to get to it without breaking it.
During that surgery I also had a feeding tube put in, only because they had really scraped and cleaned my throat and small portion of my tongue(throat portion removed), so I couldn't have any food or liquid down my throat for 5 months, I rested for a month or so and then started radiation 6 weeks. During this time physically I felt good pretty good, nausea only happened when I might have taken medication which
didn't agree with me. My energy was always up until the later part of my radiation, then depression set in which I didn't even notice until my wife had a long talk with me, my doctor prescribed zoloft, in about two weeks I snapped right out of it, that was a great feeling!
Its been a year and a half, I still only have about 50% of my taste back, doctor says might not ever get it back totally, Steak is the one food that I can taste as well as I did before so thats a plus for me, lol, chocolate is out cannot taste it at all, ice cream out also, disapponted but just glad I can taste what I
can. I have about 50% of my saliva back, did have a saliva gland removed also. Swallowing is still a factor for me, I need to follow anything I eat such as solid food with a sip of water because of not enough silvia and it is hard to swallow almost choke sometimes.I also spit mucos up in the mornings when I get up and during the day, its like it buils up in your throat and you just have to get rid of it. Even after a year and a half doctor says my throat is still swelled from the radiation.
I think what helped me through this ordeal was that I had been going to the gym for the past two years three days a week was in good shape, have a positive attitude, family support and the one thing I knew was that I was going to beat this terrible thing called cancer! I never dwell on it, it is in the back of my mind, but I have more important things to think about like the rest of my life with my wife and family!
Everyone is different in how this thing called cancer effects a persons body and mind.
I had made up my mind that I was going to get through this, when I did I was going to New York, after being in your house for 8 months I had to get out, so did my wife, don't know what I would have done with out her, I'm sure your doing the same for your husband and I'm proud of you!
I hope I helped out a little and I know things will turn out great for your husband, just takes time, my prayer are with you, Ron

Hi Lillian,

My fiancee was just diagnosed with advanced liver cancer---doctors are giving no hope--even went so far as to say "let nature takes its course". A terrible attitude to take with someone who badly needs a word of hope and encouragement. We are researching everything including alternative treatments.

I would appreciate it if you would sens John's story---maybe it will help give us some strength on this very difficult journey.

Thank you and God Bless,

Dee

Hello Lillian,

Could you please send me John's story as my mom is getting the same attitude from her doctors...they are offering no hope whatsoever. She has colon cancer which has spread to her liver. I would really appreciate it.

Thank you!

Karmen