Fuck Cancer

[jono]

FKNA HMS! Congrats. Use that Armstrong effect to your advantage.

I probably shouldn't assume it's typical, but I don't miss all the weight I lost. Some of it, for sure, but being a little lighter has its upsides. Here's hoping your legs came through strong!

1 year since surgery for me today. My wife has lots of memories, but I mostly just recall asking if I had to go to ICU or not and getting rolled into a room with 10 connections attached. Probably for the best. It got better fast after that.

Rollercoaster thread continues. Great to see good Ruby news DTM. And sorry we're still losing people. Fuck cancer.

[zion zig zag]

Back in February I signed up for Pierre's Hole (one lap) with the intention of just starting it. Now my intention is to finish, and if I get as strong as last year, I'll aim to podium again. Fuck cancer!

And go M, I'm pulling for you, girl.

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Strong work!

[Dantheman]

Woman cured of advanced breast cancer using own immune cells in ‘exciting’ global first
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/h...-a8382806.html

[Fritz]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/di...-kills-cancer/

source but interesting if true...

[homemadesalsa]

After my recent 3+ week "vacation" post-chemo, moving on to radiation. First one is today, and I have a lot of trepidation, which I had before the start of every other new treatment. I suppose it will normalize over time (I do have 30 of them.... sigh) and I'll be done on August 3, just in time to race Pierre's Hole https://www.grandtarghee.com/event/2...-100-mtb-race/

But the last 3 weeks have been great, getting stronger every day. I'm going to miss guiding this summer, might get in a few days, but boy the biking is good. I hope the radiation doesn't get me too tired or burned.
FYC- how is M doing?

Fuck Cancer!

[F#*k you cat]

Home made salsa. M is tired. 3 chemo treatments down. 3 to go. So we are half way there. However she is just plain tired.

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[Supermoon]

Fuck Cancer!

Hell ya HMS! Way to get after it.

[Millsie1]

Home made salsa. M is tired. 3 chemo treatments down. 3 to go. So we are half way there. However she is just plain tired.

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I was thinking about you guys today. I was at chemo with my wife and was wondering how you were doing?

[Millsie1]

After my recent 3+ week "vacation" post-chemo, moving on to radiation. First one is today, and I have a lot of trepidation, which I had before the start of every other new treatment. I suppose it will normalize over time (I do have 30 of them.... sigh) and I'll be done on August 3, just in time to race Pierre's Hole https://www.grandtarghee.com/event/2...-100-mtb-race/

But the last 3 weeks have been great, getting stronger every day. I'm going to miss guiding this summer, might get in a few days, but boy the biking is good. I hope the radiation doesn't get me too tired or burned.
FYC- how is M doing?

Fuck Cancer!

HMS looking good! Congrats on getting thru the chemo! You are an inspiration.

Radiation usually isn't a big deal. Time consuming but not nearly as bad as chemo.

[Meadow Skipper]

Applause for HMS.

Hope and good wishes for M.

Fuck cancer

[zion zig zag]

Awesome HMS! I hope I get to ride with you guys this summer.


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[The SnowShow]

My dad had a scan after his second round of chemo and there’s been no change, so they stopped. He’s 84. I’ve been thinking he should get a second opinion from a extremely reputable place like Dana Farber or Mass General (they live in Boston)...thoughts? Or is hope lost?

[Sirshredalot]

My dad had a scan after his second round of chemo and there’s been no change, so they stopped. He’s 84. I’ve been thinking he should get a second opinion from a extremely reputable place like Dana Farber or Mass General (they live in Boston)...thoughts? Or is hope lost?

Not speaking from a meaningful position of authority or experience, but I don't see how a second opinion could hurt. Just don't let it get your hopes up too much.

[mcski]

My dad had a scan after his second round of chemo and there’s been no change, so they stopped. He’s 84. I’ve been thinking he should get a second opinion from a extremely reputable place like Dana Farber or Mass General (they live in Boston)...thoughts? Or is hope lost?

I don't know the back story from earlier posts, so it's hard to say not knowing his general baseline of health. I would say though that 84 is a pretty good run and all considerations at that age should factor in "is this worth it for what I may or may not get out of it?" I highly recommend getting the book Being Mortal or finding the documentary that is based on it and watching. Most people make bad decisions about how much time they actually have left.

[jono]

My dad had a scan after his second round of chemo and there’s been no change, so they stopped. He’s 84. I’ve been thinking he should get a second opinion from a extremely reputable place like Dana Farber or Mass General (they live in Boston)...thoughts? Or is hope lost?

How's his attitude about that? How he was tolerating chemo may be a big consideration. And if he's not in sync with his doc then by all means find another. No matter the options, it helps to be with people whose mindset matches his when deciding this stuff, especially since otherwise they're just broadcasting. If he wants to fight at this point, get with a doc who agrees, figure out the best way and rage on. Some of the big institutions display less determination than you might expect, but your dad's view is the most important one.

mcski's point is valid, too. Keep the priorities and possibilities front and center, for sure. Sorry you have to go through this!

[The SnowShow]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

I guess one question is: if the chemo wasn’t working through one hospital, will it somewhere else via different treatment plan? I don’t know enough about treatments to know. Is it possible the other “better known” hospitals will have other alternatives for treatment?

[CantDog]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

I guess one question is: if the chemo wasn’t working through one hospital, will it somewhere else via different treatment plan? I don’t know enough about treatments to know. Is it possible the other “better known” hospitals will have other alternatives for treatment?

What is his primary cancer? Which hospital system is he with now? There are some cancer types that someone at MGH or DFCI might be more of an expert on--or you consider going because you want to be part of an experimental treatment. In general I think care looks pretty similar across the board in this town at the academic centers. That being said, second opinions are never a bad idea and sometimes the piece of mind is what's needed. The majority of oncologists understand and appreciate that.

You can almost always find an oncologist willing to give more treatment (often to the persons detriment). When an oncologist says no more, I think that's significant.

[Millsie1]

You can almost always find an oncologist willing to give more treatment (often to the persons detriment). When an oncologist says no more, I think that's significant.

We have an oncologist here that they call Dr Death because he will keep giving chemo to anyone.

I think you need to ask your dad what he wants. I know its hard to watch a family m,ember go through this but make sure you are doing it for the right reason. Is a different treatment for your dad or for you?

[jono]

Thank you all for your thoughts.

I guess one question is: if the chemo wasn’t working through one hospital, will it somewhere else via different treatment plan? I don’t know enough about treatments to know. Is it possible the other “better known” hospitals will have other alternatives for treatment?

Like CantDog said, the major difference in options is likely to be experimental studies. But whether or not to try some of the options (like another chemo or maybe an immunotherapy) can seem a little subjective when balancing quality vs. quantity of life. Which is why it helps to be in sync with the doc, if only for better peace of mind. The best way forward may not be curative but might still involve some treatment (or not, of course). In my FIL's case (and to some extent mine, too) treatment reduced symptoms so it wasn't such a net detriment to quality of life. But all that stuff is obviously really individual.

It seems like it goes without saying, but patient advocacy is a huge deficiency in our system, and while your dad is his most important advocate, it's hard to imagine anyone being effective at that without help. Having a family member along is huge for your dad, but it sounds like you'd benefit, too. Have you been to his appointments with him?

[The SnowShow]

No, since I live 2000 miles away - I’m getting everything secondhand from him and my mom. I’m arriving tomorrow and will go to his appointment Friday.

[berko]

I think you need to have an honest conversation with your Dad to find out his desires, suffering threshold, and expectations. That will enable you both to ask the right questions about any proposed treatment regimen.

[GoldMember]

This is a thread I never wanted to participate in. Well, things change. Just found out this morning that a pretty good friend of mine, my age, was diagnosed with brain cancer on June 22. He died Thursday night Really puts things in perspective. Fuck cancer is right.

To top it off, four hours after learning of my friend's death, another friend texted to say that his son decided to take his own life last night. This has not been a good day.

[Mazderati]

Brutal. Sorry to hear.

jono - It's awesome you beat whatever you were dealt. I think about that sometimes.

[Meadow Skipper]

Goldmember, fuck man, that sucks. I hate weeks like that.

Fuck cancer.

[The SnowShow]

Sorry to hear^^^