The big, evil 'C'
Discussion
Cancer
What a horrible, bastard of a thing it is.
It seems that as we get older, inevitably more and more people we know become infected with this spiteful and most wasteful disease.
I have in the last fortnight received dreadful news that my Auntie has become a victim.
Only a month ago was she a spritely laugh-a-minute woman. Now, she has become 80% blind, has a failing liver and has learnt that the disease is in many parts of her body.
If this wasn't bad enough, two nights ago my Uncle found her at the bottom of the stairs weeping in the middle of the night. She had gone downstairs, tripped and broken her arm.
This has put back her first dose of chemotherapy which was due today.
I've not posted this for sympathy but to demonstrate the dreadful consequences of a disease which needs a proper cure.
I'm sure we have all been close to Cancer. How many PH'ers have had experience with it?
What a horrible, bastard of a thing it is.
It seems that as we get older, inevitably more and more people we know become infected with this spiteful and most wasteful disease.
I have in the last fortnight received dreadful news that my Auntie has become a victim.
Only a month ago was she a spritely laugh-a-minute woman. Now, she has become 80% blind, has a failing liver and has learnt that the disease is in many parts of her body.
If this wasn't bad enough, two nights ago my Uncle found her at the bottom of the stairs weeping in the middle of the night. She had gone downstairs, tripped and broken her arm.
This has put back her first dose of chemotherapy which was due today.
I've not posted this for sympathy but to demonstrate the dreadful consequences of a disease which needs a proper cure.
I'm sure we have all been close to Cancer. How many PH'ers have had experience with it?
It's bloody awful. My mum still isn't in the clear yet after having a full hysterectomy. My step dad (a top bloke who loved motorcycles) had a brain tumour and died 14 months ago. It still makes me want to cry when I think about how quckly he went downhill.
Of course, the big-C doesn't always mean death or even permanent harm, but it's very scary and can be very nasty. You and your family have my sympathies.
Of course, the big-C doesn't always mean death or even permanent harm, but it's very scary and can be very nasty. You and your family have my sympathies.
Genetic reason for cancer - it usually happens after having children so there's been no evolutionary reason to breed it out of the human genes...A nasty thing.
I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in my thigh a few weeks ago. This is the nastier form of skin cancer. I'm fair skinned, but not a sun-goddess by any stretch, but apparently for some people it deosn't really matter if you don't sit in the sun - you can just get it anyway.
I am very lucky. I'm on BUPA, saw a consultant the same day I was diagnosed, and had a scan a few days later. About 3 weeks ago I was told I was in the clear. I lost a chunk of my thigh (which many people say is no bad thing!) and was hobbling for a while, but now i'm back to normal. I have to get checked every couple of months, have a scan at the end of the year, just to make sure nothing has spread. Then I get checked over for the next 5 years.
The thing is, I had the evil mole for about 4 years - it was pretty tiny, just a funny colour. I didn't get it checked out because I felt a bit self-conscious showing off my thigh to a doctor.
But something made me bother to do it, and I'm glad I did. I am just ever so lucky that despite the mole being around for such a long time, we caught the melanoma at 2mm thick, which meant it was early enough not to have spread into lymph nodes etc.
So if you have a mole, lovely PHers, please, please go get it looked at. And don't sit in the sun for hours - it really isn't worth it when you can get a perfectly good tan out of a bottle.
Trust me.
Katy x
>> Edited by titiany on Thursday 3rd March 12:47
I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma in my thigh a few weeks ago. This is the nastier form of skin cancer. I'm fair skinned, but not a sun-goddess by any stretch, but apparently for some people it deosn't really matter if you don't sit in the sun - you can just get it anyway.
I am very lucky. I'm on BUPA, saw a consultant the same day I was diagnosed, and had a scan a few days later. About 3 weeks ago I was told I was in the clear. I lost a chunk of my thigh (which many people say is no bad thing!) and was hobbling for a while, but now i'm back to normal. I have to get checked every couple of months, have a scan at the end of the year, just to make sure nothing has spread. Then I get checked over for the next 5 years.
The thing is, I had the evil mole for about 4 years - it was pretty tiny, just a funny colour. I didn't get it checked out because I felt a bit self-conscious showing off my thigh to a doctor.
But something made me bother to do it, and I'm glad I did. I am just ever so lucky that despite the mole being around for such a long time, we caught the melanoma at 2mm thick, which meant it was early enough not to have spread into lymph nodes etc.
So if you have a mole, lovely PHers, please, please go get it looked at. And don't sit in the sun for hours - it really isn't worth it when you can get a perfectly good tan out of a bottle.
Trust me.
Katy x
>> Edited by titiany on Thursday 3rd March 12:47
My father died of it, so did my uncle. Have lost friends to it too!
I thought I had it 4 years ago and was terrified. Lost 2 1/2 stone in two months, eyesight was getting so bad that I couldn't recognise my kids faces as they came out of school, till they were really close.
Felt terrible for two months leading up to Christmas 2000 and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on 31 December.
Not the death sentence that I had convinced myself that I was going to get!
Some of these home diagnosis books really can convince you that you're fading fast.
But to watch a member of the family, or close friend, deteriorate with cancer is terrible.
At least until they find a cure, allow those who choose to do so, to out with some dignity.
I thought I had it 4 years ago and was terrified. Lost 2 1/2 stone in two months, eyesight was getting so bad that I couldn't recognise my kids faces as they came out of school, till they were really close.
Felt terrible for two months leading up to Christmas 2000 and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on 31 December.
Not the death sentence that I had convinced myself that I was going to get!
Some of these home diagnosis books really can convince you that you're fading fast.
But to watch a member of the family, or close friend, deteriorate with cancer is terrible.
At least until they find a cure, allow those who choose to do so, to out with some dignity.
Numerous relatives of both Mrs AC and mine have suffered from it (some terminal, some not).
Mrs AC's mum died last year so in memory of her we're doing a sponsored asbeil this sunday (mothering sunday).
I'm posting a link just in case anyone feels they want to donate to such a worthy cause.
Mrs AC's mum died last year so in memory of her we're doing a sponsored asbeil this sunday (mothering sunday).
I'm posting a link just in case anyone feels they want to donate to such a worthy cause.
My dads dad died of liver cancer, my dads sister died at age 37 of some form of cancer and my dads mum has been diagnosed with lung cancer at 97 (fair old innings as she has said herself - cracking spirit )
I guess that gives a history of cancer in the family.
Read Ivans cancer diary on the BBC? Used to follow that every week. Amazing guy and fought until the very end. Died 41 I think
) I guess that gives a history of cancer in the family.
Read Ivans cancer diary on the BBC? Used to follow that every week. Amazing guy and fought until the very end. Died 41 I think
mungo said:
So if you have a mole, lovely PHers, please, please go get it looked at.
Errr... You mean a dodgy looking mole surely... I have lots of moles dotted all over my body so do many other people
Alright fussy!
Any mole that is varying in colour, or apparently getting bigger, or changing in any way. And get other people to check out the bits of you that you can't see!Lost all of my grandparents to it and have had two leukaemia scares myself. One was a big scare lump taken from me had to have weekly blood tests for a year. When I used to go for my tests I'd never see the same people waiting more than twice....
Worst thing is about 2 months before getting ill I was short listed to do a bone marrow transplant for this lot:
www.anthonynolan.org.uk/
I'll never know if he made it.
Worst thing is about 2 months before getting ill I was short listed to do a bone marrow transplant for this lot:
www.anthonynolan.org.uk/
I'll never know if he made it.
My mum died of it last year.
She was given five years to live eight years ago. Those extra three years enabled her to see her first grandson. They also allowed her to know of her second grandchild. Sadly she didn't live long enough to see her. This was a special shame as she'd alway wanted a daughter and had hoped for a grandaughter one day.
Nearly a hundred people turned up for the funeral. Most of them with stories of how mum had helped them in some way.
During her life she ran a business from home, renovated a cottage, learned French, German, Anglo-Saxon and Runes and only told us how Ill she was in the last few months.
I never worry about getting it. It's how you live that matters.
I never worry about getting it.
She was given five years to live eight years ago. Those extra three years enabled her to see her first grandson. They also allowed her to know of her second grandchild. Sadly she didn't live long enough to see her. This was a special shame as she'd alway wanted a daughter and had hoped for a grandaughter one day.
Nearly a hundred people turned up for the funeral. Most of them with stories of how mum had helped them in some way.
During her life she ran a business from home, renovated a cottage, learned French, German, Anglo-Saxon and Runes and only told us how Ill she was in the last few months.
I never worry about getting it. It's how you live that matters.
I never worry about getting it.
I lost an uncle to acute myeloid leukaemia last year. It was particularly vicious and started after a viral infection. Had it not been treated, he'd have been dead in 2-3 weeks they said.
Anyway, he undertook painful treatment in hospital for a month - he had a thrombosis in his lower leg as well, brought on by the cancer - and had loads of drugs and blood transfusions. After a few months he was just about back to normal health. Then he woke up covered in lumps - it had spread to his lymph system. A month later he died.
I'm fascinated by the virus/cancer connection. The viral DNA can exist incorporated into the human genome, where it is not expressed. But on some stimulus - a mutagen/carcinogen - it seperates and it subsequently replicated into virions, which are active.
Anyway, he undertook painful treatment in hospital for a month - he had a thrombosis in his lower leg as well, brought on by the cancer - and had loads of drugs and blood transfusions. After a few months he was just about back to normal health. Then he woke up covered in lumps - it had spread to his lymph system. A month later he died.
I'm fascinated by the virus/cancer connection. The viral DNA can exist incorporated into the human genome, where it is not expressed. But on some stimulus - a mutagen/carcinogen - it seperates and it subsequently replicated into virions, which are active.
I've lost both my parents to it. First my mother back in 1980 when i was 5 to breast cancer then 3 years ago my father was struck with lung cancer, he was in hospital for 2 weeks while they tried to find out what was wrong with him, they told him on the wednesday he had 6 months left, he died on the friday the irony of it was he had gone to the doctors weeks earlier complaining of pains and not feeling well, he had a few tests then nothing, the monday after he died a letter came through from his doctor asking him to come in for a chat 
Also lost my uncle to it not long after my mother so it gets me thinking is it genetic?
the irony of it was he had gone to the doctors weeks earlier complaining of pains and not feeling well, he had a few tests then nothing, the monday after he died a letter came through from his doctor asking him to come in for a chat Also lost my uncle to it not long after my mother so it gets me thinking is it genetic?
An auntie and an uncle have had cancer - both survived. I feel bloody lucky that they beat the odds and I feel genuinely sorry for all those who have lost relatives to it, but it can be beaten and you are less likely to die from it now than you were a scant five years ago, largely thanks to all the research that's been possible from all the donations.
Far too many people are all too aware of what cancer can do… whether it is you or someone you know it doesn't matter, the pain and torment that the disease causes is simply intollerable.
I've been there, done that, and been one of the lucky ones. I wouldn't have seen the light at the end of the tunnel if it wasn't for the support and understanding of friends (many on PH) and family, the fantastic support of groups like Cancer Research and the care and hardwork of doctors and nurses both in the private sector and the NHS.
The recent advertising campaign on the TV just brings tears to my eyes everytime I see it, or think about it. I sometimes wonder what people have done to deserve the torment it causes…. And then I wonder what makes some of us beat it.
At our request, Ted let myself and Rude Girl sell the raffle tickets as we both had our reasons for wanting to help the cause (and if the offer is there Ted I'll happily do the same again this year!). The stunning generosity of the PH collective assembled was stunning; proof in my eyes of how people have been affected in one way or another.
I've been there, done that, and been one of the lucky ones. I wouldn't have seen the light at the end of the tunnel if it wasn't for the support and understanding of friends (many on PH) and family, the fantastic support of groups like Cancer Research and the care and hardwork of doctors and nurses both in the private sector and the NHS.
The recent advertising campaign on the TV just brings tears to my eyes everytime I see it, or think about it. I sometimes wonder what people have done to deserve the torment it causes…. And then I wonder what makes some of us beat it.
At our request, Ted let myself and Rude Girl sell the raffle tickets as we both had our reasons for wanting to help the cause (and if the offer is there Ted I'll happily do the same again this year!). The stunning generosity of the PH collective assembled was stunning; proof in my eyes of how people have been affected in one way or another.
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