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StephN · 12-09-2013, 01:16 AM

This is a phase on this trip around the cancer ward. Like Becky says, not everyone is smart. And even "Smart" people are not "smart" ALL the time - they do have lapses. For most of our friends in the BC (Before Cancer) world, this is new territory. It is also complex territory on many levels. We "patients" just have to dive in and try to get up to speed as it is OUR very lives at stake. While our friends and families just come from whatever little real knowledge or experience they have and basically fumble around.

We have to take some of that fumbling around until things and people shake out. And shake they do!

Going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment is like writing our Magnum Opus, it is a huge project to make the effort to save our own lives.

You really are NOT the one who is "messed up."

12-09-2013, 01:16 AM	#13
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: Messed up emotionally This is a phase on this trip around the cancer ward. Like Becky says, not everyone is smart. And even "Smart" people are not "smart" ALL the time - they do have lapses. For most of our friends in the BC (Before Cancer) world, this is new territory. It is also complex territory on many levels. We "patients" just have to dive in and try to get up to speed as it is OUR very lives at stake. While our friends and families just come from whatever little real knowledge or experience they have and basically fumble around. We have to take some of that fumbling around until things and people shake out. And shake they do! Going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment is like writing our Magnum Opus, it is a huge project to make the effort to save our own lives. You really are NOT the one who is "messed up." __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.