Looking back...how lucky we are!!

[Cathya]

My parents just found a letter in their trunk that has been passed along to me. I just thought I would quote it here as I was shocked at how things have changed, and really how lucky we are today.

This letter was written on June 27<SUP>th</SUP>, 1933 (six months prior to her death) by my father’s mother. I believe she had breast cancer as it runs in her family but my father is not certain exactly what type of cancer it was as it wasn’t discussed with him. She died Christmas eve, 1933 when he was eleven. She was writing this letter to her daughter and discussed her illness and treatment.

“….I did not get up until the dishes were done this morning and then I didn’t want to get up very bad as I feel rather top heavy yet. I am getting Mrs. Piper to take me to Shedden to the Dr. this afternoon so I can get a blood test to see if it is getting along alright. I am only taking the tablets for my blood. As I am not getting any more appetite he said I may have to take some spirits to keep up my strength. I will take anything that will agree with me. He never comes so I will go to him today and if he does not give me a good examination today I will see someone else because I am getting tired of this.”

Reading this letter broke my heart as I realized that likely all she was given were iron pills for her blood. What spirits were I have no idea…..a brandy before bed? Unfortunately I'm sure many of us could look back on family members who were in similar positions as my grandmother.

<O</OCathy

[Mary Jo]

Thanks Cathy for sharing that "letter" with us. Yes, you are right. It surely shows each of us how far medical technology has come, doesn't it? We truly are blessed.

Again, thanks for sharing with us. I'm sure this "find" was touching, to the least, for you.

Blessings of Peace I send,

Mary Jo

[Bill]

Wow, Cathy, what a touching letter. Thanks for sharing it. It helps to put things in perspective. It's normal for most of us to complain and worry and whine at times, but that letter reminds me of how blessed and fortunate we really are. Hope you are well, Bill

[madubois63]

I was told that just 10 years ago I would not have been eligible for the bone marrow transplant because of my ripe old age of 43 (last year), so I know first hand that we've come a long way...

My grandmother died when I was a baby of cancer. She was never properly diagnosed and never got the treatment she should have. We think it was thyroid cancer because of the few symptoms my mom remembers, but who knows...I've been lucky enough that my disease has been caught early enough to do something about it!!!

Thanks so much for sharing!! This is a great reminder to everyone why we should all get copies of all our tests and pathology...

[hutchibk]

My Grandma passed away in 1970 from b/c - and I didn't know it until after my dad passed and I found her death cert. in his files. (My dad was adopted, so her DX not speak to my DX). I know that she did not have any treatment for it, as we spent lots of time with her and she was "normal and well" until a few months before she suddenly passed. (we hadn't seen her for about 6 months). But then, she may not have even learned about it until it was too late... We are truly blessed to have the tests, scans and treatments that we now have.

[Faith in Him]

Thanks for sharing the letter with us. It definately helps to make me feel blessed by my medical team. It is kind of the way I feel about all the researchers waking up each day devoting their life to cancer research. I wish I could thank each of them in person.

[Barbara2]

I've always said that I would not have been a very good pioneer. How those people must have suffered from diseases of all sorts... and aspirin didn't come along until, when, around 1900?

I think too, of how many young women would have suffered from cramps every month with no relief available...childbirth...oh, my! I don't know how they survived.

Your grandma's letter from 1933...not much was known about cancer, much less how to treat it or how to handle pain etc etc.

I am very thankful to be living during this time...

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

how right you are - we live in such a different world.

I know that years ago the big "C" was never discussed. When asked by my doctors who in my family might have had cancer - I am never really sure since way back they did not know or would not say.

We have come so far and I think discussing it opening is such a help. I speak freely to whomever wants to listen since I believe this could help "save" someone's life by educating them.

There are still so many who think of cancer as a death sentence and quite.
but we know this is not so, especially in todays world.

That is why we have to spread the word in anyway that we can to make people more aware that it "can" happen to them.

Thanks for sharing the letter from your grandmother. We are so lucky to have come so far.

[suzan w]

What a touching letter to find and put things into perspective! We are indeed lucky to benefit from the experiences of those who walked this path before us. It reinforces my belief in living each day to its fullest with as much gratitude as I can muster! Thanks for sharing!!!

[MJo]

This was a very moving letter for me. Five of my mother's aunts died of breast cancer in the 1940s and 1950s. All were diagnosed in their 40s and all left young children. When I was diagnosed two years ago, I know it must have brought a lot of fearful memories back to my mother. I am grateful that, if I had to have this disease, I was diagnosed in 2005. Thank you for sharing this letter.

[sarah]

Without Herceptin, most of us wouldn't be here. Let's hope it gets easier for future generations.
sarah