Great to hear you're back and I hope you feel better soon!
Time to go to hospital
- Thread starter XS650
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- Sep 28, 2002
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So far ..so good. Keep us updated.
Looks like you showed it who the boss was.
Awaiting a favorable report with fingers crossed.
Rest up!
Awaiting a favorable report with fingers crossed.
Rest up!
I hope you are feeling better and get good news from your doctor.
Some people have asked me for an update so here is more than you want to know.
I'm feeling good now that a recent infection has been knocked down. I was up walking the day after surgery and getting better nearly every day.
Two malignant tumors were removed, one 2.5cm one from my left (and only) kidney and a larger malignant one was removed along with my left adrenal gland. Both were kidney cancer so the one on the adrenal gland started someplace else. Probably an offspring of kidney cancer 5 years ago. I'm down to about 90% of one kidney but all kidney functions are normal. The lack of adrenal glands is a minor inconvenience considering what could have been. I'm on a couple of medications for life to compensate for the lack of adrenal glands.
The future is what it is. The Doc says I have a 10-20% chance of recurrence in the next year so I plan to live like I am in the majority.
It's 2 weeks 4 days since surgery and I feel like I will be having to hold myself back before long to avoid overdoing it. I'm supposed to be OK for normal activity after 6 weeks.
We canceled our planned trip to India this November and will go on a Panama Canal Cruise instead.
My medical care has been very good, the three main specialists are all very open about what is going on and what the options are and are easy enough to get a hold of when I need them. As far as I can tell, they are all fully competent. And they are even nice people. And they even talk to each other. They also respond to email with their patients, usually in under a day.
XS
I'm feeling good now that a recent infection has been knocked down. I was up walking the day after surgery and getting better nearly every day.
Two malignant tumors were removed, one 2.5cm one from my left (and only) kidney and a larger malignant one was removed along with my left adrenal gland. Both were kidney cancer so the one on the adrenal gland started someplace else. Probably an offspring of kidney cancer 5 years ago. I'm down to about 90% of one kidney but all kidney functions are normal. The lack of adrenal glands is a minor inconvenience considering what could have been. I'm on a couple of medications for life to compensate for the lack of adrenal glands.
The future is what it is. The Doc says I have a 10-20% chance of recurrence in the next year so I plan to live like I am in the majority.
It's 2 weeks 4 days since surgery and I feel like I will be having to hold myself back before long to avoid overdoing it. I'm supposed to be OK for normal activity after 6 weeks.
We canceled our planned trip to India this November and will go on a Panama Canal Cruise instead.
My medical care has been very good, the three main specialists are all very open about what is going on and what the options are and are easy enough to get a hold of when I need them. As far as I can tell, they are all fully competent. And they are even nice people. And they even talk to each other. They also respond to email with their patients, usually in under a day.
XS
XS glad to hear...
We missed you buddy.
Ask your doctors about taking Melatonin, my Naturopath recommended it for my aunt who is battling cancer to help shrink the tumors she has. She also said it could be used to help keep tumors away and it's all natural. It will just make you drowsy so take a good dose of it before you go to bed.
It is used as a natural sleep aid and I take it for that, but apparently they are finding out that it has other properties related to cancer fighting as well.
You can take 5mg for every 100 lbs you weigh according to my Naturopath.
Also if you are a fan of Green Tea apparently this is supposed to help with Cancer as well.
I understand that none of this is scientifically proven 100% and isn't mainstream but I'm sure if it wouldn't hurt you and you are willing to try it, it can't hurt.
Ask your doctors about taking Melatonin, my Naturopath recommended it for my aunt who is battling cancer to help shrink the tumors she has. She also said it could be used to help keep tumors away and it's all natural. It will just make you drowsy so take a good dose of it before you go to bed.
It is used as a natural sleep aid and I take it for that, but apparently they are finding out that it has other properties related to cancer fighting as well.
You can take 5mg for every 100 lbs you weigh according to my Naturopath.
Also if you are a fan of Green Tea apparently this is supposed to help with Cancer as well.
I understand that none of this is scientifically proven 100% and isn't mainstream but I'm sure if it wouldn't hurt you and you are willing to try it, it can't hurt.
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XS - I'm glad to hear you are doing OK. As we get older, the Big C is the big wildcard. I'd take going silently in my sleep any day. The only thought that makes it somewhat bearable is that there is always someone that has it worse, like those that have to suffer it from childhood.
I assume you are aware of the mind-body connection idea? They say it is powerful stuff. The new science people are saying that consciousness is the element driving the direction of the universe. I try to apply it to my situation as liberally as possible...
I assume you are aware of the mind-body connection idea? They say it is powerful stuff. The new science people are saying that consciousness is the element driving the direction of the universe. I try to apply it to my situation as liberally as possible...
Hang in there big guy. Keep battling - you'll do it!!
Good news X man. I had a radical right masectomy 7/31/09. Stage 2A breast cancer. Yeah, males get it too. I just had my first dose of chemo on 9/11. So far, just a little gas and nausea, nothing terrible. I had been dreading chemo, but this was't bad.
I am amazed by everything. Before this, I would see a doctor every 5 yrs or so for something or other, nothing major. Hospitals were to be avoided. Hospitals and doctors and meds are my new job. My daughter is helping me manage the procedural stuff, I just show up and chat up the nurses. The whole experience so far has been strangely positive. This kinda baffles me, I'm guessing there is a variant of the Stockholm Syndrome kicking into the process
I am amazed by everything. Before this, I would see a doctor every 5 yrs or so for something or other, nothing major. Hospitals were to be avoided. Hospitals and doctors and meds are my new job. My daughter is helping me manage the procedural stuff, I just show up and chat up the nurses. The whole experience so far has been strangely positive. This kinda baffles me, I'm guessing there is a variant of the Stockholm Syndrome kicking into the process
Andyd... I will keep you in my prayers along with XS.
Get well buddy!
Get well buddy!
all prayers gratefully accepted, but truth be told, I feel better now than I did before this all happened. Mostly because the COPD caused by 50 yrs of cigarettes is being managed. The patch combined with an anti-deppressant is making this latest attempt to quit smoking go well. I can BREATHE! I regard the cancer as something to be combatted. So far, I think I'm winning.
Good for you...
Best wishes to both of you. Hope all goes well.
To andyd - take those cigarettes one day at a time and you'll be fine.
Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
XS - I'm glad to hear you are doing OK. ... I'd take going silently in my sleep any day. The only thought that makes it somewhat bearable is that there is always someone that has it worse, like those that have to suffer it from childhood.
I believe my go silently in my sleep option has expired.
A good friend of ours down the street is a 70 year old woman with a history of serious cardiac problems, a multiple bypass several years ago, has been fighting Parkinsins for several years and just got diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a pleasure to be around when her Parkinsons meds are balanced (which is most of the time now), gardens and walks a couple of miles a day and has a great dark sense of humor. She was considering taking bets on which one was going to get her.
Children shouldn't have to go through any of this garbage.
XS - I'm glad to hear you are doing OK. ... I'd take going silently in my sleep any day. The only thought that makes it somewhat bearable is that there is always someone that has it worse, like those that have to suffer it from childhood.
I believe my go silently in my sleep option has expired.
A good friend of ours down the street is a 70 year old woman with a history of serious cardiac problems, a multiple bypass several years ago, has been fighting Parkinsins for several years and just got diagnosed with breast cancer. She is a pleasure to be around when her Parkinsons meds are balanced (which is most of the time now), gardens and walks a couple of miles a day and has a great dark sense of humor. She was considering taking bets on which one was going to get her.
Children shouldn't have to go through any of this garbage.
Originally Posted By: andyd
Good news X man. I had a radical right masectomy 7/31/09. Stage 2A breast cancer. Yeah, males get it too. I just had my first dose of chemo on 9/11. So far, just a little gas and nausea, nothing terrible. I had been dreading chemo, but this was't bad.
I think chemo is a code word for poison the malignancy without killing the host if you can. I'm glad it's going well for you.
Quote:
My daughter is helping me manage the procedural stuff, I just show up and chat up the nurses. The whole experience so far has been strangely positive. This kinda baffles me, I'm guessing there is a variant of the Stockholm Syndrome kicking into the process
That though crossed my mind too, although I prefer to think of it as my personal strength of character.
I think it helps that I normally spend a lot more time thinking about the future than the past. I can't change the past so no use getting upset about it.
On the smoking, if you slip and light up again, just remember that isn't failure, it's an opportunity to quit again.
My older brother smoked for 45+ years and had a rough time quitting for good. He finally did quit.
Take care
XS
Good news X man. I had a radical right masectomy 7/31/09. Stage 2A breast cancer. Yeah, males get it too. I just had my first dose of chemo on 9/11. So far, just a little gas and nausea, nothing terrible. I had been dreading chemo, but this was't bad.
I think chemo is a code word for poison the malignancy without killing the host if you can. I'm glad it's going well for you.
Quote:
My daughter is helping me manage the procedural stuff, I just show up and chat up the nurses. The whole experience so far has been strangely positive. This kinda baffles me, I'm guessing there is a variant of the Stockholm Syndrome kicking into the process
That though crossed my mind too, although I prefer to think of it as my personal strength of character.
I think it helps that I normally spend a lot more time thinking about the future than the past. I can't change the past so no use getting upset about it.
On the smoking, if you slip and light up again, just remember that isn't failure, it's an opportunity to quit again.
My older brother smoked for 45+ years and had a rough time quitting for good. He finally did quit.
Take care
XS
Chemo is different for different folks. I had chemo for 18 weeks of 1994 and while it didn't really make me sick, that was the only time I was under 200# as an adult. Not a recommended way of losing weight.
You are right, the idea behind chemo is to kill the cancer, which is "irregular" cells that can't recover before they kill you.
But apparently it only works with certain kinds of cancers.
There are so many different drugs and combinations that chemo is a very generic term, like motor oil (to relate the topic to the overarching web site theme.)
I had to go to the hospital a week at a time for 6 of my 18 weeks of chemo because one of the drugs I got was a nephrotoxin, and they had to monitor my kidney function.
I had testicular cancer in 1994 and had one of my "boys" removed in Jan '94 and then 30 lymph nodes removed in Aug or Sept. Did 9 weeks of chemo after each of the operations and have been cured since then.
Still visit the oncologist every year to make sure my tests are normal.
Chemo does different things to different people. I never got "sick" but I lost my appetite and had a very heightened sense of smell. Most perfumes and cosmetics would turn my stomach when I would smell them.
The CIS-platnin (CDDP the nephrotoxin) contained platinum, so after day 3 of my week in the oncology ward, I couldn't stand to eat food and my mouth tasted of metal all the time. So my diet changed to Coca Cola and starlight mints to drive out the metal taste.
Then about three days after the CDDP I started getting my appetite back and would each chili with about 1/2 bottle of hot sauce just so I could taste something.
Of course,they would watch my blood counts. I was so easily winded. I recall thinking it would be funny to use the helium from one of my get well balloons to record my answering machine greeting and blacking out when I took it in because I was so on the edge with respect to red blood cells.
To this day, I've never inhaled helium to have the funny voice since that day in 1994.
Of course, I lost my hair, all over my body. I looked like a 28/29 year old child, but without hair on my head.
So I have an understanding for those going through this, and will keep you guys in my thoughts and dare I say it here, prayers.
You are right, the idea behind chemo is to kill the cancer, which is "irregular" cells that can't recover before they kill you.
But apparently it only works with certain kinds of cancers.
There are so many different drugs and combinations that chemo is a very generic term, like motor oil (to relate the topic to the overarching web site theme.)
I had to go to the hospital a week at a time for 6 of my 18 weeks of chemo because one of the drugs I got was a nephrotoxin, and they had to monitor my kidney function.
I had testicular cancer in 1994 and had one of my "boys" removed in Jan '94 and then 30 lymph nodes removed in Aug or Sept. Did 9 weeks of chemo after each of the operations and have been cured since then.
Still visit the oncologist every year to make sure my tests are normal.
Chemo does different things to different people. I never got "sick" but I lost my appetite and had a very heightened sense of smell. Most perfumes and cosmetics would turn my stomach when I would smell them.
The CIS-platnin (CDDP the nephrotoxin) contained platinum, so after day 3 of my week in the oncology ward, I couldn't stand to eat food and my mouth tasted of metal all the time. So my diet changed to Coca Cola and starlight mints to drive out the metal taste.
Then about three days after the CDDP I started getting my appetite back and would each chili with about 1/2 bottle of hot sauce just so I could taste something.
Of course,they would watch my blood counts. I was so easily winded. I recall thinking it would be funny to use the helium from one of my get well balloons to record my answering machine greeting and blacking out when I took it in because I was so on the edge with respect to red blood cells.
To this day, I've never inhaled helium to have the funny voice since that day in 1994.
Of course, I lost my hair, all over my body. I looked like a 28/29 year old child, but without hair on my head.
So I have an understanding for those going through this, and will keep you guys in my thoughts and dare I say it here, prayers.
You get well. I fought coming back from the dead in 2007 and just getting back from a new knee 3 weekd ago. Grab life by the tail and show it who is boss.
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