Cancer and Blood Disorder Experiences
Cancer and Blood Disorder Experiences
-
Choosing a care team
Choosing a care team
Added Aug 5, 2009Because of the sun damage to my skin over the years, I started having yearly, whole-body exams in my late 40s. I was determined to stay on top of this thing. Over the years, it was not uncommon for me to have numerous keratoses (pre-cancerous spots) frozen off my hands, arms and face. I felt I was being vigilant and prudent. Then several years …
1 person likes this. Like
-
My diagnosis
My diagnosis
Added Aug 5, 2009I’m very fair skinned, of Irish decent. Having spent ten years, in my 20s, living at the beach in Southern California, I was not surprised to get a biopsy result telling me that a spot on the back of my left hand was positive for skin cancer. I always suspected that this would happen someday. (I turned 65 in July, and my type of skin cancer (S…
2 people like this. Like
-
Going through treatment
Going through treatment
Added Aug 5, 2009Surgery
[Brad sent an e-mail out after surgery to give everyone an update]
Hello All,
Beth had her surgery today and all went well. Beth’s spirits are good.
As a precaution they put in a drain and as such they have admitted Beth to ensure it is working properly and show her how to look after it. We expect she will get out of the …
2 people like this. Like
-
Telling Family & Friends
Telling family & friends
Added Aug 5, 2009Telling the Boys
How to tell the boys (Zach is 14, Carter is 11)… The day after I got the diagnosis, Zach was going away snowboarding for 3 days. We decided to wait until he got back to tell them. Saturday afternoon – we are sitting around chatting, so I say ‘I need to tell you guys something’. Zach immediately said ‘I don’t think I want to…
2 people like this. Like
-
Worrying
My diagnosis
Added Aug 5, 2009Worrying (Dec 2008)
I first found a lump in November, 2008, in my armpit. I noticed it while I was applying deodorant. It was the size of my baby finger nail, and smooth. I figured it must be a swollen lymph node or gland or something so I ignored it. A couple of weeks went by, and it was still there. I knew I had to tell my husband, and the …
4 people like this. Like
-
Planning for the future
Planning for after treatment
Added Aug 5, 2009I am currently enrolled to begin the Music Therapy graduate program at Florida State University in January 2010. I have applied for a cancer scholarship. My plan is to stay in remission, attend school, and live a beautiful life! I would also possibly like to take a trip to NYC to see my sister and some friends this fall. Also, possibly, I would …
3 people like this. Like
-
Paying for treatment
Paying for treatment
Added Aug 5, 2009I am very, very grateful to say that I have awesome parents who happen to have good insurance! I don’t know what I would do without them! I may only be on their plan until the end of the year, when we will have to figure something else out. The bottom line here is I am very, very lucky and blessed to not have to deal with the financial aspects o…
2 people like this. Like
-
Living with cancer
Living with cancer
Added Aug 5, 2009One thing about my perspective that has changed as I go through this experience, is I realize what a blessing it is to be healthy. How blessed I have been, how much I took for granted, and how stubborn I was/am with life! God gives me so much and so generously, yet it was hard for me not to be jealous, want more, or want something else. I am gla…
2 people like this. Like
-
Going through treatment
Going through treatment
Added Aug 5, 2009The most difficult thing for me about going through treatment has been the feeling of disruption and uncertainty. It feels like my life has been put on pause on a spot that is not particularly pleasant and comfortable. That has been challenging. I don’t enjoy the feeling of the toxic chemicals in my body and as I mentioned earlier, I struggle wi…
2 people like this. Like
-
Evaluating treatment options
Evaluating treatment options
Added Aug 5, 2009The first research I did was to read up on Hodgkin’s Lymphoma online. The treatment for the type and stage of my cancer is pretty standard, so there was not a difficult decision to be made regarding the first step: six cycles of ABVD. However, there is a decision coming up that is going to be a bit tricky. With tumors as large as mine (with one …
3 people like this. Like
Browse Shared Experiences
By topic:
Featured Experience
-
WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOMETHING
Telling family & friends
Added Feb 16, 2014THIS IS A RECORD FROM MY DR de ZARRAGA JR.
THIS ALL OF IT GUESS
LOVE YOU ALL12 people like this. Like
Favorite Cancer and Blood Disorder Experiences
-
Cancer - The Secret Change
Living with cancerThis article, so very well written by a practicing oncologist, is superb! Dr. Salwitz truly captures the feelings that I (and probably thousands of other cancer patients) have. Cancer does suck! My cancer is rare. It grows slowly, but it grows. I do not “look like I have cancer.” I hear so often,“You really look great.” The problem is I …
Added Jan 31, 201552 people like this. Like
-
It is what it is. Might as well find some humor in your journey.
Living with cancer
Updated Oct 26, 2013I was diagnosed last February (2013) with stage IV lung cancer. A shock to me, needless to say, as a non-smoker. Unless of course you count those funny things I smoked back in college 40 years ago.
Besides the support of family and friends, I have found keeping my sense of humor throughout my journey has been the best medicine, other than the…
45 people like this. Like
-
Alway have HOPE!
What I've learned
Added Aug 22, 2018In June 2018 I celebrated my 20th year as a survivor. What a struggle and blessing!
Never give up HOPE!39 people like this. Like
-
A Summary of My Chemo Experience
What I've learned
Added Jan 7, 2010This is a summary of the chemo treatment I survived. I have never experienced anything like this. Radiation, and even surgery, was a breeze in comparison:
6 treatments, one every 21 days:
- for each treatment, Brad and I were there 2.5 to 4 hours (always had the bloodwork and meeting with the doctor a day or 2 before treatment)
- #2 …
36 people like this. Like