sister started her chemo.
Hello, well my sister started her chemo about 4 weeks ago and it is really taking its toll on her. You read all the info on what to expect but when you see it is something else.She tries to keep her sense of humor going to keep others from feeling down, i told her that is all fine and well but if you feel bad you feel bad, don't put on any pretenses for anyone even for me.I had to help her with a shower because she just didn't have the strength to do it herself, i put a chair in the shower so she could sit to bathe, i washed her hair and i got a handfull of it, it took everything i had not to breakdown, so today she asked me to take her to get it cut and so i will. Well i must stop for now time to go to work. Take care and god bless you all. Angel.
Hi Angel and sister .... Love you both! Your story touched my heart. My story about my Brother John is also posted on Caring.com. My story began a little over two years ago. Brother John was diagonosed with Stage 4 bladder cancer ... I have Stage 1 bladder cancer ... I have had mine for 13 years. My brother is no longer with us. Everything that you stated in your discussion is so familiar. My heart goes out to you and yours. I wish that I wouldn't say this but I am going to ... "I never want chemo or radiation". I when faced with a spreading situation will try to live my days the best I can. I know in our human nature we do all that we can for ourselves and our loved ones to help them heal. From my recent experience, the treatment of chemo and radiation was terrible, unbearable for my brother and the rest of us who stood by watching. I will finish my story sometime but not now. My thought and prayers go out to you and yours. I will think about you all and pray. Life is not easy! I'm sorry. God Bless ... Sally
Blessing to you and your sister, I too experienced this terrible disease with my little sissy,we call her Ronnie. 2 years ago she was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma cancer, changed my life and she had a 2 year old, 12 rounds of treatment, opposite week I would take her to get blood because her white cells were down, that was usually 6 hours for the day; however with me turning to God was the only place I could go, and sleep where it was safe to hide. The pain of watching her suffer and seeing her beautiful smile breaks my heart. It was most difficult and reality set in when all her hair fell out, explaining to Mya her 2 year old and not being able to care/carry her was even harder. She is self employed and had no insurance, no one would take us and because only MD Anderson could treat this type of cancer because it is so rare for an adult to get this cancer was the worst. 6 months later we were finally able to get treatment! My gosh all the letter I wrote to senators, president, Oprah, Dr. Oz, tv stations no one responded or replied My dad was in a wheel chair, disabled for the past 3 years we prayed as a family every Sunday, the rosary. I told God I would give myself in any way possible he needed me, my sister is in remission, as soon as she was well, my dad got worst, never said he was hurting, he died 6 months ago, lung cancer stage 4 and we never knew, or let him smoke since he became disabled. I think he held on long enough to see my Sissy through and now he is the angel watching over us! My little brother Michael took it hard, he had a severe stroke just 2 months ago, our lives have changed but Jesus is good to us, he was in a coma for 10 days, they said he would be a tube for life, he is now walking slowly but he walks and eats! My God I love him, I love God, I love what he has given back to me and I am a volunteer Catechists Teacher for kinder and Middle school, 2 years now and was working at Mornings with Jesus but have stopped since my brothers stroke, he is still in the nursing home and although it is difficulty I thank God every day. Don't give up, always believe God looks up not down and Faith looks all around!! Jesus SAVES! MY prayers go out to all of you who suffer, I pray at night for those I don't know and need prayer, God Bless always!! Hugs and kisses to you for being a great sister to your sister, love you....p.s. my aunt is now stage 4, Bile Duct cancer, never drank never smoked....prayers to her as well....
I belong to a breast cancer support group in El Paso Texas. We had our monthly meeting last night. I was touched by the fact that I was in the midst of quite a number of woman who had gone through chemotherapy with me in my year and a half cheomtherapy journey. I had met them at various stages of their treatments. As it happens, several of them had expressed a desire to die while they were in treatment. The chemo was so taxing and naturally, it makes one desperate. They cried and could not stand the treatments. Well, they are now cancer free and happy that they stuck it out. They took the road paved with stones, but they also chose life. I understand that the pain of the cancer, as it consumes your body, is far worse than the treatments. I also noted with interest that by and large the cancer survivors are believers. My group caters to the Spanish speaking community, so we are for the most part Catholic. Take charge and put your life in God's hands. It is a lot easier if you have something to believe in and people to pray with.
I was DX with Ovarian cancer about 6 mos ago..after going through 6 chemo treatments. Hair loss, itching, hives etc.. being hospitalized last Jan 5 for Pnuemonia and a UTI.. along with ecoli infection.Given 2 units of blood.. Put on Oxygen 24/7. Yesterday, i was informed by onc/gyn.. there is no longer any sign of the tumor.In addition the CA 125 blood test was negative.I might add I also had surgery in Nov.. but they (the Drs.) were unable to remove any organs at the time due to the cancerous cells being so widespread. I will say that as sick as i sometimes got, the chemo definitely kicked butt. So for those contemplating giving up I say don't! There is always hope. Don't know how i would feel if i have a relapse.. will cross that bridge when I come to it. Until then Thank God for my dx yesterday...
Susan aka senior warrior.. still fighting
When I was diagnosed with colon cancer last March 2009 I had to have a tumor removed. The surgeon that did operation was very good and easy to talk to. After the surgery and the reports came back, he said everything looked good. I went to Oncologist just be sure and to get his opinion, he was very verbel about me having (chemo). He also was not letting me ask questions, about why I would need this procedure. I decided to go to another Oncologist for second opinion and this was recommended by my daughter and my two granddaughters who are R.N's. I was very glad I had gone for a second opinion. He gave me over a hour of his time and answered my questions and gave me the pros and cons. All said by talking to him and getting information from other sources to getting information I was able to get information on diet, nutrition, exercise and taking certain supplements to help. I have been free from cancer for a little over a year. Also with prayers said by my family, friends and online sites, I believe this has helped. I am confident this type of help has been good for me. I will keep you in my prayers, and maybe you can find help like I did.
God Bless Jean
Hi Jean - I am so sorry for what you have gone through and what you are going through. I know that my response up above to Angel was not easy to read and I am so sorry if I offended anyone. It certaintly was not easy to write or to watch my Brother John going through cancer, chemo, radiation. John's cancer supposedly was shrinking but I guess that it had already spread into the lymph nodes and traveled into the blood stream and worked its way upward. I had never experienced cancer and health care to the entent that I did with my brother. His family including me were always optimistic throughout and I would be again. I will be going next week to have my bladder cancer checked. As I stated above, I have had bladder cancer Stage I for over 13 years. Unfortunately when my brother was diagonosed he was at Stage IV. God Bless Sally
To all of you that responded to my letter, GOD BLESS YOU ALL. You are a wonderful group of friends that have never met and my prayers are there for all of you as well as is my heart.Sally what you said didn't hurt my feelings you spoke the truth and that is a good thing, you can't keep your feelings inside you too long, it can make you bitter and it doesn't help with the healing process at all. My sister and i talk everyday , in the mornings before i go to work and i call several times a day to check on her, and then we talk some more when i get home, yes sometimes it is the same conversation we had earlier, but that is ok too. Her memory comes and goes starting of the chemo fog, and she needs some reminding on certain things, but who doesn't( HA HA).We do not know nor use the words quit, i can't and if she does i remind we fought this battle once and won and we can do it again, only this time it will be a longer road. The only thing i have a major problem with is i can't or won't cry, i broke down when we got the news(i had stepped out)and i feel the need to to cry would release alot of pain that i feel daily, but is feels like a switch inside me shuts it off and thats it, so i keep going, sometimes i try to figure out why i am like this but as of yet notta blasted thing. Well i guess i covered all the base's for now.Thank you for taking the time to read this and responding. Hugs and prayers to you all. Sincecely, Angel.
