I Hate Cancer

[IliketoPuck]

In the last two years I have had two family members diagnosed with cancer. One was a brain tumor, and they gave him ~3 months to live, that was two years ago, and he is now cancer free. My aunt also recently had surgery to remove a melanoma from her inner ear, and is looking to be fully recovered. Cancer is a terrible disease, and it takes way too many people before they should be. Cherish your time with her, but don't forget to keep your hopes up, cancer can be beaten, she's beaten it once and can beat it again.

[You Need a Thneed]

Thanks all. We have not given up hope, though if it is her time to go, we hope that she doesn't have to suffer in a long drawn out thing. We believe in a God who has the power to heal. We know of others that have been closer to death than my mom is right now, then have recovered, and lived on for another 20 years, so we know that it is possible.

We are trying to enjoy the last days we have with her, even if she can't really communicate with us too well. She's really drowsy, and tired. It's also hard when she's in a hospital room, even with the private room she's in, there still isn't nearly enough room for everyone to be in her room all at once. My dad applied for a place in a hospice today, that would allow us to be able to enjoy her last days as much as possible.

The cancer she has now, is metastasized from the breast cancer she had before, and is in her colon and her small intestine.

Ever since last Thursday, I've driven across town at least once a day to visit - from the NE to Foothills hospital, the kms and time spent in traffic add up.

So, people, get your regular checkups and screenings, and especially if you have had cancer before.

[Prototype]

After being involved in a car accident almost ten years ago, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Had it not been for the accident, she may have never had it checked, or atleast checked when it was at the point of no repair.

I hate the person that hit my parents car that day, but I thank him every once and a while for doing so.

My thoughts are with you and your family Thneed.

[kermitology]

I really wish that more of the fund raising efforts actually donated that money to research.

I think it might even have been here that mentioned something like 5% of the money raised by cancer foundations actually GOES to cancer research. The rest of it gets tied up in funding the fundraisers and stupid crap like that.

Imagine raising $2500 for the breast cancer walk and NONE of that money goes anywhere other than the fundraiser to "raise awareness"

EVERYONE is aware of cancer. I'd like to know someone who's life hasn't been touched by cancer in some way. My grandfather died of lung cancer, my grandmother had a brain tumor, as did my aunt.

It makes me pretty angry sometimes.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by kermitology

I really wish that more of the fund raising efforts actually donated that money to research.

I think it might even have been here that mentioned something like 5% of the money raised by cancer foundations actually GOES to cancer research. The rest of it gets tied up in funding the fundraisers and stupid crap like that.

Imagine raising $2500 for the breast cancer walk and NONE of that money goes anywhere other than the fundraiser to "raise awareness"

Absolutely not true. I was wondering this myself so I asked a Herald reporter to look into some numbers for me. In regards to that "Walk or Run for Breast Cancer" event, over 80% goes straight to research.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Absolutely not true. I was wondering this myself so I asked a Herald reporter to look into some numbers for me. In regards to that "Walk or Run for Breast Cancer" event, over 80% goes straight to research.

Yeah I heard about the same, the more precipitants the higher percentage and it had been going up every year.

Unlike the groups that supposedly help kids in africa (unicef..etc) I hear less than 10% get to the actual kids.

[FlamesAddiction]

My dad is dying of cancer right now as well. He was actually diagnosed 11 years ago and went through some rigorous treatments and managed to pull through despite only being given a slim chance at surviving. Unfortunately, it's back now and he is opting not to have any treatments this time.

[Itse]

I lost my dad to cancer couple of years back. He wasn't that old, lived a pretty healthy life and was certainly in better shape than I was.

That sucked, even though he was kind of crazy and we had a really troubled relationship.

Still, I'd rather take cancer than Alzheimers. But that's kind of "would you rather drown or burn alive".

Slow deaths in general are nasty.

With a history of death from cancer in my family, I feel your pain.

My prayers and thoughts are with you.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I hate cancer. My mom was relatively healthy for a 60 year old woman - she still loved to hike, and stuff like that. She had breast cancer 5 or 6 years ago, but that was treated, and we thought was gone.

This summer, she starts getting a little bit tired, but that could be because of any number of things. This sickness/tiredness persists, so she goes to see the doctor. Ultrasound is scheduled, wait for results, CT scan is scheduled, and while we were waiting for results, mom got to the point where she couldn't get up from the couch by herself, and she hadn't rally eaten much for a while. My dad took her in to the hospital a week ago.

Anyway, she has days, maybe weeks to live.

Two of my wife's aunts have already died from cancer, it took my grandma too, and others related to both of us. Others have had it, and recovered, but it's still hard.

I hate cancer. Can we make a plan to exterminate it within 10 years?

Very sorry to hear this story. I lost both of my parents to cancer. They both smoked a lot, which I believe was a reason for their ailment. I hate cancer but I also hate smoking. Ha, when I get someone at the door asking for a donation for cancer, I am tempted to say, "No, I hate cancer so I won't support it. I will donate for cancer research to find a cure, however." And I do, because of my folks.

[FlamesAddiction]

I understand how people want their donations to go to just research, but research isn't everything.

When my dad was going through his treatments, he had to move to a larger city (because the town we lived in did not have the facilities). He lived in a home with other cancer patients in similar situations and the place was almost completely funded by the cancer foundation. Without those donations, I don't know what we would have done.

[Peanut]

I hate it, too. So sorry to hear about your Mom. I will hope for the best for her and keep your family in my thoughts.

[Akai-Sesui]

There aren't too many lives that haven't be touched by the evil hand of Cancer. It is one of those things that you never know what the deal is...there are some that beat it decisively, and then there are some that can never shake it.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, your mom, and the rest of your family and friends.

[Dion]

So sorry to hear that. My thoughts and prayers are with your mom and you and your family.

[redforever]

Sorry to hear your sad news. Life just ain't fair sometimes. Relish any time you have left with her. I hope she is as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

[starseed]

Best wishes Thneed, I hope she can fight this off. One day cancer will just be a bad memory.

[Antithesis]

Best wishes to you and your family.

[Redliner]

Courage, Thneed. My heart goes out to you and your family. My mother is also currently battling skin cancer - she was diagnosed with a very rare variety of skin cancer a little over 18 months ago. Watching her go through multiple rounds of very invasive surgery and various treatments has been tough, but she's a fighter and we're all hoping & praying for the best.

Action can and does make a difference. Fundraisers are not perfect by any stretch, but I like to think that any difference is better than no difference at all. I did "The Ride to Conquer Cancer" in June and will be doing it again next year, and the funds from that go to treatment and research right here in Alberta at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton. We rode over 200 km in 2 days, much of it in ridiculous wind and through challenging terrain in the foothills. I won't lie about it; I suffered - but when I thought about all the people who are currently battling cancer and whose aches and pains are so much greater than mine were, it was worth every minute.

[Kybosh]

Stories like this and personal experience have pushed me to try my hand at a small facet of cancer research (diagnosis to be specific). I'm just one guy, but if enough people put their minds together cancer could be a thing of the past. As a researcher, I would like to see more funding for academic R&D because a highly qualified and experienced person should not make less money than the guy that changes your oil at minitlube (/rant).

[BuzzardsWife]

my mom died 4 years ago from cancer and my sister is fighting it right now, but not looking good..im only 45 and i have lost alot of people i love to cancer..deepest sympathy to you and your family..i started a charity thread yesterday..last year instead of buying gifts for my dad and him buying for us we all donated 50 dollars each to Cancer