What would you do if you found out you had cancer? (Terminal mind you)

I would try every cure known to man
I would ask why me?
I would ask my hubby to take me away so my grandbabies and my daughter could not watch me die
I would ask for forgivness and forgive
I know I would do more but this is just a start

I dont know but my grandmas sister has been detected with full blown cancer a few months ago they said she will die in 1 month or 2. Theres no cure

Try and find a cure, if there are none I go on a killing spree (hope ya don't think I am kidding lol)

Ill have friends to play with down in hell. Lol.

OR

I just chill to I die.

OR I enter a battle involving swords and sometime during that. (yes I love roman times when you could be part of the collasium [I know I spelt that wrong]`

Im not really the kind to want to die peaceful, rather on a battle feild

Last edited: Saturday, April 15, 2006 at 1:45:14 AM

And I thought I was being morbid^

Look for support groups that have people that went thru same thing as you. You must truly understand what you have and only way to do this is to contact and interact with humans who have this experience.

Then decide what course to take, fight or surrender.

I hope this is just a question for someone else and not you , girl!

Good luck, we always need that.

The question is: Did you find that out or is this hypothetical?

I'm on meds now for a tumor in my thyroid they thought it was cancer and scared the hell out of me I have to have it checked every 6 months to make sure it does not turn to cancer I just wish they would cut it out and be done with it....
now I have a lump in my breast and that is pressing against a nerve in my arm so now I have to have a biopsy to make sure it's not cancer...I guess I'm getting a lil tired of all the test I go through and stress that comes with it

Beleive it or not, we talked about this in Church :P

1. Go to Mutant Enemy Co., LA and Bow before Joss Whedon
2. Hire some good doctors to figure out the exact second I die (Will tell you why later)
3. Make a bunch of computer stuff and attepmt to Finnish RED strike.
3. Land as many jumps on the ice as possible
4. Take my sis to meet Evgenny Plashanko and on the way back have a threee week stay in Ireland
5. Publicly humiliate "Dubya" and enjoy every second of it
6. By now, the doctors should know the exact second I die, and then I will know too!
7. Get a Parachute with "Dubya's" Picture on it and two MAC10s, bypass the empire state building security guards, jump off the top about 6 seconds before my scheduled demise, and shoo the parachute of our president over the streets of NYC.
8. Sing "Free Fallin'" on the way down.
9. Die just before I hit the ground, so it is not looked upon as suicide.

Yup... Church is always interesting!

I would:

1. Try every cure known to man.
2. Donate a large sum of money to cancer research places/funds/things.
3. Buy parts for an awsome PC and build it.
4. Play PC games all day every day and while I am doing 1.

First and foremost, I'd pray.

I'd pray for healing, for wisdom for my doctors, and I'd try all reasonable attempts at a cure.

I'd be angry, upset, and then work toward understanding what was happening.

I'd talk to my family. I'd let them know I love them. I'd let my daughter see that death isn't an end, but a step onward. I'd lean heavily on my hope in heaven.

Take care, Sheena...

My wife has a terminal illness,also. Lately things have been pretty bad. She's not 100% down and out yet, but somedays she can't do anything. I know how hard it is, how scary. We don't pray or seek support, we just take things 1 day at a time, and just keep living till the livings over. Believe it or not, "denial" is working quite well for now.

I would probably go around stealing from old ladies, I always wondered what that felt like. I would probably shoot them woht my airsoft pistol too. That would be fun. As hell. YEEUH BOI. :P

Last edited: Sunday, April 16, 2006 at 12:04:51 AM

Crap I'm soooo scared I don't want this!!!

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years back. It frightened me. I didn't want to have cancer. I didn't want to have to think about what the world might be without me in it. I told a few of my closest friends but mostly I kept my fears within me. Some folx are like that. Phlegmatic. Stoic. Pragmatic. I am like that.

My primary physician, urologist and oncologist were all very direct with me. They understood my concerns. My fear. They explained the risks, my choices and told me of the survivability. That helped but only ever so little.

I read all my favorite books again - when I could concentrate on the reading. I read The Count of Monte Cristo twice in four months. I read the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius again. I read all of Fred Brown's short stories again. I read Al Bester's The Stars My Destination for the forty-first and forty-second time.

I underwent surgery. The tumor had spread farther than they expected.

I underwent radiation therapy, probably the most unpleasant experience of my life. Imagine a sunburn inside your colon - for six months. During the course of the radiation treatment I played a couple of FPS games - they helped distract me from the pain.

I get tested a couple times a year and see my surgeon/oncologist annually.

So far I am a survivor. I will not say it is gone. I am not one to tempt even the gods in whom I do not believe.

I focus on a little pleasure every day. I enjoy the wonderous beauty of Mount Hood as seen from the Columbia River. I immerse myself in making things from wood and savor their form, texture and aroma. I talk to Clyde the Vociferous cat and brush him until his purr drowns out the noise of the world. I smile often and even laugh every once in a while. Much the same as I always have.

Day by day, kid, day by day. Fear is the enemy, cancer is a disease. Manage the fear. That's the part you do yourself. Find a well-trained, experienced crowd of physicians to help you manage the disease.

......granpa sluggy

Last edited: Sunday, April 16, 2006 at 2:22:22 AM

Wow slug. I cant even imagine how tough your treatment was, thanks for sharing your story. I reckon you attitude is spot on though, hopefully I will be man enough to do the same If I ever find myself in your shoes.
But for now I will continue to endure the horrific experience of getting my prostate checked by my GP.

Sheena - I agree with LGM apart from the praying part (no offence LGM my friend). Going away from your family I think will be something that both yourself and family will regret..... But IT AINT GOING TO COME TO THAT, I am sending you heaps of positive vibes right now. Best wishes and stay tough. :)

@Fish - man, real sorry to hear that. Heaps of good vibes to you and your missus also bro. Talk more on email. Light one up for me ok man? XD

I'd start smoking again.

(glad you're recovering, slugger. Hang in there, fishtank.)

Last edited: Sunday, April 16, 2006 at 7:20:03 AM

Ditto to what 44 said

To this I respond, because it was the way I was raised by my father before he left. :P

Thanks Slug

Hmm, I'd probably spend my last days praying and listening to music. Boring, I know.

I would probably make life worth living.

You decide if sky diving is senseless.

Lol, that would be awsome though blitz, im trying to go sky dive =P

Yea, much mo than sky diving. As I said recently in skype:

"heck, I would sit back, play games, watch TV, and eat nachos."

Tough subject.
I too was diagnosed with cancer last year.
After a period of increasing back and stomach pain they found a mass the size of a grapefruit in my retroperitonium (lower back area of my abdomen).
Talk about rocking ones world.
Here I am married with wife and four kids, full time job (in health care no less), parents in their late eighties who still hike trails in the Rocky mountains.
All that and I am staring at the mirror contemplating my own mortality.
I would go into dar and kj's room to tuck them in, tell them good night and it would be all I could do not to loose it.
The thought of not seeing them grow up, to watch these incredible kids grow into incredible adults made me both feel so cheated and sad.
I would return to my room and collapse into a heap of weeping flesh.
I told everyone - kids, family, people at work.
My wife was a rock. Such support. I could not have asked for any more.
It was hard for the kids to hear it, to know, but I think better that they did. They are too smart to keep it from them. They are my buddies as well. We would travel the road together.
My treatment course consisted of chemotherapy and then surgery.
Chemo is hell.
Well at first it seems ok. Then after 8 hours a day of having strong toxic poisons drained into your body it does take its toll. The hair falls out, you loose your appetite, loose all energy. Towards the end of the chemo it was hard to eat anything. The only thing I could stomach was this Vietnamese soup called Pho (a Beef broth noodle concoction). The stuff kept me going.
The body is amazingly resilient.
The tumor melted away. The hair has grown back (though curly and different than before, lol) The energy is finally coming back. I have some residual issues from the chemo (neuropathy - numbness to my fingers and feet). I have to take CT's (Cat Scan) every 4 months or so for the next few years to make sure the tumor has not returned.
The numbers are on my side. I was fortunate(?) to have a more treatable and actually curable form of cancer.
No I am not out of the woods yet. Once that door is open...
But I feel healthy again.
Keeping positive is so important.
Keep around ones you love. It reminds you why you go through the treatment. It also helps with the treatment. Ones frame of mind, ones positive and forward looking outlook have a big part to play in ones recovery.
Find ways to keep laughing.
Go "Baaaaa" after scoring a goal in TT.
Do your homework, read up on your condition, research on the internet. Keep your Doctors on their toes, keep them talking to you (not at you).
Hats off to slug and all those who have been through or are going through it either personally or with family or loved ones.
Stay strong Sheena!
We can help each other.
Drop me a line.

Sheena,

I just went through the longest winter of my life. It started with me sitting on a chair talking with company when I put my hand on my leg and felt a lump that was never there before. I rubbed it daily feeling it and wondering. Over the next six weeks it got bigger and my leg started getting warm and cold sensations. I made a doctors appointment right away and he said he would measure it and to come back in 6 weeks and remeasure. I did that and six weeks later there was no change.
The doctor sent me for a mri and reffered me to another doctor.
This doctor looked at the mri and couldnt make a decision and he reffered me to a specialist in Phila. This was a tumor specialist. That was enough to start me spinning like crazy. I thought all was done, I had myself in the ground. When the wife and boy were not around and I was alone is when I really got my self sick with worry.
It even got to the point that I was making myself dizzy lightheaded and couldnt function at work.
I made it to my appointment in Phila and this doc said a needle biopsy would not be conclusive so if he is going to go in to take a peice he might as well remove it. He had an appointment the next Monday six days later so I took it. His feelings after checking the mri were for me not to worry but you think I could take that advise and just forget about it,,no way I was a mess.
The surgery came and the doc said it did not look like cancer but he would still have the biopsy sent to the lab. I could not call to find out the answer, for the next 6 weeks while waiting for my post op appointment, I cound not find the nerve to even ask if it was negitive. I thought "no news is good news" which was the case. A ganglian cist.
I guess the point I'm tring to make is that a possitive attutide can do wonders. I found myself to not be able to keep one, but I certainly saw what the power of suggestion (negitive)can do to ones health physically.

Try to keep you head up, and will throw a prayer yours and Baba's way.

Last edited: Monday, April 17, 2006 at 3:31:06 AM

Thank you ^

Fish, I'm very sorry. I can only imagine what you and your family must be going through.

Sheena, baba, sluggy: I sincerely hope it goes your way.

Hmm, didnt know this was gonna be the cancer stories thread.
once day I was riding the public bus home and I leaned my head on my hand,

lol.
about 4 weeks went by, and suddenly one day it started to swell. I went to the ENT when the pressure started hurting my jaw. He sai that I would be able to have a biopsy the next friday if the antibiotics didnt have any effect. The

Well, to say the least, they didnt. By friday it had swollen from the size of a cashew to the size of a walnut. They put the needle in my vein, only for it to be stopped by a valve formed by excessive guitar playing (lol) the yanked it out after about a minute of excrutiating pain(has anyone ever had that happen before? They told me all about the valves :S ). They ended up putting it in another vein. They say that right before I went unedr, they asked me how I was doing and I proudly responded "Led Zeppelin." but anyway, about 5 days ago my testa came back and it is not benign. I have lymphoma, just like both grandfathers, and a great-grandfather with hotchkins. _bastidz! "Welcome to the family, son." ;)

@ magenta= I tried u'r profile but no Email address, pls follow this link to the Master SA list , ty B)

Sheena and all others

As long as you have someone caring for you, pulling you through, your untouchable.

Don't be afraid. I have had many experiences with my family and reasons to be afraid. Many cancers have gone through my family, including breast cancer. They have pulled through, which I am sure you guys will too.

Best of luck, all of you.

P.S.
Rememer:
:) XD :P

Last edited: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 3:03:46 PM

Wow, this thread is just bumming the bubbles out of me. Thanks to all for all the kind words, but don't stress or worry too much, we're not. Until you actually keel over and croak, there's always hope. Hope rocks. It ain't over till it's over.
Meanwhile, On the days I gotta stay home, after the dishes and laundrey are done, I'm gonna shoot ppl with my little catoon tank.

XD

Gah, I avoid serious cancer talk so I don't have to think about it. Actually I joke about it. I think I offended somebody on here with a cancer joke once. Why do I joke? I lost my good friend, my father in law, to cancer. He was only 46 years of age. My father has prostate cancer, my mother and sister in law both have ovarian cancer. Joking about gives me the false empowerment to think cancer ain't no big deal and folks will pull through easily. Just a simple mind game I play with myself so I don't freak out about my family.

@Sheena
Thanks for starting this thread. You've opened a vein and look what's spilled out. Our tt community of kids and grown-ups have more heart than anyone could've imagined. I sit here with my mouth open and misty-eyed. I am going to pray for you Sheena and the fishes...as well as Baba and Sluggy and everyone else who's contributed here. Yeah, it's a bummer and a tough subject but sometimes we need to remember how brief our journey on this planet is. Even if we're in excellent health we are not guaranteed anything! It can all go away in a heartbeat for any of us. We must remember to treasure and cherish every moment (not just every day) that we possibly can. We all get so damn busy that we let time slip away. Thank you for making us stop in our tracks and smell the roses...and count our blessings!

By the way, my wife has been battling a couple of life-threatening ailments for several years now so we never lose site of how precious time is. We love and embrace our three children each and every day as if it is our last. This might help explain why I always come and go so many times in games too. I use TT to relief stress or at the very least get my mind off the serious issues in my life for a while...but it's only for a few moments then I need to run and attend to my wife and three kids.

As for what I would do if it were me personally battling for my life? Yes, I would seek every kind of medicine, including alternative therapies. Dr. Gary Null is a pioneer in radical therapies involving holistic healing. He was one of the strongest supporters for developing that cocktail that has saved countless lives of AIDS patients.

I would read everything I could too. Especially Norman Vincent Peal's Power of Positive Thinking series. Watch inspirational movies too like Lorenzo's Oil or The Doctor. See everyone I love and tell them how I felt and show them. Make lists of things I always wanted to do and do them!!!
Try to contribute something valuable to society and leave something good on this Earth. Be kind to everyone we meet.
Heck, we should all do these things anyway. Right now.

Last edited: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 6:50:00 PM

I started it cause I needed another outlet other than my own family.....
I consider you guys my extended family, I have come to love TT and all those who play and Post here and even the ones I may not get along with so I figured this would be the perfect place to air my concerns and fears it helps me more than you could imagine. I have read all the post here and somehow my problem seems so small, and I pray and hope it is...

I'd definitely take up smoking again. And do it in public.

@ Sheena and All others: My sister, while not having cancer, has a very botched up life. Very seriouse, CF like diatary issues, genitilia problemsa, suffers from three bulging disks in her back. It almost kills me when I hear her crying in the bathroom at night due to pain. HOWEVER, there is good news. She has found ways to cope with it (and these help me, too)! These are very weird but effective ways to ease stress, pain, and help the healing process.

1. White light is good. Always picture white light. In the mornings, take a minute to do the following: stand up straight, and hold your right wrist with your left hand. Whatever you are worried about (body part, that is), picture it glowing with white light. Feel it heal you

2. Stretch. I know, it is hard, but if you can touch your toes or do some other interesting Yoga postition, it helps. Supposedly, this lets body energy flow more freely inside of you. I know it sounds nuts, but it works.

3. FINGERS!!! W00t w00t! This one is easy, and help so much! Each finger supposedly reprisents an emotion. Let me see if I can remember this correctly. We will start with the thumb... I think I only know two fingers, though.

1- guilt
2- Sadness
3- Anger (wonder why :P ) (confirmed)
4- Stress (confirmed)
5- Envy
I am sure these aren't the exact ones, but I will correct it later when I am not stoned (see "fronectomy" thread)
Now, what you can do with this is just hold each of your fingers (or a peticular one) for about a minute. You can hold it longer when you aren't doing anything, too. Beleive, this helps sooooo much. It helps my sis, it helps me, it can help you. I know it kinda sounds like a load of crap, but this really ggod stuff. And no, I am not THAT drugged... Anymore.