Best Of
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hi everyone, it’s been awhile, not sure how long but I just realized I haven’t logged in for some time, I somehow forgot.
Micmel, I love an occasional root beer but I have trouble with the bubbles too and often can’t finish it.
Several months ago I bought tickets to a music festival in California and it’s finally almost here. I’m driving to El Paso for treatment on Thursday, then flying out immediately after. The fest is on Saturday, then my bff and I are spending Sunday in our hometown of Huntington Beach with another friend from school. Looking forward to the fest, my favorite foods and a dip in the cold Pacific Ocean.
You all already know I can pack like a champ and this time is no exception, I even found room for a hat, crossbody purse, water bottle and travel cocktail kit in addition to the clothes, swimsuit and sandals in my backpack.
illimae
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Sf-cakes sorry to read of your latest struggles. DH cooked bacon and eggs on the outdoor grill this morning and we ate our first meal on the new deck. I will pay for the rich food soon I'm sure, but we really enjoyed it. Sorry for those who are struggling with food issues...and no, I couldn't finish it…
The second pic is our viewfrom the deck.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Getting some serious scanxiety here, as Monday is my day. I just hate this part of it all and have no real way to handle it. I think it gets worse each time, because I feel like, as time goes by, the odds that I'll have a bad scan go up. I suppose there's an equal argument the other way, but my brain can't find it.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Pvt. Leroy Learn was born 3/11/25 and died 2/21/44 by enemy fire. He was buried in a communal grave as a mortar had killed so many that each could not be positively identified. The burial place is in Enzio, Italy. There is an empty gravesite in his hometown with his information on a tombstone.
About 2 years ago I was contacted by a geneologist working with BYU program in coordination with the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. They contacted me as Pvt. Learn was a great-uncle of mine. I couldn't provide DNA to finally settle his remains and have them returned home. You see, he was a step-great-uncle. So I started a search for a female relative that the counselor had given me perameters that had to be met. I came up with a 2nd cousin who was 80 years old. They would not accept her due to her age. So they had to work thru male descendents. I was diagnosed Stage 4 while working on this project. DH and I were prepared to bring Pvt. Learn home, if only we could. So in his honor on this Memorial Day, I wanted to share this story with you.
Re: How are people with liver mets doing?
All -
This is RK2020. I’m posting on behalf of my wife. She has been placed in hospice and is receiving excellent end of life care. She said don’t fear hospice. She thanks everyone for the support over the years. Love Regina
rk2020
Re: How are people with liver mets doing?
Dear bossmom24, I am sorry you have to be here… but then again I am so blessed I found this community 7 years ago, a bunch of very (VERY!) knowledgeable and kind people who in many cases became my "second opinion", ,,second MO", and even friends…
I am not a cancer patient myself but I try as much as I can to help my beautiful wife who was diagnosed de novo in 2017 being 33 years old, with our 2 year old baby on our hands. 7 cm tumor out of the blue, and uncountable liver mets, liver was about to fail, AST/ALT/ALP and other numbers in many hundreds, doctors looking at us kindly but even unable to give chemotherapy at that time as it could have happened that my Sandra would have simply… died instantly. But we took that risk as we had nothing else to do… after 3 relapses and 3 surgeries (mastectomy, lymph node removal, cyberknife to lymphnodes), whole breast radiation, she is NED, and liver is now 63 months NED. Future is not guaranteed, in fact, we still get these "oh you poor things" looks everywhere we go, but life is okay, our boy is 9. Yes, we gave up many dreams (oh, how much we'd like to have more children!) but we're moving on and being together brings us… happiness.
If you would ask, I believe most of the people who are in these stage IV forums, have experienced same shock as you do but have moved on and made their lives rule over cancer, not otherwise. And you… you are gifted… just think of these 4 beautiful human beings you are bringing up - your love to them will give you strength to march on, heal, and maybe even become someone who can be cured, however elusive it may sound. Science is miles ahead from where it was even in 2017, when we started. Treatments that were offered are state-of-the art and I believe you'll do well with them. Biopsy will help to confirm, what I believe, will be same histology in the liver. Please also remember that faster disease tends to react better to treatments. Hugs,
Saulius
bsandra
Re: how about drinking?
I just got a message from Lori's (Goldie's) daughter Jeannette. Lori is now on hospice with her family taking care of her. This is what Jeannette sent me:
"Good afternoon. It is with sad news that my mom Lori Kiser. Wanted me to let you know that she is now on hospice and we arr keeping her comfortable. She loved you guys and that support group. She was very fortunate to have had the long life she lived. It was a beautiful one."
and
"Thank you. She is surrounded by family and is in good spirits. But she is in alot of pain and is ready to go"
Jeannette gave me permission to update everyone, and said that Lori would like me to update the group. I will pass along any info/updates as I get them.
Now I'm going to the blow up chapel to pray and cry.
Re: De Novo Stage IV
Thanks all, for your concern and my infusion went well! I had a pre-drip of saline, which was almost the whole bag. And then I had Herceptin for an hour. And NO shaking! I do realize that it could be different each time, though.
When I got home, I was very tired, but my BP was at a normal level, and my fever was only 99. My nurse did tell me that if I didn't do well, the next time I could have a steroid injection into my IV. So that is another possibility.
Speaking of bells….I was Stage 4 from dx, but my 3 liver biopsies missed the liver tumor. I had my dmx, chemo and rads, and then (back in 2003) the nurses threw confetti at me and sang (poor cleaners had to clean that all up). That was before bells.
Then, a few weeks later, my CT scan showed that my liver was filled with tumors, and I have been on chemo ever since. Several years ago, I lamented that I would never have another confetti party again, but the next time, the nurses gave me another confetti party since I was NED!!!
That sure was a teary-eyed experience and I never thought that I would still be battling this stuff after over 22 years.
denny123
Re: How long have you been Stage IV?
Stage 4 DeNovo - 16 years. - mets to lung and spine.
Herceptin and Arimidex from Day 1.
Currently, every three weeks, herceptin and arimidex
amontro