With You, We Stand - 1/26/10
Braeden Rockow
Six-year-old Braeden is the twelfth person in the world to fight a rare form of cancer that usually starts in the brain, but in his case appeared on his spinal cord. Doctors recently removed 95% of the tumor; the rest had to be left behind or Braeden would run the risk of paralysis. Twenty-eight radiation treatments followed, and Braeden has had a remarkably quick recovery. "He loves life, and one of the phrases he uses a lot is 'I can do it myself,'" says his grandmother. "When you see him, you would never know he has cancer."
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20100121/FON0101/100120125/1985/FONnews/Boy-with-rare-form-of-cancer-rallies
Susan White
This incredible piece from journalist Susan White recounts her experiences undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer. Two years in, the chemo seems to be working, but it's incredibly difficult to endure: "When I was first diagnosed, I learned of three other nonsmokers in the Omaha area who had lung cancer," she writes. "I never met any of them, and yet I have wept when each died -- for what they went through, for the families they left behind, for the terrible sense of foreboding their deaths give me. But I'm not giving in. I have scores of people praying for me. And we press on with the chemo."
http://www.omaha.com/article/20100125/LIVING/701259957
Lee March Grayson
Grayson, an attorney and 13-year-survivor of chronic myelogenous leukemia, urges cancer patients to take an active role in their own treatment. He learned from experience: when he was fighting the disease, he and his family questioned his doctor routinely to make sure he was getting to best possible care. Now the founder of Marrow Power, which organizes counselors to help patients and families deal with the challenges of cancer, he tells cancer patients, "It's not being disrespectful . . . you are trying to save your life. You're allowed to question your doctor, you're allowed to fire your doctor."
http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/01/randolph_attorney_advises_canc.html
John H
In a comment on a recent "With You, We Stand" entry, John H wrote: "On November 17th, 2008 I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It was totally out of the blue, and I will never forget that day . . . I am happy to say there is no detectable sign of cancer in my body today. I am thankful and blessed. But more importantly, I like to think I also became "aware." Aware of cancer, its symptoms, treatments, detection and impacts. I have become a vocal proponent of self-exams. I have become so much more sensitive of the friends near me who since have also been diagnosed with various forms of cancer; sensitive to what they are feeling, and what lies ahead for them . . . But human spirit and resolve is unyielding, and cancer will be defeated. Keep up the site and keep the encouraging posts coming . . . and let's all STAND UP when we need to."
As always, we invite you to share your stories in the comments as well.
Posted by Amy | February 8, 2010 10:14 PM
In 2003 my husband, tony, had 1/2 of his thyroid removed. In 2008 he started complaining of major back pain and got a c-spine MRI that showed nothing. In October of 08 he saw a doctor that listened to him and realized his pain was in the thoracic region--he ordered another MRI. That afternoon we were called back to his office, told it looked like tumors all over his spine and invading the cord-they sent us directly to the hospital--life hasnt been the same since 10-21-08. A local neurosurgeon opened him up a few days later--said he cauterized what he could and got out because Tony was bleeding out. The Chief of Pathology came into ICU the next day--he said Tony has follicular thyroid cancer that is all in the t-spine, hips and liver. He asked why the 2nd 1/2 of his tyroid wasnt removed years earlier when he told Tony's surgeon it was cancer then--that information was never relayed to us! He had radiation in 11-08, the right 1/2 of his thyroid removed on 12-4-08 and Iodine 131 on Christmas Eve. We saw his Oncologist 3 weeks later--she said "Its always been stage 4 and you have 3 months to live, you can go to md anderson now if you want to". I had asked to go since October. We flew to Houston 1-19-09 for a 4 day testing and a lot of appointments. We were there until 3-20-09! Tony had 2 surgeries on his spine and got a rare infection--he was in ICU for 7 weeks! He was ambulanced to our local hospital for physical rehab but FINALLY came home April 3, 2009! He had more radiation in May, Cyberknife in July and another round of 131 in November. We saw a new Oncologist 2 weeks ago..what an amazing man! He did his fellowship at MD Anderson, he taught Oncology (specializing in the endocrine system) at Johns Hopkins for 20 years. He has been published 65 times in the New England Journal and 2 of his bosses he worked directly under won the Nobel Prize!! He says Tony has NO expiration date on him and we will find another way. He said he has NEVER seen tyroid cancer go this far but he has ordered ALL new tests. Tony got his first PET scan on Fri (2-5-10). He said all of this last month (Jan '10) in the EXACT same room almost a year to the day that the old doc (if you can call her that) said he had 3 mos to live! There is hope, FINALLY! For those of you going through something similar--please get 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th (or more) opinions if you need them!!! Hope is a priceless gift!!