Ben Teller is the founder of Cuck Fancer. He recently learned he's facing a recurrence of Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Where do I begin? How about with: WHAT THE EFF!? I don't think any of us hoped that I would ever be writing one of these again, at least not for this reason. I was 18 months clean and strong like Russian bull. I was taking a full load of classes at school, I had two solid internships, and I was living 20 feet from the beach in Newport! Life was good. I guess you can guess what I'm feeling. Cancer really makes you appreciate what you "used to" have. But please don't feel sorry for me. I will have it all again soon. The question I seem to get from everybody is, "How did all this come about?"
One beautiful August morning, I was off for a routine PET/CT scan. Honestly, I didn't give it a second thought. The doctor called my mom the next day and said, "We think we found something, but we aren't sure." They were hoping it was an anomaly, or some type of infection, or a false positive -anything but THAT! My doctor (Raul Mena, who we all adore) said that my cancer, if it was back, was slow-growing, so waiting three months would not harm me at all. Besides, he and everyone else NEVER believed it could be back.
So off to school I went. Come December, I finished my first quarter of school and went in for another PET/CT scan. It was similar to the day that the Americans invaded Normandy: we knew it was coming, but nobody really wanted to go. I mean, come on; there is no way that it's back. I am young, I fought it off the first time and was categorized as a "rapid responder"; I'm good. No worries, Ben. That is what I kept telling myself. I pretty much tell myself that to this day.
I got a call the next morning and it wasn't good news. The area previously seen in August had not only not gone away; it had gotten a bit more "intense." They knew it was something. (By the way, I still thought it was nothing.)
I had three options: One, wait three more months to see if it went away or got bigger. Yeah, RIGHT! Two: get a second opinion. I have the best doctor in the world; not gonna happen. Three: have a biopsy, find out what this stuff is and move on from there.
Being the instant gratification kind of guy that I am, give me door number three. I knew I would be in pain from the surgery, but if it meant not having cancer, it was worth it.
Nunez was diagnosed with leukemia at 22. A year later, her friends organized a local drive aimed at finding her a donor for the bone marrow transplant she needs. Over 400 people turned out on February 18th to be tested to determine whether any were a compatible donor match. Nunez says that in the meantime, she's not losing faith. "I'm very thankful," she says. "It's hard but also it gives you strength. Before, I used to feel sorry for people who have cancer, and now that I am going through this, I know that God helps a lot. He gives you strength to go on." http://www.yumasun.com/news/luis-56649-san-strong.html
Liam Howell
At the age of seven, Liam Howell might be one of the world's youngest inspirational speakers. But Howell, diagnosed at eight months with a rare form of eye cancer that has left him legally blind, has plenty to speak about. Participating in a public speaking competition, Howell has shared his story with his entire school, and on March 27 will take it to an even bigger audience at the next level of the contest. "I lead a very normal life as a seven-year-old boy... and I am still cancer free," he says. http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2470895
In a comment on a recent "With You, We Stand" post, Sanchez shared her and her husband's story: "My husband is currently fighting a good fight. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer which rapidly spread to his lymph nodes in his back on October 20, 2009, 7 days before our sons 5th birthday. Finally we have the all-clear, that chemo treatments are a thing of the past and that we will have a CAT scan and see where we stand with our battle. Always fight to win....you can do it, you are not alone!!"
As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
This is the second installment of Ben's blog; to read the first part, click here.
After my December PET/CT revealed a suspicious area, I went in for a biopsy on the21st. At first I was smiling, taking pictures of my naked butt in the hospital bed. Cut to two hours later, when the surgeon hugs my mom and cries, "It's Hodgkin's."My mom pulls it together like she always does and comes to see me in agonizing pain in ICU. She tells me, but I can't retain water, if you know what I mean.
After speaking with my oncologist, we knew that the next step was going to be a stem-cell transplant (standard protocol for relapsed Hodgkin's). The question was, where? City of Hope is one of three hospitals in the United States that does these transplants in their sleep. So if any of you know my mom, you can guess where we went. Yeah, you guessed it! Not only one of the best hospitals, but she got me in with the best doctor, the doctor who wrote the first book on bone-marrow transplants in 1978, Dr. Stephen Forman! A little fun fact: City of Hope does about 500 transplants a year, while the average hospital does about a hundred. Oh, by the way, COH is also in the middle of nowhere. I mean, don't go past the hospital too far or you might feel a little "uncomfortable." It is in Duarte, between Monrovia and Arcadia. We went in for the consultation on January 12th, and I started chemotherapy on the 15th.
First, let me tell you about Dr. Forman. It was like I met Steven Spielberg and Woody Allen at the same time. But this guy was way smarter! I felt completely safe and knew that this doctor was going to save my life. He explained the processes to me, not my mom, which, if you were wondering, is the best thing a doctor can do. Talk to the patient, not his mother! It killed her, but she's used to it by now.
Here is the process. Stay with me. Focus. Take notes. I am going to be having an Autologus Stem-Cell Transplant/Rescue. They will take my own stem cells from my veins and use them to re-grow my immune system. The other places you can get stem cells are from somebody else, from umbilical cords or from the bone. My cancer is not yet in my bone marrow; it lies deep within my blood on some unknown cellular level (anybody cracked the code of cancer yet???). So they can use my own stem cells for the transplant.
Imagine this next part as a calendar. I will be going in for salvation chemotherapy called ICE every three weeks. I will be in an outpatient facility for one day and inpatient for the next two. I will do this probably three times. So we're at about nine weeks. This chemotherapy will hopefully put my body into remission. When I say remission, I mean that there will be no visible traces of cancer on a PET/CT scan. So why not stop there, right? Well, as I said earlier, we know it will come back, because it is deeper, on a cellular level that nobody can see. This much they apparently know about Hodgkin's.
In between the second and third ICE treatment, I will have a mini-surgery to get some type of Hickman catheter put into my chest. I will wake up and they will start my third cycle of ICE while I am in the hospital. After those nine weeks, I will rest for two weeks or so before going into City of Hope so they can harvest my stem cells. It's about a six-hour process, and the technology is amazing. Check this out: I will sit in a chair and they will take a lot of blood out of me, but give me back everything but my stem cells. You may ask, why stem cells? Well, blood is made up of five parts: white blood cells, red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and stem cells. Stem cells are the cells that can become any one of the four other parts of the blood, or mutate and become cancer. How's that science tip for you? Now go impress your friends.
After they harvest my stem cells, and they say they have enough for a transplant, BOOM! That's when the crap hits the fan . . .
An experimental drug called cabazitaxel could offer a last-ditch hope for prostate cancer patients, reports the LAT's Booster Shots blog. After testing the drug in 755 men in 26 countries, esearchers are reporting this week that the drug can improve survival in men with advanced prostate cancer by 30%. While prostate cancer is usually treated with hormone-reducing drugs through a process called chemical castration, cabazitaxel can work for those patients whose cancers are castration-resistant. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/new-drug-offers-lastditch-hope-for-prostate-cancer-patients.html
Meanwhile, freezing a malignant breast tumor has been shown to not only kill the cancer in the breast, but also to prevent it from spreading, according to a recent study performed on mice. The mice who received a 30-second version of the procedure, which is known as cryoablation, had fewer tumors that spread and a better survival rate than those treated with a slower freezing technique or with surgery alone. "Not only does [cryoablation] appear effective in treating the primary tumor with little cosmetic concerns, but it also may stimulate an immune response capable of eradicating any cells that have traveled throughout the body, reducing both local and distance recurrence, similar to giving a breast cancer vaccine," said the study's lead researcher. http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2010/03/04/2010-03-04_freezing_malignant_breast_tumors_helps_stop_the_spread_of_cancer_in_mice_study.html
In other breast cancer news, new research suggests that a "plant-focused" diet may reduce breast cancer risk by up to 30%. In a study of 34,000 Chinese women, researchers detected a trend of decreasing breast cancer risk with increased intake of vegetables, fruits, and yes, soy. In spite of the cultural differences, the study's lead author believes American women can learn from the findings. "Eating a diverse diet that can be characterized as having a lot of fruits and vegetables, and possibly adding soy also, would be beneficial," she said. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6234HU20100304
A study out of the University of Birmingham in the UK indicates that childhood cancer survivors have four times the normal risk of developing bladder cancer later in life. The highest risk for bladder cancer was seen in patients who had initially faced heritable retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer typically seen in children under the age of five; survivors in this group were more than nine times as likely to develop bladder cancer as childhood cancer survivors overall. However, even for these patients, the risk of developing bladder cancer is still pretty small - fewer than half a percent of childhood cancer survivors will develop the disease. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6234HG20100304
Finally, researchers in the Netherlands have tested a vaccine for mesothelioma with promising results. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lungs and is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. In a study of ten patients, scientists found that the vaccine induced an immune T-cell response against the tumors without negatively impacting patient health. "We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos related diseases," said the study's lead author. http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/636645.html
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
When they finish harvesting my stem cells, eleven or twelve weeks into treatment, I'll go back to City of Hope and they'll put me in the stem-cell wing. They will give me what they call the "atomic bomb" of chemotherapy for six days straight. They say this is like Hiroshima on your body. It will kill anything and everything, including the Hodgkin's cells that exist on that cellular level, they hope. This chemotherapy protocol is called BEAM. On the last day of this chemo they will re-introduce my stem cells back into my body, and while everything else re-grows with lots and lots of good drugs, my stem cells will set up shop in my bones in about nine days. I then will stay in the hospital another ten or more days to make sure my white blood cells and immune system come back to strong numbers. So, in total I will be in the hospital for a minimum of 25 days. Some stay less, and others stay more. I will be on close watch. If anybody wants to come visit (which I highly encourage), you will need to wear a mask and gloves. The room is very sterile. It's kind of like Bubble Boy. Does anybody have any good movies that I should watch? Any Playboy magazines I should read? I'll take anything to keep my mind off of the storm I will be enduring. In the end, we are looking at about a sixteen-week, or even longer, process.
After the transplant, they have certain benchmarks they look at. Day One is the day I get the transplant. From then on, Day 40 is important, as are Day 50, Day 70 and Day 100. They use these dates to make sure I am healthy, and they recommend I stay pretty isolated from certain areas. I mean, I'll be like a baby. My immune system will be brand new. I think I can get the chicken pox again - who knows? If you guys have any questions, please feel free to call or email me.
I want to say thank you to everybody who has been there for my family and me. I don't think that anybody can battle this alone. People ask me if I need a support group or a place where I can tell people how I am feeling, and I tell them I have probably the largest support group in southern California. All of you are the reason I keep truckin', because nobody wants to see anybody fail and everybody wants to hear a success. Well, I am going to be that success. Bracelet sales are through the roof partly because of Stand up 2 Cancer. They made a little Facebook note about me and people just started buying.
Those bracelets mean a lot to me. I don't really think it's about the money - don't get me wrong, raising money for cancer research was the goal, but when you wear one it does more than raise money. It raises awareness. You are wearing something that means more to me than anything, and I can't thank you enough. I want to spread the vibe of CUCK FANCER nationwide. And I want everybody to have that sarcastic, cynical, who-gives-a-crap mentality towards cancer. It sucks, and we all should be able to say it.
On the March 10th broadcast of CBS News' "The Early Show," co-anchor Harry Smith underwent a colonoscopy live, with additional reporting from Evening News anchor and SU2C co-founder Katie Couric. The segment looked at preparation for the procedure as well as the exam itself, and included a poignant tour of the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, named for Couric's late husband, who lost his battle with colon cancer in 1998.
You can watch the first-ever live TV anchor colonoscopy here:
Escalante, 79, is the math teacher who was the basis for the movie "Stand and Deliver." Today, the former teacher at Garfield High School in LA is in treatment for bladder cancer in Reno, and his doctors have told him he has a few months, at best, to live. But Escalante still has lessons to share, which he does using a pen and paper since his voice is almost gone. Asked about his former students, he writes, "They understood the significance of ganas, the giant step to success. I had many opportunities in this country, but the best I found in east LA. I am proudest of my brilliant students." http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-escalante7-2010mar07,0,6159259.story
Pam Miller
In this article out of South Dakota, Miller, 47, shares her story. Diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 45, Miller had surgery to remove a tumor the size of a plum as well as a foot and a half of her colon. She says she wishes she would've known the disease was hereditary - her mother had had polyps - and that she'd have seen a doctor about her symptoms sooner. She says, "I should have pursued it with my doctors but I didn't because of the embarrassment . . . I do feel strongly about it. Had I not been so embarrassed I probably wouldn't have had to go through all of this." http://www.ksfy.com/news/health/86674017.html
Placido Domingo
Domingo, the 69-year-old tenor singer, had surgery last week to remove a cancerous polyp from his colon and is expected to make a full recovery. According to his spokeswoman, the cancer was localized and the operation was minimally invasive. Domingo is expected to return to work in April with a performance of "Simon Boccanegra" in Milan. "His exact return to his performing engagements remains subject to how fast he can heal and regain his characteristic strength," said his spokeswoman. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14634131
Lauren Gayeski
In a comment on last week's "With You, We Stand," Lauren shared her story: "On this day, 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was 19. Having cancer had a profound effect on my path in life. Since my surgery, I graduated from college, became an oncology nurse and cared for hundreds and hundreds of cancer patients, got married, and gave birth to three beautiful boys. Now, even when I'm having a rough day, life is still sweeter because I've seen the other side, both myself and from those for whom I have cared. Cancer made me grateful for all the little things we take for granted and I try to live in the moment, because it's scary to not know what's ahead. So, cheers to my 10 years without cancer! Thanks for letting me share my story..."
As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.
I want to start off with good news. We are on pace to have the stem cell transplant around mid-March. Isn't that great? I just had a PET/CT scan done yesterday and the results were fantastic! I do not have to complete my third treatment of ICE ICE BABY! The standard protocol is a minimum of two cycles to put you into remission and a third one for good measure. Some people must do a third and a fourth just to get them into remission; this is not true for me! Apparently my scans show no visible signs of cancer and thus no third round of ICE! Yay! Dr. Forman thinks I am in good shape and can move forward without this last treatment.
Taking a step back, the last six weeks or so have been up and down. The first cycle of ICE was not too bad -- I was out and about after three days of rest. But that second cycle of ICE, oh no. It kicked my ass like Angelina Jolie kicked Brad Pitt's ass in Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I was sweating like Mike Tyson in a spelling bee. I was miserable. I threw up for the first time. I couldn't get out of bed for two days. I lost five pounds and thought the feeling was never going away. It took about nine days for me to feel up to par again and to start doing things on my own. The highlight of the week was a tuna melt I was able to keep down. The scariest part of this was that I was actually living and having to look at some version of myself in the mirror that I didn't even recognize. I truly didn't look like me. I did not like that! For the record, chemo sucks. Period.
Next I had a minor surgery to have a Hickman catheter inserted in my chest. At the same time, they tested my bone marrow one more time, but not for Hodgkin's; this time they were looking for any chromosomal defects, like the ones that cause leukemia. Apparently all this chemotherapy may kill the Hodgkin's cells, but one of the side effects has been leukemia. It is highly unlikely any abnormalities will be found. However, if they were, I would be looking for a donor transplant versus donating to myself. But again, this happens in very few cases.
After the insertion of the catheter, I was given a drug for several hours called cytoxin. The only reason I got this drug, as it has been explained to me, is to prepare my stem cells for harvest. We have to "trick" them a bit using a drug they think they have to fight or get "pushed" by, thus producing more stem cells. I also got daily shots of 750mg of Nupengen (a big blood-building drug) for 10 days.
The date of my stem cell harvest was Monday, March 8th. We are hoping to go into the hospital March 15th for the stem cell transplant itself (when I'll go into a 25-day bubble). This all depends on whether there is a bed available. I really want to get started so I thought I'd pull the cancer card, but I don't think it will work at City of Hope. Ha ha. However, as it turns out, Dr. Forman's head physician assistant's daughter goes to UC Irvine with me, and she knows who I am? I think I have met her at a party or two. Also, I grew up with this woman's niece and nephew from camp! So maybe I do have a few connections after all. Dr. Forman is calling me the Ferris Bueller of City of Hope. Now where is my Ferrari?
I wanted to make a top ten list of ways you know you have cancer, but I could only think of one.
1. The highlight of your day is eating.
I encourage visitors after my stem cell transplant, because I will be bored. Come entertain me. Hospital said no strippers allowed. Be creative.
As hairless as a pre-pubescent teenager with braces trying to get the hottest girl in school to recognize him,
Ben
First off, some really awesome news. A new cancer-related test is hitting the market this week, and it's desperately needed: OVA1, which can help doctors distinguish benign ovarian growths from tumors. In a study of 27 hospitals, doctors' office and clinics, OVA1 was found to correctly flag 92% of cancers when used along with radiological imaging and a standard patient workup. Without OVA1, the detection rate was 72%. The one downside to the test? You guessed it: false positives, which can lead to unnecessary biopsies and plenty of anxiety. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704869304575109703066893506.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
According to a new American Cancer Society study, the decrease in cancer deaths in the US since 1990 is the result of reduced tobacco use, increased cancer screening and improvements in treatment. In other words: we're doing something right, and lifestyle changes and better awareness do make a big difference! However, the researchers behind the statistical analysis were sure to warn against complacency, concluding that "Continued and increased investment in cancer prevention and control, access to high quality health care and research could accelerate this progress." http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/03/11/us-chalks-up-victories-in-war-on-cancer.html
Researchers in British Columbia have made a breakthrough in lymphoma treatment, discovering a way to predict which patients will fall in the 15 to 25% who experience a poor prognosis if not treated aggressively from the time of diagnosis. Although the majority of lymphoma patients are cured the first time around, the rest relapse; now an easy test for a high number of CD68-positive microphages (a type of white cell) can predict whether relapse is likely. In a glowing New England Journal of Medicine piece, the test was referred to as "the breakthrough we have been looking for." http://www.vancouversun.com/health/cancer+researchers+make+lymphoma+breakthrough/2670456/story.html
In other lymphoma news, new research out of Hashemite University in Jordan indicates that compounds derived from seaweed could be used to treat the disease. After scientists had previously discovered that a compound called fucoidan, found in seaweed, seemed to kill tumor cells in mice and humans, research took the next step and tested human lymphoma cells with a type of seaweed extract that is sold commercially. They found it inhibited the growth of cancerous cells without impacting healthy ones. http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/03/11/seaweed-may-help-treat-lymphoma.html
Finally, since I always love a good food story, I thought I'd wrap up this week's research round-up with the news that papaya can be an effective anti-cancer agent against cervical, breast, liver, lung and pancreatic cancers. Papaya leaf extract apparently boosts the production of chemicals that regulate the immune system, bolstering the body's ability to fight off disease; the study's lead researcher added that the results suggest that papaya extract can induce tumor cell death. "Based on what I have seen and heard in a clinical setting, nobody who takes this extract experiences demonstrable toxicity; it seems like you could take it for a long time as long as it is effective," he said. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7414067/Papaya-helps-fight-cancer-find-scientists.html
That's all for this week, but check back next Thursday for more news you can use!
This article out of Missouri shares DeCamp's story. The elementary school principal was diagnosed last year with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, and last year she had surgery to remove part of her colon and rectum, along with a hysterectomy, before entering follow-up chemotherapy. She writes in first-person about her diagnosis treatment: I cannot express enough how I relied on my family, friends and especially my savior, Jesus Christ. Without prayers, a positive attitude and a loving family, I would not have made it this far . . . If you have abnormal symptoms, I encourage everyone to go to your doctor and get checked out in a timely manner!" http://www.marshfieldmail.com/articles/2010/03/13/news/doc4b97034bdf047025458431.txt
Andy Whitfield
Whitfield is the star of the new Starz drama "Spartacus"; he has been diagnosed at the age of 38 with non-Hodkgin's lymphoma, and it set to begin treatment immediately, halting production of the new series. His cancer was described as "very treatable" and was caught in the early stages. "I'm receiving excellent care and am feeling strong, positive and determined with an army of support behind me," Whitfield said. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6290TM20100310
Layla Grace Marsh
Layla Grace, just two years old, passed away last week after a ten-month battle with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. All over the country, thousands of people followed her battle on Twitter and Facebook, and hundreds turned out at a memorial service for her on Saturday, where 1500 pink and purple balloons were released. "I've learned more from a two-year-old than I have from high school and college in my 24 years of life," said one family friend. "She taught me about endurance and faith and just waking up every day and being happy to be alive." http://www.khou.com/home/Hundreds-of-Balloons-Released-to-Remember-Layla-Grace-87589572.html
Larry Bergo
Bergo has been battling Stage 4 multiple myeloma for seven years now, since he was diagnosed in May of 2003. A remission brought on by a stem cell transplant lasted only 10 months; since then Bergo has been through multiple rounds of chemotherapy in varying combinations. Now, as part of a clinical trial, Bergo is hoping for a more promising response. "When you have cancer, life takes on a new meaning," he said. Time takes on a new meaning . . . I've always said, 'It'll be OK.'" http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2010/mar/15/cancer-survivor-knows-firsthand-value-research/
As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.
One of our SU2C Teams has been working overtime this year! Alex's Flags, a team founded by friends of Alex Marcus, who is fighting cancer, managed to raise over $15,000 in just three days as a surprise for his 21st birthday by spreading the word throughout their circle of friends. What's even more incredible is that their original goal was $1,000, which they met and exceeded many times over before the big day.
"I was just very touched that my friends would do that for me, raising the money and all, and then there was also the added wow of $15,000 in less than a week," Alex told us. "It made me so happy. It was such an amazing birthday present."
We want to thank Alex's friends and family for their support and generosity, and for making SU2C a part of Alex's birthday. If you'd like to start a team of your own, you can do it here.
Here, courtesy of Alex's friends, is a video of the moment his team revealed their birthday present to him, with the team captain checking in from Scotland via Skype to share the amazing news.
With summer right around the corner, here's a timely reminder to be diligent with the sunscreen: according to new research in the Archives of Dermatology, skin cancer has become an "epidemic" in the US. Over two million Americans were treated for 3.5 million cases of the disease in 2006 - up from an estimated 900,000 to 1.2 million cases in 1994. Though the researchers didn't say why the rates were rising so quickly, they noted that "educational programs emphasizing sun protection have mainly been disappointing in slowing skin cancer rates." http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/non-melanoma-skin-cancer-epidemic.html
An article in the NY Times looks at the struggles faced by teens with cancer. (SU2C Mag has a piece on the same topic that you can check out here.) Although 1 in 333 kids develop a malignancy by age 20, and the disease is the leading cause of death from illness for people 15-19, the article exposes the lack of advances made in fighting adolescent cancer: teens have not benefited from the big increases in survival seen in younger children and older adults, and they are far less likely to be involved in clinical trials. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16canc.html
On Monday, President Obama renewed his efforts to persuade lawmakers to pass his healthcare reform legislation, invoking the plight of cancer patient Natoma Canfield. Her story is all too familiar: she survived cancer once, but couldn't afford health insurance with a pre-existing condition; now she's facing a second bout with leukemia and weeks of expensive chemotherapy. "She is racked with worry not only about her illness but about the cost of the tests and treatments she will surely need to beat it," the President said in his speech. http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Obama_cites_cancer_victim_in_health_03152010.html
A new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that people who suffer from psoriasis also have an increased risk of developing several cancers: skin, prostate and lymphoma. In an analysis of almost 150,000 people over two and a half years, 34.8% of those with psoriasis were diagnosed with cancer, while only 23.3% of those without the skin condition developed the disease. People with psoriasis had a 75% higher risk for skin cancer, 87% higher risk for lymphoma and 22% higher risk for prostate cancer. http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/psoriasis/news/20100315/psoriasis-linked-to-heart-disease-cancer
Finally, a small study out of the UK indicates that taking daily capsules of purified fish oil could slow or prevent colorectal cancer in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, a condition that can often be a precursor to the disease. In a study of 55 people with FAP, those who took fish oil capsules for six months had fewer, and smaller, polyps at the end of the study than at the start; in contrast, the control group, which took placebo capsules, had more and larger polyps at the end. The article concludes with some sage advice: if you have FAP and want to try the capsules, definitely talk to your doctor first. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/2010/mar/18/fish-oil-may-reduce-bowel-cancer-risk-for-the-genetically
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next Thursday with more!
For the first time in two years, I feel like a cancer patient. I feel like I have had to deal with all the unfortunate, horrible things people say about cancer in the past couple of weeks. The mental stress, the anxiety, the worry and the pain of everything that has happened and is about to happen has accumulated. As of now, I am feeling all of it! Up until about a month ago I didn't feel terribly sick, but this last month I have felt more awful than I could have imagined. Dealing with the expected side-effects of chemo, namely the nausea and headaches, was bad, but they were not the worst of it. I think the worst part is the mental stress that I have had to endure. All the doctor appointments, precautionary measures, drugs, surgery and unexpected turns that have happened are the scariest. I feel like I have little or no patience and feel irritable all the time. I keep thinking that I REALLY need this part of my life to be over. Honestly, I almost feel as though I have forgotten what a normal life feels like. With this obtrusive tube hanging down from my chest, attached by a really irritating bandage, it is impossible to escape this reality. And I want to so badly. I know that one day soon I will be better, but WHEN just seems to get blurrier as this battle gets harder.
Last week City of Hope harvested my stem cells on a machine that was taller than me, and twice my size. It had a lot of tubes that all had a part in taking about 200ml of blood out of me, separating my stem cells into a bag, and then giving me all of my remaining blood back. I never really got sick or cold; it was just boring. Sitting down for four hours doing nothing, blah. I harvested 8.1 million stem cells on the first day, which was very good (according to the nurse). We harvested a second day as a precautionary measure (in case the stem cells didn't harvest properly, or something happened to the bag). I just recently got a little of my energy back. The aches that the neupogen gave me were horrible. It was two shots I gave to myself for 10 days. It kicked into gear my bone marrow to produce more stem cells. Success!
On March 16th I enter the war zone. It is me vs. the cancer, and the theater is the "bubble" at COH. I will be in the hospital for around 25 days, give or take a few. Being sick is expected; how sick, I have no idea, and this is where that mental stress, fear and worry kick up. It sucks because a lot of it can't even be prevented. Yes, there are drugs to help nausea, headaches, body aches, dehydration, and infection . . . but in reality, the chemotherapy is too strong. The body cannot endure these drugs by itself. Whenever I think about what chemotherapy is, I cannot allow myself to believe it is poison. Why would I want to poison my body? How can poison kill a disease and not affect my body? I keep asking myself questions like this, fearful that the cancer and treatment I have today are going to affect my life in the future. How can they not? Is it possible to have all this poison in your body and be OK? No way around it: cancer is a horrible, life-changing event.
I have been on a crazy rollercoaster that has brought me up and down throughout this whole experience. I am definitely on the down part now. I need to stay focused mentally to endure the next 25 days. I think this is going to be crucial. I hate hospitals as it is, but being sick, uncomfortable and scared all at the same time is not something I'm looking forward to. My mom asks me how I am preparing for this, or what I need to do to get ready, and I don't have an answer. I don't want to hear about what is going to happen, or read too much about it, because my anxiety skyrockets. I no longer have a choice. This is the treatment. Trusted doctors say it is my best chance at a cure. For me, I would rather handle it day-by-day or moment-by-moment. How do you get ready to be sick? Get ready to throw up, get ready to get mouth sores? If you can't prevent it, you just have to deal. Throughout this whole experience, I have dealt with it day-by-day, and so far it has seemed to work.
For the hospital I have every season of Lost, which I have never seen, along with every season of Entourage, which I have not seen (thanks, Papa). I have a lot of movies, a book (which we all know I won't read), my laptop and awesome headphones. I have a Dodger and a Laker blanket, a Kobe poster, and a Dodger flag. I definitely have enough to make this foreign place feel like home. Once I leave the hospital I will be on a restrictive, low-bacteria diet. There are a lot of foods that I cannot eat, which include cream cheese, raw vegetables, refrigerated salsa, and many others. I need to be out of large public areas for about 100 days following my transplant. After that I am off to Vegas for my 21st!
Coming out with a new immune system in 25 days,
Ben
Moth was a CNN camerawoman who sought out assignments in conflict zones, including Sarajevo in the early nineties; this article remembers her for her "gutsiness, striking appearance, distinctive humor and sense of fun." She passed away last weekend at the age of 59 from colorectal cancer. In an interview last spring, Moth told a documentary crew, "The important thing is to know that you've lived your life to the fullest. I don't know anyone who's enjoyed life more." http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/21/margaret.moth.obit/index.html?hpt=C1
Lance Mackey
On March 10, Mackey, a survivor of throat cancer, won his second Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (his first victory was in 2007). He won $69,000 and a new truck. "I'm not much to brag very often, but damn, I'm going to this time," he said. "I don't know exactly how to explain it. I'm just blessed with an incredible dog team." Mackey was congratulated by Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, who told him, "You're a hero, and truly an inspiration to all of us." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/03/12/iditarod.winner/
Norman Surplus
Surplus, 47, beat cancer five years ago, and is now intent on breaking the world record for flying around the world in a lightweight aircraft called a gyrocopter - all to raise money for cancer research. In this article, he shares his story: "Before I got cancer I had never done anything like this," he said. "And then when I was recovering after surgery and chemotherapy at the Belfast Cancer Centre, I saw this program about someone restoring an autogyro on one of those daytime television shows . . . Part of this is to raise funds and awareness for cancer charities but hopefully it will also encourage people who are in the position today that I was in." http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/uk-ireland/article14734595.ece
Jack Musgrave
After facing colorectal cancer, Musgrove, whose mother passed away from the disease in her late sixties, learned the importance of being his own advocate when it came to preventive care and treatment: a five-year wait between colonoscopies, recommended to him by a doctor, allowed his cancer to take root and grow unchecked. Now he hopes to share his message with others in the same position. "If it's detected early, it's curable, treatable and beatable," he said. "As good as the medical treatment is we get in this country, you have to be an advocate for yourself." http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/stories.nsf/healthfitness/story/FE3996BA74F1AEDA862576E90070E3C1?OpenDocument
As always, we welcome you to share your stories in the comments below.
Research continues to indicate that obesity is a risk factor for cancer. This LAT article summarizes neatly what's known about the connection: at least half a dozen types of cancer are believed to be directly affected by weight, including postmenopausal breast cancer, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer. And a few types of the disease are actually correlated with lower body weight, such as lung cancer - smokers tend to be thinner than their nonsmoking peers. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/fitness/la-he-obesity-cancer-20100322,0,2957276.story
At a hearing this week, the FDA asked a panel of outside doctors to consider a range of potential steps to regulate the tanning bed industry. Currently, the machines are rated as Class I medical devices, putting them in the same category as low-risk products like bandages and tongue depressors. By upping their classification to Class II, the FDA could require manufacturers of tanning beds to submit information about them before they hit the market. These moves come in the wake of last summer's WHO study indicating that tanning beds are a leading cause of skin cancer. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/25/earlyshow/health/main6332004.shtml
A new gene test can help identify which breast cancer patients are more likely to respond well to treatment with common chemotherapy drugs. In a meta-analysis of four breast cancer trials, researchers found that an abnormality on chromosome 17 is a "highly significant indicator" that the tumor will respond to anthracyclines. The finding, presented this week at the European Breast Cancer Conference, means doctors will be able to better tailor treatment to patients and avoid giving them toxic drugs that won't help. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE62N1HX20100325
In food-related news (my favorite kind!), new research shows that walnuts can reduce the size and growth rate of prostate cancer in animals. There is already evidence that tomatoes and pomegranate juice can reduce prostate cancer risk; now walnuts, a good source of several healthful substances, including omega-3 fatty acids, could be added to that list. "Walnuts should be part of a prostate-healthy diet," said Paul Davis, Ph.D., of the University of California-Davis, who headed the study. "They should be part of a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables." http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2010/03/walnuts_prostate.html
Finally, a spike in occurrences of mouth cancer over the past fifty years sent researchers searching for the cause, and they may have found it: HPV, otherwise known as the sexually transmitted disease that causes cervical cancer. The authors of a study in the British Medical Journal suggest that the HPV vaccine be extended to boys as well as girls, helping to prevent the virus from causing the disease later in life. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7521048/Rise-in-mouth-cancer-may-be-due-to-sexually-transmitted-infection-experts.html
That's all for this week, but I'll be back next week with more!
And don't forget to check out our new video featuring Minka Kelly from "Friday Night Lights." She talks about her personal connection to colorectal cancer and the importance of early detection.
Alexander, a 10-year veteran of the NFL, passed away last week at the age of 39. In October 2005, Alexander, who played for the Raiders, Colts, Broncos and Buccaneers, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma; after treatment, he resumed coaching youth football and took up the fight against cancer through his Tackle Cancer Foundation. "Life is going to knock you down," he said then. "Who is going to get up and who is going to stay down? It's like me being ill. I don't have time for pity. I have to do what I need to do to get better to take care of my family." http://www.indenvertimes.com/?he0r25b0
Jan Fergerson
After watching both her grandmothers face breast cancer and her mother face uterine cancer, Fergerson herself was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. This article describes how she faced the disease herself while trying to keep life as normal as possible for her family and friends. "The person going through it can find the peace. I think it's harder for the people who love them," she said. "But keeping everything as normal as possible made me happy. I didn't want to let cancer take away anything it didn't have to take." http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/6872068/article-Survivor-tapped-serenity-to-beat-cancer?instance=home_news
Johnny Maestro
Maestro, perhaps most famous for performing the 1958 hit "16 Candles" with The Crests, passed away from cancer last week at the age of 70. Most recently performing all over the country with The Brooklyn Bridge, Maestro had a long and prolific musical career, with hits like "The Worst That Could Happen" and "You'll Never Walk Alone." His last performance was during a concert on January 17. "I told him afterward it was the most courageous performance I'd ever seen," said the concert's host. "As frail as he looked, that's how strong he sounded. It was a privilege to have known him, and it was thrilling to have listened to him." http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jvSekUDkfh_cgRnHulOWS-dREUqAD9ELVKV00
Amanda Hettinger
Hettinger, at 27, is a six-year survivor of colon cancer facing a second bout with the disease, this time with osteosarcoma in her jaw. Diagnosed for the first time during her senior year of college and now a physical therapy technician, she says she lives her life by one word: hope. "I beat cancer before when I shouldn't have, and I believe I am going to beat it again," she said. "If I ever lose hope, I lose everything. I will stay positive. I am not going to let cancer live my life. I am going to keep coming back." http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=209130
As always, we welcome you to share your stories with us in the comments below.
