| Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Eric,
I was saddened to hear the news about your sister. I consider you one of the hero�s here on this board and your fighting spirit has inspired me on more than one occasion.
It is hard to understand the pain that drives some to suicide, but I know it is very deep and intense as I have a brother who barley survived an attempt a few years ago.
My thoughts are with you.
Kelly
Kelly Male 48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt., Stage 1, T3n0m0, Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09 04-20-10 NED 8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b 10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly 3-12-12 PET - residual cancer 4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux 6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR 12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 | Oh Eric- I am so sorry. Suicide is so hard to understand. I htink that for whatever reason- emotional termoil- overwhelming sadness or dissapointment that just consumes someone or a chemical imbalance at the moment the person feels there is no other choice to make. It doesn't make sense but for that person it seems the only way out at that moment in time. I'm sure that this must be heartbreaking for you and your family. As difficult as it may be I hope that you will only have happy memories of her time here with you on earth.
I'm so very glad your hear that your surgeries went well and that you are making progress. You've sure been through a tough time with all of this and this doesn't make it any easier I am sure. Wishing you a very successful recovery and peaceful and healthy 2010. You deserve it!
Sincerely,
KATE
Tongue Cancer T2 N0 M0 / Total Glossectomy Due to Location of Tumor
Finished all treatments May 25 2007 Surviving!!!
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Eric
So sorry to hear about your sister. Depression is also a terrible disease, in many ways worse than Cancer since no one expects you to just "cheer up" to cure cancer. The subject line of your post evokes this year's Bob Dylan album's (Together Through Life) final track: It's All Good [quote] Brick by brick, they tear you down. A teacup of water is enough to drown. You oughta know, if they could, they would Whatever goin' down, it's all good.[/quote] The rest of the song has that same ironic quality that seems fitting. I lost my younger brother over 22 years ago and still miss him terribly. There are no words I know to comfort you. Charm 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | I want to thank everyone for their kind words, they mean so much to me. This forum means so much to me.
I find strength in the warriors on this forum that fight to the end...like sobradley who lost her fight...but fought with heart and determination. Those are who I mourn for, the people that chose to face death down and spit in its face even if it takes them.
To hell with cancer, I'll continue to fly my middle fingers to this disease and it's life altering effects to the day I'm put to rest.
Thanks again my friends and brothers and sisters in arms.
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Eric,
I just read your post about your sister. She was so young � such a waste. I�m so sorry that you and your family have to face this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0 Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV- Surgery: June 2005 RT: Feb-Apr 2006 HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105! Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010 Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 35 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 35 | Eric,
Sorry to hear about your sister. If I had one wish this Christmas, it would be: that you infect readers and posters needing the same attitude you have towards life, considering the situations you've faced.
You, as well as others, certainly exemplify Commandment #'s 6 to 8, of "The Ten Commandments for Cancer Survival":
============================================= 6. Thou shalt be a comfort to thy fellow-cancerites, providing knowledge, encouragement, understanding and love. You shalt give them hope where there may be none, for only in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so, thou providest comfort for thyself, as well.
7. Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou may feelest at that moment, for thou knowest, in the deep recesses of thy heart, that thy discouragement is but fleeting and that a better day awaits thee, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after tomorrow - but certainly it shall come.
8. Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thy life but as merely a part of it. Fill your life with other diversions, be they mundane, daring, altruistic, or merely amusing. To fill your life with your ailment is to surrender to it. =============================================
Jojo
Diagnosed: 16Feb'09 Pre-op Dx: Tongue SCCA Stage IVB (T4N2cM0) Opn: 2Mar'09. Total glossectomy, Neck dissection (Levels I-V), bilateral; Anterolateral, Thigh flap recon'n; Tracheostomy; PEG Decanullation: 24Mar'09 IMRT x30, concurrent with chemo (cisplatin) x3: May-Jun '09 PEG out: 23Oct'09
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | Eric, i am so very sorry for the loss of your sister. my prayers are with u and ur family at this difficult time.
i lost my older brother to suicide on dec 13 several years ago. i have spent soo much time asking why??? and even more time mad as heck. when there was so many people that loved him so much. there isnt any answer out there. u can drive urself crazy trying to figure it out. the one thing i know is u will never figure it out and u will never truly know why.
there isnt anything i can say that will make u feel any better, trust me, i know. but please know that i feel your pain. it will never pass, but will get easier with time.
please accept my virtual hug XXX and know that i am praying for you and wishing u peace.
u are a huge inspiration to me on this site.
teresa
Teresa ----------- CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09 tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3 PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09 35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10 tx stopped due to complications IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10 PET 4/12/10 CLEAR! PEG out 4/14/10
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