#61808 09-19-2007 09:52 AM | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 | After 4 months, I finally have no more appointments for chemo--(last one had to be missed because of low blood counts) So now I get on with 'Living with Cancer'/Dying from Cancer' as it was only palliative anyway! It feels like a huge weight has been removed from my shoulders in spite of poor prognosis because I at least 'gave it a go' and yes, it did impact on my life, tho not in the way I imagined. I wasn't sick, didn't lose my hair, only spent 10 days out of 4 months feeling 'seriously weak'. But hadn't accounted for the stress caused by low blood levels of various sorts, the changed appointment days and times, the collapsed veins, the need to eat at prescribed times to take the anti-sickness meds, the need for blood transfusions and the way life becomes dominated by appointments etc., and keeping friends and relatives up to speed, and wording emails/adopting 'phone-tone' according to other people's perceptions of me and of cancer in general. Have broken out the champagne tonight as no blood tests for another 2 weeks!!!! and feel so much more relaxed! Compared with what others are going through, my 'stuff' is peanuts, I know, but just thought it might help other 'terminal' cases to know sometimes it's crap, but seldom evil, and I still so appreciate the quality of life I have 9 months on from first symptoms 
Brenda in UK--Diagnosis 30/5/07--undifferentiated carcinoma in right jawbone and muscles. Stage 4
6/7/07--new diagnosis primary is in lung. Finished 4cycles of palliative carboplatin/gemcitabine
therapy September 07
Now dying to live!
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#61809 09-19-2007 12:44 PM | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 580 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 580 | Brenda,
I love your spirit and positive outlook. Good for you.
You are someone I look up to.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love and Hugs,
Mike
Dentist since 1995, 12 year Cancer Survivor, Father, Husband, Thankful to so many who supported me on my journey so far, and more than happy to comfort a friend.
Live, Laugh, Love & Learn.
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#61810 09-19-2007 02:47 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Brenda, let's put on a fascinator , pop a cork and go for a stroll on the beach at sunset. Amy in the Ozarks
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
:
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#61811 09-19-2007 03:22 PM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | Can I join you wonderful ladies? I never strolled on a beach wearing a fascinator and sipping champagne. What fun! 
Margaret
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C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
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#61812 09-19-2007 06:45 PM | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Bren you are the greatest unseen friend .Well done and good luck.
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
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#61813 09-19-2007 07:03 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Good for you Brenda. Way to take the steam right out of this thing called cancer..........keep thumbing your nose at it.
Love,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#61814 09-19-2007 10:14 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Brenda I'll have a glass of champagne with you, still not sure about the fascinator. Although while they are all laughing a my head, I'll not need to worry about my bum..  Sunshine.. love and hugs Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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