#70287 02-21-2008 10:01 PM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Just received a call from Sue, Brenda died this morning at about 2:30am EST. She called me about an hour ago to tell me that the hospital had called and said for everyone to come right away as they thought it would happen rather quickly. I don't have any details at this time, the one request Bren had made was for any/all donations be made to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Sue is amazing. She sounded so strong through all of this, very much like her mum. She said that she would post soon, maybe in a few days. God Speed Bren! I'm going to miss you more than I can ever guess. I love you dear friend. Donna
Donna CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | I really cannot for once find any words that fit the situation. So I'll just send all my love to Brenda's OCF family, I know that none of us will ever forget the feisty Yorkshire lass.. 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
| | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 | She touched all of us with her courage, support, and positiveness. Bren will surely be missed for a long time. Our sympathies to her lovely family and friends. Dick and Jane
Husband: 3 SCC gum and cheek cancers 2002, 2005, 2006: surgery only. Scans clear after removal of small, well differentiated, non-invasive cancers. No radiation. 4th SCC lip diagnosed 4/13/07 - in situ, removed in biopsy. More lip removed 2/8/08 - dysplasia. 2 Biopsies 3/17/09 no cancer (lichenoids)
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Brenda was a lady that seemed to worry more about her friends in the forums than she did herself. I will never forget the way she would get on my back for saying or doing things she didn't agree with me about. I always looked forward to her post and she had a knack of making them personal, not just for me but for everyone of us. I know she jjust has to be in heaven this morning , looking down on us with her ornery smile , looking for her keyboard and ready to give us more words of wisdom.. Brendas family sure has my prayers.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 | Brenda
TO me ...all the way to the end was a survivor..she never gave up ... She will be missed more then I can say ..TO her family ..MY deepest sympathy goes to all of you , how lucky we all were to have her touch a part of our lives.
Shar
Sharlee 35 year old Female Non smoker, very occasional alcohol ..Scc T1N0M0,partial glossectomy and left neck disection ,2/9/07 No rad deemed ness. 4/16 tonsillectomy ..Trimengenial Neuralga due to surgery
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I just can't believe it happened so quickly. I'm sure Bren will carry her positive attitude forward and continue to affect people. Luv and miss you Bren.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | How can she be gone???
Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997. DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0 TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5. TREATMENT END: 10/1/07 PEG OUT: 1/08 PORT OUT: 4/09 FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | How can it happen so quickly. Do you all think she was that ill when she left on the 10th? Why didn't her doctors know more? How could they have left her alone so long and let this happen? I am so sad for her dear family. They must be asking the same questions. May you find comfort in her memory and spirit. Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO. Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw. Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo. | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 | Look at the chain of responses. What a diverse group Brenda touched. She so looked forward to her trip in spite of the agony she was enduring.
I will miss her posts. Even when I only had a few minutes to come on board I always looked for messages from Brenda and was anticipating hearing about her vacation. Although we all knew the reality we somehome expected her to return with an uplifting message. Malka
SCC stage II Partial mandibulectomy w. neck dissection- July 2005. Renal cancer w. partial nephrectomy-Jan 2004. Breast cancer discovered in routine mammogram. Successful lumpectomy, sentinal nodes clear, RT only-2008 Reconstruction of mandible w fibula free flap-Jan 09. TORS removal of begnin pappiloma from esophagus-2010. Masectomy,rt breast 2013. Support OCF
| | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | We have all lost a great part of the spirit and soul that makes this community speacial. However, her contributions and caring live on in those she touched, including everyone here. Our family is keeping Bren and her loved ones in our prayers. She lived life to the fullest, right up to the last, which is really all any of us can hope for. She will be sorely missed. Jeff SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007 T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007 39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07 Complete response to treatment so far!!
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