Fuck Cancer

[Dantheman]

Ruby had a CT scan today and her tumors still show no growth. Despite the staining tests, based on the lack of tumor growth in the last six months they're going to give her a course of nivolumab again. Fingers crossed that Ruby is with us for 2017 and beyond

[Millsie]

Good news Dan! Last week I helped some kids with cancer ski. One girl was 14. Has had 35 surgeries, 9 brain tumors. Put her in the sit ski for the first time and she had a ball!

[Dantheman]

Jesus christ, 35 surgeries? That's insane. I can't imagine the hell her parents have been through.

[Art Shirk]

Ruby had a CT scan today and her tumors still show no growth. Despite the staining tests, based on the lack of tumor growth in the last six months they're going to give her a course of nivolumab again. Fingers crossed that Ruby is with us for 2017 and beyond

!

[iceman]

Can't take this thread usually, too sad, but saw Dan's name on it and wanted to see how Ruby is doing. So glad to hear she is maintaining and hoping for even better news to come.

So sorry for everyone's losses in here, Beav, Weibo and anyone else I'm forgetting at the moment.

[seano732]

Coworker of mine, awesome dude, three daughters under age 10, wife is pregnant with daughter #4 (31 weeks). Week before Christmas, wife starts complaining of dizziness and shortness of breath. Everyone thinks it's pregnancy related, she goes to ER and they run a shitload of tests.... Baby's fine, but they can't figure out what's wrong with mama. CT scan show Stage 4 lung cancer. 37 years old, never smoked a day in her life. Saw my buddy on Christmas Eve, he looks like he's trying to wake up from a bad dream but can't. I held it together until I saw his kids..... Fuck cancer. My God.

[gravitylover]

Holy shit Seano That's terrible

[Yonder_River]

Can't even imagine.

[Ridgehippy]

Seano, Stage IV LC is a bitch and at times its hard to find anything positive to hold on to; but there is a bunch of stuff happening that can give hope. There are a few specific mutations like ALK+, EGFR that have targeted therapies already, and with the Cuba embargo lifted, clinical trials for CIMAvax are starting in the US. Getting fairly comprehensive, detailed genomic information about the tumor(s) through a test like the FoundationOne profiling can get some of the answers to what might work for a specific person, and help to match them to a clinical trial if they choose that route. Today's chemo can slow or shrink tumors to buy as much time as possible while figuring that stuff out. Some swear by CBD oils to go along with the above. CureForward is a good entry point to start looking for info. Positive thoughts to your friend, hope they find a path forward that works for them.

[seano732]

Seano, Stage IV LC is a bitch and at times its hard to find anything positive to hold on to; but there is a bunch of stuff happening that can give hope. There are a few specific mutations like ALK+, EGFR that have targeted therapies already, and with the Cuba embargo lifted, clinical trials for CIMAvax are starting in the US. Getting fairly comprehensive, detailed genomic information about the tumor(s) through a test like the FoundationOne profiling can get some of the answers to what might work for a specific person, and help to match them to a clinical trial if they choose that route. Today's chemo can slow or shrink tumors to buy as much time as possible while figuring that stuff out. Some swear by CBD oils to go along with the above. CureForward is a good entry point to start looking for info. Positive thoughts to your friend, hope they find a path forward that works for them.

Thanks everyone for the positive vibes; quick update, she does in fact have the ALK+ mutation, so they are confident enough with the treatment plan to let her keep the baby until the 36th week, which is good news. On the downside, they found a small tumor in her brain, but again, optimistic about gamma knife treatment..... My buddy and his wife are truly inspiring; they are dealing much better than I ever would. Fuck cancer.

[Meadow Skipper]

Goddam, I get all choked up whenever I read this thread. I wish the best for everyone, and fuck cancer.

[muted]

This thread is rough. Sorry everyone has to go through or watch people go through so much hardship.

My recent story to add to the horrible: My SIL is diagnosed with cancer, late stage. She won't do chemo. Not sure how long yet until she dies. My BIL, my wife's brother, will go off the deep end because of this. He'll probably try to kill himself again, she is the only one holding him together. Hopefully he won't try, again, in his house where his 17 year old daughter will find him. Hugely dysfunctional family, is the short story. Their daughter has said a few times she wishes her Mom (who will do anything for her and honestly loves her to no end) were dead, now she will see it happen. I don't think she actually meant it when she said it, and the daughter doesn't know her Mom is sick and WILL actually die soon. She gets her wish, whether she meant it or not.

My poor wife, my poor in-laws in general. Cancer is the trigger to a house of cards that everyone was waiting to fall a long time ago.

[jono]

Sorry muted, that sucks. Thread sucks. Especially Ruby, but I keep looking for updates, too.

I got my diagnosis almost two months ago, and I've spent a lot of time on the NIH websites since. It's amazing how many encouraging discoveries are out there, from grape seed extract to the different forms of vitamin E (some good, seemingly, one bad) and immunotherapy; it makes it seem like they could almost solve this thing. Almost. In the meantime, chemo could be worse and I'm taking any thoughts about "the industry," as a reminder to pray for my T-cells. Whether it's doctors who shouldn't be or insurers who don't--which is really one group, I guess--that's plenty of reminders.

[frorider]

Just watched the Sharon Jones biopic that's on Netflix now.

So naturally, thought about this thread.

And my mom. 2 months ago her nearly 6 yr fight with cancer was lost. She won a lot of battles along the way.

[iceman]

I was out earlier and this dude I don't even know goes, "I hope Magic Johnson gets cancer." I thought that was a little harsh, and I like the Celtics. So I said, um, wtf?

He goes, "Well when he got aids they cured that shit right away, so..."

[BmillsSkier]

I was out earlier and this dude I don't even know goes, "I hope Magic Johnson gets cancer." I thought that was a little harsh, and I like the Celtics. So I said, um, wtf?

He goes, "Well when he got aids they cured that shit right away, so..."

Dunkin Donuts logic.

I like it.

[TNKen]

Lost a friend yesterday. She and her husband were members of our church. She had battled leukemia for the last 2 1/2 years. Multiple bone marrow transplants, but unfortunately she had a genetic mutation that was predisposed to keeping the crap from being eradicated.

She leaves her husband and three daughters, twins that are four years old and a two year old.

Fly free Miss Erin.

[FLS]

Some of the biggest tears I have streamed. Mulkeen, you are a family friend and loved beyond 40+ years.

[frorider]

Good article imho: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...d-luck/521049/

[huckbucket]

Good article imho: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...d-luck/521049/

In my dreams I'm as smart as Bert Vogelstein.

[Meadow Skipper]

Fuck, fuck, fuck cancer. Lost a great backcountry partner to it recently. Cody dropping in to the Silver Couloir:

[Dantheman]

Ruby's melanoma stalemate continues. CT scan yesterday showed no growth or reduction in tumor size or number. They're going to continue the nivolumab treatments just in case those are helping since they don't seem to cause any adverse side effects. It's been just over a year now since her diagnosis. At the time we didn't know if she'd live six months so we'll take the stalemate. The uncertainty is definitely hard on everyone though.

[Millsie]

Still good news Dan. Count every day as a blessing.

[Dantheman]

Good article imho: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/...d-luck/521049/

The media misrepresented the findings of a scientific study? Unpossible.

Still good news Dan. Count every day as a blessing.

It is, and we do.

[gravitylover]

This thread is so hard to read through I wish I knew what to say or do...