Cancer Blog Journals - Most Recent Entries

I had the first round of AC chemo today and it went fine, the anti-nausea meds are working pretty well. I feel like I have a hangover and have pounded some red bulls to counteract it, at least that’s … More…

I need some advice about the ostomy that I have.
Does the skin around the stome seem to get firm?
Is it just scar tissue from the surgery?
I have been using a skin barrier because of the itching around the wafer. … More…

Hi Everyone—
Below is the latest update on Trey from his mother.

“Trey came home yesterday (and looks great) ! He got through his Gamma Knife radiation treatment and completed 10 doses of IL-2 treatment these past 2 weeks at MD Anderson … More…

With finals and moving and having my husband come home from Afghanistan for Christmas I forgot to post my results from my exam. My doctor did a pap and a colposcopy. She took 3 biopsies and this time I didn’t’ … More…

Hi all,

I have had a rough month since my son Noel died Feb. 13th. I kept wondering if I could have done something to keep him from dying, wishing I had known how sick he was. Mad at myself because … More…

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank you all for your support and prayers. The past 2 weeks have been a nail biting experience. You all know I was awaiting the results of the MRI bcuz the PET scan lit up in … More…

Hi everyone
I have a dilema and I need your help if you can. I will be starting treatment on April 5th. Will be doing 7 weeks of radiation with 3 chemo treatments, beginning … More…

I just found a lump in my vulva. Its between the outer lip and inner lip, not in a place that I shave. It feels like a bruise and its slightly squishy, about the size of a snow pea pod … More…

A few major things happening for me…..

#1 – BeatSarcoma is putting on their annual Fun Run 5K/10K fundraiser at Golden Gate Park Conservatory of Flowers on Sunday April 25 (go to beatsarcoma.org for info). I’m in charge of getting the … More…

I just created a Twibbon for your advatar (profile picture) on either Facebook and/or Twitter. Thought this might be a good way to get the word out. I just set these up so let me know if they look funny. … More…

Okay I know I have not given myself much time to recover from the radiation and chemo regimine that I was just on; but I have become frustrated in the pain that I am experiencing when I use the bathroom. … More…

My doctor just called me back. My biopsy from the colonoscopy I had in January showed inflammation but no cancer. The CT scan I had showed something on one of my ovaries, probably a cyst. Going to my OBGYN tmrw … More…

Well once again this week I was told I could not have treatment due to low blood counts. I didn’t think that could happen with the Neulasta shots but I was wrong. The oncologist is leaning towards infection somewhere in … More…

So as of today I have been in remission for about a year and a half. My last check up was a month and a half ago and the results were fine. But the past week I have been having … More…

LOL. I finally removed the bandages today, and found that the “Bride of Frankenstein” Lives! :) I would say it’s about a 5 inch incision with “pretty black thread” cut straight across, looks like fishing wire with jagged edges. Such … More…

I have been reading everyone’s blogs and it amazes me that we all have so much in common. I was diagnosed with stage 3/4 tonsil cancer in Sept 2009 at the Cleveland Clinic. Since then I have undergone 38 radiation … More…

It looks like I am losing my battle with the beast. Admitting that it’s winning is devastating. I spent the entire weekend in the ER out of breath and Monday I had my lung drained again. They … More…

that popped it my head today while I was replying to a blog post at Blog For a Cure. Once I thought about it, it’s stuck in my head as a good reply to my youngest daughter because she constantly … More…

We’d all like to believe that the feelings our significant others have for us are based on who we are inside and out. No one’s appearance freezes in time on the day we fall in love, and ideally, love is far more permanent than our looks. Sometimes it is a dramatic change in our appearance that ultimately reveals the true colors of our significant others and their feelings for us. It’s the ultimate insult to the emotional assault of hair loss. More…

Amazing Race, American Idol, Angel, Just Shoot Me, JAG, Saved By the Bell, etc. etc. etc. Television shows, all pretty popular, all something different. Alot like this crazy little thing called cancer. You know you watch … More…

David and I went to my follow-up appointment today with Dr. Johnson, my surgeon. I just LOVE her! She was able to strip me of my last tape strips. Her bedside manner is amazing and she did … More…

Hi all
I had my post-op appointment today, and got some really good news. Dr. S says he is sure he got all the cancer and then some that we did not expect.

When him and I discussed … More…

In which our heroine turns on her couch-potato inner self and advocates exercise, especially for cancer patients. More…

A couple of weeks ago I posted that I could not concentrate or focus. Saw my doctor today. She said this is still due to my confused endocrine system and the need to tinker with Synthroid dosing. Eventually I will … More…

Feeling good after the surgery. Like supervising the wife and kid on doing household chores I usually do :)

Met with the surgeon, oncologist, and radiation oncologist today. The plan is chemo. Anyone have suggestions on … More…

Feeling good after the surgery. Like supervising the wife and kid on doing household chores I usually do :)

Met with the surgeon, oncologist, and radiation oncologist today. The plan is chemo. Anyone have suggestions on … More…

Hi everyone,
My surgeon called tonight and said my biopsy results were all negative for cancer. He had suspected this, indicating that everything “looked good” during the biopsy procedure last week.

I am still sore, but no where near as sore … More…

The cancer has spread to my lungs stage 4 colo-rectal.
The Dr. said that I would not be able to get chemo anymore because of being over-radiated.She said that the chemo would re-activate the radiation and burn up my intestines.Soo
now what? More…

Just read this and thought it was a great piece about the cancer experience:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/with-cancer-lets-face-it-words-are-inadequate/ More…

After readings Jacques update regarding his PET scan and getting approval… it has angered me again.

Health insurance companies and state programs are supposed to help you fight. It doesn’t matter if you are Stage 1 or Stage 4… each … More…

Good Morning all. Change is still on my mind lately. You know I read about some of what you all experiencing and I don’t know if I belong here now. I can’t compare my stories, trials and … More…

Thanks for all of the wonderful words of encouragement everyone! I am going to my first gyno oncologist appointment in a few hours. My husband will be with me and I just found out that 2 of my very dear … More…

No 4 am wake up today, instead it was 2 am lol. Oh well I was hungry so I had a PB & J sandwich and watched some Shirley Temple (The Little Princess) that was on a public tv channel … More…

Hello to all my wonderful friends, survivors, and fighters! I am finally Home!
It’s hard to know where to begin. :)...My first procedure was the Wire Localization, so I was wheeled down to Radiology. I was very Happy that Dr. … More…

Greg is still sleeping most of the time. There isn’t much change in how he feels. He says he is tired and just wants to sleep. He is doing good on ensure and boost through his feeding tube. His nurse … More…

Cancer-free after a year! More…

Hi everyone! Oh the weather is just beautiful today. I can really anticpate Spring arriving next week.

I had a wonderful visit on Sunday with my Dad and sister Yoshiko.

I don’t think I ever shared my story of how … More…

Below is the body of an email I sent to my Cancer Sucks email distribution list, letting them know the outcome of my second surgery and my recovery to date.

To: Cancer Sucks
From: Safia
Date: March 15, 2010

One more … More…

I’m so angry today. Well, not just today. Everyday but especially today. I found out last week that a former neighbor of mine had stage IV lung cancer. It was discovered after she was hospitalized with pneumonia. She never made … More…