Providence Cancer System

I am so glad to see the Providence blog for cancer patients. I have just recently undergone chemo and radiation for colon cancer. A blog would have been a great opportunity for me to share my thoughts and/or concerns during my treatments.

I was very happy to see in today's paper the article about this blog site. I have been going to the Cancer Center since May of '09. I have lung cancer that is in remission after chemo and radiation treatment and was diagnosed with Leukemia the day before Thanksgiving. My wife, who is my care giver and I, have run the gauntlet of emotions since diagnosed in 09. It would have been nice to have had a site such as this. If anyone wants to discuss how we have survived the daily emotional situations just let me know. Everyone just think positive every day.

I hope to find support as a caregiver through this wonderful site. I get so stressed and worried and sometimes feel I have no where to go. I hope this is it.

Susan,
You have come to the right place for support. My care giver is my wife, Mary. She has been my care giver since May of '09. She will be happy to communicate with you to help you cope with your situation. She is the smartest person that I know of. She makes most of the medical decisions as most of the time she is right. It is hard for her to be the mainstay in this marriage and the medical treatments but she does a very good job. Not only does she take care of me, she also works full time. She has a very good attitude and does not let the daily work load depress her. We have both learned that a positive attitude makes the day better. We look on the good side of every thing and try not to let the negative enter our thoughts. We stay away from people who only want to tell you horror stories about people they know with our condition. Every one in our circle of friends and supporters know not to talk about the bad but to only talk about positive happy thoughts. You have a good day and one of us will talk to you soon.

Susan, I'm so glad you've made the acquaintance of Brian and Mary, they're both exceptional people. My husband, Jim, has been dealing with cancer and treatments since 2005. We're sorta' like a tag team. When one of us is down, the other pulls him/her up. It's not easy coping with the day to day living with cancer. I'm concerned about you. How are you doing? Do you have support from family, friends, church, etc?

I have breat cancer since August of 2010. My last chemo will be on teh 23rd of this month. It seems like a long time
This last time I had chemo seemed hard on me emotionaly because I had to go to the doctor because I was having dizzy spells. The doctor found out that my heart was beating to fast so he had to put me on medication. then I thought I was brothering everone because they had to do things for me. I m a person that trys to be independent. I have been this way since my husbad passed 7 years aago.
My daughter -in-law sugesst that I need support here i am
Thank you for listenening

I am very happy to see a blog set up. My mother passed away at the age of 45 with breast cancer. My father passed away at the age of 59 with pancreatic cancer. I was genetically tested and it came back positive for BRCA1. My physician explained it to me as, "It is not a matter of if you would get cancer, but rather when will you get cancer."

I decided to pro-actively have a total hysterectomy (there is a link of breast cancer to cervical cancer), a bilateral mastectomy, and then reconstructive surgery. The reconstructive surgery was a DIEP-FLAP at Virginia Mason.

When I was going through this, there was not much information easily available regarding options following a positive genetic test. So I blogged about my experience. I hope you find it helpful:

http://choosingmastectomynow.blogspot.com/

Thanks for the information. I did not know if any one would answer. I had a hysterectomy yearsn ago

Kim I am sorry about your family having to go thru this. I kow and you know it is not fun but we have to keep positive about the out come. Today they have more things they can do for us then years ago. And still findingg cures.

I am a 72 yr old woman who was diagnosed with acute myloid lukemia on Oct 30th, 2009, I spent 23 days in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and went into remission. It was followed with 3 separate rounds of more chemo for the next 4 months. I must say that I had very few problems with the chemo. The last round was the worst, with the last session I did suffer with a speech problem and some problems with balance and had to use a walker for just a few days. It has been 14 months since my last chemo and I must tell everyone how good I feel. It was suggested that I go for a stem cell transplant in Seattle but there was no doner match for me so that didnt happen, as I wasn't willing to be an expermental patient, and will just pray that I stay in remission. This cancer has been a real wake up call for me and my husband, so we just live day to day and do what ever we want to do and when ever we want to do it. Thank fully we are able to afford that luxury. We spent this last winter in AZ for 5 months just enjoying our winter friends and the sunshine tht is so prevelent in the Southwest. We pray that cancer will one day be non-existent.

Hi everyone! Today is the second anniversary of my colon cancer diagnosis. I had never had a thought of cancer ever touching my life - I was so healthy! Well, two years later, three friends lost to cancer this year, chemo, participation in LiveSTRONG's Exercise and Thrive @ the Y, and now participation in the LiveSTRONG's Cancer Transitions Program at Providence St. Peter's, I am runnin' better than a Timex. "I took a lickin' and kept on tickin'! Life is certainly different! This "cancer experienced person" is still above ground and puttin' one foot in front of the other. Thank you, St.Peter's/WWO for being the best possible place for my integrative care!

My name is Richard Rattie and back in May, I was diagnosed with stage 4 Tcell Rich Rare Lymphoma Bcell. According to my oncologist Doctor Ye its an extremely rare lymphoma conditiion. We have been lucky with a great group of medical staff at Vista Oncology and the incredible nursing staff on the oncology floor of St. Peters Hospital here in Olympia.

I have been researching the cause of cancer for over 26 years. I believe that I have discovered the real cause of most cancers. I have been working in the electronic and satellite fields for 56 years.
You can call me at 360-438-3636 or email me and I will share my findings.. Regards Del..

I have just begun the breast cancer journey so am looking everywhere for decision making help. I am fortunate because the mass is small and curable but the word "cancer" still has a frightening effect. So much to learn and the decisions are life-long so it is not easy. I appreciate all the brochures sent to me by Providence Navigator, Andrea.

My journey with cancer has been as a caregiver and wife. My husband had treatment and surgery for bladder cancer in June 2009. The surgery removed not only his bladder but one kidney as well. We opted for the urostomy bag. This surgery saved my husband's life. At first he was incredibly grateful for a second chance at life. But after about 6 months of living with the changes.......reality has set in. These things are permanent. My husband will not allow me to help him emotionally (maybe I can't anyway). He will not seek professional counseling. He does have one friend he confides in from church. But mostly he blames God for taking too much away from him. Any suggestions for what I can do??? Or a gentle book that might refocus his life back toward his many blessings????

Just an update, brian colvin lost his battle with cancer in late January. He will be missed.

WelllI got the news on Wednesday, I have been cured of AML (Acute Myloyd Leukemia) It has been 5 years since I went into Remission and was just told that I have been cured. My numbers are looking better & better. I thank the Lord for my good news and will live the rest of my life with out looking back.