I was going to make a feeble joke...something like "there are...they're called bullets," but then decided it'd be a terrible idea in terrible taste. so I won't.
was that some kind of Eleatic Paradox? or just dumb?
As a 6-year pancreatic cancer survivor, via a Whipple surgery and chemo, all you have to do is say "diarrhea" and "accidents", and I immediately feel light-headed. My father also suffered 10 months in 2023 with an ostomy due to intestinal blockage that was sheer hell for us all. Another close friend, a Presbyterian minister and colon cancer survivor, who is also currently suffering from "gut problems" says... "Denise, I know you pray as one who knows." And I do know. For whatever my prayers are worth to you, I offer them, and I'm holding good thoughts for a quick recovery as well. Hang in there - this too shall pass.... and pass... and pass.... :-)
I was very lucky to have it caught early, but still a rough road. I'm doing very well now, though, and there are more survivors out there than most people know. It's a bad diagnosis for sure, and my heart breaks for so many I've known who haven't been as lucky. But treatments and research are improving and it's not necessarily a death sentence. :-)
David, I'm sorry to hear that. I've known several that haven't survived - friends and acquaintances, not to mention many "celebrities" - RBG, Alex Trebek, and Alan Rickman, to name three. PC is definitely deadly because the way it often develops does not create warning symptoms and thus leads to late diagnosis. However, I'm a member or past member of several Facebook groups Support pages, and there really are many long-term survivors (much longer than me!). Also, a woman in my church has almost as many years of survivorship as I do.
As mentioned, I was very, very lucky, but thankfully, I'm not alone.
When I wrote about it, probably in the late '90s, just about no-one survived, but things have gotten much better for people w/ pancreatic (I say pancreatic rather than PC because PC can also be prostate cancer).
But one of the people I knew was the sister in law of a close friend of mine, and the other was the male significant other of a woman I knew.
I wrote for the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in the latter half of the '90s, and if I'm remembering correctly, pancreatic was the one cancer that really upset me writing about it.
an old friend of mine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about five years ago, but they operated and reported back to him that he was in that very lucky group of folks who, after the operation, was going to survive.
No, that's where I was lucky. My tumor developed on the head of the pancreas, so that it began to press on the common bile duct. That caused a backup of bile which resulted in terribly full-body itching and a little later, jaundice. The deadly cancers develop on the body or tail of the pancreas and therefore, you don't have symptoms until it's far more advanced.
Take care Tom. H pylori is certainly no friend of the stomach lining. And the big gun antibiotics can wipe out your friendly gut bacteria. Hence the accidents. If you aren’t already, take probiotics to replace the good little buggers.
more and more, I hear of doctors (yes, actual MDs) strongly recommending probiotics (which I was recommending to my dad thirty-some years ago...he'd roll his eyes and remind me that I "wasn't a doctor").
it's taken them long enough, god knows.
I always keep mine in the fridge, which is very much on my mind as this heat wave rolls in.
I can’t Like this except as it relates to actually knowing what the problem is so that it is being medicinally addressed, however much discomfort is involved. I hope you heal well and soon.
Take your pills and get well...you and your gut! Your readers and supporters are with you in spirit so we hope you feel the strength being shared across miles of electrons. My gut likes Vernor's Ginger Ale - not sure your doc would agree but maybe once you've turned the corner you can add it. Leave out the hooch!
when the guys on my block were collecting bottle caps, I'd return home from Detroit with TONS of Verner's bottle caps. I insisted they were ultra-valuable because they were so rare in NYC. but this aroused controversy. I'd give it my best shot, but the big guys tended to prevail.
As much as I hate this news, I am so glad you're getting treatment and feeling better. Meds...a blessing and a curse. Sometimes patience is the only solution. May you have plenty of it, plus your excellent sense of humor!
For heaven's sake, take care of yourself! (If only there were antibiotics to take care of the little buggers trying to destroy the Republic!)
Thank you for the laugh. It's certainly true.
Maybe Dr. Fauci could come up with something? ;-)
I was going to make a feeble joke...something like "there are...they're called bullets," but then decided it'd be a terrible idea in terrible taste. so I won't.
was that some kind of Eleatic Paradox? or just dumb?
A speedy recovery to you and your gut. We’ll wait, only a little impatiently. Take care, Tom.
Here’s to a quick recovery from both the disease AND the treatment.
As a 6-year pancreatic cancer survivor, via a Whipple surgery and chemo, all you have to do is say "diarrhea" and "accidents", and I immediately feel light-headed. My father also suffered 10 months in 2023 with an ostomy due to intestinal blockage that was sheer hell for us all. Another close friend, a Presbyterian minister and colon cancer survivor, who is also currently suffering from "gut problems" says... "Denise, I know you pray as one who knows." And I do know. For whatever my prayers are worth to you, I offer them, and I'm holding good thoughts for a quick recovery as well. Hang in there - this too shall pass.... and pass... and pass.... :-)
Thanks much. You take care, too.
Wow, pancreatic cancer survivor. You are a tough one. Keep on keeping on…
I was very lucky to have it caught early, but still a rough road. I'm doing very well now, though, and there are more survivors out there than most people know. It's a bad diagnosis for sure, and my heart breaks for so many I've known who haven't been as lucky. But treatments and research are improving and it's not necessarily a death sentence. :-)
So glad there is a bright spot. It hasn’t gotten much attention. You are a North Star
They don't write news stories about the survivors, except that RBG was a great success story - she was my inspiration when I was diagnosed.
She was a force, you must be too. Inspire others, a gift that you can pass on
The only people I know who have had pancreatic cancer did not survive it. (two that I can think of off hand.)
David, I'm sorry to hear that. I've known several that haven't survived - friends and acquaintances, not to mention many "celebrities" - RBG, Alex Trebek, and Alan Rickman, to name three. PC is definitely deadly because the way it often develops does not create warning symptoms and thus leads to late diagnosis. However, I'm a member or past member of several Facebook groups Support pages, and there really are many long-term survivors (much longer than me!). Also, a woman in my church has almost as many years of survivorship as I do.
As mentioned, I was very, very lucky, but thankfully, I'm not alone.
When I wrote about it, probably in the late '90s, just about no-one survived, but things have gotten much better for people w/ pancreatic (I say pancreatic rather than PC because PC can also be prostate cancer).
But one of the people I knew was the sister in law of a close friend of mine, and the other was the male significant other of a woman I knew.
I wrote for the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in the latter half of the '90s, and if I'm remembering correctly, pancreatic was the one cancer that really upset me writing about it.
an old friend of mine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about five years ago, but they operated and reported back to him that he was in that very lucky group of folks who, after the operation, was going to survive.
and he has.
It's awful, no doubt about it
Did you notice something or was it discovered totally by chance
No, that's where I was lucky. My tumor developed on the head of the pancreas, so that it began to press on the common bile duct. That caused a backup of bile which resulted in terribly full-body itching and a little later, jaundice. The deadly cancers develop on the body or tail of the pancreas and therefore, you don't have symptoms until it's far more advanced.
Obviously, Denise you havent "passed" your sense of humor! The older we get, it seems the more "surprises" are gifted upon us.
Take care
Take care Tom. H pylori is certainly no friend of the stomach lining. And the big gun antibiotics can wipe out your friendly gut bacteria. Hence the accidents. If you aren’t already, take probiotics to replace the good little buggers.
Thanks for that.
I take them daily, from a compounding pharmacy. Stomach problems are rare as hen’s teeth
Yes! Probiotics!
more and more, I hear of doctors (yes, actual MDs) strongly recommending probiotics (which I was recommending to my dad thirty-some years ago...he'd roll his eyes and remind me that I "wasn't a doctor").
it's taken them long enough, god knows.
I always keep mine in the fridge, which is very much on my mind as this heat wave rolls in.
What Karen RN said.⬆️
Healing thoughts…
I know you will cope with this very well. Still totally bad timing, no fun and not fair.
We'll miss your salty wit, but rest and get better, Tom. Your health is priority #1. (#2 is your book)
Take good care, Tom! We’ll be here when you get back!
I can’t Like this except as it relates to actually knowing what the problem is so that it is being medicinally addressed, however much discomfort is involved. I hope you heal well and soon.
Take your pills and get well...you and your gut! Your readers and supporters are with you in spirit so we hope you feel the strength being shared across miles of electrons. My gut likes Vernor's Ginger Ale - not sure your doc would agree but maybe once you've turned the corner you can add it. Leave out the hooch!
Oh yeah.
Vernor's made in Michigan!
when the guys on my block were collecting bottle caps, I'd return home from Detroit with TONS of Verner's bottle caps. I insisted they were ultra-valuable because they were so rare in NYC. but this aroused controversy. I'd give it my best shot, but the big guys tended to prevail.
Still ultra-valuable, fer sure!
I hear you. Focus on. Getting better.
I have a stomach also that rears its head every once in a while. Gut and Butt problems are no fun at all. If you can
pop out a post from time to time, that's great but if you can't, no worries.
As much as I hate this news, I am so glad you're getting treatment and feeling better. Meds...a blessing and a curse. Sometimes patience is the only solution. May you have plenty of it, plus your excellent sense of humor!
Hang tough
Glad you found a treatment program! Hope all “goes smoothly “. 😘
Oh, it's very smooth. That's what leads to the "accidents." :-)
❤️🏃🏼➡️
Take care. Take your time. Follow the regimen
Hope its not as bad as the "forecast"! AND that you have someone - that can run errands & pick up groceries etc.
Two weeks of this sound rough.
Good luck?
"Free home delivery" is the greatest invention since sliced bread. :-)
Thank Covid, sort of