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My name is Ron Herman, I first came to #cancer-survivors ten years ago, when my five year old son had leukemia. I was lost, bitter, and not coping with the illness at all and soon after my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The people here helped me put my life back together and I have been actively involved in cancer support both online and in person. My son is now 16 almost 17 6'4” 270 lbs and cancer free. My mom has had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer and so far beat them all and got remarried to a really fine man about 4 years or so ago maybe 5 or 6. One of my aunts is in bad shape with lung cancer now and doesn't' have much time left. I have another Aunt who had inflammatory breast cancer in both breasts and it had spread to both lungs, they say she is terminal and put her on chemo to prolong life. For some reason the docs or no one can explain she is in deep remission with only scar tissue remaining where to tumors were. I am totally disabled and retired now at the age of 49 with a terrible back and severe chronic pain. The people are still good support for me now because some of them have been there. If you haven't had cancer or been a caretaker of a loved one with caner you really don't know I've found. The same is true with chronic pain. I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful friends over the years. Cancer support is a big part of my life and I don't see that changing. I have also done a lot of crisis counseling for cancer patients. I used to do a lot of hunting and fishing, but haven't been able to do much for the last 3 years. My main hobby is building and repairing Computers. I am a self taught computer specialist and basically work for family and friends. I give free technical support to all cancer patients, and is some cases if their computer fails I send them one for free if they can't afford it. We do get computers and parts donated to us pretty often allowing us to help cancer patients get back online with cancer support, and emailing family and friends and everything else that they do on a computer. Then when they can afford something better they keep the donated machine for a backup. I have a wonderful and supportive family.
bear_hunter@yahoo.com
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Hi! I am Cheryl, age 54. I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer with brain mets in 9/02.
I had gamma knife treatment for brain mets and chemo for lung cancer and, so far, have beat all the odds for survival. Hubby says it is because I was too stubborn to leave our daughter!
I am a crazy knitter! Also make porcelain dolls, sew and am learning quilting. I read excessively and listen to audio books while I do boring household chores. I love roses and at last count, had 80 rose bushes, from the tiniest in existence (Si) to an old climber that has covered 80 feet!
I have two dogs and a cat (cat would not sit still for a picture)!
My husband, John, and my daughter, Alex, are my caregivers and my strength. Cancer Survivors has added many caring people to my support network. I thank them for the support and the love and the friendships that have kept me going through all the trying times.
ct_pete@yahoo.com
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I'm a friend in the room and help with it. I'm 54 and have been in the health field for at least 30 years, had two aunts that died of cancer and have a girlfriend who is more a sister to me than my real sisters who survived cancer just last year. I'm always around at some periods during the day to talk to and give support.
insquaw@hotmail.com
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I'm Prune, grateful survivor of cancer [testicular, in 1996], and also caregived for my mother for 13 yrs, the last 7 in a wheelchair. If you have cancer, I'd say you haven't finished all the book of life until you've read the last page. If you are a caregiver, you are earning a blessing for yourself that no one can ever take away from you. I am a dear friend to the sick and merciless to those who abandon the old, I am Prune.
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Real name: Paul Michael Cohen. I'm 52 years old and a survivor of testicular cancer. I was diagnosed and operated on in 1990, and had a round of chemotherapy in the summer of 1991 when it metastized to my lungs. I've been in remission since. Only problems I'm left with are asthma and crohn's disease.
To pay the bills, I'm a Senior Programmer Analyst at Siemens Health Services in Malvern PA. I've been there since June '86. And I do PC consulting on the side. And I maintain this web site. All in all, I spend alot of time on the computer.
I'm a music fanatic, with about 8000 CDs and something like 1300 LPs (left). Music keeps me sane.
In the summer of 2002, alarmed at being badly out of shape I took up bike riding. I did pretty well at it. It's now 3 1/2 years and 4 bikes later. I average 3500 miles a year. I lost 40 pounds the first year and I've been maintaining it nicely ever since.
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The Great Survivors
I sit before the key board, and reach into cyberspace,
I see out stretched before me, a web of silken lace
Dancing on the silken threads are an angel multitude,
reaching out and drawing near the heartstrings of our crew.
We are the great survivors, we gather every day.
We dance the threads of the silken web, and show those new the way
We share a bond no others can, of trouble, pain and sorrow,
and some of us may never see the dawning of tomorrow.
But today we are survivors, we'll lend our helping hand.
Against all odds ,with faith and love, we will make our stand.
So join us all you troubled souls,let the angels be your guide,
for we will sit and hold your hands, your hearts your troubled pride.
We are the great survivors, we know and share your pain.
The seed of love we plant today, will in your heart remain
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Hello :) I am lilah, that is how I am known on the channel of course. My real name is Sharon. I am 37 years old and was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma March 11th this year. I had a lumpectomy March 17th and about one week later started the wild ride of chemotherapy. I am happy to say that I have completed the chemo as of August 22nd. I am still finishing up radiation therapy now. Will be finished with the radiation treatments by September 12th. When I had surgery they removed 14 lymph nodes and all came back clear. (That was the best news :) I have had bone scan and x-rays and all those have been normal.
I found this channel either the day I was diagnosed or the day after (those days are still a blur for me). I feel that some angels of mercy have led me to the channel. Here I have found information, assurance, comfort, joy, and much love and true sincere concern from those that frequent the channel. I am a true testimony that the channel is doing all that is was set out to do. I thank God many times over for the friends I have found in the channel. I only hope that all those out there seeking with a newly found diagnosis or those just living through the battle would find the channel.
Like I was telling you earlier, I am 37 years old..married to the most wonderful man on earth..His name is Gregg. He too knows the wretched path that cancer leads one on. He lost his mother, brother, and grandmother to the dreadful disease. I have two wonderful bright fun little boys. Cody my oldest is age 10 and Jesse my youngest is age 7. They bring about many smiles and much fun and joy in my life. We homeschool them which keeps us fairly busy and very close as a family unit. They and my husband are into the karate thing. I just watch and duck!!! hehhe I have many varied interests and hobbies. One of my favorite things is IRC. I love reading, playing billiards, crafts, art, music, the outdoors, and my computer. I have a geniune joy for life. My most favorite sound in this world is my little boys laughter. My most favorite site is their eyes. I have learned that if I allow myself to join in on those sounds and see through those eyes that I can handle anything that the day may bring.
I do have a genuine love for people. I love to laugh,give and recieve hugs, and just really sit down with someone and spend some time. Those are the free things in life...those are the ones that count...those are the ones that build legacys for all that are touched.
Please feel free to e-mail me anytime or look me up on mIRC. I am there more than I really care to admit. God Bless You All
Sharon (lilah)
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Hi, I'm Joel. I'm from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. I am in the process of moving to Cleveland, Georgia. I was a caregiver for my father who had lung cancer, and passed away in 2001. My fiance, KarenCee, is a caregiver to her mother who has stage 4 breast cancer that spread to lungs and bones. I am a huge sports fan, will talk about any sport out there. My hobbies are fishing and aviation. I am an avid flight simmer. Hope to see you around!
joel@jpothier.net
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Hey...I am Karen from Cleveland, Georgia...home of the famous Cabbage Patch Dolls. I am the caregiver to my mom who has Stage 4 breast mets to lungs and bones. I have a 6 yo daughter named Anna. My fiancé is Fuzzness (Joel) who is from Nova Scotia. He is moving down here and we're getting married some time next year. His dad passed from lung cancer in October 2001. I love ice hockey, nascar, hiking along the Appalachian Trail, fishing (at least, I will when Joel teaches me how), and doing anything with Joel and Anna. As for being here, I want to give back some of what I've gotten...support and friendship. I don't know what I would do without my "family" here.
kpothier@windstream.net
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I was born a poor white child.. (ooops wrong story) LOL Any way Growing up.. I would have to say I was the perfect picture of health. Of course the normal childhood diseases. But nothing more. I noticed a lump on the side of my neck maybe around 2002 or so, and kind of blew it off as an impacted saliva gland.. Figured it would go away. In early 2003, my mother went to give me a hug, and noticed the lump, and of course as most mothers are, she insisted that I have it checked out. In April of 2003, I had my first doctor's appointment. What a waste of my time that was. The doc just poked and prodded the lump, and then said.. I DONT KNOW.. LOL Imagine that. I went to another doc, and h! e seemed a little more concerned, and told me he would like me to have it biopsied. At this point, I wasn't worried. Heck, I had never been sick a day in my life. The Biopsy was performed on a Friday, and on Monday morning I received the call. The doc just said well yes Dave, you have cancer, you need to come back in. Then he just hung up. I couldn't believe my ears. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the throat and neck. Just kind of was in a blank.. Anyway.. I figured well that's it, my life is over.. Looked at my wife, walked out the door, grabbed a bottle, and got rip roaring drunk. Woke up the next morning with a massive hangover, and decided then and there, I still got mom to worry about, so lets get this party rolling, and beat it. I made another appointment with a ENT doctor here, and a few more docs, and didn't really like the word I got about treatments. Surgery, Chemo, and Radiation. I decided to go to Chicag! o to Northwestern University Hospital for a second opinion. After getting the same kind of news there, rather than have to travel to Chicago and back every day, and burden family with someone going with me, I decided to get everything done here in Indiana. So... In June of 2003, I was scheduled for a tonsillectomy, since the tonsil was the primary source, went in under the knife, and doc found it was also in the tissue in the back of my throat, so had to cut a little deeper, and then take a graft from my upper arm, and sew it into the throat. Now I know why tonsillectomies are done as children. Give ya time to forget the pain. LOL Then exactly 1 week after that surgery, I was scheduled for a radical neck dissection. 9 or 10 hours later, I was in recovery, with half my neck gone, muscle, tissue,several lymph nodes, and at least one nerve, but doc thought he got everything. Recovery went quite well, and 4 days later was home. Just bef! ore July 4th. I had so many staples, and stitches, my nephew said I looked like the terminator. LOL (from the mouths of babes) After 3 weeks of recovery time from that, I was scheduled for more surgery I had a port put in for the chemo, and a feeding tube put in, in case I couldn't swallow. Finally the day was there to start the treatments. Family was very supportive, wife seemed to be a little distant, but I figured she was as scared as I was. On my birthday, Happy Birthday to me, had my first chemo, and radiation treatment. I was told by the onco, that I would lose all my hair, so I figured may as well beat it to the punch, so I shaved my head. Imagine my surprise, never lost so much as an eyebrow! The first week or so of treatments wasn't too bad, then the taste buds went. Yuck, nothing like eating something that had no taste whatsoever. But it still wasn't bad. I was taking a drug in an IV everyday to try to! protect the saliva glands. It was called Ethyol. The chemo wasn't so bad, but the Ethyol, left me with a perpetual hangover, no headache, but nausea 24 hours a day. After 3 weeks, the side effects really started setting in, tired all the time, throat being burned from the inside out, sick every day. Then came the real shocker. The wife decided that because I couldn't go out and party like I used to, she bailed on me. Oh well, another hurdle I would overcome. By week 4, it was hitting me hard. I was losing weight, not weekly, but daily. Then I thought that's it, I cant take anymore. I had found another cancer chat support group earlier, and was researching everything I could, but nothing prepared me for the actual events. I told a few friends from the net, that I was done, I was thinking of quitting all treatments, I thought I had had enough. I received Emails, and calls, that pretty much were sympathetic to my cause, but also, t! old me to pull up my socks, and keep going. I think that is what made me change my attitude and fight even harder. Finally on September 15th of 2003, I had my final treatment. What a day that was for me. Still couldn't taste anything, and the radiation had virtually destroyed my saliva glands, but the doc said.. Dave, I am sure your gonna be fine. Although at the time, I looked pretty rough. I made Ethiopians look fat. Its been over 2 years now, and still no sign of the cancer, and the weight is slowly coming back on, although not near as fast as it came off. People tell me now, that they are sorry, I got cancer, I just reply to them, actually I think I was blessed to get cancer. And boy do I get funny looks. But, the reason is, I got rid of a woman that really didn't care about me, it brought my family so much closer together, and I met so many new and wonderful friends. So yes, in actuality, I was blessed. I st! ill have some major side effects to get over, like my teeth falling apart from the radiation, but a small price to pay for life I guess. So, to everyone that is diagnosed with this disease, NEVER GIVE UP.. It can be beat, it is hard, but the human body is amazing how much it can tolerate. So hang in there, and when all else feels like it's to hard to go on, remember you have many real friends rooting for you.
Dave
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Heather, Aged 46. 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Widow of Mick.
Survived Ovarian cancer in 1999.
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Mick (Michael J Dyson) Aged 49
Mick was a Master Builder. He lived in Huddersfield all his life and built all range of properties from houses to supermarkets and GP surgeries all over the town for the past 30 years. He was well respected in the building trade as an excellent Stonemason, and was very proud of his work.
He was a devoted dad, stepdad and grandad. And deeply loved husband of Heather.
Mick was recovering from Oral Cancer when he had a heart attack on dec 4th 2007.
He will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.
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Hello, my name is Mary Beth. I live in Ringwood NJ with my loving, supportive husband Tim.
In 1998 I decided to start running and participate in a ½ marathon for fund raising for the leukemia/lymphoma society. I began to experience some fatigue that just wouldn't go away. One day after a run, I discovered a lump in my neck. A few weeks later I was diagnosed with stage 2B hodgkins lymphoma. I had a splenectomy and 6 weeks of radiation. I went back to running hoping once again to do a ½ marathon. In early 2002 the fatigue started again and late 2002 I was diagnosed with stage 3B hodgkins lymphoma. It was recommended that I participate in a high dose clinical trial chemo being that it was stage 3 and aggressive. In Jan.2003 I began the trial for 12 weeks.
I still enjoy running, biking and being outdoors. I love going to the beach and spending time with my nieces and nephews. I help my brother with raising them as they lost their beloved mom to cancer at the age of 38. I lost my mom unexpectedly when I was 8, so I know how important family love and support is.
My husband and I have 4 beautiful dogs. I work as a general manager for a small local manufacturing company for the past 22 years.
I am honored to help others with cancer or caregivers, family or friends with loved ones with cancer.
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