GoTravel

rjw, for what it's worth, a couple years ago a very good friend of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer. This was from an Xray. He was basically told to get his affairs in order, move close to his parents, and start chemo.

They cut him open and found out the tumor was not malignant and four years later is in PERFECT health.

rjw_lgb_ca

Go: That's a happy ending we all like to hear! We're hoping for the best (benign), but we're realistic: she's had metastases in her lungs before (little ones). However, between surgery and chemo, she's had no new ones (this one was supposed to be scar tissue), so odds are actually on her side. And new drugs are popping up very quickly, and there are many clinical trials, so....

How does this relate to travel? Well, she goes to Manhattan for her primary cancer care, so she spends a lot of time shopping with the kids when she's not in the clinic. Who knows? Maybe my niece will end up at NYU...!

buckeyemom

Hi rj-Stefanie Spielman wife of former NFL star Chris Spielman had breast cancer, then something developed in her lungs. She is doing great. In fact, she just had another baby not too long ago. Chris and Stefanie are big fund raisers here in Ohio for cancer research and have raised something like 2 million dollars. They are both inspirations.

rjw_lgb_ca

Hi buckeyemom! See, more happy stories! And to tie this more to travel: There are many fundraising events held throughout the country for major diseases. Multiday walks for breast cancer, ACS' Relays for Life, AIDS Runs/Walks/Rides, etc. are great events that often take you great places (the big breast cancer walks in CA go from Santa Barbara to Malibu!! And AIDS Rides go SF-LA, Boston-NYC, etc.). If anyone has participated in these, I'd be interested in hearing your story (I haven't had a chance yet)-- traveling AND helping others by raising money.

missjanna

RJ, About 3 years ago my mother was diagnosed with lymphomic cancer. She went through numerous meds, chemo, the works. After a year a half, she was declared cancer free.

It's all about patience and having a good doctor! But I will keep your sis in my prayers.

rjw_lgb_ca

missjanna: Good to hear your mom's OK!! My dad also had lymphoma-- and licked it (unfortunately, a heart attack took him a few years later), as did my uncle. There ARE success stories...!

OliveOyl

rj...I was inspired by what you wrote Friday...read it several times in fact. Our 33 yr old daughter has just been diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will have surgery tomorrow. I'm scared witless of course, even though I KNOW this is one of the most curable forms of cancer. Hopefully I can get to the spot you're at...where you've accepted it and can look ahead postively.

Travel? I head to Phoenix Saturday to help her out for about 10 days. I doubt I'll see anything of Phoenix this trip, other than the path from her house to the grocery store. Unbelievable times.......I'm working on an attitude adjustment so I'll present nothing but a cheery outlook to her!

rjw_lgb_ca

Olive: My best thoughts go out to your daughter and to you as well. It's hard to watch a loved one go through this. But the best thing, as you know, is to go into battle informed. Find out all you can about thyroid cancer, insist on getting her into clinical trials as much as possible, seek out support groups, talk about it, talk about everything! If there's a Wellness Community in your area, that's a great place to go.

GoTravel

OliveOyl, sending out warm thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

To both you and rjw, who gives a rats patootie whether or not it is travel related? Post and just maybe, a bunch of not-so-strangers can ease your burden.

As my mother always says, whatever path gets you there.

Tandoori_Girl

OO, lots of prayers for your daughter. I know she'll do just fine.

emd1

OliveOyl, I was just thinking of you today when I was responding to to a post on Sedona and I recalled your post on Hyatt Pinon Point over Thanksgiving. Now I can think of sending positive thoughts to you and your daughter and rjw and his sister.

OliveOyl

Unbelievably emd, it was me who spotted this, sitting across the table from her in Sedona Thanksgiving day! I think it was noticeable because she was swallowing, and she's thin...looking at her the rest of that trip, I didn't see it. Had told her about it, but she didn't look into it until January, and the diagnostic process has taken this long! She's young, she's healthy, and this form is generally very very curable....so I am trying to be upbeat and most of the time am. Tomorrow's surgery has me on edge, though. We've found a great surgical oncologist and he's recommended the follow-up team. We all feel she's in good hands.

Thank you all so much for your good thoughts. Reading the positive outcomes is encouraging. There's progress every year with new forms of meds and treatment even with the difficult forms of cancer. This "child" has always been a scrapper too...if anyone can beat something, she can--never ever having been one to take anything sitting down. Thanks again for your thoughts guys...I really do appreciate them.

GoTravel

OO, my husband went through a very serious illness this past summer. One thing it drives home when a loved one is sick, is how advanced our medical field is.

It is one thing to flip through People Magazine and see photos of celebs at fund raisers for this disease and that cause and a whole other ballgame to SEE the progress in person.

I can remember reading articles in magazines about medical advancements and to see them used on my husband was mind boggling.

Your daughter is in good hands. Make sure you take care of YOU.