› Forums › Caregiver Community › Year for Hope
- This topic has 20 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 8 months ago by
dian in spokane.
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- January 1, 2011 at 10:49 pm
Hello all
I have been checking the board frequently but rarely see anyone around to chat with lately.
Anyway, I hope that this year is the year that the researchers connect all the dots and we can start talking about either curing melanoma or downgrading it to a chronic disease, but no longer life threatening for most people.
I still work and I am involved in building a cat litter plant so my 3 cats should be happy. My family, threw me a surprise 60 b-day party back in November.
Hello all
I have been checking the board frequently but rarely see anyone around to chat with lately.
Anyway, I hope that this year is the year that the researchers connect all the dots and we can start talking about either curing melanoma or downgrading it to a chronic disease, but no longer life threatening for most people.
I still work and I am involved in building a cat litter plant so my 3 cats should be happy. My family, threw me a surprise 60 b-day party back in November.
I am due for another checkup in May as I am now 6 plus years out from my stage 3B diagnosis. Still have Lymphedema in my right arm and some external radiation scars but in pretty good shape, other than my knees (arthritis). I still take an assortment of supplements as well
If I had to get this cancer, I am honored to among all of you, those we lost and mourn , those fighting with active disease, those like me in a holding state, the newly daignosed, and all the caregivers and doctors and nurses that are on our side.
Happy New Year
Mike from NJ
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- January 2, 2011 at 1:11 am
Happy 2011, Mike! It's good to see you post. I remember when we were first diagnosed many years ago. We spent many hours in chat back then.
Stay Strong
KingStage IV 7/05 Liver mets
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- January 2, 2011 at 4:30 am
Mike,
You raise a good point. The longer we stay alive , the better our chances of staying even longer alive. Medical research is lurching ahead, not very quickly and not very directly, but progress is being made.
My quibble with the reaearch is that it seems to be wholly centred on the chemical warfare appoach. Perhaps not surprising since Big Pharma is bankrolling most of this work.
I would have like to have seen more research on the causes of the disease and the effects of nutrition, stress, heredity, hormone levels etc.
Regards
springbok
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- January 2, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Hi Springbok
I spent years as a process engineer in a few major pharma companies. Things were way too slow back then when I was healthy and even slower to me now after the Dx.
Unfortunately, everything as you said, is and was about making money and all decisions are based on possible returns on investment, not whether or not a few lives could be saved from melanoma. If left up to the researchers alone, we would most likely be way ahead of where we are now but the conservatism of the FDA, the huge cost to invest in an experimental drug, and opportunistic trial lawyers awaiting a mistake, all add up to a path for very slow progress down to very small steps.
I wish there was a better way.
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- January 2, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Hi Springbok
I spent years as a process engineer in a few major pharma companies. Things were way too slow back then when I was healthy and even slower to me now after the Dx.
Unfortunately, everything as you said, is and was about making money and all decisions are based on possible returns on investment, not whether or not a few lives could be saved from melanoma. If left up to the researchers alone, we would most likely be way ahead of where we are now but the conservatism of the FDA, the huge cost to invest in an experimental drug, and opportunistic trial lawyers awaiting a mistake, all add up to a path for very slow progress down to very small steps.
I wish there was a better way.
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- January 2, 2011 at 4:30 am
Mike,
You raise a good point. The longer we stay alive , the better our chances of staying even longer alive. Medical research is lurching ahead, not very quickly and not very directly, but progress is being made.
My quibble with the reaearch is that it seems to be wholly centred on the chemical warfare appoach. Perhaps not surprising since Big Pharma is bankrolling most of this work.
I would have like to have seen more research on the causes of the disease and the effects of nutrition, stress, heredity, hormone levels etc.
Regards
springbok
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- January 2, 2011 at 5:00 am
Congratulations Mike.
6 years is fantastic. Keep treating your body and mind well and live until 90+.
Also, please keep posting on your anniversary, at the very minimum.
I'm stage 3, 3 years NED and I will do the same.
Let us all in on what your diet and lifestyle is like.
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- January 2, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Hi Jake,
In 2004 when I discovered the big lump in my axiilla (I did not connect the dots quickly!), I went in for surgery, radaition, and a vaccinre trial called mel43 in Pittsburgh. I tried effexor for depression but it did little and I stopped after a few months and just forged ahead best I could. My refuge was working as an engineer and I kept a normal schedule at work and Church and faith in God was essential.
My lifestyle has changed since the diagnosis as I have not jogged as much but I try when my knees feel good. I also eat alot of Broccoli and Asparagus, and berries (blueberry raspberry). I am trying to self teach myself electric guitar and I want to learn a few Lou Reed tunes
I take celebrex for the arthritis and supplements include curcumin with bioperine, AHCC, IP6 w Inositol & CatsClaw, various mushroom products, Pau D' Arco; Suma, COQ10, and the Dr Rath combination (Green Tea Extract ,Proline Lysine, Vitamin C). There may be a few others. I have no clue if this costly assortment is doing anything, other than creating expensive urine but I am afraid to quit now.
Good luck as you go forward
Mike K
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- January 2, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Hi Jake,
In 2004 when I discovered the big lump in my axiilla (I did not connect the dots quickly!), I went in for surgery, radaition, and a vaccinre trial called mel43 in Pittsburgh. I tried effexor for depression but it did little and I stopped after a few months and just forged ahead best I could. My refuge was working as an engineer and I kept a normal schedule at work and Church and faith in God was essential.
My lifestyle has changed since the diagnosis as I have not jogged as much but I try when my knees feel good. I also eat alot of Broccoli and Asparagus, and berries (blueberry raspberry). I am trying to self teach myself electric guitar and I want to learn a few Lou Reed tunes
I take celebrex for the arthritis and supplements include curcumin with bioperine, AHCC, IP6 w Inositol & CatsClaw, various mushroom products, Pau D' Arco; Suma, COQ10, and the Dr Rath combination (Green Tea Extract ,Proline Lysine, Vitamin C). There may be a few others. I have no clue if this costly assortment is doing anything, other than creating expensive urine but I am afraid to quit now.
Good luck as you go forward
Mike K
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- January 2, 2011 at 5:00 am
Congratulations Mike.
6 years is fantastic. Keep treating your body and mind well and live until 90+.
Also, please keep posting on your anniversary, at the very minimum.
I'm stage 3, 3 years NED and I will do the same.
Let us all in on what your diet and lifestyle is like.
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- January 3, 2011 at 4:17 am
Happy New Year, Mike!
I'm hoping for new melanoma treatments this year, as I always do! Glad to see you've been off enjoying your life. The surprise party sounds like fun – good for you! Maybe we can meet up in chat sometime soon – it's been awhile since there's been a crowd in there. Take care and I hope 2001 is good to you.
Deb
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- January 3, 2011 at 4:17 am
Happy New Year, Mike!
I'm hoping for new melanoma treatments this year, as I always do! Glad to see you've been off enjoying your life. The surprise party sounds like fun – good for you! Maybe we can meet up in chat sometime soon – it's been awhile since there's been a crowd in there. Take care and I hope 2001 is good to you.
Deb
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- January 4, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Happy New Year Mike, stay NED!
dian
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- January 4, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Happy New Year Mike, stay NED!
dian
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