Cancer. What is going ON?

[Noble Work]

As I type this I have tears in my eyes. If you remember we all talked about this cancer thing and how rampant it has become. At one point I mentioned that there were a lot of Brothers in my lodge with family and/or friends stricken with this disease. Since then we have learned that one of our very own lodge Brothers found out that he has lung cancer (non smoker). He was previously in the hospital for pneumonia which seems to have gotten better. Yesterday our lodge was informed that the doctors has given him 30 days to live.

We also have another Brother who's wife been battling with breast cancer I believe. (early 30's) Well she got tired, and called home to God. She passed yesterday morning. Lord be with her.

I know ya'll don't know these Brothers, but can you Pray for them? Can you Pray for the surviving family? The Brother who lost his wife yesterday has a 4/5 year old...I can't do this, it's too heavy. Please Pray!!

Side note: OOA family STAY UP ON YOUR HEALTH.

[Julie Art]

I feel your pain. Lung cancer has struck my family. It took my aunt Tuesday morning. She went into the hospital for pnumonenia going into the fall season. We thought she was getting better, she was taking chemo and everything, the tumors had shruken, she was at 60%. Then she just died. She was a smoker. Maybe this will make my uncle (my mom's brother) and my other uncle and wife stop smoking. The people in my family who hand cancer and died (besides one) were smokers.

Stop smoking people, and get check-ups regularly!

[Rare_Commodity]

My thoughts and prayers are with them. Last year I had a cousin that just kept complaining that her stomach was hurting. She finally went to the doctor where they diagnosed her with stomach cancer. This was maybe in April or May. It seemed like the chemo was helping. She started getting better and had just bought her a new house. Unfortunately, 6 months later she passed.

The sad thing is all the money that has been raised for cancer research and they still haven't found the "cure". And once they find the cure most people won't be able to afford it.

[Bunny Hop]

The money for research also goes towards other things that are helping (look up Herceptin and what it has done for HER2+ breast cancer patients).

[ReignMan19]

Wow. They are in my prayers. I have lost a few family members to Cancer as well. It is really tough.

[Rare_Commodity]

Feb 21, 2011 14:53:54 GMT -5 Bunny Hop said:

The money for research also goes towards other things that are helping (look up Herceptin and what it has done for HER2+ breast cancer patients).

I guess that is true I sometimes forget how expensive research is. Everytime they say they have found foods that reduce your risk there is another study that refutes it.

I've been trying to do more exercise, eat healthier, and overall be more healty.

[T-Rex91]

Prayers sent.

I agree, cancer is WAY too common these days. I think all the happy meals and other chemically altered foods that we've consumed are doing us in :-(

[Rare_Commodity]

I agree. I heard on the radio the other day a good point. The reason people are getting sick more often is the chemically pumped foods we eat, lack of sunshine and exercise.

Back in the day staying inside use to be a punishment and going outside was a luxury....now-a-days things have been reversed.

[Bunny Hop]

Feb 27, 2011 14:29:21 GMT -5 Rare_Commodity said:

I guess that is true I sometimes forget how expensive research is. Everytime they say they have found foods that reduce your risk there is another study that refutes it.

I've been trying to do more exercise, eat healthier, and overall be more healty.

It's crazy because you can do everything you're supposed to do and you may still get cancer. Some can be linked to your activities (my Dad drank and smoke for years and had throat cancer) but sometimes it comes anyway. You'll read and hear these stories about people saying they did everything right. There are so many things in the food we eat, the air we breath and even the water that you just never know. All you can do is stay as healthy as possible (to prevent other things) and live life to the fullest.

My Mom's coworker is 31 and taking blood pressure pills and I know someone that was taking them right after we got out of college No thanks! I've started exercising more and I'm about to get my eating habits and weight under control. I can't even swallow pills so I need to be doing everything I can to not have to take them, LOL.

[Rare_Commodity]

Yes I am not a fan of vitamins...looking for a good liquid vitamin as we speak.

[Bunny Hop]

What about smoothies? You know how you can get a smoothie and get the different stuff added ti it (fiber, multi vitamins, energy, caffeine, etc)?

[Rare_Commodity]

Yea I was thinking about that too. I went to the health food store yesterday and they sell the smoothie mix in their... I'm just nervous about how it will taste! Today is day 1 of my serious committment to "doing better"

[Sapphire]

Wow! Sorry to hear that Level. Cancer is too prevalent and it's crazy that after all this time there's still no cure or even treatment that can keep you alive and healthy. We need to each better (I agree with 91 about all that junk), get regular check ups and do something about barriers to good health care. By the time you get cancer symptoms it's often too late. So if you're not getting regular check ups you could be in real trouble. but also many folks have to fight with doctors to get tests or exams. If there's no family history they often look at you like why are you wasting my time. By law you can start getting a mammogram covered by insurance, but they don't recommend it until 40. I was actually asked why I wanted to start early. Huh? Folks get cancer in their early 30's, why would I wait for a simple exam?

They say these full body scans can find anything (well lots of things) that's wrong with you, including colon, rectal, lung, and breast, cancer. Why not let everyone do one every few years?

[Rare_Commodity]

Money and politics. Even if you have insurance costs lots of money and the insurance company doesn't want to do it. I am in my late 20's and wanted a mammogram and my insurance denied it. I just switch doctors after being with him for years because I realized his answer to everything is writing a prescription.

[LogAKAlly <3'n Keef]

OMG. I can literally hear your pain.

I will pray for them to find peace and comfort.

EVERYONE, stay up on your antioxidants!! They combat cancer and premature aging.

[RubyPearl]

No one really talks about prevention....yes prevention. I have learned that one easy preventive method is Vitamin D. Someone mention going outside into the Sunlight, that is the best way to get a full daily supply of Vitamin D. However, African Americans require 3x times as much time in the Sun than our other ethnic counterparts. Best option take a Vitamin D pill. Remember to always do your research... one website among many I like to use is www.naturalnews.com/vitamin_d.html And don't forget your children!

[123Diva]

I have lost sooo many family members to cancer. Some of them died very quickly after being diagnosed. It's just a scary thing.

[Rare_Commodity]

^^ I agree. When my aunt was diagnosed with stomach cancer less then 6 months later she passed. It's like the treatments do more harm than good...like it speeds up the spreading of the cancer. Sad.

[Bunny Hop]

*The scan that sees everything is probably a PET scan and it costs several thousand dollars (like up to $6000) per scan. If people just started getting these every few years your insurance premiums would sky rocket. Many patients get one before starting chemo because they need to know the state of your body before chemo.

*Treatments don't speed up cancer. Chemo kill cancer cells, which are rapidly growing, so it will also kill other rapidly growing cells. This is why chemo patients lose hair, have dry mouth, and have dry brittle nails. It's killing good and bad cells so even when someone seems like they're doing worse it may be more of the side effects you're seeing and the fact that the have a compromised immune system and are susceptible to a lot of things.

But sometimes the cancer is so aggressive or it has spread so much that the chemo isn't helping at all or isn't helping fast enough. There are people who've been on chemo for years because if they stop the cancer will come back. Treatment isn't a sure science, it's kind of based on the individual and it doesn't have the same effect on everyone. And then there's the quality of life issue. You could treat someone very aggressively for an aggressive cancer but then you have to factor in their quality of life because the side effects will be really bad. At one point my mom's neuropathy got so bad that she couldn't feel her feet while driving, walking, etc. The doctor was considering stopping her chemo med (she was only on one) because he didn't want her to fall or get in an accident, which you definitely don't need with a compromised immune system. My father's side effects were really bad and they had to scale back his cocktail after a few treatments.

*About the doctor not letting you get a mammogram...do you do breast self exams? Is there a protocol that he has to follow? I know some just like to write prescription but sometimes it's not as simple as telling the doctor that you're having and issue and him signing you up for a scan. (even though everyone on tv gets CT and PET scans, LOL) There are a lot of women in their 20s and 30s getting mammograms so some doctors are allowing it, maybe they have a family history, IDK. But there are also organizations that may help pay or pay for one all together.

[Rare_Commodity]

Oh ok that is what I was thinking it was doing double duty and killing both bad and good cells while trying to fight off the bad ones. Yes I do the monthly exams. I have been looking for places locally that do them but everyplace I call that offers the free or discounted one says I need to be in my late 30's early 40's. I have had several family members stricken by different kinds of cancer so I try to stay on top of my health...it sucks when you have sucky PCP that you just stayed with bc that is the only person you've known.

[Bunny Hop]

Yeah, I've had PCP's like that...you tell them something is wrong and they look at you like you have a 3rd boob.

I didn't know about the age restriction That's dumb as hell. If I come across a group or something that gives them without the age restriction I'll be sure to send you a PM.

What about an ultrasound? I'm not sure how it compares in sensitivity to mammograms but I know my mom had one in the beginning and she's had a few since and you can see some stuff on them.

[Rare_Commodity]

Yes my OB finally referred me to a radiologist and she did a ultrasound everything turned out good. "They" say they don't like to do mammi's on people younger than 35..i'm like OK but I can understand the insurance thing. If everyone wanted one every month that would be pricey and lawd knows I need my insurance premimums to stay right where it is free (paid for by my employer for now....)

[Noble Work]

OOA Family I'm sorry for this late post. But I've just found out that my Lodge Brother whom I spoke of in the post above was called home this morning at 11:50am.

Please keep his family in your prayers, and also keep our lodge in your prayers. He's entitled to Masonic Last Rites and so we shall honor him that duty as Freemason as we get through this sadden occasion.

[tillions]

I am sorry to hear about this. My prayers are with you and your brother.

[T-Rex91]

So sorry to hear that Work. I pray comfort for you and the rest of his friends and family.

[Noble Work]

Thank you all for your Prayers.

While attending the funeral another one of our Brothers found out that his father had passed away. That was a tough day for all of us. Keep us lifted.