OT: my sister's health

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. My 26 yr old sister Bridget who lives with us was feeling unwell.

Her lymph glands were swollen lately. After an xray and CT, it looks like she

has a large mass in her neck, chest and into her abdomen that is likely

lymphoma, a disease that many of us in the RA community are very concerned

about. We see the surgeon and oncologist tomorrow. Hopefully we will get a

biopsy asap and she can get started on chemo. Please keep her in your thoughts

and prayers if you are so inclined. She is single and I'm praying she'll be

able to maintain her fertility after treatment. Our parents are traveling in

Argentina and I am her only support. I'm selfishly a bit nervous for myself

b/c I've had night sweats for a long time that they had chalked up to hormones.

I might get a CT to be sure... our uncle had lymphoma 3 years ago. I wonder if

there's a connection between the RA genes and this. Thank you for thinking of

her, Kate F

[Guest guest]

Kate,

 

Cancer can be very scary, but very treatable. My Grandmother had Lymphnoma and

survived it. The treatments they have now are wonderful. It's definately

beatable...have faith.

 

My prayers are with you and your sister.

 

Betsy

[Guest guest]

Update, day 2

Bridget had instant rapport with the oncologist. He's great. Lots of tears

over probably not being able to use her own eggs to get pregnant later on. The

cancer is thru her neck, chest, and under her arms. He thinks it's likely

Hodgkins. We hope it's not in her liver yet but there were infiltrates on the

CT. Bone marrow biopsy on Mon at 8 central time if you can send her positive

energy and prayers. Full torso CT later that day and surgical biopsy sometime

on Tues. Lots of aggravations with the hospital minions. I tried to buy her a

book of parking passes and the #$%#@ person at the desk refused b/c I was a

clinic employee and they've had abuses with employees using them to park. I

said, listen, I don't work at the hospital, I work at the clinic 30 minutes

away, but it made no difference. I nearly went across the counter at her in

rage. Our new cancer center is just great, all the right people, very nice

nurses. We walked out of there with a

plan and that's more than we went in with. Our mother, who doesn't have a

maternal bone in her body, called to say that she would have been on the first

plane out here, but oh, poor baby, she has an ear infection. I walked in the

room to hear Bridget comforting HER. No wonder she doesn't want to go home for

chemo. My mother might get a hang nail or an upset tummy :/

________________________________

From: Farchette <eafarchette@...>

Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 7:29:57 AM

Subject: [ ] Re:OT: my sister's health

Kate,

Cancer can be very scary, but very treatable. My Grandmother had Lymphnoma and

survived it. The treatments they have now are wonderful. It's definately

beatable...have faith.

My prayers are with you and your sister.

Betsy

[Guest guest]

You will both be in my prayers.

Do not waste energy on what your Mom is not.

Use the energy for healing....God Bless

Raniolo

From: Fair <kalfoley@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] Re:OT: my sister's health

Date: Friday, December 19, 2008, 9:45 PM

Update, day 2

Bridget had instant rapport with the oncologist. He's great. Lots of tears over

probably not being able to use her own eggs to get pregnant later on. The cancer

is thru her neck, chest, and under her arms. He thinks it's likely Hodgkins. We

hope it's not in her liver yet but there were infiltrates on the CT. Bone marrow

biopsy on Mon at 8 central time if you can send her positive energy and prayers.

Full torso CT later that day and surgical biopsy sometime on Tues. Lots of

aggravations with the hospital minions. I tried to buy her a book of parking

passes and the #$%#@ person at the desk refused b/c I was a clinic employee and

they've had abuses with employees using them to park. I said, listen, I don't

work at the hospital, I work at the clinic 30 minutes away, but it made no

difference. I nearly went across the counter at her in rage. Our new cancer

center is just great, all the right people, very nice nurses. We walked out of

there with a

plan and that's more than we went in with. Our mother, who doesn't have a

maternal bone in her body, called to say that she would have been on the first

plane out here, but oh, poor baby, she has an ear infection. I walked in the

room to hear Bridget comforting HER. No wonder she doesn't want to go home for

chemo. My mother might get a hang nail or an upset tummy :/

____________ _________ _________ __

From: Farchette <eafarchette>

@gro ups.com

Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 7:29:57 AM

Subject: [ ] Re:OT: my sister's health

Kate,

Cancer can be very scary, but very treatable. My Grandmother had Lymphnoma and

survived it. The treatments they have now are wonderful. It's definately

beatable...have faith.

My prayers are with you and your sister.

Betsy

[Guest guest]

Kate and group;

I am so very sorry to hear how you sister is suffering. She has you

and that is wonderful. You got each other. Cancer is such an ugly

word and disease. I pray your sister gets better and I am so sorry

people have to be so cold

I pray that people can be more helpful to you and your sister. God

bless and take care.

gentle hugs

Clora

*******************************************************

> Update, day 2

> Bridget had instant rapport with the oncologist. He's great. Lots

of tears over probably not being able to use her own eggs to get

pregnant later on. The cancer is thru her neck, chest, and under her

arms. He thinks it's likely Hodgkins. We hope it's not in her liver

yet but there were infiltrates on the CT. Bone marrow biopsy on Mon

at 8 central time if you can send her positive energy and prayers.

Full torso CT later that day and surgical biopsy sometime on Tues.

Lots of aggravations with the hospital minions. I tried to buy her a

book of parking passes and the #$%#@ person at the desk refused b/c I

was a clinic employee and they've had abuses with employees using

them to park. I said, listen, I don't work at the hospital, I work

at the clinic 30 minutes away, but it made no difference. I nearly

went across the counter at her in rage. Our new cancer center is

just great, all the right people, very nice nurses. We walked out of

there with a

> plan and that's more than we went in with. Our mother, who

doesn't have a maternal bone in her body, called to say that she

would have been on the first plane out here, but oh, poor baby, she

has an ear infection. I walked in the room to hear Bridget

comforting HER. No wonder she doesn't want to go home for chemo. My

mother might get a hang nail or an upset tummy :/

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kate,

I'm relieved to hear that the oncologist is a good fit. Oh, those minions!

It's good to have a plan. Your sister is lucky to have you guide her

through each step.

Maybe it's better that your mother isn't there. So sorry about that situation.

Hang in there and vent here when you need to.

Not an MD

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 8:45 PM, Fair <kalfoley@...> wrote:

> Update, day 2

> Bridget had instant rapport with the oncologist. He's great. Lots of tears

> over probably not being able to use her own eggs to get pregnant later on.

> The cancer is thru her neck, chest, and under her arms. He thinks it's

> likely Hodgkins. We hope it's not in her liver yet but there were

> infiltrates on the CT. Bone marrow biopsy on Mon at 8 central time if you

> can send her positive energy and prayers. Full torso CT later that day and

> surgical biopsy sometime on Tues. Lots of aggravations with the hospital

> minions. I tried to buy her a book of parking passes and the #$%#@ person at

> the desk refused b/c I was a clinic employee and they've had abuses with

> employees using them to park. I said, listen, I don't work at the hospital,

> I work at the clinic 30 minutes away, but it made no difference. I nearly

> went across the counter at her in rage. Our new cancer center is just great,

> all the right people, very nice nurses. We walked out of there with a

> plan and that's more than we went in with. Our mother, who doesn't have a

> maternal bone in her body, called to say that she would have been on the

> first plane out here, but oh, poor baby, she has an ear infection. I walked

> in the room to hear Bridget comforting HER. No wonder she doesn't want to go

> home for chemo. My mother might get a hang nail or an upset tummy :/