Guest guest Posted April 2, 2006 Report Share Posted April 2, 2006 Randy, I'm sorry you are feeling poorly, but that's great news about the tumor! Stay strong and know that we are thinking of you. Laurie __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Randy, hang in there. I am glad to see that there was shrinkage in the tumor. That is great. You have great strength because I am not so sure how I would do during this process. I won't say stay positive, just do what you can and please try to be encouraged. Keep us posted. I will whisper a prayer for you and your family. Take care. Pam Marsh --- jackpoint_94401 wrote: > I just found out that I will be starting radiation > therapy this > Wednesday. It will be five days a week for seven > weeks, with one > chemo treatment each at the start, middle, and end. > My case manager > (the head and neck surgeon) said that she saw > definite shrinkage in > my primary tumor after the two chemo treatments I've > had, which is > encouraging. I have to say, though, that while I > have to count my > blessings that the side effects of the chemo have > been virtually > absent in my case, it has taken a lot out of me, and > for the first > time I feel like something of an invalid, which is > why I haven't > posted much here the past few days. > > Anyway, my best to all and I'll be thinking good > thoughts. I will be > trying to attend the post-op support group at South > City on the > 15th, so I hope to see some of you there. > > Randy > > Orientation 313 > Surgery 2/2/06 281 > Current 239 > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Randy...I am soo sooooo pleased to hear that the tumor is responding. That's a great sign! As far as chemo taking alot out of you...heck, even if you had NO physical reaction to it, on an emotional/energy level, you would probably be depleted somewhat. It takes a lot of energy to withstand any kind of treatment on your body. Your cells are working overtime fighting the "intruder" (both the chemo AND the tumor), and it's exhausting, I'm sure. Plus, just gearing up for the treatment...having the expectation of being sick as a dog...the energy used to anticipate and shore up...well, that takes a lot. I am so proud of you. This is a Herculean task...but fortunately, we have Hercules as our contender. Please let us know if there is anything we can do...and bless you. Keep fighting that fight, you are doing wonderfully! Visualize white light attacking the bad cancer cells and visualize winning that battle. I just saw a special on medical issues, and they studied a bunch of monks, and the impact on their brains during meditation. They did a study where they taught people how to meditate in a week...and then they gave a placebo group and the meditators a flu shot...and they tested the number of anti-bodies that each person created in response to the shot...and without exception, uniformly the meditators created MANY more anti-bodies. There was a real body-mind connection when it came to the immune system. This study was done using a lot of controls for outliers, and it sounded very reasonable. So, here's my suggestion. Do some research on meditation, and see if you can get a few sessions with somebody (maybe through a Zen center, there are plenty in the area) to teach you the fundamentals of real meditation (which is a bit more than pure visualization). It sounds like it can really help you with pain (some of the individuals that were on this show had been taught to visualize a dimmer switch in the control room that was their brain, and learned to turn the dimmer switch down, and it had a marked impact on their pain), and it can help boost your immune system. That "battle" where you visualize white light infusing your body (white is the color of healing...and it's not easy to visualize the light, it takes practice), and where you imagine the good cells and the chemo battling together to destroy the bad cells, has been shown to really have an impact. Something to think about. Even though it seems a little "new agey", Western medecine is starting to really come to accept that this stuff is a positive contributor to the healing process. (I don't think people should give up using traditional medecine at all, but this can be a real adjunct.) In fact, Dr. Gity leads some meditation exercises in her classes over at SSF Kaiser for the pre and post-ops. I also have this person who is a hypnotist..and she has helped me alot, by helping me get into a deeply meditative state...doing visualization. She is really great, and warm and kind. If you want to go to her, she is in Berkeley. Her name is Becky Tabor, and the name of her place (which also does electrolysis) is "A Light Touch". The number is . Generally, she works Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun and I think Monday. She is on College Avenue, right at the intersection of College and Alcatraz. That's the part of Berkeley Elmwood that abuts the Rockridge area. It's a really nice part of town...where A Cuppa Tea, Yasai Market, the flower cart, Grasshopper, and Ver Brugge Butcher is... Good luck! RobynnPamela A Marsh wrote: Randy, hang in there. I am glad to see that there wasshrinkage in the tumor. That is great. You havegreat strength because I am not so sure how I would doduring this process. I won't say stay positive, justdo what you can and please try to be encouraged. Keepus posted. I will whisper a prayer for you and yourfamily. Take care.Pam Marsh--- jackpoint_94401 wrote:> I just found out that I will be starting radiation> therapy this > Wednesday. It will be five days a week for seven> weeks, with one > chemo treatment each at the start, middle, and end.> My case manager > (the head and neck surgeon) said that she saw> definite shrinkage in > my primary tumor after the two chemo treatments I've> had, which is > encouraging. I have to say, though, that while I> have to count my > blessings that the side effects of the chemo have> been virtually > absent in my case, it has taken a lot out of me, and> for the first > time I feel like something of an invalid, which is> why I haven't > posted much here the past few days. > > Anyway, my best to all and I'll be thinking good> thoughts. I will be > trying to attend the post-op support group at South> City on the > 15th, so I hope to see some of you there.> > Randy> > Orientation 313> Surgery 2/2/06 281> Current 239> > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Randy, I'm in awe of the strength you're showing in dealing with this. You've made a lot of progress just by getting this far. We'll all be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Cathy C. > > I just found out that I will be starting radiation therapy this > Wednesday. It will be five days a week for seven weeks, with one > chemo treatment each at the start, middle, and end. My case manager > (the head and neck surgeon) said that she saw definite shrinkage in > my primary tumor after the two chemo treatments I've had, which is > encouraging. I have to say, though, that while I have to count my > blessings that the side effects of the chemo have been virtually > absent in my case, it has taken a lot out of me, and for the first > time I feel like something of an invalid, which is why I haven't > posted much here the past few days. > > Anyway, my best to all and I'll be thinking good thoughts. I will be > trying to attend the post-op support group at South City on the > 15th, so I hope to see some of you there. > > Randy > > Orientation 313 > Surgery 2/2/06 281 > Current 239 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2006 Report Share Posted April 3, 2006 Randy - I wish I had something to say that would make things better for you but I hope knowing there are people here that care about you and are praying for you helps a little. PEGGY ><> > > I just found out that I will be starting radiation therapy this > Wednesday. It will be five days a week for seven weeks, with one > chemo treatment each at the start, middle, and end. My case manager > (the head and neck surgeon) said that she saw definite shrinkage in > my primary tumor after the two chemo treatments I've had, which is > encouraging. I have to say, though, that while I have to count my > blessings that the side effects of the chemo have been virtually > absent in my case, it has taken a lot out of me, and for the first > time I feel like something of an invalid, which is why I haven't > posted much here the past few days. > > Anyway, my best to all and I'll be thinking good thoughts. I will be > trying to attend the post-op support group at South City on the > 15th, so I hope to see some of you there. > > Randy > > Orientation 313 > Surgery 2/2/06 281 > Current 239 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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