Fuck Cancer

[Nuge 1970]

My friend Chris just died.  He was 48.

Fuck you cancer!  He was one of the good ones.  The kind that end up being family.

Godspeed Chris.  Your pain is over.

Edited April 16, 2018 by Nuge

[DoobieWah 1437]

I lost my best friend since high school about five years ago. He was 52 and had been battling for ten years.

[Surly Bevo 24908]

Just watched a 14 year old in our community succumb to an 11 month battle with DIPG.

It’s terrible.

Sorry for your loss.

[SHOOTER12 8810]

F cancer indeed.  Damned thing needs to be destroyed.

Sorry for your loss bro.

[Hanrahan 1306]

I dislike cancer.

[AnotherUTFan 9740]

Sorry for y'alls loss.

They found cancer in my Dad last year when he went in with a sore shoulder. 2 months and 2 days later he was gone. I still can't believe it.

Fuck cancer.

[SHOOTER12 8810]

29 minutes ago, AnotherUTFan said:

Sorry for y'alls loss.

They found cancer in my Dad last year when he went in with a sore shoulder. 2 months and 2 days later he was gone. I still can't believe it.

Fuck cancer.

Dang man, sorry to hear that.  Hope your family finds peace and healing.

[staboner 4969]

sorry to hear my friend

[Nuge 1970]

3 hours ago, AnotherUTFan said:

Sorry for y'alls loss.

They found cancer in my Dad last year when he went in with a sore shoulder. 2 months and 2 days later he was gone. I still can't believe it.

Fuck cancer.

Oof - sorry to hear that.  That's rough.

After some time to reflect on my friend's passing I feel I need to stay in better contact with friends and family and tell them I love them more.

[Johnny Chimpo 478]

Fuck cancer 

[TexArcher 37774]

Buried a close friend when we were both 36.

Sorry for your loss.  Fuck cancer.

[pearlandhorn 3269]

My dad had was diagnosed with urethral/penile cancer 3 years ago.  Beat it - didn't have to do radiation or chemo.  My aunt (his sister) had ovarian cancer in the 90s and beat it, she then went for her annual mammogram about 6 months ago and they found some abnormal cells - removed them and did radiation.  Now she's having a biopsy done of her bladder which is showing some abnormalities.  She had genetic testing done along with my dad to show common cancer genes and if they run in the family.  Thankfully, I do not have these genes as the test came back clear (mom's side of the family is relatively healthy).

MD Anderson and their doctors/nurses are literally the best on the planet.  My dad's cancer was so rare that his doctor down here was the only person in the US that has familiarity with his condition.  People fly in from all over the world to see him.  Something like 100 people on the planet have had my dad's condition.  Literally saved his life.  I will forever be indebted to them.  They allowed him to see his only grandson.

My wife's aunt has a very rare type of leukemia as well.  It's an ongoing battle and she was just referred down here to MD Anderson as well.  She came in for her appointment, the oncologist looked her previous bone marrow biopsies, switched her to a new drug for three months.  Prognosis is cloudy as there has yet to be a "cure" found for her condition.  It's experimental at this point.

[Eddyline 116]

MD Anderson is hands-down your best shot.  Absolutely saved my wife's life.

[Nuge 1970]

The worst job I ever had was working at MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital.  I was in the AV department and set up all of their meetings, conferences, etc.  The job itself wasn't bad; it was seeing all of those bald headed children, wondering if they would make it.  I left work everyday with a broken heart.  I appreciate and look up to all of the doctors and staff that help those kids.  It's got to crush your soul to take care of and become close to a child only to have them pass.  Must make the success stories all that more rewarding and meaningful.

[Professional Drinker 0]

Dad passed away while I was at UT from lung cancer. That was a rough semester. 

Closest childhood friend (went to UT together, I was in his first wedding) passed away at 39. Left behind a wife and five kids. One of the greatest guys I ever knew. I spent a lot of time wondering why him and not me (single, no kids, pretty damn selfish person in general). 

Fuck cancer - fuck it right in the ass. 

[Brisketexan 105139]

3 hours ago, Nuge said:

The worst job I ever had was working at MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital.  I was in the AV department and set up all of their meetings, conferences, etc.  The job itself wasn't bad; it was seeing all of those bald headed children, wondering if they would make it.  I left work everyday with a broken heart.  I appreciate and look up to all of the doctors and staff that help those kids.  It's got to crush your soul to take care of and become close to a child only to have them pass.  Must make the success stories all that more rewarding and meaningful.

I've said it before in conversation, but I can't imagine a worse job in the world than pediatric oncologist.

I imagine that you have to be in it for the wins.  But knowing myself, my mind would eventually be consumed by each and every one of the losses, and I couldn't live with it.  I really couldn't.  For the folks who do that job, and can handle it, God bless them.  Seriously, mentally, they are going into the most brutal battle that I can imagine, every single day.  I couldn't hack it.  They are better than I am, by far.  And thank God for that.  Because we need those wins.

[AnotherUTFan 9740]

I had a cousin named Robbie, he was a year younger than me. When i was about 13 his parents split. It got ugly. His Mom got custody and after a year or so he was barely allowed to see our side of the family, his Dad moved off.

So when he was 14 he gets diagnosed with Leukemia. He lived most of the rest of his life at MDA. I only saw him once during that period. He died when he was 16. At his funeral his Mom came over to where I was with my family and grieving grandparents to tell us we were not invited or welcomed at the service. Fucking bitch. We stayed.

To this day I sometimes reflect on my life and how the world's changed in the last 30 plus years, and I feel sorry that he wasn't here to see it.

Also, sometime around 1986 National Geographic did a story about MDA. My Grandmother had saved it because there were several pictures of Robert (as he became called post-divorce) in it. If anybody happens to have a copy laying around, AUTF would like it.

[EtOH 63]

Mom went in for bad heartburn two years ago. ER doc told her it was an esophageal hernia that they could fix. “Oh and you’ve also got stage 4 ovarian cancer” and left the room. I have his name and professional history and home address. I’ll give him back his personal kindness when I have the chance. 

Docs in south TX said, “well...we can make you comfortable for the next 3 months”. So I immediately moved her up to Austin in my neighborhood, got her some real docs and she’ll be at my kids’ lacrosse and baseball games again this spring. It’s come back but not today buddy. Not today. 

Edited April 19, 2018 by EtOH

[EtOH 63]

My Uncle took his 12 year old to MD Anderson for cancer treatment. She lived another 5 years. Pretty impressive outcome given that she was a Siamese cat. Pretty impressive connections and wallet too. 

[The University 851]

8 hours ago, Eddyline said:

MD Anderson is hands-down your best shot.  Absolutely saved my wife's life.

i can't say enough good things about mdacc. simply put, they have saved my life as well as the lives of friends and family.

if you're on the fence about going there for treatment, do it. it makes me so sad when i hear about folks that would rather not bother because it's too far or inconvenient. you can never give up hope...and mdacc is chock full of hope.

[Hanrahan 1306]

I love me some MDAnderson. I’m a patient and treatment has been top notch. Two major (cutting through my abdominal wall to fix shit) surgeries and a total of 72 hours in the hospital. I still have that little 10-25% chance of being dead in five years but that’s not MDA’s fault; that’s just luck of the draw.

[EE2B 1565]

Also, sometime around 1986 National Geographic did a story about MDA. My Grandmother had saved it because there were several pictures of Robert (as he became called post-divorce) in it. If anybody happens to have a copy laying around, AUTF would like it.

For like $12 you can get a digital subscription to National Geographic and that gives you access to every issue ever printed.

[RiceOwl 74]

I have many friends who work in labs, are now med students, etc. in the Houston Med Center/MDA area. They certainly do a great job and I have great respect for them.

My mom is currently in treatment at Dana-Farber/BWH in Boston for rare low-grade neuroendocrine tumors in her lung and liver (it's a weird disease in that its not as it sounds, that is to say that her life expectancy is measured in years not months unlike most cancers that have metastisized like that). But yeah, she's only 54 and should be passing away in 30-40 years, not 3-4, so fuck cancer.

I had a family friend who was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer with a bad prognosis. Treatment began at Dana-Farber, but when first-line was unsuccessful, they went for a second opinion at M.D. Anderson. The Dr. at M.D. Anderson essentially gave the same advice for second-line as the doctor's at DF. Not liking this advice, the patient than sought a third opinion at UCLA, another very highly rated cancer center. Again, same advice. Not liking this advice, they went the homeopathic route and the guy was dead in a few months, vs. a few years he could've maybe had if the second-line had been effective.

The reason I say this is that for most cancers, if you are treated at a top 10 cancer center, all the doctors have access to the same approved treatments, clinical trials, and surgical expertise necessary to get you the best care. I really do think there is something to be said for being able to stay close to home, around your family, etc while you're going through a tough time. 

If you live in Houston and you don't get the news you want at MDA, don't expect moving to NYC and going to Sloan-Kettering to be a magic bullet.

Where it really does matter though is podunk hospital oncologist who handles all kinds of cancers vs. specialty oncologist at a research hospital.

My $.02.

Edited April 19, 2018 by RiceOwl

[Nuge 1970]

17 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

I've said it before in conversation, but I can't imagine a worse job in the world than pediatric oncologist.

I imagine that you have to be in it for the wins.  But knowing myself, my mind would eventually be consumed by each and every one of the losses, and I couldn't live with it.  I really couldn't.  For the folks who do that job, and can handle it, God bless them.  Seriously, mentally, they are going into the most brutal battle that I can imagine, every single day.  I couldn't hack it.  They are better than I am, by far.  And thank God for that.  Because we need those wins.

I'm in the same boat.  I couldn't hack it.  Walking through the hallways the walls are covered in artwork made by the children.  I would always wonder if the artists made it or not.  I hated feeling so crushed when I left work every day.  

[swraith 346]

I think my SIL is entering her final battle setting up her loss to the cancer war. Palliative care is being arranged after her long running battle with stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to her lungs and lymph nodes. It now appears to have started growing in her hip bone.

Chemo no longer seems to be slowing the cancer’s advance. Her mobility is declining and she is succumbing to the immense and constant pain. She is starting to take some serious pain meds that cause her to sleep most of the day.

This is going to crush my wife. Her sister is her only sibling. Fuck.

[tejas60 3533]

just got this message from my cousin:

"OK. I went to the Dr. yesterday and they told me I had one of the worst lung cancers they'd seen. Both lungs are in bad shape. Said I could live a year if everything goes great. Keep me in your prayers."

 

kick to the nuts. this guy had a tough life, but turned it around about 20 years ago. gave up the drugs and booze and was a stand up guy. wish he'd have given up the cigarettes, too.

 

FUCK CANCER.

[Nuge 1970]

Sorry @tejas60 that sucks.

Fuck Cancer

[Fastbreak 3985]

Lost a friend today. Ambulance was late getting to him yesterday due to the school shootings. It wouldn’t have mattered, but that time was agonizing for his wife. 

F cancer...

[fattyflattie 4639]

Lost one of my best friends at 42 last year.  Had colon cancer, that was surgically removed by MDA, and enough lymph nodes removed and checked for them to recommend no radiation.  He went in for his 3 month, 6 month, and yearly checkup and was clean. He got a hernia about a week after his yearly checkup with MDA. Went in to his GP and they found his entire stomach was a ball of cancer, I can’t remember which. MDA kept him going for a few more months, then told him it was all they could do, and to get comfortable for his remaining 3 months.

They went to OK to cancer centers of America and they extended his life for another 18 months. About 12 months in, after none of the treatments were working, they decided they would surgically remove it. 17 hours in surgery and it was completely removed...only to return with a vengeance and completely encapulsate him before his 3 month checkup. His remaining the months were the hardest thing I’ve ever witnessed. He went from a large (6-2, 260) man to being so frail we could, and would, carry him at points. His boys were 5/6 and 7/8 at the time. I couldn’t wrap my head around it, I know that they couldn’t. 

This is the only cancer I’ve ever been around. That’s my only friend who’s ever passed. I don’t think I have cried in 20 years prior, but I balled like a baby many times over the final week of his life. We were gathering with family and close friends in their barn between his death and funeral. His BIL had called into Michael Berry show for the pop a top segment that Friday, and they actually engaged in conversation for a good 3-4 minutes - college, career, family, etc.  I somehow caught the segment before and after, live on my way home from work that day. I can’t imagine had I heard it live, it would have put me in the ditch. When his wife played it for us; I’ve never seen so many grown men break down. He passed the day after their 10 year anniversary  

I wish Jimmy had had better luck at MDA; there is no doubt they do tremendous things. They just didn’t have the answer, no one did.

I’m sorry to all of you who have been affected by this terrible disease. 

RIP Jimmy

[Hanrahan 1306]

Hey, I’m going in for my yearly scan in three weeks at MDA for colon cancer! I’m 41.

[PHLaggie 110]

My sister just got diagnosed with cancer.   She's seeking treatment at M.D. Anderson in Houston in the coming week; let's see how it goes.

It's on the right side of her tongue-- which is crazy because she doesn't chew tobacco, nor smoke, nor drink much alcohol.

Apparently there's a spurt of oral cancer in the U.S., and usually on the right side. May be it has to do with cell phone over use?

 

[Chilly Water 415]

My 2 year old nephew was just diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia three weeks ago and started chemo treatment immediately. At his age they can usually treat it successfully but he’s also got pneumonia. With no immune system that’s what could actually do him in. It’s been rough on the entire family. My 4 year old and 6 month old nieces have been staying with us since he went into the hospital so my sister and BIL can stay with him around the clock. If all goes to plan, he’ll be going home in a week or so but has to continue weekly chemo treatment for the next couple years. 

Its crazy how this shit can come out of nowhere and just upend your life and everyone around you. Fuck cancer 

[Hanrahan 1306]

Had my first yearly scans for stage 3 rectal cancer at MDAnderson. Colonoscopy, ct of abdomen and pelvis and blood work. All negative. Surgery site looks pristine, no masses in the abdomen and blood work normal. One down, four more to go (you’re as close to cured as possible after five years).

[Bill Clinton 73]

Anyone with cancer should give dry fasting a try. Your body eats up all unnecessary cells searching for energy. Sucks if you are skinny already it's tougher.

[RiceOwl 74]

35 minutes ago, Bill Clinton said:

Anyone with cancer should give dry fasting a try. Your body eats up all unnecessary cells searching for energy. Sucks if you are skinny already it's tougher.

For every person this has worked for, 100 have died from not being able to keep on weight from their cancer.

 

[Eddyline 116]

On 6/15/2018 at 3:14 PM, Hanrahan said:

Had my first yearly scans for stage 3 rectal cancer at MDAnderson. Colonoscopy, ct of abdomen and pelvis and blood work. All negative. Surgery site looks pristine, no masses in the abdomen and blood work normal. One down, four more to go (you’re as close to cured as possible after five years).

Congratulations!  That first-year scan is definitely the most nerve-wracking.

[AnotherUTFan 9740]

One year ago today we learned my Dad had cancer. He lasted 2 months and 2 days. Fuck cancer.

[burntorangebongos 10710]

I lost my mom to cancer of the liver the first of this month. She was healthy for 92 out of 93 years of her life and it only got real rough the last five months. She was a sweet-hearted woman who put family first. She paid for funeral services for a few aunts and uncles and a cousin or two who went young because she could. We found a little note in her papers and it had a one dollar bill paper-clipped to it and it said " This is a dollar that I found in my La Hoya savings when I used to save $1, $5 and $10 dollars for college. Wow. I made it, thanks to God.  I now save bigger bills of $20s and $100s etc. Keep this dollar for good luck. There are 6 of us sisters so we photocopied it and the  note and made it into a photograph and buried the little note and dollar with her in a little box where we put other keepsakes, including a sweet love letter from my dad before they were married. We loved our momma and she made us good strong women who believed in contributing to family by being rock solid and willing to take on whatever popped up in our lives. 

We found $545 dollars in her dresser drawers in her room and in her purse, mostly in the $100 and $20 denominations just as she said she would save. She had money in the bank but as a depression baby, she wanted to have cash on hand as well in little separate places. We learned so much from her and I will miss all her gardening advice and sweet natured teasing. God speed, Momma. You were a really good lady. 

Edited May 7, 2020 by burntorangebongos

[Zepol87 9186]

I'm drunk and high I'm sorry to searched fkr the cancer thread but it didn't work the search sucks. My cousin died at 10:38 from colon cancer he is 35. Didn't know where to post man for real. God damn same age dying 

[Victor Lazlo 1777]

1 hour ago, Zepol87 said:

I'm drunk and high I'm sorry to searched fkr the cancer thread but it didn't work the search sucks. My cousin died at 10:38 from colon cancer he is 35. Didn't know where to post man for real. God damn same age dying 

Very sorry to read that. Died way too young. RIP. Fuck Cancer.

If you have a history of colon cancer in your family, you should start having your colonoscopies at an earlier age than what is considered standard.

I’ve learned a lot about cancer over the last few years. My wife died of a particularly nasty variety almost two years ago. Fuck Cancer.

Peace to you.

 

 

 

[seven 1367]

On 12/10/2022 at 2:07 AM, Zepol87 said:

I'm drunk and high I'm sorry to searched fkr the cancer thread but it didn't work the search sucks. My cousin died at 10:38 from colon cancer he is 35. Didn't know where to post man for real. God damn same age dying 

That sucks man, I'm sorry. 

[DFWTexEx 276]

My turn.

My 81 year dad (the greatest guy I know) was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (very aggressive brain cancer) in July.  In June, he had been very active and the picture of health, so this came fast and strong.  At the time, we were told it was stage 4 and only palliative care (radiation and chemo) was ordered, along with some PT.  In addition to his PCP and treatment team, I consulted informally with doctor friends and we all agreed on this plan. It was all we could do.

The radiation has been completed and the chemo will be completed in a week or so.  I don't expect there will be much more to do (as I was told early on).  BUT, I owe it to my mom to at least ask.  We are in touch with MD Anderson.  They want to expedite his next MRI (which will not be easy for him) and come to Houston for a consultation.  We are in the Valley and this would be a hard trip for him.  And, we don't really know what benefit there will be, if any.   Maybe some help with the symptoms and quality of life and maybe we would get a couple more months.  There is no cure.  Should he join a trial if he is eligible?   Right now, he is unsteady and can't walk around on his own.  His cognitive stuff is awkward but ok. He is not in pain, has a good appetite and is in good spirits.  We take him out for "adventures" (dinner, shopping etc.) and we sit around as a family around the pool and laugh and sing.  We are enjoying every day with him and he is too.   Do we disrupt all that for a something that we don't know?  We definitely will not do anything that would put him in pain or cause any bad side effects. We were also told to consider some sort of head gear that he would wear 24/7...we are not doing that.  Choosing not to do anything else after the treatments end will just put him in God's hands.  

I don't post much on here (although I have been around since the hookem.com days) and I don't think I have ever posted anything this personal.  I really don't know why I am posting, but maybe somebody has something that will help us think about all this.   Or maybe just for prayers.  

Hook 'em

[Brisketexan 105139]

55 minutes ago, DFWTexEx said:

My turn.

My 81 year dad (the greatest guy I know) was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (very aggressive brain cancer) in July.  In June, he had been very active and the picture of health, so this came fast and strong.  At the time, we were told it was stage 4 and only palliative care (radiation and chemo) was ordered, along with some PT.  In addition to his PCP and treatment team, I consulted informally with doctor friends and we all agreed on this plan. It was all we could do.

The radiation has been completed and the chemo will be completed in a week or so.  I don't expect there will be much more to do (as I was told early on).  BUT, I owe it to my mom to at least ask.  We are in touch with MD Anderson.  They want to expedite his next MRI (which will not be easy for him) and come to Houston for a consultation.  We are in the Valley and this would be a hard trip for him.  And, we don't really know what benefit there will be, if any.   Maybe some help with the symptoms and quality of life and maybe we would get a couple more months.  There is no cure.  Should he join a trial if he is eligible?   Right now, he is unsteady and can't walk around on his own.  His cognitive stuff is awkward but ok. He is not in pain, has a good appetite and is in good spirits.  We take him out for "adventures" (dinner, shopping etc.) and we sit around as a family around the pool and laugh and sing.  We are enjoying every day with him and he is too.   Do we disrupt all that for a something that we don't know?  We definitely will not do anything that would put him in pain or cause any bad side effects. We were also told to consider some sort of head gear that he would wear 24/7...we are not doing that.  Choosing not to do anything else after the treatments end will just put him in God's hands.  

I don't post much on here (although I have been around since the hookem.com days) and I don't think I have ever posted anything this personal.  I really don't know why I am posting, but maybe somebody has something that will help us think about all this.   Or maybe just for prayers.  

Hook 'em

You're doing right by your old man, and that counts for everything.

Listen to the docs, after telling them your goals/concerns, as honestly and plainly as you stated them above.  They'll tell you whether a trial makes sense for those goals.  They'll tell you of the risks he faces that involve pain and suffering (maybe a protective helmet would ensure that he doesn't actually cause cognitive injury if he falls).

You can't predict the future, neither can the doctors.  You'll be making the best decisions you can, based on the information available.  And doing it for the right reasons.  And that's the story of our entire damned lives.  Do the best with what you've got, and love the people you love.  You're doing it right.

[Gatorubet 30238]

Brisket covered it.  Stage 4 is a wide net, and can mean one spot on a liver easily removed, or like my dad, everywhere in his body.  So not knowing any more than I do, the only thing I would add is that there are MRIs and MRIs. Just like there are lots of cameras that take pictures, some cameras take pictures better. When MDA was treating my cancer a few years ago, there were two particular MRIs they wanted me to use, as they took a better scan than the others for my particular needs.    Sometimes they want you to go to them just because they can’t trust the people he is seeing. And I’m sure they would love to get the revenue from the MRI rather than the local people. Like Brisket said - those are all good questions and they should be able to answer them for you

And you are doing it right. And your father is lucky to have you.

[HiggyBaby 2529]

Sorry for your loss OP. Lost both my parents to the big C. Just hoping I get hit by a truck when my number’s up.

[jimmyjazz 45954]

2 hours ago, DFWTexEx said:

My turn.

My 81 year dad (the greatest guy I know) was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (very aggressive brain cancer) in July. 

Sorry to hear that.  My dad had it, did the radiation and steroids but not the chemo.  He made it a few months and honestly it didn't seem like he was terribly distressed, due to the palliative care.

I would suggest calling the docs at Duke.  There are two brothers there who are leading experts in treating this cancer.  They told me to get my dad down there pronto, but he elected to just ride it out at Barnes (StL).  Everyone charts their own path, be there for your dad (as you clearly are) and relish the moments.  He might be one of the few "lucky" ones.

[Nuge 1970]

It sucks to have to come back and add to this thread.  As I type this my BIL, Joe, is in the hospital unresponsive.  He's getting worse by the minute and I fear the end is imminent.

He had melanoma 10+ years ago and thought he had beat it.  It reared its ugly head again in January of 2023.  My son, mom, father, and I traveled down (from Portland) to Houston to see he and my sister for Christmas and to spend some time on the coast fishing.  They have a house in Matagorda and go out fishing in the bay a lot.  Joe got my son hooked on fishing and it was a great bond between the two.  We fished for two days and then the crazy freeze happened and temperatures dropped to 14 degrees. 

Shortly after that trip Joe started feeling ill but being the big tough guy that he is he disregarded it until he passed out one day.  He and my sister went to the hospital and ran tests.  Cancer.  All over.  He's been fighting it for the past year and had good success.  Had a PET test that showed 95% of it had disappeared but that last 5% was another story - it just wouldn't go away.   He was put into a trial at MD Anderson where they remove his T-cells, kill off his immune system, and reintroduce them into his body to combat the cancer.  It had the opposite effect and the tumors exploded everywhere.  Eventually he was diagnosed with LMD, Leptomeningeal Disease, where the cancer invades the meninges and spinal fluid.  At that point there wasn't anything really to be done. 

The funny thing is I was in Texas last month for the eclipse and stopped by to visit.  Joe appeared fine, strong, if a bit irksome, but otherwise looked healthy.  He and my son went fishing on their lease by the Trinity river.  It was a good day.  I'm glad that will be my son's final memory of his uncle Joe.  The LMD prognosis and lack of success with the trial made Joe realize that he wasn't going to beat it and he started to deteriorate pretty quick.  They had planned on inserting a port into his head to release the chemo drugs directly onto the meninges but it would have interfered with his other nephew's graduation.  Joe was the only male figure in his nephew, Michael's life and helped raise him.  He was determined to see Michael graduate and walk the stage.  Michael asked if Joe would host a crawfish boil for his graduation party.  Joe agreed and it gave him another goal. 

The ceremony and party was last weekend.  During the party Joe started feeling ill and weak and went into the house to rest for 15 minutes.  He never made it back out to the party.  He started throwing up and couldn't stop.  Stopped eating on Sunday and is disoriented.  My sister took him to the ER and they said he was having seizures.  He doesn't recognize her or his family and can't talk.  He's dying.  I don't know if he'll leave the hospital.

I've been doing a lot of crying today.

Fuck Cancer

[Brisketexan 105139]

It sucks to have to come back and add to this thread.  As I type this my BIL, Joe, is in the hospital unresponsive.  He's getting worse by the minute and I fear the end is imminent.
He had melanoma 10+ years ago and thought he had beat it.  It reared its ugly head again in January of 2023.  My son, mom, father, and I traveled down (from Portland) to Houston to see he and my sister for Christmas and to spend some time on the coast fishing.  They have a house in Matagorda and go out fishing in the bay a lot.  Joe got my son hooked on fishing and it was a great bond between the two.  We fished for two days and then the crazy freeze happened and temperatures dropped to 14 degrees. 
Shortly after that trip Joe started feeling ill but being the big tough guy that he is he disregarded it until he passed out one day.  He and my sister went to the hospital and ran tests.  Cancer.  All over.  He's been fighting it for the past year and had good success.  Had a PET test that showed 95% of it had disappeared but that last 5% was another story - it just wouldn't go away.   He was put into a trial at MD Anderson where they remove his T-cells, kill off his immune system, and reintroduce them into his body to combat the cancer.  It had the opposite effect and the tumors exploded everywhere.  Eventually he was diagnosed with LMD, Leptomeningeal Disease, where the cancer invades the meninges and spinal fluid.  At that point there wasn't anything really to be done. 
The funny thing is I was in Texas last month for the eclipse and stopped by to visit.  Joe appeared fine, strong, if a bit irksome, but otherwise looked healthy.  He and my son went fishing on their lease by the Trinity river.  It was a good day.  I'm glad that will be my son's final memory of his uncle Joe.  The LMD prognosis and lack of success with the trial made Joe realize that he wasn't going to beat it and he started to deteriorate pretty quick.  They had planned on inserting a port into his head to release the chemo drugs directly onto the meninges but it would have interfered with his other nephew's graduation.  Joe was the only male figure in his nephew, Michael's life and helped raise him.  He was determined to see Michael graduate and walk the stage.  Michael asked if Joe would host a crawfish boil for his graduation party.  Joe agreed and it gave him another goal. 
The ceremony and party was last weekend.  During the party Joe started feeling ill and weak and went into the house to rest for 15 minutes.  He never made it back out to the party.  He started throwing up and couldn't stop.  Stopped eating on Sunday and is disoriented.  My sister took him to the ER and they said he was having seizures.  He doesn't recognize her or his family and can't talk.  He's dying.  I don't know if he'll leave the hospital.
I've been doing a lot of crying today.
Fuck Cancer

Really damned sorry to hear this. Love to you, and Joe, and your family. Sounds like he lived life as a rich man in what matters, and that counts for a whole lot. It also makes his loss suck that much more. I wish you peace.

The third anniversary of my mother’s death from lung cancer was this past Wednesday. The rough edges get sanded down over time, but they never fully go away.

[Hate 20108]

Damn…after some good updates it sucks to come and read these. Rest easy when the time comes Uncle Joe and DfwTexEx Dad. Fuck cancer!!

[Nuge 1970]

They've moved him to palliative care with a DNR. He was ok a week ago. Fuck!