My mother had a mastectomy about 5 years ago, and my wife's grandmother died of bowel cancer about 1½ years ago, so it's affected both sides of my family too...
Christ - never realised quite how much of it was about but everyone on FH seems to have been touched.
My Mum was very late being diagnosed as they misread a mammogram a couple of years earlier that showed the first of the tumours growth. As a result she had to have a rushed Mastectomy and very heavy chemo but luckily she pulled through.
This was about 7 years ago but they still monitor her and of late her tumour count has been going up but so far none of the tests have pinpointed any new tumour so we hope for the best.
I think that the drugs that will become availiable in the next 5-10 years will make an even bigger impact on this insideous disease. Hopefully we can turn the 1 in 3 statistic to more like 1 in 10 or 20, that would be impressive.
Heart disease is the thing uppermost on my mind though as Im now on ACE inhibitors to lower the old BP. Biggest killer by far.
My Grandad (80) recently got diagnosed with a cancerous lump on his lung, fortunately it is fairly small and they are using the less aggressive radioactive therapy at the moment.....he has a positive outlook on the whole situation although it is causing him a little bit of pain and making him tired.
Then there was a man across the road, he recently died from terminal cancer. He had already beaten cancer once, although he had to have his stomach removed but this time it came back in areas that couldn't be treated very well such as his spine etc. It was strange because we knew the family a bit but it is only when something gets removed from your daily picture do you realise and feel slightly sadden that a person, who was in there mid 40s with two teenage daughters, is no longer around.
Personally DBs I wish you and your family all the best, and any one else who has, is or will be affected by this terrible disease.
As you age you become more 'aware' of your mortality. All the abuse you have put your body through 'comes home to roost' or you are plain unlucky, like your mother. Life is over quickly however long you live. The young think they will live forever whilst the older you get the more precious each day is - 24 hours can seem so sweet. I hope your mother enjoys whatever time is left to her. Moral to this really and that is to make as much of your life as you can in the time allocated to you.
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