Cancer Support and Caregivers Who Are Trail Blazers!

[Tommi]

Genesis, may all your needs be met, finding strenght, and rest as you carry this torch for yourMother.
May your mother be sent the miracles of healing and the speed and expertise of healthcare professionals that she needs.

Come to know that we journey a road together, and our love and prayers, light and energy can help the sick to heal.

[LeftWriteFemme]

I saw this in The Weekly Purge

I thought it might be of interest to readers and contributors on this thread.

Please meet Rose Perkins, CEO of Children’s Cancer Fund of America, her ex-husband James Reynolds, President of the Cancer Fund of America, and their son James Reynolds, Jr, CEO of The Breast Cancer Society. A family trio of hard working fundraisers helping fight cancer in America. Wrong. These three individuals use their foundations as fronts. The Cancer Fund of America pays it’s president over $230,000 a year and admits it spends less than 3% of all donations on cancer patients, mainly giving them moonpies and stuffed animals, and the remaining 80% goes to “fundraising". The Breast Cancer Society reported 13 million dollars in 2011 to the IRS, but also claimed that only 2.4% of those donations went to patients. It’s no better with Rose who reported 6 million in cash, but cannot show what that money went to pay for with patients.

[deb_U_taunt]

LeftWriteFemme,

Sad, but true. WAY too much money never gets to research or to help people in need of treatment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Ribbons,_Inc.

Deb

[DapperButch]

Went to oncologist today. Blood work looks good, which is positive.

By now you all may know that I take little solace in things like blood work, however. Just like CAT scans. The shit has to be pretty out of control before it shows up on scans or blood work. However, it is still nice to have positive results, that is for sure.

Yes, I know, I am a Debbie Downer.

Last CAT scan was in January 2013, and now I am on the yearly rotation, so next scan won't be until January 2014.

[deb_U_taunt]

Hugs and congrats, Deb (not a downer lol)

Originally Posted by DapperButch

Went to oncologist today. Blood work looks good, which is positive.

By now you all may know that I take little solace in things like blood work, however. Just like CAT scans. The shit has to be pretty out of control before it shows up on scans or blood work. However, it is still nice to have positive results, that is for sure.

Yes, I know, I am a Debbie Downer.

Last CAT scan was in January 2013, and now I am on the yearly rotation, so next scan won't be until January 2014.

[Sparkle]

Hi Everyone, and thanks Dapper for pointing this thread out to me.

I'm caring for my best friend who has breast cancer.

She had her double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery yesterday. Everything went really well in the surgeries and her lymph nodes were clear. It was a really really long day. Her wife and I wept with relief when the oncologist surgeon called to say the nodes were clear and that her part of the surgery went beautifully. The tumor was contained and the tissue surrounding it looked very healthy.

The surgeons are a dream team, among the very best of their peers (in their specialities) at one of the best hospitals in Massachusetts. I'm grateful she has health insurance that is robust enough to allow her to go there.

It's all been such a roller coaster, I didn't anticipate that.

I'm exhausted, I feel like I could sleep for a week and we've not even begun the long at home recovery process or learned the pathology of the tumor and what that will mean for her post-surgical treatment options.

I can already see how hard it is going to be to balance caring for her and her family, and taking good care of myself at the same time. I'll have to work on figuring out how to do that. Luckily she has many family members and friends who love her and live near enough to help. I've set up a care calendar. I'm struggling to manage competing priorities right now though.

Thanks again to Dapper for directing me here, and to Tantalizing for reaching out to me and sharing your experiences.

[deb_U_taunt]

My best friend put her life on hold for me, too. The world needs more people like you. Love and hugs to you.

Lymph nodes clear is a great sign and with a double mastectomy, depending on staging it could mean no chemo and radiation. Breast cancer in early stages is very treatable. She will be in my thoughts and wish her and her family the best.

Originally Posted by Sparkle

Hi Everyone, and thanks Dapper for pointing this thread out to me.

I'm caring for my best friend who has breast cancer.

She had her double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery yesterday. Everything went really well in the surgeries and her lymph nodes were clear. It was a really really long day. Her wife and I wept with relief when the oncologist surgeon called to say the nodes were clear and that her part of the surgery went beautifully. The tumor was contained and the tissue surrounding it looked very healthy.

The surgeons are a dream team, among the very best of their peers (in their specialities) at one of the best hospitals in Massachusetts. I'm grateful she has health insurance that is robust enough to allow her to go there.

It's all been such a roller coaster, I didn't anticipate that.

I'm exhausted, I feel like I could sleep for a week and we've not even begun the long at home recovery process or learned the pathology of the tumor and what that will mean for her post-surgical treatment options.

I can already see how hard it is going to be to balance caring for her and her family, and taking good care of myself at the same time. I'll have to work on figuring out how to do that. Luckily she has many family members and friends who love her and live near enough to help. I've set up a care calendar. I'm struggling to manage competing priorities right now though.

Thanks again to Dapper for directing me here, and to Tantalizing for reaching out to me and sharing your experiences.