Does anyone have cancer on here or knows someone that has cancer?

[Part6fam]

What happened after they were diagnosed? Did they recover? How long did it take them to recover? What kind of medications did they use? Were there any side effects? Were they able to work or did they have to take time off?

[truthbeknown]

My wife was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Her thyroid levels had been up and down for years and they finally took a closer look a few years ago. She had biopsy which came back inconclusive. They knew her thyroid wasn't working properly and confirmed it was diseased so they removed it. It was after it was removed it was confirmed to be cancer. The cancer was just in the thyroid. Treatment after it was removed was radioactive iodine treatment. Thyroid cells naturally absorb iodine, so that treatment is very effective and easy. After that they inject thyroid-gen type of detection which shows up in blood work and scans for any remaining cells. After that once a year check ups with blood work and ultrasounds for any anomalies. So far so good. The thyroid was removed with a simple day surgery procedure. She was in the hospital for only 2 days and released. She fully recovered in about a month and missed about 2 weeks of work. Luckily, thyroid cancer is someone common and very easy to treat with a very very good success rate for a full normal life. Once the thyroid is removed she is on thyroid meds for the rest of her life which basically a pill every day, no biggy. There is some fatigue and weight gain with thyroid meds.

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

It really depends upon the type of cancer and when it was detected.

There are some forms of cancer which are almost always terminal, and others for which there is a lot that can be done to cure the patient. Pancreatic cancer is almost always fatal, for example, unless it's a really rare, but treatable form.

My family unfortunately has a history of cancer. My uncle passes away from leukemia when I was young, my grandmother passed away from complications surrounding lung cancer (mainly malpractice around it...).

My mother recently was dealing with thyroid cancer. But it was detected early, and so she was able to have surgery. The doctors are still deciding whether or not she should have some form of radiation therapy, but they're thinking it isn't necessary.

Side effects are heavily dependent upon the treatment. My mother would cough quite frequently after her surgery, as inflammation/irritation in her neck was an issue. She stays at home, so she didn't miss work (haha) she would have had to take time off if she was.

[Part6fam]

Is she off the pills?

[Part6fam]

Sorry to hear about your grandmother and uncle btw.

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

@asker
Don't worry about it, long since dealt with the emotions.

The pills were actually the first step in the therapy that the doctors were determining if she even needed. It's been a few months since the surgery, and they're having her go for follow-up testing to see if she has to take them. If she does, then she'll probably end up having to go through extra steps of radiation therapy, but so far it appears the surgery might be all that was needed.

[Part6fam]

Good luck!! I hope she gets well soon!!

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

@asker
Thanks, I appreciate that.

How about you? I assume based on your question that someone you know is having to go through treatment? Things going ok?

[Part6fam]

Yes, that person is me but I am not sure if I have it I am going to have biopsy of a lump I found under my chin. I am nervous.

[ScruffyNerfHerder]

@asker
Hmm, I had a gut feeling it was you. :(

I'm glad you're being proactive about it--the earlier you catch it, the better your chances of fighting it are.

There's always the possibility it could be benign and not a threat to you--in which case, it might still be removed as a precaution, but it may not be necessary. It could also be a cyst.

I have my fingers crossed for you, hopefully it isn't anything serious.

[Part6fam]

Thanks 😊

[DragonWolf]

My dad his niece had breast cancer, at first it got fully removed, but 10 years later she got it again, because appearently she still had a part of it in other place of her body. She had cancer for over 20 years, she died last year.

My mum had skin cancer, they managed to remove everything succesfully. She is still recovering from the surgeries.

My grandfather got cancer in almost ever part of his body. He first got it at the age of 26 or so. He had several kobalt radiations which caused it to stop spreading for a while. There are years it spreads, but also years that there is no difference with the year before. My grandfather is 78 or 79 right now, and he is still alive.

[Part6fam]

Wow!! Your grandad is a fighter but I am sorry to hear about your cousin. How long did it take your mother to recover after she was diagnosed?

[DragonWolf]

My mother heard she had cancer in august. 23th or 26th of August she had her second surgery. She had it a few millimeters above her nerve system in her back, so thats why it takes really long to fully recover, she can't do everything herself yet, but can do most now. The doctor said it would probably take 4-6 months to fully recover.

[Part6fam]

I hope she makes a speedy recovery!!

[DragonWolf]

Thank you =)

[Persempre]

well my grandfather had it but he died.. Everything went really fast after the day they found out he had cancer, it took like 3 weeks and then he died. I have no idea about your other questions Im sorry..

[Part6fam]

Oh wow... I am speechless!! Sorry for the loss, what type cancer did he have?

[icantwait]

My grandma has COPD, I think that's a type of lung cancer but I'm not 100% sure. She has to take steroids, oxygen, and about 10 other pills I have no idea what they are. No radiation or anything like that. No recovery, just slow painful death.

When she and my family found out, no one was surprised since she's smoked for about 40 years. That was 10 years ago, still alive too

[Part6fam]

Wow!! It's so important that we take care of ourselves?

[icantwait]

Oh also breathing treatments every few hours.

Yeah definitely good to take care of ourselves. She drinks a ton of soda and eats really unhealthy. You wouldn't believe me if I listed off all her health problems.

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

Well, my dads brother ( uncle) was diagnose with
Multiple Myeloma cancer he lived 2 years after diagnose
My late moms brother (uncle) had espoghaus cancer
he had it year before it was found after that he lived 6 months
they both took chemotherapy pills / IV Chemotherapy
My mom had uterus cancer started than went into Sarcoma
she lived 2 weeks and passed away 11/10/2003 her hospital
and nursing home stay was only 9 days total

[JustinCaseUDontKnow]

My maternal grand-dad passed away due to lung cancer

[Uniquexc]

My 79 year old grandma died of cancer a day before my birthday at 10:59:00 pm

[Part6fam]

I am sorry for your loss.

[Uniquexc]

It happens
But thanks :)