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I AM A SURVIVOR ! A prostate CANCER §urvivor !
{ † † † }
ONCOLOGY CARE ONLINE
§ee The §ister §ite
POP§ ON BREA§T CANCER

Early detection was the initial key to cure !
Initially though, my willingness to put aside my male pride and have a urologist examine me thoroughly -- including the dreaded digital rectal examination -- allowed the medicial process to begin the healing and the DEFEAT of the dreaded too often killer in CANCER. And EARLY DECTECTION again is the key !

DO NOT BE ONE TO LET PRIDE LEAD TO BEING A KILLER !



PLEASE NOTE: JULY 1, 2004This past Monday I was admitted to the hospital for surgery to see why my bladder was not functioning properly. As it was, the cause is mainly diabetes. BUT -- white examining the surgeon took material in the area of the treated prostate. Unfortunately, CANCER had returned - almost seven years to the day it was first discovered. Hormone treatments have started.


FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME @

I WILL ANSWER ALL E-MAILS PROMPTY !
Working together CANCER CAN BE CURED !

CHEMO ANGELS

THE WORLD OF POPS

~ ~ ~ STARTERS KIT FOR POPS ON CANCER ~ ~

PROSTATE GLOSSARY

¶ CANCER PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION € € €

¶ CANCER SCREENINGS: WHEN STOP € € €

¶ CHEMO-COLON CANCER NEW DRUG TREATMENT RAISES HOPES € € € 

¶ BREAST CANCER € € € 

¶ ARSENIC APPROVED TO TREAT LEUKEMIA € € €

¶ JOURNAL AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION € € €

¶ HEALTHCAREFINANCE ADMINISTRATION

¶ INSURERS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEDICAL DECISIONS € € €

¶ STAYING FERTILE AFTER CANCER TREATMENT € € €

¶ TWO


"WE"   CAN   BEAT   CANCER   !!!  

+NOBODY NEEDS TO GIVE UP

CANCER IS PREVENTABLE


CANCER CAN LOOSE THE BATTLE

YOU CAN BEAT CANCER

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional † I am a CANCER survivor † The following is my personal observations and some information is taken from other reliable CANCER agencies // Questions - ASK YOUR DOCTOR

T H A N K Y O U!

TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR MY WIFE WHO KEPT ME SMILING, MY CHILDREN ESPECIALLY KAREN WHO WAS ALWAYS "THERE", TO THE UROLOGIST WHO FOUND THE NEARLY UNDETECTED CANCER AND DIRECTED THE TREATMENTS, THE STAFF AT THE MONONGAHELA VALLEY HOSPITAL CANCER CENTER, CLOSE FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR WHO KEPT IN ALMOST DAILY CONTACT, AND ALL THOSE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN WHOSE PRAYERS HELPED MAKE THE DIFFERENCE ! † GOD BLESS ALL †

February 3, 1999 † † THE GOOD NEWS CAME FROM MY CANCER DOCTER € 100 % CURE OF MY PROSTATE CANCER AND IT DID NOT SPREAD. † PRAISE GOD † I CAN NOW SAY PERSONALLY THAT EARLY DETECTION AND GOOD TREATMENT REALLY MATTERS ! GET A CHECKUP SOON IF IT HAS BEEN A YEAR SINCE YOUR LAST ONE OR IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD ONE !

[Cancer Is A Dirty Six Letter Word]

† † † THANK GOD FOR ANOTHER DAY † † †

IT NEVER IS EASY TO ACCEPT BY ANYONE


€€€¶ WHEN CANCER is first diagnosed, some people can absorb only the most basic information, and even that might need to be repeated !

¤ That is normal !

¤ Every person has the RIGHT to digest information at his/her own pace and determine when they are ready for more, when to talk about what, and what they know or want to know.

¤ When was first diagnosed with a rare rapidly progessive form of prostrate cancer and after my wife Kay and I got over the shock and hurt & told our three adult children, we agreed that everyday WE would discuss that word CANCER and using it freely.

¤ ^ ^ And I pointed out that "I do not have THAT disease"; instead, "I have CANCER !" It seems hard for people to say "CANCER" to the person with it ! But, personally, it was THE way to deal with 'reality' as it is !

¤ If others in the family or friends (etc.) want to talk about CANCER before you are ready, try to postpone the discussion without rejecting the person. "I appreciate your concern, but not yet. I can't talk yet," for example, suggests that the day will come when you will be ready to talk.

¤ Taking care of your own needs, which are GREAT, while trying to recognize the fears and anxieties of those you love is not easy.

¤ * * The period right after diagnosis is often time of anger, fear and inner confusion. It was for me ! You might need to sort out conflicting emotions before you can express them. Or you might find yoursef lashing out, wishing to find a target for anger and frustration.

¤ Often it is those closest who bear the brunt of these outbursts. You do not want to hurt them, but you may be angry that they will live and you might die !

¤ Perhaps you assume that they will understand and endure the rage. Family members have feelings, too. They may lash back expressing their own anger and hurt at your outburts, at the possibility of losing you, at the burden of new responsibilities or powerlessness to change the reality of the disease.

¤ + + As you express your own feelings, try to remember that others need the same release !!!!!

¤ Join in the discussions with other community members who understand what you are going through. Check out the individuals who have cancer - and the members of their families - may not operate on the same emotional timetable. One member of the family might feel the need to talk about the CANCER before the others come to grip with it. Each person has to decide when they are ready to talk; none should feel forced to do so.

¤ This sometimes creates clashing needs: some need to talk, others need to be private and introspective or even shut the whole subject out of their minds for awhile. The desire to respect privacy may be pitted against an equal need to get the whole thing out in the open.

¤ In some families everyone becomes overly considerate of everyone else's needs for time to adjust. Instead of meeting anyone's needs, everyone avoids one another, building walls just when they ought to be opening doors to communication. **It is important to let the person who has CANCER call the signals for when it is time to talk !

¤ ¤.....A WAY TO CALM YOUR FEARS ABOUT ""CANCER"" -- EVERYTIME YOU GET SCARED, START TALKING YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR FEAR. TALK TO WHOEVER YOU CAN THINK OF - DOCTOR NURSE, FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS - TO FIND INFORMATION AND TO GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED.....

LOOKING FOR CLUES

€€€¶ It is always helpful to look for clues to determine when might be a good time to discuss the CANCER and how to live with it. Signs such as idle conversation, more time than usual spent with family members, or even unusual nervousness might indicate that a person wants to talk but doesn't know where to begin !

¤ Facing CANCER together makes it easier on everyone ! It eliminates the need for pretense when there are so many important matters to address. As you talk, you might try to be sensitive to what family members or friends say, how they position their bodies, and whether or not they make eye contact. These clues suggest whether the conversation is serving a purpose or driving someone into hiding.

¤ Some people cannot adjust their feelings and cannot help each other. Not all families can be open and sharing, and during a crisis is a difficult time to adjust family patterns even though it should be done. Nonetheless, the situation may not eliminate the need to air feelings, which may indicate the time to turn to one of several sources outside the family for emotional support.......

¤ Emphasizing the uniqueness of each person, positive test results, or good response to treatment is TRUE SUPPORT, both valid and valuable.

¤ The person with CANCER needs family or friends as a constant in a changing world. "I'M HERE." offers great revenues of support ! Sometimes the family suspects the truth before the diagnosis is made. Someone recognizes the symptoms, or the family doctor seems overly concerned.

¤ NEVERTHELESS, hearing those words - tumor, CANCER, leukemia - we are stunned as we never may have been in our lives !!!!!!

¤ It is often impossible to take in the diagnosis immediately. We hear it, but somehow we do not believe it...This is normal...People's minds have a wonderful capacity for absorbing information only as they are ready to accept it.

TREATMENT AND SIDE EFFECTS

WHY DOES CANCER TREATMENT HAVE SIDE EFFECTS ?

€€€¤ Any medicial treatment can carry the potental for side effects in some patients. CANCER treatment is particularly powerful, because it is designed to destroy constantly dividing CANCER CELLS. It can also affect healthy dividing cells and this can cause side effects. The challenge to reseachers has been to develop treatments that destroy CANCER cells but do not harm healthy cells.

SUPPORT CANCER RESEARCH

¤ CANCER researchers are trying to make CANCER treatment more effective and lessen the side effects for the CANCER patient. Results of such efforts include:

......new anticancer drugs with less side effects. ......better antinausea medicine. ......some shorter periods of time on anticancer drugs. ......special ways to protect normal tissue during radiation therapy. ......new methods of surgery that are less extensive and less damaging to the body. ......psychological support programs and information on ways to cope during difficult times.

GETTING A SECOND OPINION

€€€¶ Decisions about prostrate CANCER treatment are complex. It MAY be helpful to have the opinon of more than one doctor. {I did not seek a second opinion. I felt I had researched on my doctor -urologist who found the CANCER well enough.} Before starting treatment men may want to have a second doctor review the diagnosis and treatment options. My urologist also convinced me of his ability by OFTEN recommending I see another specialist at the University of Pittsburgh about treatment --- even diagnosis !

¤ A short deplay will not reduce the chance the treatment will be successful.

¤ Some health insurance companies require a second opinion; many others will cover a second opinion if the patient requests it.

PREPARING FOR TREATMENT

€€€¶ The doctor develops a treatment plan to fit each patients needs.

¤ My urologist gave me various options to consider initially at home with my wife (and/or family). A week later two of my three adult childen (third could not come) and my wife joined me in the doctors office to hear first hand the diagnosis and the treatment options. I strongly felt that they were a part of the recovery team.

¤ However, as the doctor pointed out, the decision on what type of treatment ultimately was mine. And he did not rush me into makng a decision that day although I did.

¤ When I quickly made my decision, after considerable opportunity for me and my family team to ask questions, the doctor breathed a sigh of relief and said lets get the process for treatment started right now then. He said that was his first choice too !

¤ So far it seems to have been the right choice !

¤ Treatment for prostate CANCER depends on the stage of the disease and the grade of the tumor {how fast the cells are likely to grow or spread to other organs}. Other important factors in planning treatment are the man's age and the general health and his feelings about the treatments and their possible side effects.

¤ Many people with CANCER want to learn all they an about their disease, their treatment choices, and possible side effects of treatment, so they can take an active part in decisions about their medicial care. There are a number of treatment choices for men with prostrate CANCER {surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. I choose a combination of radiation and hormone therapies !}

¤ Not all men require treatment.

The patient and doctor may want to consider the benefits and possible side effects of each option, especially the effects on sexual activity and urination, and other concerns about the quality of life.

¤Also, the patient may want to talk with his doctor about taking part in a research study to help determine the best approach or to study news kinds of treatment. Such studies are called clinical trials.

THE SHOCK FACTOR - AGAIN !

€€€¶ When a person is diagnosed with CANCER , shock and stress are natural reactions. These feelings may make it difficult for patients to think of everything they want to ask the doctor. Often it helps to make a list of questions. Again, having my family team present and they having the opportunity to also ask questions, allowed covering a lot of ground quickly in determing a course of action and treatment.

¤ Also, to help remember what the doctor says, patients may take notes or ask the doctor whether they may use a tape recorder. Some patients may want to have a family member(s) or friend(s) with them when they talk to the doctor - to take part in the discussion, to take notes, or just to listen.

¤ Questions may arise throughout the treatment process. From time to time, patients may wish to ask members of their health care team to explain things further.

QUESTIONS ! QUESTIONS !

Answers ! EXPLAIN !

€€€¶ These are questions a CANCER patient may ant to ask the doctor BEFORE treatment begins:

**What is the stage of the disease ? Explain !

**What is the grade of the disease ? Explain !

**Do I need to be treated ? Explain !

**What are the treatment options ? Explain !

**What do you recommend for me ? Explain !

**What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment? Explain !

**What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment? Explain !

**Is treatment likely to affect my sex life ? Explain !

**Am I likely to have uninary problems ? Explain !

**Are new treatments being studied in clinical trials and would one be appropriate for me ? Explain !

**Explain ? Explain !

HOW PATIENTS FEEL DURING TREATMENT IS IMPORTANT !

¶ While there is nothing that you can do to prevent the side effects of your loved ones CANCER, you can help make them a little easier to live with.

¤ Understanding that side effects of treatment can make your loved one feel cross or tired or sick may help you to be more patient. And if the person in your famiy or friend who has CANCER wants company, you can spend time with them doing quiet things, activities like talking, reading, watching television, or playing games just to name a few.

¤ ALLOW A HELPING HAND THAT UNDERSTANDS - CARES AND LOVES !!!

¤ Every person who has cancer must work through, in their own way, feelings of possible death, fear, and isolation. It often helps to return to your normal routine in the extent you are capable.

CERTAIN STRAGETIES TO USE

€€€¶ Give the pleasures and responsibilities of each day the attention they deserve....

€€€Responsible pursuits keep life meaningful; recreation keeps it zesty. Fill your life with both....

€€€Remember the differences between 'doing' and overdoing.' Rest is important to both physical and emotional strength....

€€€It is harder to bolster one's will to live if you are alone. Yet many have acted as their own cheering squad and have found ways to live a meaningful life....

€€€Family members must not make an invalid of a person with CANCER who is fully capable of physical activity and responsible participation in the family....

€€€Family members must not equate physial incapability with mental failing. It is especially important than an ill patient feel a necessary part of the family....

€€€Families must guard against 'rehearsing' how they will act if the person with CANCER dies by excluding them from family affairs now.

ONE DAY AT A TIME

¶ WHETHER the outlook for recovery is good or poor, the days go by, one at a time, and the person with their family must learn to live each one.

¤ IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY !

¤ On learning the diagnosis, some decide that death is inevitable, and there is nothing to do but give up and wait. They are not the first to feel that way ! Each person must work through individual feelings of possible death, fear or isolation in teir own good time. It is HARD to overcome these feelings if they are never confronted head on.

¤ But it is an ongoing struggle !

¤ One day brings feelings of confidence, the next day despair.

¤ ¤ The day I found out I had CANCER - which for some reason I knew the urologist would tell me - I said to my wife: "Have you ever seen me not like a good fight? Well this is one I am taking on full force and I DO NOT INTEND TO LOOSE !"

¤ It has been hard -- one day sure of those words, and the next day not so sure !

¤ BUT - with strong family non-judgemental support and friends who did the same in accepting my daily worries - I have been able to cope with many adverse reactions by others. I always resented people telling me how good I look; not to worry, and call me if you need anything ! By saying I look good, I felt they were telling me I shouldn't complain and that my CANCER was nothing to be concerned about.

¤ And those who asked how I was doing and then proceed to tell me how someone was so sick from their treatments or how someone had no problems. It was as if I was not the one with CANCER ! If you do not want the CANCER victim to answer your question as to how they are -- do not ask !

¤ And offer help then, not an offer to call you !

¤ Many people find it helps considerably if they try to live normal lives --but must accept needed help ! And remember the importance of trying to lead that normal life. These are the threads of the fabric that enfolds our lives. They give it color and meaning. The days can be more valuable if you can learn to enjoy common moments as well as memorable ones. This is true whether you have weeks or years left. It is true, in fact, whether you have a life threatening disease or not.

¤ Physical well being is closely tied to emotional well being.

¤ The time you take out from attending to CANCER strengthens you for the time you must devote to it !

€€€€There is ALWAYS more to come...Return to this page soon !

REMEMBER - TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES AS WE TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME .......

Read All The Links Below....Be Educated on CANCER !

BEFORE YOU READ THE "CANCER" LINKS BELOW THE TIME IS @

SPECIAL LINKS FROM THE INTENET

I found these new links while surfing the internet and feel they contain so much GOOD information & links that they deserve special attention at this time ! € € € €

KEEPING THE FAITH

CANCER GUIDE

A CANCER SURVIVORS STORY

LIL CRICKET'S CANCER PAGE

¶ Readers notice: Page Two of "POPS ON CANCER" is always under construction and parts are online @ POPS ON CANCER TWO ! € € €

¶ ¶ ¶ OR BACK TO ¤ THE WORLD OF POPSand check out the rest of the POPS WORLD of links ! Come back here often !    

IT CAN BE WON

€ WITH YOUR HELP !

¶ I developed DIABETES during my seven weeks of radiation treatments. It took a long time to get it under adequate control with medications and a sugar "free" diet. I now have a page on DIABETES ¤ I also recommend this DIABETES FEATURED PAGE

¶¶ Also, visit this excellent personal page of another at CANCER INFO PLUS

  ¶ ¶ ¶ JUST IN: This is a must CANCER site for everyone from a family members point of view which I recommend for both family, friends, CANCER patients and CANCER survivors ! Click @ CANCER SHARE CARE ADVOCACY WOW !

  IMPORTANT NEW LINK


"EVERY LINK HERE IS IMPORTANT TO ALL"

INFOSEEK CANCER
A Way To Be Informed ++
INFOSEEK CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS
A Way For Help You Will Need **
CANCER RESEARCH
A Way To A Cure Someday !
ONCOLOGY
Loaded With Information You Can Use !
PROSTATE CANCER
Check This Out Now Men ++++
BREAST CANCER
Check This Out Women ++++
CANCER DRUGS
You Need To Know What Happens !
CANCER INSURANCE
Helps Insurance Questions
NEWS ABOUT CANCER
Be Informed & Updated Now !
WOMEN AND CANCER
Check It Out Girls !
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY * * *
Its Important To Read !
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
Be Informed Again Here !
FRED HUTCHINSON CENTER
Another Working To STop Cancer
CANCER NEWS ON THE NET
Yet Another Internet Source !
ONCOLINK - PENN STATE
A Top Cancer Link To Check * * *
INTERNATIONAL UNION AGAINST CANCER
Check It
YAHOO - FULL COVERAGE/CANCER RESOURCES
A Wealth Of Links !
CANCER NET
More and More !
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Research Must Go On Everywhere !
MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER
A Major To Center
MAYO CANCER LIBRARY
¶ A must check list of links !
POPS ON CANCER PAGE TWO
€ €Continuation of POPS ON CANCER †
POPS ON DIABETES
Personal Issue!
BJ'S MEDICIAL LINKS {Exceptional Site}
CHECK THIS OUT € € € 

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