The Kvetch Thread

I missed seeing this in the thread but we've pm'd. You know I'm waiting with you.

Pie is good, a poodle even better.

Not to turn this to about me, but fifteen minutes or a half hour ago I went out to go the mailbox and saw my neighbor actually out in her yard so I called to her. What did she have in her arms but two Dachshund puppies. Instantly all my real life worries fled. Not quite to mush, but dogs give us perspective.

Be well, Rags.

Thanks, dear. On Monday I'll hear my results of this test. If it's not good they'll do a bigger biopsy on Thursday...it's already scheduled and will be cancelled if the other biopsy test is OK.

My poodle I inherited from my recently deceased sister. Planned event. JellyBean is 5 yr old female and looks and acts like a puppy. She has rejuvenated Brady...now he sits near me on the sofa...competitive canine. She is a smile a minute

Kvetching along with you, Ragman. Sending you a beer of your choice.
Let us know.

ya gotta keep an attitude that challenges your body to stay fit and well.
We share the same cardio things but Im sure that you don't succumb to a couch and a remote . I hear ya talk about exercise by just keeping an investigative interest in the world around you.

With me its climbing rocks, with you its walking the beach. One is just as strenuous as the other.(climbing stairs vs walking in loose deep sand).
I test myself (even with the afib) by walking fast enough that I can still ssing

Ragman, Any news? Been worried about you.

I've been worried about you too, Ragman, and concerned we haven't heard from you.

Thanks all who expressed concern. You're too kind.

The good news is that I'm not in suspense any longer as the waiting has ended. I got the results and I've been advised that I have a treatable form of lymphoma (mantle cell).

This is a different type of NHL. Nope...though I'm in the club, I'm not part of pro hockey type of club. This is within the Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. On a scale of 1 to 10 I've been told by docs that this treatability is an 8. Survival rate is very high.

It's ironic (in my mind at least) that I should get cancer as I've been very careful with diet and exercise. What I wasn't so careful about is picking my parents. I've been told by an oncologist that it's a case of bad luck...apparently not lifestyle (not cellphone usage). Hell, I already have one 'condition' (arrhythmia/cardiomyopathy and a defib-pacemaker). a fella would think that one is enough.

I have an oncology/hematology consult on Tuesday. That's when/where I find out the proposed treatment plan. However, there's no longer any doubt about what condition I have.

This cancer already has spread beyond those visible palpable neck nodes in the 6 weeks since I first detected it. This type of cancer has no staging as lymphoma spreads so quickly via the lymph system. Staging is just not an appropriate measuring tool, so I've been told.

However, more about this recent biopsy report has to be found out as they weren't entirely done testing at the pathology lab. Meanwhile, I have a close friend whose daughter is a well-known and an excellent oncologist. She'll be in close contact with the VA oncologist with whom I'll be meeting at the VA on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, not that the timing is ideal, I've also grown a strong romantic relationship with this fine lady. We're working through all of this as she has lots of family experience with cancer (mom is double mass dectomy and survivor at 80- something and her younger sister) as well as having her own cancer scares.

If this were a play, it'd be a doozie! I'm working on some creative writing right now as we speak. I've been a writer for awhile and this has turned my writing and my head around towards a whole new project and direction.

Glad Tuesday is coming fast, Rags.

Knowing is half the battle. Im glad theres a good news about outcomes.

Well, while the diagnosis certainly isn't what you hoped for, Ragman, the prognosis certainly sounds optimistic, so that's good news.

I'm very sorry you'll be dealing with another health crisis, but I'm glad you have a fine lady by your side to help and support you.

Keep us posted.

Ragman, I say phooey on the whole thing. Sad to hear you have this and that you'll have to deal with it. I tend to be a pragmatist in such matters. You've got what you've got. You'll do what you have to do. The docs will do what they have to do. And what will be will be.

On the other hand, a goil can hope. Oiling up my hoper for you. It will be in high gear.

Thanks. I'll do my best and I'm a fighter. I will orient myself in such a way as to not be 'cancer-boy' and live my life as fully as I can. As the song goes, there's such a lot of living to do.

Wishing you the best with this, Ragman.

Thanks, Deb. Except for a few barely visible lumps and bumps on my neck, I feel pretty much the same as I have been, though I'm not sure it'll be that way in a little while. Oncology consult is on Tuesday and once they start treatments and release the hounds of hell, I'm sure I'll be feeling quite different.

Until then, more wine, Garçon!

do you have any idea what kinds of treatment youre in for? There are some nutritional things that can help in the battles with the various side effects.

My uncle, who is 95 had a battle with leukemia when he was in his 70's. The treatment was rather primitive by todays standards but he got through it with his "polka diet" (It involved some medicinal uses of vodka and a lifelong devotion to eating wild mushroom dishes)

Ive been told that onions, mushrooms and nuts have an ability to help the body repair DNA and deal with cancer and related illnesses.

On Tuesday, I will meet with Oncologist state what the proposed oncology treatment plan in detail. I will then feed that info to my dear friend's (ex-partner actually) oncologist daughter 'approve' of or make suggestions. She in turn will bounce the plan off one of the leading oncologists in the country. I feel so privileged and humble to have this level of support both professionally and family and friends.

Diet:
Duly noted about onions and mushrooms. I'll work on including more nuts (I've got flaxseed) and seeds and legumes will be added. I typically eat hummus regularly. Daily I will make either steel cut oatmeal ...with freshly ground flaxseed... or cold cereal ..and work on adding more salads. I know what to eat..I just hadn't been so strict about it.

Vino (red) will now be a daily thing...but as usual...one glass or 2 at tops.

Green juice:
I have a Champion (honking big) food juicer so I'll put that back into service and buy some fresh kale and carrots and start making it for breakfast.

Oh and before I start with chemo, I'm having me a nice rib-eye steak ..dry aged and put it on the grill. Once per year I have one and now is the time.

This is so odd for me to get cancer because I eat pretty healthfully...rarely have red meat...often eat organically raised chicken and fish when I can afford it. I guess this is just bad luck...(genetic predisposition).

"Smile as much as you breathe"

age, genes, nd environment seem to be major influences in various cancer.

Be careful about the deep lafy greens, they really **** with my Coumadin (INR) and so I keep kale an spinach greens down to one serving a week.

I like that "multiple eyes and brains" approach. I come from an era when my parents always taught me to" Put your trust in your physician"
today, Im totally like you
"the more and the better eyes see the therapy , the better for me"

Thanks for the info. My family has immediate bouts with cancer and heart problems. I spent my early adult years after 21 changing my dirt and lifestyle. now, after age 60, I need to get strict again. Hopefully I'll have the chance to do it and have a good result. One thing for sure, I won't let me taste buds suffer (as long as I have them).

Oh, I'm not on Coumadin...as the slight bout of Afib went away. so no Coumadin means no concern about the leafy greens. All of this will be run by the oncologist/s and medical folks.

I'm taking the higher success rate percentages and going with chemo as opposed to organic foods only and other homeopathic or lotions and potions. I love them and will use a few of them but I will not rely on them to battle with this type of aggressive cancer..at least for right now. Anecdotal evidence is not convincing enough for me to take the risk.

FWIW, my main cardiac issues are obstructive cardiomyopathy from enlarged heart and Ventricular tachycardia (shows up every blue moon). That is controlled by meds (Verapamil and Sotalol).

Stay upbeat and positive Ragman, that is essential to good health and healing. Sorry to read you're in the midst of this, hoping treatments clear it up quick for you.