(NGC) -Once again a friend retires and few months later is facing possible death

[Gliderjohn]

Just received a letter today from a female friend from my college days. Although we have not seen each other since the 80s, we have stayed in touch. She is a herpetologist and was the herpetology exhibit curator at the Sanoria Dessert Museum at Tucson from the 1980s until her recent retirement.
Today's letter informed me that she has been dealing with lung and brain cancer since last spring. Is stage IV now. Never a smoker or such. Never worked around stuff that might contribute. She just plain got it. Sucks.
GliderJohn

[twowings]

Sorry to hear that, John...sending positve waves her way!

[oldbike54]

 Yeah , that sucks . It does sound like a life well lived , small consolation for sure .

 Dusty

[normzone]

  She is a herpetologist and was the herpetology exhibit curator at the Sanoria Dessert Museum at Tucson from the 1980s until her recent retirement.
 

That is truly sad, and I join [twowings] in sending good thoughts her way.

And further, to contribute to your good feelings, somebody has to tell you, and it may as well be me, that there is only one 's' in desert (the hot, arid expanse), but there ARE two 's' in dessert (an after dinner sweet). I don't imagine that curating in a dessert museum could have contributed to her medical woes, but it should be warning to all of us.

On a more serious note, that's a sad double whammy. I don't know how the statistics on that work out, but it sounds like either unlucky dice or hidden causes.

[azguzzirep]

I didn't tell anyone here yet, but the same thing happened to my wife. She was diagnosed in May with non small cell lung cancer.😢

She has already been through radiation and chemotherapy treatments. I think we found it too late because she also has a spot on the left eye nerve and a spot on her liver. The chemo didn't affect either of them and the spot on her liver is now larger.

She will now do what's called 'immune therapy ' which is supposed to be really good.

She only smoked as a teenager. She always eats healthy, never busy pre made foods. And she is always doing sports. Skiing, walking, swimming and bicycle riding.

Cancer is very unfair.😕😕 She just turned 61 in August.

Tom

[Chuck in Indiana]

Really sorry to hear about both. No, cancer isn't fair, and it's truly nasty.  Dorcia and I have BTDT, got the Tshirt.

[redrider]

Sorry to hear this. My Dad had the brain variety and Mom was in for a broken leg when they found "mass" on the side of her brain. A botched shunt procedure ended her life before it went any further. Over the years, I have noticed an increase in cancers in general. We eat healthy with a lot of natural anti-cancer foods but I wonder just how much of our health problems are caused by our processed and manipulated food supply.

[Ncdan]

I didn't tell anyone here yet, but the same thing happened to my wife. She was diagnosed in May with non small cell lung cancer.😢

She has already been through radiation and chemotherapy treatments. I think we found it too late because she also has a spot on the left eye nerve and a spot on her liver. The chemo didn't affect either of them and the spot on her liver is now larger.

She will now do what's called 'immune therapy ' which is supposed to be really good.

She only smoked as a teenager. She always eats healthy, never busy pre made foods. And she is always doing sports. Skiing, walking, swimming and bicycle riding.

Cancer is very unfair.😕😕 She just turned 61 in August.

Tom
So sorry to hear that Tom, prayers on the way.

[Orange Guzzi]

Parasites.  She worked in a world full of parasites and could be full of them.  Misdiagnosed over 95% of the time and the testing procedure commonly used is less than 3% accurate.

They are killing me. I have gone as far as to ask the local police to arrest me for having an infectious disease and continue to be in public.  Which is against the law in My State.  They laughed and told me to leave their property.   I cannot find anyone in My part of the Country that has any experience in treating.  My best health care has came from an old farmer and internet research.  Horse medicine is helping, but slow to kill the sneaking little critters inside me. 

Many Americans are treated for cancer when they really have parasite larvae cysts inside their bodies that have died off.  If disturbed, they can cause sepsis immediately.  These cysts can be anywhere in a living host body.  Brain, breast, lung, kidney, skin, eye, ear, arm, leg or any where. 

If any of you all have had experience with the Monster in Me, your advise would be helpful.  Homeopathic medicine has not helped.  I am taking 2 different anti parasite medicines a day for the last 10 weeks.  Normal dosage is 1 dose of one medicine every 6 months. 

[Sasquatch Jim]

Sorry to hear this. My Dad had the brain variety and Mom was in for a broken leg when they found "mass" on the side of her brain. A botched shunt procedure ended her life before it went any further. Over the years, I have noticed an increase in cancers in general. We eat healthy with a lot of natural anti-cancer foods but I wonder just how much of our health problems are caused by our processed and manipulated food supply.

Probably a large percentage of cancers are food related.
Another cause is electromagnetic radiation. from High power electric transmission lines and transformer stations.  If you live under these lines or close to a transformer station, you are at greater risk of cancer.  Same for radio transmitters.  These things are so common and plentiful that statistic are not taken.  And still more people get cancer.

[Texas Turnip]

I'm sorry about your friend.

I knew way too many that worked that extra overtime (not me, I went to Guzzi rallies) and they passed before they could enjoy it.

My old time vet said that he used to see only one case of cancer a year in pets and now it is almost every month.

Tex

[Lannis]

People (and pets) used to die of infectious diseases long before they lived long enough to get cancer.   Flu, tuberculosis, typhoid, polio, stuff we don't get any more used to get people while they were young or middle aged.

Now that we don't die of those things any more, we live long enough to GET cancer.   I don't think we need to be looking for things in the air or water ... the simplest explanations are usually the right ones.

Due for a colonoscopy next month, me.

Lannis

[gearman]

People (and pets) used to die of infectious diseases long before they lived long enough to get cancer.   Flu, tuberculosis, typhoid, polio, stuff we don't get any more used to get people while they were young or middle aged.

Now that we don't die of those things any more, we live long enough to GET cancer.   I don't think we need to be looking for things in the air or water ... the simplest explanations are usually the right ones.

Due for a colonoscopy next month, me.
I agree but we seem to always want to ask why.
Lannis

[Aaron D.]

People (and pets) used to die of infectious diseases long before they lived long enough to get cancer.   Flu, tuberculosis, typhoid, polio, stuff we don't get any more used to get people while they were young or middle aged.

Now that we don't die of those things any more, we live long enough to GET cancer.   I don't think we need to be looking for things in the air or water ... the simplest explanations are usually the right ones.

Due for a colonoscopy next month, me.

Lannis

I agree with you. And I have had the last colonoscopy I will ever have, never again. I refuse the PSA screening  too.

My former business partner retired 3 years ago at 70. Had knees replaced, had a heart valve installed, started having odd speech issues 6 months ago, diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.

He died 2 weeks ago of an infection that could not be identified, as it could have been in his knees, his heart valve, or his brain.
We will die. We should not dwell on it but it should not frighten us.

[Rough Edge racing]

People (and pets) used to die of infectious diseases long before they lived long enough to get cancer.   Flu, tuberculosis, typhoid, polio, stuff we don't get any more used to get people while they were young or middle aged.

Now that we don't die of those things any more, we live long enough to GET cancer.   I don't think we need to be looking for things in the air or water ... the simplest explanations are usually the right ones.

Due for a colonoscopy next month, me.

Lannis

 I agree....Most people I know who lived a healthy long life did nothing other than moderation.....

[HDGoose]

I have had too many friends retire and then die. I am only 55, and had a heart attack the end of June. Because of that, and many friends dying before age 70, I'm not waiting on retirement to enjoy life.

[Ncdan]

People (and pets) used to die of infectious diseases long before they lived long enough to get cancer.   Flu, tuberculosis, typhoid, polio, stuff we don't get any more used to get people while they were young or middle aged.

Now that we don't die of those things any more, we live long enough to GET cancer.   I don't think we need to be looking for things in the air or water ... the simplest explanations are usually the right ones.

Due for a colonoscopy next month, me.

Lannis
You are spot in Lan, every time a cell reproduces itself it try to be identical however as we age they start to change when they reproduce, thus become cancerous and old age.

[RANDM]

There are lots of ways to do yourself in. I used to work 21
Shift in the Steel Ind. that a reputation for 70% of long
term workers dying within 2 years of stopping.

I think Lannis has a good point - we're all going to be seeing
Friends and associates slip off the perch as we get older, just
gotta make the most of what we can while they're still here.

Doesn't make it easy but, eh?

Maurie.

[Lannis]

Well, you think about it, the concept of "retirement" is a fairly recent one.

None of my great-grandparents, nor my wife's, people who lived generally until the 1940s or 1950s, understood the concept of "retirement" as we think of it today, where we save up our money, plan on a government or corporate pension, and quit working while we're still young enough to enjoy doing recreational things.

They all worked until they were literally unable to work any more; either on the farm, or running their store, or in their metalworking shop.   Once they couldn't work any more, they just "sat down" and either directed the kids at their work (when to plant, which wholesaler to buy dry-goods from, etc) or just sat in a rocking chair and faded out.

That's the way they were brought up.   Plus, people back then didn't have the kind of money most people have today.   So I guess it's not too surprising to see that some people are reluctant to retire because they're afraid they'll just dry up and fade away and die.   If I were like that, I would certainly keep working!

But I'm not.   Retirement has been great so far, living on about 1/4 of what I used to make has been working out fine (thanks, T. Turnip!), and I don't feel any tendency toward "fading away".

And if the doctor says "Lannis, sit down; I have some bad news" the next time I see him, I don't know how I'll handle it, but I will certainly be glad I retired WHEN I DID!

Lannis

[JJ]

I am very, very sorry to learn about both people...sending prayers and good thoughts from home...

[charlie b]

Sorry to hear. 

Father died at 57 from melanoma.  Father-in-law died at 67 from leukemia.  I'm at 62 and hoping for a few more years although have had a close call already.

[ohiorider]

I extend my sympathy to any of you with life partners, friends, and relatives who suddenly find they have little time left on this earth.  One of my closest friends I'd known for 50 years passed away in March of 2015.  He was my age .... 66 when diagnosed with soft tissue carcoma in his right leg.  He was 72 when he left this earth.  Tough?  ..... Good Lord, yes.  He lost his leg up to the hip .... the Clinic was able to take part of the lower leg presumed to be cancer-free and graft it to him to provide a place to mount a prosthetic.  Which he did.  But after 3-4 years, the damned cancer returned, and the graft had to be removed putting him back on crutches. 

He called me 7 weeks before his death and asked if I'd keep him company over the weekend, since Pat (his wife) wanted to visit their son and brand new granddaughter.  Of course!  We got a laugh out of it when he said 'Pat thinks I need a babysitter!"

We had one hell of a good weekend .... we drank copious amounts of craft beer, ate well, and went out to drive through several of the lovely Metroparks in the area.

After we'd finished dinner on Saturday evening, John said, "Bob, I don't have much more time."  That was it.  No fanfare, just that simple statement.  He was as tough as they come.  I'm not so tough ..... it brought tears to my eyes.

He wasn't a motorcyclist, but loved anything with an engine in it that raced on a track.  We'd gone to Mid Ohio for car and bike races for years.  He is certainly missed by family and friends.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  Having been dead once ( not breathing and no heartbeat for an unknown time as I lay in the road),  I look upon each day as another one that I probably don't deserve.  So I just keep on doing what I can to enjoy any I get.

[Arizona Wayne]

If I get cancer and still want to live, I'm not going to go the chemo route.  There are other options.   Chemo patients end up dying anyway and I'm not going to subject myself to that.

[azguzzirep]

  There are other options.

Yes. My wife is now doing what's called 'immune therapy ". A lot less harmful as chemo.


  Chemo patients end up dying anyway and I'm not going to subject myself to that.

Not necessarily true.  My mom had chemo twice for non hodgekins lymphoma and my sister had I'd for breast cancer. Both did fine afterwards. There are many success stories connected with chemo.

Tom

[Doppelgaenger]

I didn't tell anyone here yet, but the same thing happened to my wife. She was diagnosed in May with non small cell lung cancer.😢

She has already been through radiation and chemotherapy treatments. I think we found it too late because she also has a spot on the left eye nerve and a spot on her liver. The chemo didn't affect either of them and the spot on her liver is now larger.

She will now do what's called 'immune therapy ' which is supposed to be really good.

She only smoked as a teenager. She always eats healthy, never busy pre made foods. And she is always doing sports. Skiing, walking, swimming and bicycle riding.

Cancer is very unfair.😕😕 She just turned 61 in August.

Tom

The owner of the company I work for, and one of the nicest men I've ever known, was diagnosed with brain and lung cancer about 2 years ago. By the time they had found it, it was stage IV. But immunotherapy was tried on him and less than a year later he's cancer free.

Funny thing is that after it was all said and done, he said he would never in a million years wish for it not to have happened because everyone came out of the woodwork for him to express their support and love.

Don't give up hope yet, that immunotherapy can work magic!

[azguzzirep]

That's is REALLY good news!

I'll tell my wife about it tonight.😀  I'm sure it will cheer her up!!

Tom

[azguzzirep]

Hey doppelganger, does your boss have to continue treatment?
My wife thinks she must continue treatment even if she gets cancer free.

Tom