The Big C Word

[fruitsalad]

A person, i know of, had back pain, he was sent for an MIR scan where they found, his words, "he was riddled with cancer" that was 4 years ago, how is it some people, get the prognosis and battle through, for years, and some get the prognosis and are gone within a few weeks of finding out.

[Buenchico]

If researchers could find an answer to that question they'd probably be able to offer far more effective cures than they currently can.

My uncle was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told that he'd only got a few weeks left to live. He died, of something totally unrelated, 25 years later.

[bookbinder]

That's what's called 'the luck of the draw', I think. Some people go within a short time, and some go for years. That's the way it goes.

[kvalidir]

My grandfather was the same told he was dying of colorectal cancer in 1992, given roughly 6 months and died in 2008 of something else.

[fruitsalad]

Goodness 25 years later?? that was very good going, did he stay active, during that time, or was he not able to?

[jennyjoan]

And the other scenario - my mum was given 3 weeks to live and that's exactly what happened.

[fender62]

Buenchico, thats true many sadly in my family and friends, and im sure many other people, but the up thought no ones knows, perhaps some medical person an ab can answer or clear that up.

[ummmm]

Cancer shows signs in different ways. With some the symptoms don't appear until it's too late.

[Buenchico]

>>> did he stay active, during that time, or was he not able to?

Incredibly active for most of it.

[fruitsalad]

That is what puzzles me, I wonder if its a mind over matter, type of thing, as in, you give into it or fight it and carry on a normal life as possible.

[Sqad]

From your OP.......I would question the diagnosis.

However, if by "riddled with cancer" they mean Multiple Myeloma then although 4 years is average, they may live for 25 years.

So..........depends what one means by "riddled with cancer".

[rowanwitch]

It's all about how early it's diagnosed. Some cancers are symptom free until they spread , and it's the secondary cancers that cause problems and the person seeks help. Sadly a lot of patients are diagnosed when they are already in the incurable stage.
The next factor is how well they cope with treatment. Even quite late stage tumours can respond for a while and so the person has some extension to their life with the disease.
The next factor is access to specialist services. Major centres often have clinical trials and state of the art treatments that are not easily accessible elsewhere.
The individuals overall health, attitude and 'will to live' also play a part

[Sqad]

Kval........we are dealing with bone cancer here.....not bowel cancer.

[Sqad]

rowan.....again....we are dealing with bone cancer.

[LadyCG]

Is this primary bone cancer or widespread skeletal secondaries from prostate Ca? If the latter he could live for many years with hormone inhibitor treatment. Prostate Ca is a slow-growing cancer anyway.

[ummmm]

Where does it say it was bone cancer?

[jennyjoan]

My friend had non-hodginson (sp) lymphoma for 8 long years. Literally lumps were cut out of her, neck, stomach (lymph nodes), breast removal not to mention the horrible chemo and radiation that left her bald twice and I do think it was her positivity that kept her going for her young sons but whilst her spirit was willing her flesh was weak at the end.

[Sqad]

ummmm....it didn't....but he had an MRI for back pain and one could reasonably assume from that, that the "riddled" was pertaining to the spine.

Lady CG....prostate cancer with boney secondaries one is talking about 2 years maximum.

[LadyCG]

Not true, Sqad. Yes it's terminal once it reaches the bones but nowadays they can have 15 years or more of containment with prostate Ca.

2 years on average with skeletal mets from breast cancer.

[LadyCG]

What was the name of that Newsreader chap who was on telly the other week. He was found to have prostate Ca that had infiltrated the bone and his Oncologist said he could have up to 18 years if he continues to respond well to treatment.

However we're getting ahead of ourselves and we do not know the precise diagnosis in this case.

[Sqad]

LadyCG....so they say.............