Comments on: What was your reaction when you learned that you or a loved one had cancer?

By: Amy (UK)

Amy (UK) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:01:09 +0000

I just heard today that my Auntie has had a lump in her neck biopsied and the results are that she has cancerous cells. She’s going for a CT on Saturday to find out what else is going on in her body.

I feel shocked. Of all my Aunties she’s the one that is so much full of life and vigour and never expected anything to stop her. She radically changed careers in her late 40′s which I admired her for so much. I respect her so greatly and am very proud of her.

It still feels unreal for me. I am hopeful that the doctors have caught it early and I am hoping and praying that the lump in her neck is the only place that the cancer is found. I don’t know how best to support her. I don’t know what someone going through this really needs to hear.

This is the first time that anyone in my immediate family has got cancer.

Thanks for the opportunity to share how I am feeling.

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:24:14 +0000

Dear Mr. Dempsey:

I would like to thank you for this wonderful place – I wish I lived closer to Maine. I learned that I had cancer (indeterminate at the time) the Monday after Christmas 2009. My brother told me – apparently he was told on Christmas Eve. I have 5 children and am divorced, the kids are 11, 14, 15, 18, and 20 all girls! I cried very heavily for them and for myself and because I have a great fear of cancer. Right away we went to my doctor’s appointment where I was still numb and they also told me that I cancer and had a painful procedure to drain the fluid around my lungs. Because of the holiday, I had tests scattered over the next two weeks – scared and numb most of the time. Finally I switched hospitals and it was down to ovarian and/or breast cancer. I wished and prayed for breast cancer only. The result was late stage ovarian cancer. Since that time I have had 7 of the 8 chemo treatments and quite a few surgeries. I appreciate each day more but fear for my daughters and not being able to be around for them. I am looking forward to the end of treatment and getting back to some kind of normal life. Although at first I didn’t want to share my diagnosis with the locals (who I know talk about sick people) eventually I did and have had wonderful support for which I am eternally grateful. I have lost my job since my diagnosis but now receive social security disability and work from my computer to spread awareness of ovarian cancer so that other women do not have to endure the physical and mental issues that the beast ovarian cancer causes.

By: Blanca

Blanca — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:36:32 +0000

I was diagnosed at age 35 w/ovarian cancer, stage 3. My children were 5 and 7. I have to admit I really didn’t get scared or worried when I was told it was cancer. I had known something was wrong and my own gyno had sent me home (my gastro dr actually found it!)
I immediately called my family and we all decided that God had a plan for me. I had a full hysterectomy, went through 6 rounds of chemo and lost my hair. This was actually the one time i cried (when i was told i would definitely lose my hair).
I was in remission for almost 5 yrs when it came back last year. I went through a milder chemo and by God’s grace and love, made it!
I can’t get worried that the cancer will come back. My goal is to stay positive and live my life for God and he’ll take care of the rest.
God bless you all!

By: Melanie Torres

Melanie Torres — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:13:08 +0000

I originally was dxed in 01/07 with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Was told I had to do 6 cycles of chemo and would lose my hair I went home and cried my self to sleep. I thought why does this have to happen now? I had lost my sis-in-law from kidney cancer and my Dad from heart surgery 6 mos. before. I had a recurrence 09/09 had surgery and did 8 cycles of chemo, lost my hair again this time it really hit me that I am going to die of oc, maybe not today but definitley down this road that has been chosen for me. No I am not living the life I had planned, but with gratitude I live the life that is waiting for me. And hope to inspire others so they can empower themselves and begin to heal. I am alive for another day I think of those who aren’t.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:57:11 +0000

When my mother told me at the end of October, 2009 that she had Breast Cancer I was totally shocked. I told her you’re joking? She was not joking. Luckily it was caught in the very beginning of Stage 1. She had a Lumpectomy and Radiation Treatment. She has been cancer free for about 5 months now.

By: Nikki

Nikki — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:00:55 +0000

My stepmother was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer 7 years ago. She lost her battle after 4 long years. She went into remission after the first go round, but it came back with a vengeance. My first thought was oh my god, why her? My second was what about my dad? After that, I had no more time to think about what this was or why, only how do I help her win the fight. After a short hospital stay for complications at the end of the four years, she came home on hospice care and informed us she had decided to cease treament. She died within the week. Again, why her? and again what about dad? I am so encouraged by what we’ve done with the pink ribbon campaign, can you imagine what we’ll be able to do for ovarian cancer? The people that helped the most emotionally were the people who treated her cancer, her oncologist, her oncology clinic and her hospice caregivers.

By: Diane Moreau

Diane Moreau — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:17:18 +0000

If you have time, please read my daughter’s thoughts on a grandparents diagnosis and illness under profiles of inspiration at http://www.dempseychallenge.org. You may get some of the same feelings and understanding from her. My prayers are with you and your family.

Diane

By: Brittany

Brittany — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:01:46 +0000

I am only 16 years old but i found out that my grandmother had cancer two weeks before i turned 16. I was heart broken. She had it my Freshman and now my Sopohmore year too. At my 16th b day party my grandma gave a stuff snoopy and wrote I love you on it. I wanted to start crying but didnt. I pray and hope that she makes it.

By: Diane Moreau

Diane Moreau — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:20:03 +0000

To my friends and family (especially Maryke and Jen),

I have always been the caregiver, I am a mom and also a get up and go woman. I have had relatives including my dad who struggled through as well as losing their battles to cancer. I have always taken on the role of holding everyone together in order to minimize their suffering and help them along in whatever they needed.
As I learned that it was my turn to hear the “Cancer Diagnosis” I at first went numb. I did not have that take charge, take care attitude. I began to research and attempt to learn what was happening to my body, after all the previous year, I acheived getting into the best shape my body had been in for a long while. But, cancer…….. I was 49, much to young……….! Then, it hit me, protection mode and supporting those in my family that would think the worst. Put on my happy face and state that this was merely a bump in the road. At night however, my doubts would creep back in and I would often think, am I capable of handling it? Can I support my loved ones with a can do attitude? I believe that is normal, but it is a true survivor that never lets doubt rule. Never let fear creep into you or your loved ones. If you can not find it within yourself……… surround yourself with positive thinkers, as well as positive inspiration.
Yes, I am my own best cheerleader and my family is the stadium full of cheering fans. We have and will continue to get through this! Cancer didn’t have me…….. I had cancer and I have won! Please feel free to visit the website dempseychallenge.org under Profiles in Inspiration and see through my daughters own words how our family can make that red rover chain and not let doubt through. I am truly blessed and never plan on losing faith in family during crisis….. never give up! Don’t let doubt rule your life, even if the diagnosis is troubling. Life is worth living…….. so dog gone it, live it!

By: Leslie Grimes

Leslie Grimes — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:06:10 +0000

I just found out I have Uterine cancer on April 2nd 2010. I am still a bit in shock, but grateful because they said they believe found it early in the very early stages. The doctor told me it was because I was so aggressive in insisting on I being given a C125 test(it came back with an elevated count more than once) and insisting on further testing (endometrial biopsy )be done that day that they caught it this early. He was surprise at the results and admitted to me if I had not been so aggressive he probably would not have done the Biopsy and would have sent me home not realizing I had cancer…there were many unusual events that took place unrelated to me directly that led up to me being at the doctors and be aggressive about requesting test…all I can say is Gods hands are all over this one.

My mom passed away in 2005 from Ovarian and Uterine Cancer that was not caught until she was in stage 4…she went into the Doctors several time saying she feared she had cancer but was never given a CA125 test and unfortunately we never knew about the test being available, she just kept getting sent home.

I had my CT done on 4/7 and see the Oncologist this morning to get a better picture of were I really am…your prayer would be appreciated, because I am a big believer in the power of prayer.

Woman…be proactive and aggressive in taking care of yourselves…I know the CA125 test is poo poo’d because it can give a false positive…but even those can at least let you know you may have fibroid Tumors which is what usually causes a false positive(which by the way as a women, I wouldn’t call the a false positive) but I feel like it as well as an edometrial biopsy(as simply done as a Pap smear) and Transvaginal ultrasound is all we have right now to be given at least a fighting chance of catching these cancer early, and we have to fight to get them done…don’t let your Doctor poo poo your concerns…fight for your life. My first set of CA125′s almost 5 years ago let me know I had Fibroid tumors…if you have them insist the Doctor follow them…I was not told they are ALMOST never cancerous, I was told they are always benign and not to worry…if there is just a 1% chance they can be cancerous or become cancerous or grow to be the size of small volley balls(like is my friend’s case) don’t we have right to be told that?…especially when they can be removed…so I am still fearful one of them may be much larger now, or even cancerous, so this morning I guess I will find out.

God bless you all…my prayers are with you all….and thank you Mr Dempsey for caring about the plight of women and these horrible and difficult cancer to catch early. especially when we have some Doctors out there unwilling to provide us with the only tools we have to at least give us a shot at detecting it early…I am thankful this last Doctor LISTENED to my gut instead of his own…at least I have a chance now