I agree with Ken, make every day count. When my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer, it was Stage 4 and had spread to the bone; he was given 3 months to live. He lived 18 months.
Sounds like you and Laura need to go see her doctor together and sit down and have a talk with him to get things straight.
Kat
On Wed, 19 Jun 2002 11:39:02 -0400 "Cleveland, Kyle E." <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Thanks, Kat. I just got off the phone with Laura's friend who accompanied
her to Texas. She (Cheryl, the friend) said that Laura was pretty bummed
about the prognosis when she first got the news. She didn't see her
"regular" physician, and the stand-in doc said that the other guy was
usually "overly optimistic" in talking to his patients. Didn't outright
accuse the guy of lying, but he said that the fellow tended not to want to
discuss bad new with his patients. I'm figuring the true prognosis is
probably somewhere 'twixt the two. The new guy said, yes, she was a year
out in her remission, but they weren't considering patients "cancer-free"
until they were ten years out without a positive dx. This was news to me as
I thought the standard was five years out. I dunno, maybe Cheryl got things
confused too. I'm kind of kicking myself right now for letting myself be
talked into staying home.
Still, she's alive. The first prognosis said that she'd be dead by now, so
blessings need to be counted.
-Kyle
-----Original Message-----
From: Kathy Salkin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 11:16 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Laura; was RE: Molasses
You'll be in my thoughts and prayers, Kyle.
Kat
On Wed, 19 Jun 2002 08:16:08 -0400 "Cleveland, Kyle E."
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Well, I read a lot when the cable's out. Since we live in a new
construction area, the cable's out a lot.
Give y'all an update on the "rib" Laura:
She had another bone marrow biopsy last week at M.D. Anderson Cancer Clinic
in Houston. I stayed home (under duress) and she had a close friend fly out
with her.
Not all of the genetic tests are back yet, but we got good news and bad.
The good news is that she is still considered in "molecular remission" of
the chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The bad news is that prognosticative
genetics point to her getting the acute (aggressive) form of the cancer
should it return. Of more urgent concern is that she still has only 40%
renal function and her immuno-gamma-globulin (a critical component of the
immune system) has been virtually destroyed. This means that ANY infection,
even a common cold, could become deadly. The doctors are considering IGG
infusions, and they've asked Laura's siblings to be matched for a bone
marrow transplant in case the infusions failed to work. Keep your fingers
crossed and prayer headed our way.
Thanks!
-Kyle
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth H. Thiers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 18, 2002 8:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Molasses; was RE: Happy Father's Day
Wow, I bow down to you....
beth t.
Subject: Molasses; was RE: Happy Father's Day
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