I unofficially qualified for this group early last month...

[True Dough]

20. Best wishes, Dixiegrrrrl

Hi. I was just taking a look around at some of the topics here at the DU when I checked out the health forum. While the Trump bashing (deserved as it is) rages in General Discussion and all the other related issues that arise there, you're right, none of it seems so important when you are facing the big fucking C.

I have been fortunate to remain cancer free so far, but my mom's side of the family is riddled with it. On my dad's side, there's heart disease everywhere. Dad's had a quadruple bypass and three heart attacks. Mom had breast cancer twice, the first time about 33 years ago and she was one of the first few lumpectomies performed in the area of Canada we were living in at the time. Then she had a recurrence about 9 years later and underwent a mastectomy. I remember her laying in bed afterwards with her skin looking tender and red on that same side of her body due to radiation treatments. She was tough as nails through both ordeals, staying strong for us kids, no doubt.

Both my folks were lifelong smokers, which surely played a role in dad's heart issues and mom's cancer, which came back in its final terminal form when it was detected as stage 4 in one of her lungs. It then metastasized into her bones. She lasted less than 3 months in that final go round. I took unpaid time off work as soon as I got the diagnosis and spent those last months with her. No regrets about it at all, other than wishing I could have done more.

Anyway, I wish you great strength, Dixiegrrrrl. I hope you have ample family support. Either way, you have friends here to reach out to. Take care!