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I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

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Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#11

Post by andrewem »

Xeoncross wrote: post #6
rcarrigan87 wrote: post #4

My brother was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma (cancer) at age 35. Basically was given about a 10% to live. 180 servings of chemo/radiation later we started lining up hospice and he prepared to say goodbye to his 2 young kids and wife. Last ditch effort was an experimental drug. Out of 150 people in the trial, he's the only one alive 12 years later. 6 years ago he started a company that is about to hit 8 figure…

> Last ditch effort was an experimental drug... he's the only one alive I assume it wasn't the drug then but some other factor that was either missed or underestimated in his actual recovery. Wish more of these missing-pieces were known.

It's entirely possible that it was the drug, but there was some factor that led his tumor to be susceptible to it, most likely a DNA mutation in the tumor.

That's what "personalized medicine" or "precision medicine" is all about for cancer.

Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#12

Post by sp821543 »

Scott, I'm sorry about this.

Why isn't the medical community looking for early warnings? relatively cheap tests for hs-crp, IL-6, TNF-alpha could be helpful. Inflammation is the precursor to disease.

Do yourselves a favor & ask your doctor for the hs-crp test to measure inflammation.

Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#13

Post by dvt »

My grandmother had breast cancer about a decade ago and it was grueling for the whole family. She went into remission after aggressive chemo, but I pray every day no one else in my family will be afflicted with this terrible disease and that the hard working scientists and researchers out there will soon find a cure.

This puts my own trivial problems into perspective. I hope you make it. God bless.

Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#15

Post by davidreiss »

My uncle was diagnosed with cancer last july and died 3 months later. Left behind a wife and two kids. The holidays was rather depressing last year.

He was an athlete who ran in marathons. Never smoked or drank. But cancer still took him. Such a terrible disease.

Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#16

Post by Bowelthrowaway »

maxerickson wrote: post #3

Any amount of unexplained rectal bleeding is reason enough to schedule an appointment with a doctor. The doctor is likely to recommend a colonoscopy. Removal of polyps (a likely source of bleeding) reduces the chances of cancer developing and can only be done during a colonoscopy.

Had forgotten about two experiences I had in roughly three months ago.

Stiffer feces lead to "tight squeeze" and then bleeding to the point of dripping in the toilet. True red blood. This happened twice within a week, feeling around in shower discovered pain on surface of recturm. I was eating terribly at the time.

It went away and I went on with life. Reading this today is a billboard reminder to get colonoscopy and clear myself ASAP.

Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#17

Post by Mz »

PSA for anyone reading this: Colorectal cancer for younger people seems to be on the rise. They don't seem to know why.

My father had colon cancer and was not expected to survive it. I think he was 69 when he was finally diagnosed. He had put off seeing a doctor because he thought it was "just old age" and it was quite advanced by the time he was diagnosed. He did survive it and died, iirc, just short of his 89th or 90th birthday.

A lot of my relatives have had cancer, some of them more than once. Few of them have died from it. So, I tend to be biased in assuming that it can be conquered, even when the doctors say the odds are long against.

I know I have seen quotes on HN about how the odds are long against startups and other things, but how you can work to overcome those odds. I think it is a bit like that.

Good luck in your journey. Best wishes on your outcome.

Re: I’m 35 and I may suddenly have lost the rest of my life

#19

Post by [deleted] »

Mz wrote: post #17

PSA for anyone reading this: Colorectal cancer for younger people seems to be on the rise. They don't seem to know why. My father had colon cancer and was not expected to survive it. I think he was 69 when he was finally diagnosed. He had put off seeing a doctor because he thought it was "just old age" and it was quite advanced by the time he was diagnosed. He did survive it and died, iirc, just short of his 89th or…

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