What are the odds?
Were you one of the many who asked the doctor for the odds? Was it possible to beat the cancer? Or maybe you were one of the many who asked about the possibility of the cancer returning after hearing those beautiful letters spoken out loud….”N-E-D” ?
The science of cancer gets better by the day. Researchers make headlines on a regular basis announcing break-throughs on genetic findings, or new therapies that prove to be better than present day treatments and there’s always the latest clinical trial that screams “magic bullet” for some cancers.
But we always come back to the odds.
“Can I beat this?”
“I WILL be the one on the far side of the curve.” “The cure side of the curve.”
That’s the positive side of living with cancer. You can only hope.
Who cares what the odds are?
April 9, 2013 @ 8:35 am
The science of cancer gets better by the day. Researchers make headlines on a regular basis announcing break-throughs on genetic findings but still people are dying because of cancer, the med for cancer should be free or to be sell at very low price.
April 4, 2013 @ 1:27 pm
My doctors have in my chart that I do not want to know about prognosis – just what action(s) we can take to get the cancer under control (or gone, if really lucky). Living in what I call ignorance is for me better than tempting self-fulfilling prophecy. For now, I take my maintenance chemo and go on with my day. I truly know how fortunate I am and appreciate every day.
How coincidental and chill-induciing that this should be today’s topic. I was originally diagnosed with myeloma in 1999, was NED from 2000-2011, has a relapse in 2011 and have been NED again for just over a year now. Today is exactly two years since beginning my current regimen that returned me to NED and is keeping me there. Thank you being here!!
April 3, 2013 @ 9:07 pm
I decided to believe that I was going to survive and thrive. I never asked why me, rather why not me. I had a wonderful care giver, I had friends that supported me, I learned humility and the power of surrender (not that I learned that lesson very well), I learned to let go, I learned the power of life, that little flicker inside me that always said ‘cancer you may win, you may take me, but it will not be today’.
I believe in that force called the human spirit.
April 3, 2013 @ 8:48 pm
When my husband was diagnosed with colorectal cancer ten years ago, we had no idea about “odds.” Looking back, I don’t think the doctors thought they were good, but they didn’t speculate. They just laid out the treatment and the road back to recovery was extremely rough for about two years. I agree 100% with Al (as usual).
April 3, 2013 @ 8:20 pm
My brother, when he first called to tell me about his cancer, was given 6 weeks at most; he lived almost another year and a half, if I’m calculating correctly now. He got to see another birthday and another Thanksgiving and another Christmas and then one more birthday.
Odds, I think, are not what make life possible. I agree with Al that human spirit, the human will, counts for much more.
April 3, 2013 @ 6:58 pm
I remember the first meeting with my oncologist after diagnosis.We discussed alot. He took out a textbook and showed me the stats. I don’t remember the stats now and if I did remember them now, I’d conclude that they were just numbers with not much meaning to me. I know about stats so I’m not saying there is some relevance but I’ve always contended that the relevance didn’t include me.
Based upon my history with cancer, I should have been dead long ago but I’m still here while others that I know whose prognosis was better are now gone. A buddy of mine for 11 years and a melanoma patient who fought it to a standstill died on February 1st…not from melanoma. Went to the hospital to have a hernia repaired and died in the hospital. A friend with melanoma that has spread to her brain, her lungs, her intestines and now a large tumor under her arm has endured and is still fighting the beast while defying all of the odds and stats. The human spirit is a formidable force and is capable of doing the seemingly impossible.
I always tell newly diagnosed patients to know the stats if you must and then forget them. You are the fighting force that will confront the beast and never sell yourself short. Never quit until you decide that it is time AND Always Believe in Miracles. They do happen. I have seen one.