HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: msw1633@rigel.tamu.edu (Mark S. Whitsitt, N5RJF)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: A thought for the ladies.
Date: 7 Apr 92 05:48:00 GMT
Reply-To: MSW1633@SUMMA.TAMU.EDU
Organization: Texas A&M University, Biochemistry Department
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Apr7.030652.27611@usenet.ins.cwru.edu>, ae299@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jack L. Wallace) writes...
> 
>My wife is a Nurse Oncologist and she states that if you feel a 
>suspicious lump, or your doctor sees something on the x-ray and
>says "Let's watch it for a while!"
> 
>D O N ' T !
> 
>She has seen too many patients who waited and watched it grow...
> 
>She didn't wait and she is still here helping others.
> 
>-- 

I cannot agree more wholeheartedly!!!!!  My mother's doctor found a "spot" on 
one of her mammograms and decided to "watch" it for a while.  Well, that spot 
turned out to be breast cancer and now she has had two modified radical 
mastectomies, 5 rounds of chemo/radiation, etc... etc....

She now has the cancer in her bones, specifically, her vertebrae, her hips and 
so on and so on....

I can't help but wonder if all of her suffering might not have been averted had 
she thought to disagree with her doctor and INSIST on a biopsy!

If you see a bit of anger in this post, you are very observant...
(actually, I gave in on most of the anger towards the doctors early on... being 
a doctor is not a sign that a person is infallible...)

I just dont want to see anyone else go through what my mother is right now, nor 
would I wish what I am personally going through on anyone else's loved ones. 

Mark S. Whitsitt, N5RJF        Texas A&M University, Dept of Biochemistry
Vice-President W5AC ARC  		  College Station, Tx. 77843-2128
Internet:  MSW1633@SIGMA.TAMU.EDU 			   (409) 845-0832
Packet/APLINK:  N5RJF @ KE5HE.TX.USA.NA
   "You can't throw darts when you're empty, man." - another Shadelism
From: tyoung@med.unc.edu (Therese Young)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: cervical cancer
Date: 10 Apr 92 18:04:03 GMT
Organization: UNC-CH School of Medicine
Originator: tyoung@pelham


A year and a half ago I found out I had cervical cancer.  It was detected
through a pap smear.  I had a radical hysterectomy, but I haven't had to
do chemo and all of my follow up visits have been good.  I guess I'm a
success story.  My cancer was found fairly early and physically I am fine
today.

In response to the person who asked if there were symptoms.  I never had
any.  I felt fine when I got my bad test results.  If I had not gone to
have my check up I would not have known.  Now I do warn my friends to go
every year.  This disease is not limited to women in their 40s and 50s.
I'm 28 and my condition developed in one year.  

I do have a question that I'm sure some of you have had to deal with or at
least have thought of.  I'm thinking of going back to college in a year or
two.  And a big problem is what to do about health insurance.  Obviously
I'll loose my current coverage when I quit my job.  Have any of you dealt
with this?  Do I just take my chances and pray I don't have a recurrance?
Or is there something out there I don't know about.  I'm not hopeful but
maybe someone can give me some advice.

Therese Youn
tyoung@med.unc.edu

A
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
From: larry@bradley.bradley.edu (Larry D. Stratton)
Subject: Re: encouraging experiences.
Keywords: Hope, Optimism, Fight.
Organization: Bradley University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 92 02:59:35 GMT

In <7APR199215363507@envmsa.eas.asu.edu> chliu@envmsa.eas.asu.edu (Charles Liu) writes:
>     I have but one request.  Would some of you out there in net.land share
>some stories of dramatic victory against this disease?  I KNOW people fight
   I did.  2 bouts with bladder cancer the last in '86.  Hey, I'm still
here!
-- 
"Closets are for clothes" 
"Those who don't know are terminally stupid or virginally new"
"I should have known it was doomed.  I don't like tea."  -Tea for Two
L. D. Stratton   larry@bradley.edu   (309) 693-8500 when all else fails
From: ara@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Allan Adler)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: HEALTH
Date: 9 Apr 92 16:06:52 GMT
Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab.

I find it difficult, reading Jeff Cannon's remarks, to believe that he is
not simply preying on the fears of cancer patients in order to sell them
something.

Even if one assumes that he is in earnest, it is still disturbing to read.
It has the ring of someone who believes he can cure cancer with
ideology.

As I have pointed out on other occasions, never assume that you are
too strung out to be useful to a parasite and never assume that someone
else is too well off to be one.

Allan Adler
ara@altdorf.ai.mit.edu
From: jbouwens@urbana.mcd.mot.com (Judy Bouwens)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: Caretaking (was Re: Good Idea! )
Date: 7 Apr 92 12:50:14 GMT
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Urbana Design Center Keywords:

Our son died of neuroblastoma on January 10, 1990.  Brian had just turned
four in November 1989.  The primary tumor (in his abdomen) had been removed
in July 1989 but Brian had a recurrence.  It had metastasized to the brain
and five days after they discovered the new tumors, Brian was declared brain
dead and we had life support removed.  Brian never really suffered at the
end, or at least not that we knew, and for that I am thankful.

My pain may not be as sharp but there is a dull ache.  In some ways I
feel lucky...  From the time that Brian was diagnosed in February 1989,
until he died the following January, we were so close.  If Brian had
died suddenly by some other means, I wouldn't have had that time with him.
Even our hospital stays were special.  He was a real trooper.

I'm so glad that this group was started.

Judy

-- 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Judy Bouwens, Motorola MCD, Urbana Design Center, Urbana, IL 61801
Email:	jbouwens@urbana.mcd.mot.com, uiucuxc!udc!jbouwens  Phone: 217 384 8535
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: cannon@superdist.Sun.COM (Jeff Cannon)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: HEALTH
Date: 10 Apr 92 03:24:26 GMT
Reply-To: cannon@superdist.Sun.COM (Jeff Cannon)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: superdist.ebay.sun.com

I knew I would have these types of problems when I decided to post to this
network, but I could not live with myself unless I share my positive 
experiences with others.

Not one of us will be able to grow without TRUST.  At first,
I was very skeptical when a good friend of mine introduced me to
BARLEYGREEN and herbs.  I finally decided to TRUST him and give it 
a try.  Since beginning on the products on December of 1990, I have
not came close to getting sick and neither has my 5 yr old daughter
as well as several others.  The items that I mentioned are remarkable,
but I did not create them, God did.  The Creator left us all that
was needed to remain in good health and to cure ourselves in time
of illness.

MANY OF THE DIS-EASES THAT EXISTS IN THE U.S. DO NOT EXIST IN SEVERAL
OTHER COUNTRIES.  THIS IS BECAUSE WE LIVE QUITE DIFFERENT, WE EAT
FOODS THAT WE CANNOT DIGEST PROPERLY, WE ARE CONSTIPATED, WE DO NOT
ASSIMILATE THE NUTRIENTS FROM OUR FOODS, WE EAT DEAD FOODS (NO ENZYMES,ETC.)
WITH NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE TO THE BODY WHATSOEVER. There is alot more to 
mention, but the point is made.  We cannot expect our bodies to remain
healthy under these conditions.

I never said that I could cure cancer.  The cure lies within each of us.
The body must have your assistance to cure itself of DIS-EASE.  All
that I can suggest to you is the types of assistance that the body is 
searching for and what items that I have seen work.

Cancer just does not appear from thin air.  It is either inherited and/or
accumulated in the body over a period of time from "wrongs" that have
been done to the body (whether it be from the environment, what you eat
and assimulate, or from accumlated stress,etc.).

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions of what I say.  I am not preying
on anyone.  This would not be healthy.  When one does bad things, they have
a way of coming back to get you.

Hopefully, I may be able to reach just one person.  That one person can
share their experiences with this net (positive or negative).  If not,
I wish all of you the best and do not give up HOPE.

Take Care,

Jeff
*************
In article <ARA.92Apr9110652@camelot.ai.mit.edu>, ara@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Allan Adler) writes:
|> I find it difficult, reading Jeff Cannon's remarks, to believe that he is
|> not simply preying on the fears of cancer patients in order to sell them
|> something.
|> 
|> Even if one assumes that he is in earnest, it is still disturbing to read.
|> It has the ring of someone who believes he can cure cancer with
|> ideology.
|> 
|> As I have pointed out on other occasions, never assume that you are
|> too strung out to be useful to a parasite and never assume that someone
|> else is too well off to be one.
|> 
|> Allan Adler
|> ara@altdorf.ai.mit.edu
From: kip@space.mit.edu (Karolen I. Paularena)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: An insurance experience, etc.
Date: 12 Apr 92 16:39:14 GMT
Article-I.D.: athena.1992Apr12.163914.9890
Reply-To: kip@space.mit.edu (Karolen I. Paularena)
Organization: MIT Center for Space Research
Originator: kip@plas5


I was diagnosed with breast cancer (Stage II, meaning a small lump, and micro-
metastasis {positive lymph nodes but no other sites looking positive}) for
which I had a modified radical mastectomy and reconstruction in October 1990.
At that time I was on COBRA-mandated insurance from my former husband's policy.
That is, when we divorced, I had the option for three years of paying the
group rate I would have had as an employee of the company, but with me paying
the company's contributions, as well as the employee contributions.  My
insurance covered the surgery.  I began chemo in December of that year.

In January of 1991, while still on chemo, I got a job at MIT, working half-time,
which gives benefits.  MIT took me on their insurance policy.  They covered the
rest of my chemo, and the nipple reconstruction for my (pseudo-) breast.  I
don't know about other employers, but I will say that I had no trouble 
switching my insurance, even during treatment.  My point is that while there
may be many companies which wouldn't cover you (or your spouse, child, etc.)
if you began working there and had the cancer history, there are companies that
do provide coverage.  So I don't think that one must feel trapped, only that
the options may be more limited.

On another issue:  Thanks for beginning this group.  I tried support groups
before and during my primary treatment.  I found that the people I encountered
were too depressed to be of much help to me.  I was treated by the Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute, so there should have been many other breast cancer patients,
but perhaps the timing was bad :>).  At any rate, it's nice to read about the
experiences of others without feeling guilty if on a particular day I don't feel
compassionate, patient, strong, etc.

As for ending chemo (I had a protocol of very high dose CAF for four months), I
felt like dirt for months afterward.  Then my primary care physician (new to me
since I went with the HMO part of MIT's plan) gave me a physical so he could see
how things stood and get to know my body on a more "normal" basis.  Turns out
that an old problem with my thyroid (hypothyroidism) had cropped up again and
that was why I felt so lousy.  I thank him for looking at me as a whole person
who wasn't just a piece of cancer walking around.  Now I'm taking synthroid 
each day and I feel GREAT!  I don't know if this is a success story, since my
risk is still not good.  But on the other hand, I enjoy each day I can spend
with my SO, and with my daughters.  Life, in a very positive way, will never be
the same.  I watched my mother die at home from lymphoma (I took care of her),
so I know how bad things can be.  But I'm not afraid because I'm not there yet;
I'll save fear for when I need it.  For now, I'm just happy to be able to really
know what I want for a change...
From: cannon@superdist.Sun.COM (Jeff Cannon)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: HEALTH
Keywords: NATURAL
Date: 10 Apr 92 00:10:53 GMT
Reply-To: cannon@superdist.Sun.COM (Jeff Cannon)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: superdist.ebay.sun.com

To: larry@bradley.bradley.edu (Larry D. Stratton)
Subject: Re: HEALTH

Larry,

I am not sure what suppliments your sister had taken or how long
a period that had gone by before or if she had tried a natural means.
It would not be wise to use one case to finalize your personal opinion
on a particular subject.  Personally, I have seen amazing things happen 
with the use of herbs and a product called BARLEYGREEN that I used
myself. Currently, I have an individual with HIV who is using these 
products with great success.  I have also seen and helped people that
have used herbs that no longer have any traces of cancer that was there
before (including breast cancer).

Larry, I am here to help, not to do battle.  I have nothing to prove,
but I know what works.  

Doctors should be working on cancer prevention, not cancer cures.
The cure lies within.

Once again, I can help.

Take care,

Jeff
***********
In article <1992Apr9.141346.27093@bradley.bradley.edu>, larry@bradley.bradley.edu (Larry D. Stratton) writes:
|> In <ku84juINNe9o@male.EBay.Sun.COM> cannon@superdist.Sun.COM (Jeff Cannon) writes:
|> 
|>    A couple of brief excerpts:
|> 
|> >A CANCEROUS body or any other DIS-EASED body is a body that is very very
|> >desperate for CLEANSING and very very much in desperate need of NUTRIENTS.
|> >Basically, this is the main reason the body gets in a DIS-EASED state in the
|> >first place.  A DIS-EASED body is totally out of balance.  TOXINS have
|> >built-up in the body to the point where cells can no longer function 
|> >properly.  This is the type of environment where cancer begins to manifest
|> >itself.
|> 
|> >I wish for everyone to be able to start caring for themselves and
|> >rely less and less upon doctors to provide miracle cures.  Doctors treat
|> >symptoms not causes of problems.  If problems are not corrected, no matter how much drugs or how good you feel temporary, the symptoms will reoccur.
|> 
|> >At the least, I hope I opened a few eyes.
|> >CONTINUE TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE"
|> 
|>    Good nutrition and exercise are important to everyone, I do not deny
|>    that.  However, my niece had breast cancer and relied on 'nutritional
|>    suppliments' to cure her tumors.  She's dead.
|> 
|>    The very last sentence is the very best advice but do yourself a 
|>    favour, make DOCTOR plural.
|> 
|>    A survivor since 1986.
|> -- 
|> "Closets are for clothes" 
|> "Those who don't know are terminally stupid or virginally new"
|> "I should have known it was doomed.  I don't like tea."  -Tea for Two
|> L. D. Stratton   larry@bradley.edu   (309) 693-8500 when all else fails
From: ganjamon@carina.unm.edu (RUDEBOY)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Medical Marijuana
Date: 8 Apr 92 22:34:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: lynx.9drj01_
Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque


   I was wondering what the general concensus about using marijuana
to ease nausea resulting fron chemo was.

					Charles Humbach
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
From: nichols@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Pat Nichols)
Subject: Re: Lung Cancer
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 18:38:10 GMT

In <1992Apr7.184941.27461@sequent.com> newson@sequent.com writes:


>The thing that annoyed me the most is the time it took from finding out there
>was a problem (with his xray) to the time this mediastiascopy was performed.
>about two months. In any event, he is partaking in a protocal at Stanford Univ.
 
It took about two months to diagnose my breast cancer, but I felt that
my doctor was doing everything appropriately and as quickly as
possible.  However, I became very angry when it took almost a month to
get into surgery after I was positively diagnosed as having cancer.  It
is terrifying to know you have cancer growing inside of you and that
something can be done about it, but no one was doing anything.

Sitting and waiting for surgery was driving me crazy, so I decided to
take some action.  I think I used to be really shy, but after being
diagnosed with cancer, I felt a lot more brave.  If I did nothing and
got cancer, somehow the idea of taking a risk and potentially having
good or bad consequences didn't seem so scary.  I wrote to the Health
Minister, and sent copies to the Hospital President, several provincial
politicians and the local press.  According to my surgeon, the reason
he couldn't operate on me was because they had closed beds in the
hospital for the summer, and I couldn't get in.  He was unhappy because
he had many patients that needed suregery, plenty of time to perform
the operations, but couldn't get people into the hospital.

My husband and I also decided that we could afford to get a loan to go
to the Mayo clinic in the United States where they said that they would
operate within 48 hours of my arrival if they concurred with the
diagnosis.  Money suddenly became less important compared to being
alive, that is, within reason.

I couriered the letters on Thursday, and we decided we would drive to
Rochester on Sunday if I hadn't been admitted to hospital here.
Luckily for me, I got a phone call on Saturday that I was to be
admitted on Sunday.  My husband and I were happy that we didn't have to
pay the expenses ourselves, since we estimated the cost at around
$10,000 Canadian.  I can't remember if that included living expenses
for him while he was there.  It also saved us an 8-10 hour drive each
way, which probably wouldn't be pleasant after surgery, and allowed my
friends and family ro visit.

I don't think I will ever know if my letters and media exposure made me
get in to the hopital any quicker.  Actually, I doubt it.  But I do
know that the action of writing the letters and checking into alternate
possibilities helped me channel my anger and feel like I was taking
positive action with regards to my health.  This was good for me since,
for the most part, I felt like a puppet once the Cancer treatment
system went into action.

Wow, I am glad I have a place to talk about this.  Somehow it just
makes me feel better.  
-- 
Pat Nichols                     nichols@ccu.umanitoba.ca 
Database Support 
Computer Services               University of Manitoba
From: nichols@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Pat Nichols)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: A Bout with a Brain Tumor
Date: 13 Apr 92 02:36:26 GMT
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

In <w=sj=+d.edg@netcom.com> edg@netcom.com (Ed Greenberg) writes:

>On the other hand,Roseann is not 100% healthy as she was before.  She 
>seems to have no resistance to illness, and is chronically tired.  On 
>the bright side, she is much more in tune with her body and it's needs, 
>as well as more aware of the intangibles of life, such as family, 
>nature, religion and the need to live each day to the fullest.   

>The medical profession seems unwilling to admit the damage that is done 
>to a patient that goes through radiation and chemotherapy.  Certainly 
>it's better than the alternative of recurring cancer, but in Roseann's 
>case, she's been dismissed as 'cured' when she still suffers from the 
>effects of the treatment.  Roseann's fatigue has made it hard for her to 
>work reliably, yet she is not considered disabled.  I believe that she 
>belongs on disability, but we have no medical resources that will even 
>discuss the lingering effects of treatment.  
 
This post really hit home for me.  I too do not feel 100% healthy, in
fact, I am far from it.  I am always fatigued and have little energy to
do any work.  Actually, I feel worse now than I did just after I
finished chemo over a year ago.  I am trying to work full time and I
try as hard as I can to continue with a normal life, but every
day-to-day task is a major chore.  I have to carefully ration my social
engagements, because I risk total exhaustion.

The bulk of the house chores have fallen to my husband, for whose
support I am constantly grateful.  It is a rare day that I have the
energy to cook meals or clean up.

My gut feeling is that this is the result of the chemo and radiation
therapy, especially in my case, chemotherapy.  Following treatment, I
started to feel better and better for a few months, then I started to
feel worse.  I agree, that given the choice between a diminished
physical capacity and increased risk of getting cancer again, chemo is
a "reasonable" option.  But, I know that I have begun to feel like I am
a naughty patient because I am not saying I feel back to normal.

Your article about Rosann has helped validate some of my feelings, for
which I thank you.  The thing my (many) doctors seem to miss, is that
if I felt okay, I would not be complaining.

Are there other people out there who have experienced chemo and
radiation?  How did you feel while on them and how do you feel now?  I
realize that chemo is a very individual thing and that every person
reacts differently, but I would be interested in others reactions.
From: nichols@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Pat Nichols)
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer
Subject: Re: Welcome to alt.support.cancer (repost)
Date: 7 Apr 92 01:39:26 GMT
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

In <1992Apr6.042449.4677@msuinfo.cl.msu.edu> molin@crs.cl.msu.edu (Michael Olin) writes:

>If I may ask (or if it is WORTH asking...):  What symptoms would one
>have to experience to come to the conclusion that going to a doctor
>is crucial?  Sorry if this sounds ignorant.  It IS, after all...

Sounds like a really good question to me.

I am not an expert, I have only experienced breast cancer, but I have
read lots, and am personally at at very high risk of getting cancer
again, so I share your concern.  I try to be alert to symptoms, but I
also try not to be obsessed by it, which is a pretty fine line to
walk.  I think one of the big problems with cancer is that it is
hard to detect early, except for some specific types.  In my case,
the only indication that anything was wrong was that there was a lump
in my breast.  It didn't hurt, and the only reason I went to a doctor
immediately was because it is constantly hammered into women that
they should do so if they find a breast lump.

I talked to some people at support group meetings and the range of
symptoms for the many types of cancer were amazing.  One woman felt
like she had stomach flu, another man was just feeling really tired,
another woman had a sore back.

My suggestion would be to find a doctor that you feel comfortable
with and tell him or her about your concerns.  Possibly certain types
of cancer run in your family and he or she can recommend early tests
and symptoms to watch out for.

Interestingly, in my case, I am pretty well the only person in my
immediate family who has had cancer.  If there was one thing that I was
"sure" of, it was that I could never get it.  I recall reading (after I
had cancer) that about one in four people will get cancer at some point
in their life, so I guess I shouldn't have felt so secure.