Pancreatic cancer

BigSkyCatinMT · Post by **BigSkyCatinMT** » Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:07 am

I'm still here. Been over a month since I logged on. Got to meet some very interesting people over the last couple years. Odd, but one little girl needed a kidney transplant. Such a sweetheart. She finally got a kidney, but the daughter of a girl I used to date was the donor. Auto accident. One patient shot himself-didn't know him, but know his family. Small town shiit.

Don't think I'll ever look at life again the way I used to. Don't know why I'm still here. Unfinished business maybe?? Son has earned 4 scholorships to GCU..and is 13. He's way short of full tuition, maybe that's what I'm here for.

Puerco · Post by **Puerco** » Sat Jun 17, 2017 7:06 am

I feel like that's my purpose in life sometimes too.

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Sat Jun 17, 2017 11:47 am

BigSkyCatinMT wrote:I'm still here.

And still in charge. There's no where to go that isn't here. So proud for you. Get some, brother, you got shit to do.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Sat Jun 17, 2017 2:27 pm

Fight! Fight! BigSky Fight!
BigSkyCat Bear Down!

FreeSpiritCat · Post by **FreeSpiritCat** » Sun Jun 18, 2017 11:13 am

A small but significant new study is blowing experts away after it found that a particular cancer drug overwhelmingly helped shrink or eradicate tumors in patients whose cancer had resisted every other form of treatment.

The study, which was published in the journal Science, followed 86 patients who had advanced cancer of the pancreas, prostate, uterus, or bone. The patients were given pembrolizumab, which also goes by the brand name Keytruda, and the results were very promising. Sixty-six patients had tumors that shrank significantly and stabilized; among them were 18 patients whose tumors disappeared and haven’t returned.

The patients all carried genetic mutations that kept their cells from fixing damaged DNA. Pembrolizumab is known as a PD-1 blocker, an emerging type of immunotherapy drug that helps the immune system find cancer cells and attack tumors.

The study was small, and there was no control group (i.e., a group that didn’t receive pembrolizumab that scientists could compare results against), but the results were so striking that the FDA has already approved pembrolizumab for patients whose cancer comes from this particular genetic abnormality.

According to the New York Times, this is the first time a drug has been approved for use against tumors that share a particular genetic profile, regardless of where they appear in the body.

Dr. Jack Jacoub, a medical oncologist and director of thoracic oncology at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., tells Yahoo Beauty that the study was “interesting, welcomed, and exciting.”

There has been a general opinion that the immune system is integral in the development and spread of cancer, he points out, and these new findings show that targeting the immune system to treat cancer can be effective. “To finally see now proof that targeting the immune system improves the situation and doesn’t necessarily correlate with one specific cancer … that’s a really powerful message,” he says.

Jacoub also points out that the FDA’s move to approve pembrolizumab quickly was a big step. “The FDA doesn’t take these kinds of things lightly,” he says. “The data was so good, they had to approve it.”

Jacoub says he suspects that drugs like this will be used in the future in connection with more established cancer treatments for specific types of the disease. “This may improve outcomes,” he says. “This form of therapy, plus something else, may allow us to potentially cure and eradicate cancer. These are the steps that are getting us closer to that goal.”

https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/new-cancer ... 22959.html" target="_blank

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Sun Jun 18, 2017 12:08 pm

That beardown spirit is ALIVE in BigSkyCat! Keep it going and always stay positive.

As an aside, the above article is pretty exciting

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:05 am

Just found out my sister-in-law passed away this morning from brain cancer. She was just diagnosed with it last week. Fuck cancer.

wyo-cat · Post by **wyo-cat** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:08 am

That's terrible. Condolences to your family.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:13 am

So sorry Greg, awful, awful news.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:18 am

Cripes that's awful. So sorry Greg.

Not sure what's worse, to go quick like that, or hang on and linger.

When my mom was dying of uterine cancer, she had maybe one good hour out of the whole day due to the side effects of chemotherapy, but she hung on long enough for all the family together and say our goodbyes.

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:43 am

Oh man, tough news. Many condolences to you and your family Greg

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 7:50 am

Words are so inadequate, but I am so sorry for your loss Greg. Keeping your family in my thoughts.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:22 am

Thanks guys. It means a lot. Damn this happened fast. I was still waiting for results from a MRI to check a mass in her lung.

Puerco · Post by **Puerco** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:39 am

Silver lining is that it was fast. Best wishes to your family, Greg. Tough times.

pc in NM · Post by **pc in NM** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 9:27 am

Sincere condolences greg. Best wishes to you and your family....

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:10 am

I'm so sorry, Greg.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:31 am

What's really making this tough today is she's the first of our generation to go. The next line up (parents, aunts, uncles, etc.) are just about all gone. My wife's dad and just a few uncles are left. Until today all my brothers, sisters, brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws as well as on my wife's side are still here. Time to do some damage to that bottle of Grey Goose in the cupboard.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:58 am

Greg I am so sorry to hear this.

Wishing you and your family peace during this time.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 1:48 pm

Been a couple of months since BigSky dropped in. Hope it's because he's too busy living to give us much thought.

catgrad97 · Post by **catgrad97** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 6:43 pm

Sorry azgreg for your loss.

Don't wait for bruins01 to relay his condolences, because apparently launching baseless attacks on other posters' voting records are as personal as he gets.

BigSkyCatinMT · Post by **BigSkyCatinMT** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:39 pm

azgreg;

So sorry for your loss. It hurts, it always brings one to reevaluate priorities, and it brings us face to face with not only our own mortality, but of those closest to us. In my family, it was been quick, agonizingly slow, or for a few, they won a hard fought battle - at cost.

And yes, I'm still around. Nothing in my life is the same as it was at the end of June, and never will be. Been busy trying to figure out what the new 'normal' for me will be. At the age of 54, I find myself...like a 20-year-old preparing to face the world alone.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 4:59 pm

Thanks man and thanks for checking in.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:49 pm

A r e the fires anywhere near you?

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 6:20 pm

BigSkyCatinMT wrote:Been busy trying to figure out what the new 'normal' for me will be. At the age of 54, I find myself...like a 20-year-old preparing to face the world alone.

Drop in here. We couldn't possibly begin to know what you're going through, but we can always be company.

Puerco · Post by **Puerco** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 5:29 am

BigSkyCatinMT wrote:azgreg;

So sorry for your loss. It hurts, it always brings one to reevaluate priorities, and it brings us face to face with not only our own mortality, but of those closest to us. In my family, it was been quick, agonizingly slow, or for a few, they won a hard fought battle - at cost.

And yes, I'm still around. Nothing in my life is the same as it was at the end of June, and never will be. Been busy trying to figure out what the new 'normal' for me will be. At the age of 54, I find myself...like a 20-year-old preparing to face the world alone.

For completely different reasons, this is oddly similar to how I'm feeling these days.

BigSkyCatinMT · Post by **BigSkyCatinMT** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:20 pm

azgreg wrote:A r e the fires anywhere near you?

Got evacuated twice from the Lolo Peak fire. New job on July 6th, seeking 4th place to live in since then. Been a ride for sure this past few months. Not letting up. Have pending job applications in Boise, Spokane, and Seattle...among others.

CalStateTempe · Post by **CalStateTempe** » Tue Sep 26, 2017 3:23 pm

Awesome big sky! Great great options!

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Sep 28, 2017 11:15 am

BigSkyCatinMT · Post by **BigSkyCatinMT** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 11:13 pm

Sad day. My favorite and youngest cousin, after twice fighting off cancer went to hospice this morning on her 3rd round. I would post this on my Facebook page, but it is not given to me to do so.

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:19 am

Here's sending you and yours some good thoughts and hopefully some good luck ... I've had more than I deserve. I thought of you this Thanksgiving at Polebridge. Bear Down, brother.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 3:30 pm

Paging MT.

scumdevils86 · Post by **scumdevils86** » Wed Apr 25, 2018 4:35 pm

yeah hoping for the best. he hasn't logged in since December 21st...

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 7:55 am

I am friends with him on FB. Looks like his last post was March 6th. Some woman with the same last name as him has been posting on his timeline though singing videos.

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:39 pm

Merkin wrote:I am friends with him on FB. Looks like his last post was March 6th. Some woman with the same last name as him has been posting on his timeline though singing videos.

Is his FB private?

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 4:10 pm

I sent you his FB address. Looks like made a comment on some basketball game 13 hours ago.

Siempre Verde · Post by **Siempre Verde** » Tue May 01, 2018 1:14 pm

Merkin wrote:I sent you his FB address. Looks like made a comment on some basketball game 13 hours ago.

Thank goodness. I was worried when I saw the bump. I wish him the best. I lost my husband to pancreatic cancer. There are very few, more evil words in the English Language that a person can utter.

Alieberman · Post by **Alieberman** » Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:46 pm

Anybody have any word on MT?

I just started thinking of him today.

A friend of mine had brain cancer twice and twice he beat it.

Today he just let everyone know that its back for a 3rd time....

FUCK CANCER

ASUHATER! · Post by **ASUHATER!** » Tue Sep 11, 2018 6:59 pm

Haven't heard anything. His last visit and post was May 11th

scumdevils86 · Post by **scumdevils86** » Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:12 pm

I remain hopeful, he's not been around for months at a time before

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Wed Sep 12, 2018 6:08 am

I'm friends with him on FB, he is still kicking but having other issues.

pokinmik · Post by **pokinmik** » Thu Nov 22, 2018 8:04 am

Good Morning everyone, I am just devastated and don’t know what to do so I figured sharing here might help. My 64yo step father was admitted to the hospital in PHX a few days ago for not feeling well and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Still waiting on official results back regarding serverity but like I said we are all just devastated. He helped raise me and he’s easily the most honorable, selfless, kindest person I’ve ever known. Especially seeing him interact with my 3 year old son, his first grandson and the joy he brings. He’s amazing with young kids. I have the biggest knot in my chest and don’t know what to do. We are all hoping for a best case scenario at this point I guess that’s all we can do.

Happy thanksgiving otherwise. Sorry to be a downer on this day.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:09 pm

Cancer fucking sucks. That's some horrible news. I hope you get some better news when you get the results back.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:00 pm

I’ve been up close enough to cancer not to wish it on any family.

Holding out hope they caught your step-dad’s in time...

ASUCatFan · Post by **ASUCatFan** » Thu Nov 22, 2018 10:32 pm

Shit, man. I'll send positive energy your stepdad's way.

pokinmik · Post by **pokinmik** » Fri Nov 23, 2018 5:07 am

Thank you very much guys. Your kind words and positive thoughts mean more than you can ever know.

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 8:59 am

Take good care of your step dad and yourselves, p. I’m sorry to hear.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Wed Mar 06, 2019 3:39 pm

I am friends with Mtz on FB, and he is doing well. He is in the pharm industry and can get alternative treatments.

But this really makes me extremely sad.

BigSkyCatinMT · Post by **BigSkyCatinMT** » Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:03 pm

I'm back.

dovecanyoncat · Post by **dovecanyoncat** » Sun Mar 17, 2019 8:47 pm

BigSkyCatinMT wrote:I'm back.

Damn right! You got shit to do!

BigSkyCatinMT · Post by **BigSkyCatinMT** » Sun Mar 17, 2019 9:09 pm

Physically, think I'm ok. Every day is a small victory. Every week seems to bring a small setback. I lost my family, but regained my will to live.

Login • Register