DU Cancer Support Group - Can we do it??? (help)

[LeighAnn]

Hi, I would like to see a DU Group for people who are dealing with cancer issues. The procedure for starting a new group is laid out here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

The gist of it is that if ten people (with stars) respond to this thread saying that they will participate and can agree on a mission statement, then the administrators will consider it.

I propose a Cancer Support Group with the following mission:

To provide support, discussion, information and resources for cancer patients, caretakers, and others interested in the fight against cancer.

Does anyone see a need for this here? Thanks

[babylonsister]

1. I'd be happy to participate! Count me in. nt

[LeighAnn]

20. Thank you!

We just need a few more votes of support

[LeighAnn]

35. Revised Mission Statement

To share information and provide support for cancer patients, survivors, and their families, and to engage in activism that will promote research and improve the care that cancer patients receive.

Does that sound okay?

[Thtwudbeme]

49. You are clearly a nicer person than I am

[babylonsister]

50. I think it sounds fine; if the admins feel a need to tweak it,

or add suggestions, I'm sure they will.
Thanks your own self, LeighAnn!

[0007]

2. ....and your protocol is what?

[LeighAnn]

11. What do you mean "protocol"

[Name removed]

47. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AlienGirl]

3. I support it! Four years in remission now...

[Maddy McCall]

10. That's wonderful, Tucker.

My dad's 3 years in remission.

[LeighAnn]

12. Awesome!!! Congratulations

Thank you for your support!

[Auntie Bush]

4. I'd be happy to join.

[LeighAnn]

14. Thank you Auntie!!

[woodsprite]

5. Count me in! n/t

[colorado thinker]

6. 15 years since my last treatment

I'd be happy to support this!

[LeighAnn]

17. Very happy for you!

Hope you'll share your experiences and give hope to others

~*Peace*~

[Buck Laser]

7. 31 years and one year...

I had colon cancer in 1975, dodged that bullet with simple surgery. Leukemia in March, 2005, but I've been cancer-free for a year now, so I think I dodged that bullet, too. Fortunately for me, I had the most treatable (and rarest) form of leukemia. Sorry, I can't recall the designation right now, but the chemo for it is arsenic. I used to drink it with a little elderberry wine.

[LeighAnn]

18. Good for you!

Hope you'll post in the group!

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Lost MIL to pancreatic cancer. I support this group idea

[LeighAnn]

15. Very sorry ... and thank you

~*Peace and Blessings*~

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Thanks. Any time :^)

[Maddy McCall]

9. My dad beat esophageal cancer.

I'd love to join.

[LeighAnn]

19. Bless you and your family!

Look forward to seeing you at the new DU group... nearly there, we just need a few more votes of support

Many thanks!

[Maddy McCall]

31. Thanks, LeighAnn.

[DemoTex]

27. So did my dad, MM!

Dad had an esophogectomy 5/2003. He was 83 at the time. His stomach is now in his chest, connected to his throat.

Mac

[Maddy McCall]

30. Dad's was at the place where his stomach meets his esophagus.

His doctors did chemo and radiation--they caught it really early--and he's still doing fine. He'll be 76 in a couple of weeks.

I am glad that your dad is doing well.

to our Dads!

[LeighAnn]

33. Glad for your dad!

Will you support the formation of the group?

~*Peace to your family*~

[UTUSN]

13. K&R n/t

[bananas]

21. 1 more rec needed, please

[Nicole]

26. Done n/t

[bananas]

52. kick

[Lars39]

22. I'm in.

I'll finally get my star this payday.

[LeighAnn]

40. Yay! Thank you!!

[feduppuke]

23. Absolutely

I know I am new, but please let me know if I can help. Pancreatic cancer took my mother in 2004, and I would love to do anything I can.

[LeighAnn]

38. Thank you

I'm terribly sorry about your mother, hope you're doing okay now.

[renate]

62. I'm sorry about your mother

Welcome to DU; I hope the friendships you make here will be some comfort to you.

[Auntie Bush]

24. kick for the late nighters

[Nicole]

25. I think I'm #10

This is a great idea.

I've lost a parent, 2 grandparents & an aunt to cancer.

[LeighAnn]

39. So sorry ... and Thank you

I appreciate this so much

[Nicole]

41. You're welcome

And thank you

[zulchzulu]

28. I'm all for it!

I'm happy and healthy..yet this should certainly be a forum.

[LeighAnn]

37. Much appreciated :)

I was very surprised that there was not already a cancer support group. Thank you for ringing in

[Buck Laser]

29. The cost of cancer...

Fortunately for me, I'm not talking about economic costs--both my instances were fully covered by insurance. Otherwise, I'd have been bankrupt at 40. But the psychological/mental costs were heavy. In 1975, when I got the news that they were sure they'd gotten all the cancer in the surgery and no further therapy was necessary, I fell apart, and had several months of deep depression. Fortunately, I had access to a good counselor, and came out of it. I was also fortunate that there were no lasting physical effects other than a nasty scar on my belly. I had my most recent colonoscopy just a couple of weeks ago, and all is clear. I don't go back for another five years.

The leukemia last year was MUCH harder physically, but the psychological effects weren't so long-lasting. The worst effects of the chemo seemed to come along after the treatment was completed--extreme fatigue and a loss of interest in the things that have always interested me. There is also some damage from the chemo--damaged kidneys, peripheral neuropathy, etc., some of which may go away in time. Ironically, I didn't lose any hair or much weight. And after my appetite came back 2 months after ending the chemo, the 15 pounds I'd lost through lack of appetite came back with a vengeance.

Perhaps the family suffers more stress than the patient, though: I've been a bit of a bastard to my family--part whiny, part apathetic. I'm very pleased to report that the apathy is going away. I think.

[Maddy McCall]

32. You know, I went into a deep depression after my dad had cancer...

I had never felt so despondent...I don't know about more stress, but I'd say that family members share the stress.

[sandnsea]

51. That's interesting

My sister just had her last test a few months ago and got the all clear. I talked to her a few weeks ago and I guess I was a bit surprised that she still wanted to talk about the cancer. Just general stuff, feeling back to normal sort of thing. I was thinking, well yeah, we know that. But expressed happiness and such. So, is it like you are still worried about it but nobody else seems to understand that you're still scared so you end up with nobody to talk to?? Or what? Because I would like to understand what it is she wants to talk about but hasn't quite gotten to.

[PsychoDad]

34. Count me in.

My father has stage 4 Lung CA.

Add my star to this worthy idea.

Peace

[LeighAnn]

36. Prayers for your Dad

God bless your dad, thank you for posting, I think you put us over the top. Hopefully this group can help a lot of people.

~*Peace*~

[Hekate]

42. I think it's a great idea -- hope the forum'll be there if I ever need it

If my star can help, you have my vote. My mom has survived cancer twice now.

Hekate

[LeighAnn]

53. :) I emailed Admin... hope to hear something soon

Thank you!

[Raine]

43. You can count me...

My mother died from breast cancer. I will lend support to anyone who is touched by this horrible disease.

[LeighAnn]

54. Thank you, sorry about your Mom

[Tripper11]

44. I would support it too ---- 4 years in remission myself with

a stem cell transplant to boot!

[LeighAnn]

56. Happy to see so many survivors!

Thank you for supporting this idea

[BlueIris]

45. Oh, please, someone start this group. It could be such a GREAT

resource for so many DUers.

[LeighAnn]

70. Thank you, I hope it happens n/t

[eridani]

46. Sounds like a good idea to me n/t

[pecwae]

48. I'm in.

Last chemo Jan.19 and have another 5 months of Herceptin to go. I've knocked it back twice now. What else can I do to help?

[LeighAnn]

66. Trying to contact admin?

Hi there, I sent an email to EarlG about 36 hours ago, I think, but I haven't heard anything back. Maybe we should try contacting one of the other Admins? I'll give it a try...

Glad you're keeping up the fight!

~*Peace*~

[Marnieworld]

55. My mom has cancer so count me in

I would love to hear some success stories to cheer her up. Also it wouldn't suck for me to have someone to talk to about how it affects me. Good idea. It sucks that we need it.

[babylonsister]

58. We're here for you, Marnieworld.

I've been clear for 23 years; here's to hope, for you and Mom!

[Marnieworld]

60. Thanks

And Here's to you and your remission!

[Synnical]

64. My mom went thru cancer treatment 3 years ago

So, not yet labeled a "cancer survivor". She's 72 now and alive, though not strong.

What helped me most during her treatment was reading and being educated on her illness. The most helpful book for me was Wendy Schlessel Harpham's book, Diagnosis: Cancer: Your Guide to the First Months of Healthy Survivorship. Harpham is a physician and cancer survivor herself. Common sense advice on talking to doctors (best advice ever = take a tape recorder to doctor visits!) and also being a caregiver - there will be good and days and bad days.

Here's the amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393324605/qid=1149037...

Hope your mom gets well. It's not a death sentence, but the treatment sucks! And you, also, will have to be strong and supportive. Has she started treatment yet? Let me tell you, the first time you see your mother puke from the chemo, you gag, but then you get over it. (BTW - I've never had kids, so seeing someone puke was a new gig for me.)

Best regards,
Cindy in Fort Lauderdale

Oh, yeah, I'm in for the cancer support group!!

[Marnieworld]

65. Thanks Cindy.

That really helped. I unfortunately live 2 hours away from her so I can't be with her during her treatments but we have email and phone calls etc. She's finished her chemo and will start radiation soon. I don't think it has really sunk in yet for me even though I've known about it since February. I don't know if I'm in denial or just optimistic but I haven't felt fear of losing her yet. Maybe because she's had a positive attitude. I don't know what I feel. I'm definitely welcoming a group here since I spend hours at DU everyday. I'll check out that book it sounds good. Thanks again.

[greatauntoftriplets]

57. Kicked and recommended for Andy Stephenson.

n/t

[IdaBriggs]

59. Dear LeighAnn,

Thank you for starting this up -- I can offer my moral support, and will be happy to "do things" (like call folks when you say important legislation is happening). Will that be enough? Best, Ida

[LeighAnn]

63. Oh absolutely!

I hope they will agree to host this group... I still haven't heard from Admin...

Thank you so much!

[donco6]

61. This is important.

I support it. It would have helped me to have a forum to come to when I was going through chemo.

[LeighAnn]

68. Yep, and you could help people going through it now

I haven't been able to find an abundance of cancer support communities on the internet. There is a very good one for melanoma patients at http://www.mpip.org . The flow of information there is incredible. No matter what kind of procedure a person is facing, there are several people around there who have been through it and can give them advice on making it all easier. There are people on that board who were diagnosed at stage IV ten and twenty years ago, and who have been NED for years. That sort of thing can bring people a lot of hope and encouragement.

Thanks for supporting

[Tracer]

67. Six months since my last chemo...

... I'll be happy to join and support anyone who is facing this disease.

[LeighAnn]

69. Thank you, I've had word from admin

They are considering it now. Sounds right hopeful.

~*Peace*~ and congrats on finishing up the chemo!

[Raine]

72. That's GREAT...

if they OK it maybe you can post a notice in GD so we will all know about it.

[blonndee]

71. Yes, I see a need for it.

I don't have cancer (yet, anyway) but so many do, or have family and other loved ones that do. I think it would be a welcome and needed addition to the DU family.