Just Found Out My Uncle Don Has Esophageal Cancer :(
#241411 - 01/25/06 08:44 AM
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Shell Marr
Reged: 08/04/03
Posts: 14959
Loc: Seattle, WA USA
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I was told last week that my Uncle Don was going in for testing....this morning found out it was esophageal cancer  He has been given a timeline of 6 months - 3 years. They are not telling the kids (adults) & grand kids (2 & 5 yr) yet. He starts chemo tomorrow, he is doing 1/2 pill and 1/2 injection.
In the past he was a heavy drinker and pot smoker...but in the last 10 years has just had the an occasional "social" drink.
I can't even imagine what must be going through his head right now.....
Grandma is torn because she wants to travel to go see Don NOW.... but her youngest son (my Uncle Les who is only a year older then me) is about to have his 1st child any day now. Les is the only child that Grandma had with Grandpa (blood relation to me) who passed away almost 5 years ago from cancer.
Please keep them all in your thoughts if ya would....
EDITED TO SHOW PICS...
This is Uncle Don, these are both taken on the same day....he was in my Uncle Les's wedding 3 years ago. He reminds me of a big huggable harley santa!! 
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Edited by Shell Marr (01/25/06 05:45 PM)
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Have a blessed day!...Rachel
stable and sooooooo thankful!
I have IBS but it doesn't have me!
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I'm really sorry to hear this. I just lost my grandfather and great-uncle this past summer. My grandfather had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and he was given a few years because he also had heart disease and emphysema, but he made it TEN years!
I hope your uncle isn't in pain. Have you spoken with him? I can't imagine how difficult it must be for your grandmother.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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So Sorry, Shell....your family is in my prayers.
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So sorry! Your family is in my prayers!
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Thanks everyone......
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I'm so sorry SHell. Wills dad has the same cancer and he had his esophagus removed. They pulled his stomach up and connected it to his throat somehow. It was a very dangerous surgery and they really didn't expect him to live through it. Well, that was 8 years ago now! He has dumping syndrome and some other issues that are fairly serious but at least he is alive and living a good life! The dr's don't always know everything. I don't want to give you false hope as I know this is a very bad cancer but be sure he looks into all his options. You will all be in my thoughts! Hugs and love!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Cancer is predominant in my mom's side of the family, and I have recently lost both and aunt and uncle to cancer so I understand how difficult this time will be for your family. I'm here if you need anything. Know that my prayers are with you all.
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God is Faithful!
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GOOD LUCK!
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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Shell, I don't know what to say beyond that he is in my thoughts/prayers. Tons of hugs & positive energy to your family.
Kate.
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I'm SO sorry Shell! I hope he will live way longer than anticipated and that the chemo will help. Many, many prayers for you and your whole family...
With love,
Ruchie
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Melissa
Friendship is thicker than blood. ~Rent
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Thanks everyone... I just found some pics of him and posted them in the origainal post above.....
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I wish someone would find a cure. It affects WAY too many people. So sorry to hear about your Uncle, Shell. It's always such a hard thing to digest when you hear it. Prayers to you, him and his family!
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~~~Lisa~~~
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Big hugs Shell!!
#241621 - 01/25/06 07:12 PM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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Courage, Shell. I hope you get a chance to cherish every moment with him. Cancer is so rough on everybody in the family. I'll be thinking of you, chica. Please post if you need somebody to talk to.
~nelly~
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Hugs to you. A little girl I used to be a teacher assitant for is losing her mom to cancer right now. iknow the whole family and it's just heartbreaking. Please take care, and my prayers are going out to you too.
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Keep on keepin' on...
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I'm so sorry Shell That's really tough...you and your family and Uncle Don will be in my thoughts.
Just as a side-note, the cancer treatment that my Mom received was a brand-new ultra-aggressive treatment for esophageal cancer (she had pancreatic cancer). Granted, it didn't work but in her case it was a real last-ditch effort. So if you're interested in knowing specifically what they were giving her I'd be happy to help you out (I just don't know off the top of my head).
Take care,
Kelly
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Oh, Shell, I'm so, so sorry to hear about your dear uncle. We had a family member with this type of cancer (but it was back in the old days; even before chemo). Prayers to him and his family and big hugs to you. Keep us informed of how he's doing, okay?
Terri
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Just talked to my Sister....She was not sure if Uncle Don went to Fred Hutchinson today for chemo or not. He went yesterday to get those pills he was suppose to take to start to shrink the tumor right away and it's so popular the pharmacy had to order it directly from the maker. For the dosage the doc wants him to take the pills cost $3,000, $500 for each pill.  
Ridiculous!! Thank godness they have insurance!
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Well, I know that they gave him a heavy dose of chemo (pills) and he got sick on the second dose or something. So they backed it off some. He had something inserted in his chest near the site for the chemo is administered. into it. I guess it was kind of uncomfortable.
My other Aunt, Debbie went down two weekends ago and cut off his ponytail. He wanted to save it because his hair is starting to fall out. He had been working on growing the ponytail for many years. He wanted Aunt Debbie to cut it as close as she could so he'd have the longest ponytail he could. I think it's near 2 ft long.
They went to the coast this weekend to dig for clams. My Sister heard Aunt Debbie talking to Aunt Cheryl (Uncle Don's Wife) about prices for a cruise sometime around their anniversary which is Aug 22nd I believe.
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It sounds like your uncle is very strong Shell *hugs* Does he live close by...will you get to see him often? Are you close?
A cruise sounds like fun! It should give them all something to look forward to.
How are you doing? i'm sending you and your family loads of prayers...
Love you!
Sarala (Ruchie)
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Formerly known as Ruchie
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Shell, how are you dealing with this? I think it's hard to see a family member have to suffer and go through chemo. Your uncle sounds very strong. Hearing about how he cut off his ponytail so he could save it just really made me sad. I hope you're doing well.
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Shell, I must have missed the original post about your Uncle Don. I'm so sorry to hear about his illness and the problems he's having with the chemo. I agree with Ruchie, it sounds like he and your family are taking it very well and staying strong. I'll certainly keep you all in my prayers.
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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I am so sorry. Cancer is so prevalent these days, it's just horrible.
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I'm sorry your uncle had a bad reaction to the pills. I'm glad, though, that he's doing well enough to get out and about to the Coast. The cruise sounds like a fabulous idea - definitely something to look forward to for him and your aunt, a way to mark time other than "when is the next treatment".
It sounds like your uncle is getting intravenous chemo instead of or in addition to the pills. If so, the thing inserted in his chest may be a portacath or something similar. A surgeon has inserted an access port into a major vein or artery with essentially a rubber cap just below the skin. It sounds kind of creepy, but it's a very smart decision. It means he can get chemo treatments and blood draws without the nurses having to search for a vein every time. Also, because the chemo will be going into a larger artery or vein it won't cause the burning and scarring he would get if he got it through his arm. If that's what's going on, it sounds like your uncle's doctors are giving him good advice and he's taking it.
I love the story about the ponytail. How clever of him to think of that. Hmmm, I wonder if he could rig up something so he could wear a baseball cap and somehow have the ponytail attached to the cap so it "pokes through" the opening in the back. (I always meant to paint my head blue with gold stars when I lost all my hair, but I never followed through. Tell your uncle he can borrow that idea, but if he does I want to see pictures.)
I know it's tough, Shell, but all you, your uncle, your aunt, and everyone else in your family can do is take it one day at a time, do what the doctors say, enjoy the good days, and look forward to the future. Eventually you get enough "one days" strung together and you're past this.
Take care.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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It's good
#249269 - 02/28/06 05:13 PM
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_Willow
Reged: 04/06/05
Posts: 2090
Loc: Canada.
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he's preserving his hair, as a great memory of his wild child days.
Here's hope that he goes into remission. Take care, Shell, and prayers are going out for him.
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Keep on keepin' on...
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I'm sorry to hear that.
He really does look like a big huggable Harley Santa. It must be good to know him.
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***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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I'm so sorry to hear this and I hope they can find a way to save his life!
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Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
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God is Faithful!
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How old is he, Shell? Was he a smoker? Cigars? Chew tobacco? Anything like that? Any idea what brought it on?
What's his prognosis?
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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He is a semi truck driver he was doing a job and all of a sudden he was in a lot of pain and he thought he was having a heart attack.... that is when he went to the hosiptal...further testing is how he found out what it was....
In the past he was a heavy drinker and pot smoker...but in the last 10 years has just had the an occasional "social" drink. He has been given a timeline of 6 months - 3 years.
Quote:
How old is he, Shell? Was he a smoker? Cigars? Chew tobacco? Anything like that? Any idea what brought it on?
What's his prognosis?
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www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
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