F@#% Cancer (not the rust kind)

[SLAMIT]

I have to say that I am not lookin for a pitty party here I just need to get this off my chest. This Last week My 21 year old girlfriend was diagnosed with Cancer. I still dont know what to think. I never thought that I would have to deal with something like this at my age. She is taking it like a champ and is very positive about beating it which is a great thing. We know so far that it is Lymphoma and will need to be treated with chemo. I cant spell medical shit by the way.
All the sudden cars just arent as important as they once seemed. Life is too god damn short for this kinda shit. I am in the pissed off stage right now and I just cant get over how this shit happens. She is the type of person who takes care of herself, doesnt drink and smoke and do rough shit to her body. Works an honest days work goes to school full time and this is what happens.
I know I am babbling but I needed to vent this stuff and My HAMB brothers and sisters have always been there for me.

So thanks for listening to me. I appreciate it.
I feel a little better now.

Eric http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[jalopy43]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you guys.Cancer can be beat,I know of several friends that kicked its ass.Good treatments, good family support,clean living,and a lot of love makes it all happen. All the best, Glenn

[deadelvis]

I know where you’re at. I lost my father a few years ago to stomach cancer. My aunt to breast cancer. My little brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 3 years old. He is in remission now at 13 and a survivor to say the least.

A couple of weeks ago my little sister, 29, was diagnosed with cancerous tumors on her left and right eye. She will lose sight in one for sure, maybe both. We're lucky?? it didn't grow into her brain. She's taking radiation now. She is a strong young woman and I'm proud of her.

I know my way around this issue I'm sad to say. My thoughts and sympathy go to you both and your families. If you ever need to talk about any of this pm me and I'll give you my phone number. Cancer can get its ass kicked. My little brother is proof.

[whodaky]

Slamit, hang in there mate. Alot of us Aussies lost a great friend to the big C recently, RIP Croz. I hope uour girlfreind car get through this. Just remember the HAMB will always be here for you both. Geoff aka Whodaky

[marq]

She is young ,she is strong ,sounds like she is strong willed.SHE WILL BEAT IT.Cancer is not the big scare it always was these days,even over here in the uk more and more people are surviving it,and don't forget if you get a quick diagnosis 95% can be cured so i'm sure she will be fine.You will have to support her with the chemotherapy though as it makes you sick and very tired she may also have to have radiotherapy too but she is strong enough to get through with your support.You in America have the worlds best treatment centres and hospitals.she will be just fine.............all the best ........Marq

[plan9]

i dont think best wishes will work...one of my closest friends is dying from cancer.

i live every day like its my last, i just hope recovery is in your future.... real world problems are disgusting, wish we could all live a Disney future.

stay strong.

[Swedester]

our family will have her in our thoughts,a friends wife died in cancer a few months ago.leaving him with 2 kids,so fight!i know it seems hopeless,but it can be beat,wish you all the best.
/ Vince

[kustombuilder]

tell her to kick it's ASS but good!!

[Skate Fink]

......man, that sucks! The bright side?? She is young and strong and it sounds as though she has caught it early. Not to minimize her situation, but I just can't believe that she WON'T beat this! It also sounds like she has a positive attitude. Add to this, all of our prayers and YOUR loving support, it's a can't lose situation.
This will be a pain in the ass, but you will grow closer and both grow stronger and appreciate life that much more.
That's my sermon for today! Hang tough and give her a hug from us............

[spark]

I had cancer of the lymphatic system at the age of 20, I celebrated my 45th birthday last July. My cancer was in the neck I end up having 9 tumours, I was treated with radiotherapy and I can tell you I was very worried. My girlfriend helped me though, she has been my wife 23 years.

It can be beat, I hope it works out for her. One day at a time.

This is one they have a lot success with but its important to tell your self every day I WILL BEAT THIS.

[cornfieldrodder]

My gilfreind had cervical cancer at 26. She's 38 now, and spunky, argumenative and a huge pain in the butt. Just like women are supposed to be http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Youngin's beat the demon all the time. Stay strong, it makes it better for them.

[TooMany2count]

hang in there & be there for her. i have been through this waiting game too. the wife has been in & out of the hospital more times then there are days in the year. her longest stay in the hospital was 6 months because of major surgery. every thought will run throught your mind from bad to good. BUT STAY POSITIVE, its good not only for her but YOU also.

not to get all religious on ya but they say the man upstairs will only give ya what you can handle.. well he must think i'm a fuck'n PACK MULE cause he has loaded me up several times & i'm still here w/my wife of 24yrs & i ain't go'n nowhere... so put on your best pair of boots cause there may be days when you think, I can't handle this anymore.... BUT ya know what??? i know ya can, cause if i can do it anyone can......

best of luck w/your G/F treatment & she be in our thoughts & prayers.....joe

&&&& as for babbling, hell we all do it at one time or another, so don't worry about it

[Brad54]

My dad had prostate cancer and non-hodgkins lymphoma several years ago. Caught everything very, very early: When the doctors would say "93 percent of people beat it at this stage" he'd end up being in the 7 percent that got it back. And it was that way for everything he went through--he has a very pesimistic attitude about everything. "Of the 7 percent, 90 percent of them never see it again" He's be in the 10 percent of the original 7. (Once told me more than half his life was over at 40 years old, and he'd actually be lucky to be around at 70! Who the fuck thinks like that?! And that was before the cancer) But even with that, he's still around! A pain in the ass, and still pesimistic, but even with nuking all his bone marrow and living in a bubble for a month several years ago, he's fine today, with no signs of it coming back.
Christ, if he's still around, your girl will be too.
Two things: chemo makes PMS mood swings look like a birthday celebration, so be prepared and suck it up.
If she starts losing her hair, shave your head and chin wiskers in support.

-Brad

[SLAMIT]

Thanks Guys. I appreciate the kind words and support. She is definately a tough ass and will fight till the end. Your stories give lots of hope.

Thank you

Eric

[geemann51]

Sorry to hear this. Our good friends just went through this. We should talk very soon. Hang in there and wish her the best from the girls and I.

[REVEREND JAKE]

I empathize with anyone scarred by the news of CANCER. I, like so many others, have lost family by this monster. I also know people who have gave it a swift kick in the ass.

I heard on the radio the other day, that if you haven't been affected in some way by the wrath of cancer, you truly are lucky. I personally don't know anyone who hasn't been disheartened by such things, BUT positive reaction will always overcome the negative.

Keep humble and high spirited, you'll get through just fine.

Rev. Jake Toocool

[scooter]

SLAMIT sorry for that news , but glad she ahs the positive thoughts and willing to kick cancers ass !
I too know what your going through Many family members and friends have gone through this very thing .My mom is a cancer killer and doing great.
Since i am putting on this benifit car show for a hotrodder here who has cancer and will at the very least loose one lung , i have heard many stories .Btw no he never smoked.
"(SEE BENIFIT CAR SHOW HELP THREAD")..
After speaking last night w/ some bands yet another guy i know came to me telling the story of his niece who has terminal brain cancer .SHE IS 5 YEARS OLD . I am really starting to get pissed at cancer !I think after the fund raiser /car show for larry young ,I think i will see if i can get this little 5 year old gal to see mickey mouse or shamu or something atleast fun for her . A make a wish type thing .
Sorry to run off in a tangent there . Please do ALL the research you both can do and ask ALL the doctors questions .
NEVER take NO for an answer ! Best wishes .

[59BuickWagon]

very sorry to hear that someone so young has to be put thru this but maybe that's a blessing in disguise. Being young and having taken care of her health otherwise should help get her thru this. I've been thru this with my wife and she's been clear for three years now. All that talk about positive thinking is for a reason it works!!

So keep your chin up and be there for her. Remember - We're here for a good time, not a long time.

Dennis & Sue

[A32Flathead]

Our thoughts are with you, my Dad was diagnosed 10 days ago, but through the support of people round the world, we are coping.....

Dave

[FoMoCo_MoFo]

Stay strong Bro. my mom just celibrated her year anniversary of having a mastectamy... she's doing good and they have not seen any trace of it anywhere...

my bro Butch on the other hand is jacked with a tumor in his throat. he starts Kemo and we all hope it saves him...

just stay positive...

[LIMEY]

I think there's alot to be said for the power of the mind & it sounds like she's got that covered.
Stay strong & stand by her as i'm sure you will, she will kick its ass.

[RocketDaemon]

hang in there man, give her all the support you can,

[racer5c]

I had non hodgkins Lymphoma when I was 29 I am now 42 had to get chemo once a week for 6 months including spinal taps every week to inject chemo in my spinal fluid, after that I got radiation every day for 30 days, the treatments sucked but it sure as hell beats the alternative. Jusdt be there for her and help her through it it can be beat. If she is like me her taste buds will really change while she is on the chemo, I couldn't get enough snapple orange-aid while I was gettin chemo, now I can't stand the stuff. If you or she need to talk to someone who has gone through this feel free to e-mail me and I will get in touch with ya.
Roy
ROAD ROCKETS INDY

[Smokin Joe]

It's 90% positive attitude and 10% finding it early enough. She's got both going for her. Hang in there.

[ESnacky6]

Damn brother...!! that sucks.....

I know that both of you are strong,
so just take it one day at a time....

Stay focused and positive,
and everything will work out....


xoxo Later, Snacks....

[Fast Elvis]

Cancer seems to touch most famillies in some way these days, such as mine in the past..........I wish you both the very best and will put a good word in with the big guy upstairs!!.......god bless!

[Neppy]

<font color="green"> This sucks so much ass.

Sounds like she’s got the best help in the world. You. The fact that she is strong and young helps too, of course.

I don’t know anything first hand of this situation but a friend of mine (my former boss, Dennis, at the Drive In) lost a son to cancer in 2000. He and his other son, Brian, shaved their heads in support. He even drove 90MPH for about a hundred miles once to get the medication that Randy needed. Musta pissed off a few Floridians.

If they’d caught it earlier he’d probably still be here. But that’s neither here nor there. She has a chance. A big one. Help her in any way you can and love her more than you have ever known possible. She’ll be fine.

Be strong.

Take care,
Jesse </font>

[Drewfus]

I had a tumor when I was 24 (now 29).
Still kicking, my focus on life has changed dramatically (for the better I believe).

Support your girl, I cannot express how important that was for me.

Whilst the issue is, and can be overwhelming at times, just have to remember to take life one day at a time. In a perverse kind of way it's like fixing a hail damaged car, fix it one dint at a time.

Life is for real. Support your girl.

Thoughts and prayers for you and your girl.....

Drewfus

[ratrod40428]

i know what your going through, i lost my dad 2 years ago to lung/brain cancer. i was 14 so it was really hard, but one thing you realize is how to put your prioritys straight... i got my grand prix from my dad when i was 13 and i was all into fixing it up and getting it ready for me to drive it, then when he got sick it was like the car wasnt even there, i took a 1 1/2 break from cars at all, now im working on it again, and when its done there gonna be a "in memory of..." decal in that back window... and that i guarntee... but i hope yall can pull through it, it will bring you closer to friends and family... good luck... and always remeber, no matter what they say, it is beatable...

[leadsled1953]

you are in our prayers.dont worry about venting.its a hell of a thing to get hit with.its going to be a tuff road but you will be surprized how strong you can be.with all the different treatments your girlfriend has a good chance.so take it a day at a time.

[safariknut]

Eric:
First I would like to say that your girlfriend is in our prayers tonight and until she overcomes this.As others have stated before,compassion and understanding on your part will play the biggest role in her recovery;this I cannot overemphasize.
Three years ago(Friday July 13th to be exact;if I were inclined to be superstitious,I might take that as an omen)I was diagnosed with squuamus cell carcinoma;a very primitive and unpredictable form of cancer of the lymph glands,tongue,and throat.
Three weeks later they operated and what was supposed to be a 3 hour operation took nearly 7 1/2 hours as the cancer had spread so rapidly.
A long convalescence was followed by a lengthy bout of radiation(5 days a week for 2 months)and chemotherapy(once a week for 6 hours at a stretch for the same time)beginning on the morning of September 11th 2001(is there a pattern emerging here?).I lost 65 lbs.,a lot of my hair and beard,and what food I managed to eat.
There were times when I would say(after throwing up for an hour and a half),FUCK THIS! I aint taking it anymore!And this is when my wife would take my hand and say,YES you ARE going to take it because I'm holding you to a promise you made to me when we got married:namely;we spend our 50th anniversary together.And if it wasn't for her,I wouldn't be writing this right now.
I tell you this only because there are going to be rough times ahead and there will be times when you feel like giving up.When you do remember this and maybe it will help you both get through.Hang in there for both your sake.
Ray Smith
a 3 year-plus survivor

[bogey]

Dude my wife was diagnosed 2 years ago with the same type We have 2 teenage daughters, suddenly our life changed, with that phone call. My wife underwent the radiation treatment,and so far everything is good.You my friend have to be the most positive supporting person in her life belief that you can win is half the battle.

[weekender]

Eric, Take care of HER.

In 1990 I was told I had 6 mos to 1 1/2 years to get my stuff in order.(Multiple Myeloma a bone Cancer) Been going thru treatments every year to year &amp; a half. Non cureable.

Fast forward to 2004. Just returned from the HAMB drags, something I didn't even know existed in 1990.

I have 6 children and 10 grandchildren. If it had been one of them instead of me, I would have been devestated. It was only me, and I have lived a good life. Told the MAN UPSTAIRS If he would leave my kids alone, he could do anything he wants to me.

I look at it as one of lifes little test's. Give her your all. Best of luck, she's in my prayers.

McCray

[ChuckleHead_Al]

Hey man, life is definately more important, Cars and material things take the back seat. My girlfriend has felt something on her body that she will be seing a doctor soon, I am hoping and praying that everything will work out, keep all faith and trust in the big man up-stairs, keep ya head up...

[bufordtjustice]

She can beat it and all you have to do is keep a positive attitude about things and stick by her. The both of you are in my prayers. Keep your head up man.

Greg

[SLAMIT]

I cant thank all of you enough. The words are so kind and reassuring. I am sorry to hear about your stories as well and My best to all of you. I dont even know what to say this is really cool. This is What the HAMB is about. A big family in an even bigger garage helpin eachother out.

Again thanks so much
I will send all the nice words to her.

Eric

[hotrodtennis]

You guys are in my prayers. My father had non-hodgkins lymphoma. Had surgery and chemo. Positive attitude and lots of love helped him kick it. Been over 20 years now! My girlfriend has diabetes and had had it since she was 12. Now 34. In the last 4 years, had to call the paramedics half a dozen times or so to bring her back from the brink of a coma. REALLY SUCKS! But that is life, ups and downs all the time.In and out of hospitals. The downs let you know who your friends are and lets you know your alive. My familys and my prayers are with you! ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

[Petejoe]

Eric,
AS some of you may remember, I became very close to losing my wife of 30 yrs. She had a busted appendix and was unaware of it. Finally three days later was taken to the hospital. I agree.. At that time, I would have given every hotrod and everything I own to keep her.
I'll pray for your girlfriend very often. I hope she gets through this. Be prepared though... Its going to take a long time for her. PJ.

[flamedcoupe]

My Mom and my wife have beaten cancer. Prayers and supportcan do wonders. WILL

[Spitfire1776]

SlamIt, the best to you and especially your girlfriend. I know its not much, but know that you're backed. Its a tough road, but you'll pass it well.

[tikiranch]

Man sorry to hear about your girlfriend. Keep your head up and Stay strong.

[Church]

My mom is a cancer survivor...your girl can be too. Best of luck. Be positive!!!

[Samantha]

A good friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer last year at 22 years old. She went through radiation &amp; chemo and is doing GREAT. She has been given a clean bill of health and just got engaged. Please make sure your girlfriend has some of her eggs frozen for future use (that is, if she wants children down the road). They did that for my friend so the eggs would not be affected by the treatment. Good luck &amp; God Bless...the human body has an amazing capacity to heal, especially when you are young. Take care~

[Bruce Lancaster]

Become as knowledgable as you can--read up on standard treatment, experiments going on, the drugs she is given and their side effects so you can ride herd on the doctors (who don't have enough time for their own research reading) and ask the right questions. Here's a good starting place:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
look in the alphabetical arrangement and click away. If you have trouble finding info you need, I might be able to help as a librarian.

[moondisc]

[ QUOTE ]
It's 90% positive attitude and 10% finding it early enough. She's got both going for her. Hang in there

[/ QUOTE ]

Truer words were never spoken!
I lost my first wife at 33 years young to a rare form of breast cancer.
They said it un-curable, un-treatable, and the best to hope for would be a few months to a year.
She made it 3 years. The docs said it was her amazing attitude that kept her going so long.
I've been were you are Eric. It hurts like hell.
You all are in our prayers brother!

[Nads]

I'm sorry man.

[raaf]

man, i really wish her/you the best. you've really got to stay tough on this... cancer is a bitch that sneaks up on you and stays - courage is the only thing that will get you through it. the mind has to stay tough for the body to win.

this is going to sound like a public service announcement, but i know a lot of us have lived a tough life - you've gotta see a doctor every now and again to stay in front of these issues.

i went through a couple months ago. a routine exam turned up *severely* advanced skin cancer on my shoulder (i'm 34) - scared the shit out of me and i had to get surgery immediately. they took a HUGE chunk out of my shoulder and i have to see the doctor every 3 months for the rest of my life. this is what i was left with:

WARNING: gross photo of stitches and tasteless tattoos (http://clusterfunction.com/after.jpg)

they took five inches out, basically stretching my shoulder over the front.

my sincere hopes for both of you. health is a gift.

-- raaf

[Geiser]

prays and thoughts are with you

[atch]

slam,

i'm really sorry about this. y'all will be in my prayers and thoughts. sure hope she can kick it.

[SLAMIT]

You guys are great. This definately helps to keep me positive. I cant thank you enough.

Bruce thanks for the links, Good info.

RAAF. that is some crazy shit man. Sorry to hear about that.

Thankyou all

Eric

[plmczy]

Like everyone else said, keep by her side and support her, she will beat this. later plmczy