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Posted 5/6/2007 2:35 PM (GMT -8)
Hello,

I am Kitt and I know you have seen me on the board and wondered, what the heck is she doing here? Your right to wonder, I sure don't have prostate cancer.

I do have clinical depression and osteoarthritis, my husband has Crohn's Disease......so what am I doing here?

My Father had 5 siblings and all six of them died of Cancer. the first to die was my Uncle Norm,30 years ago and was buried on Christmas Eve. My Dad got to my house that day and he was in tears over losing his youngest brother to Prostate Cancer. Now days he may have lived.

I am an only child and my Father loved me unconditionally. He said to me, "I will die of Cancer". He was the oldest of the 6 siblings and he died at age 72 of pancreatic cancer. I am a nurse and I coud not stop the cancer.

The two girls in the family died of uterine cancer. And the other 2 brothers died of intestinal cancer.

I have been a nurse for 27 years now and I have always felt that the thing I was best at was holding my patient's hand, touching them so they knew they were not alone and listening to them. Letting them talk about whatever they needed to get out.

So that is why I am here because I listen well, I support well and I will hold your hand and you can talk to me about your worries and fears and I will listen. If you have questions I will find the answers. This is my way of fighting the disease. I support and love the people. Yes I am a darn good ER nurse too.

"They sit and hold my hand"--an AIDS patient talks about his nurses."

Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Gentle Hugs
Posted 5/6/2007 4:24 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Kitt!
I for one have found your postings to be very appropriate and informative. Welcome! We are glad to have you supporting us.

My Dad died of prostate cancer almost 7 years ago and my father in law suffered from it in his 80's, although he did die of something else.

:o) Bob & Linda
Posted 5/6/2007 4:53 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you for your kind reply. I have a motto I stick to and that is to do no harm. I did want everyone to know why I was so interested in this forum.
Everyone here is so supportive of each other and I am trying to learn each person's journey.
Posted 5/6/2007 5:03 PM (GMT -8)

Dear Kitt, welcome to our forum.  You are one of us, therefore, the 'our' is you and all of us.

Regards,

Bill

Posted 5/6/2007 5:55 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Kitt,

Welcome to the forum. Your experience and knowledge and loving attitude will be an asset for all of us. And we need all the help we can get.

My Dad died from prostate cancer in 1983. He must have had it for years but never went to the doctor until he couldn't pee anymore. By then it had spread all over and he chose to let it take him rather than fight the treatement and side effects. He died when he was 81. I hope to live that long. My cancer was caught early thaks to 20 some years of PSA tests after he died.

Nearly everyone I know has been touched by cancer. Forums like this and people like you are what give us hope...

Jim
Posted 5/6/2007 6:58 PM (GMT -8)
Dearest Biker 90
Thank you, your words brought tears to my eyes. I so want to make a difference in this world and helping others is my way.
By the way, I ride a Harley Trike............not bad for a Grandmother.
Gentle Hugs.
Kitt
Posted 5/7/2007 2:22 AM (GMT -8)

Good Morning Forum Friends, 

I left this part of an edited text concerning what i saw as a misunderstanding:

We are here for each other.

A little funny story just came to mind that sort of  addresses the weaknesses of communicating in a forum like this.  (I am reminded of skits where the Marx Brothers or Laurel & Hardy genuinely try to help each other....... :-) )

Mark Twain wrote a short story once about a city that was populated by animals.

The community artist was a cat.  The town commissioned him to produce a painting.  After years of working on his project, the cat announced the unveiling.  He set up the studio with a mirror to view the painting.  (Something about increasing the focal length and purrrr-fecting the purrrr-spective.....  artists!)  Each member of the community came  to view the painting they had paid for.  The baker, a hen, stood in front of the mirror and said, "All I see is a hen.  A nice enough looking hen.  But a hen none-the-less."  The chief of police came in and said, "All I see is a dog.  A nice enough looking dog.  But a dog none-the-less."  The mayor came in and said, "All I see is an elephant.  A nice enough looking elephant.  But an elephant none-the-less."  Everyone in the community came in, stood in front of the mirror, and said the same thing.  Last to come in was the postman, a mule with great huge ears that stood taller than the mirror.  He stood in front of the mirror and said, "All I see is an ass with no ears.  A nice enough looking ass.  But an ass none-the-less."  The town animals got together and discussed how the cat had cheated them and was making fun of them.  They ran him out of town.

The moral of the story is:  You get from a picture that which you bring.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  And the ass can't see his ears. :-)

We can't be chamelions in the sun, all things to everyone.  We all unintentionally hurt and annoy others.  We can't let small things keep us from the greater prize: The opportunity this forum provides to help people.  All of you help me in ways I cannot communicate!

We can all work on our presentation of love to one another.  We can also all work on understanding and tolerating each other.  My favorite quote from Albert Einstein is "All that really matters is kindness, beauty, and truth."  From the Bible (I know, I'm offending someone just bringing that up.) my favorite quote is from Micah 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?" 

Humbly,

CCedar


Posted 5/7/2007 7:30 AM (GMT -8)
Dear Friends.
Well I am in the dark as I did not see anything offensive so no problem.
However, I never saw Creed's post............
Besides I am a tough Lady and I can handle most things.................I know that I will never understand exactly what your going through but I have stood beside many patients who have already been where you are...........so I still feel completely devoted to this forum.
Every type of cancer is devestating to the patient and I have empathy for every person that faces it.
Also, I have a great sense of humor, so please feel comfortable in saying what you feel and I won't melt.
Thank you Cedar and Creed.
Posted 5/7/2007 12:20 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Kitt,

Good for you on the trike. I rode around on one for a while after I got too rickety (arthritis) to ride a big twin but didn't like it that well. So I sold out everything except a 97 Sportster 1200 that I set up for touring. I don't go coast to coast anymore so the Sporty does just fine for me. I always loved them every since the came out in the 50s.

I hope this motorcyle post doesn't offend anyone. If so, don't read it...

Jim
Posted 5/7/2007 2:16 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Jim,
Thanks for the answer and I do not think anyone is offended by bikers. They too get cancer.
Gentle Hugs
Posted 5/8/2007 8:51 PM (GMT -8)
Dear Kitt

Your personal story has touched me deeply (more heartache than one should have to bear in a life time)--it should inspire all of us to gather the strength and courage to deal with adversity and have it serve as a positive force in our life. It is obvious that your life has been devoted to helping others greatly in need. Perhaps this has been a source of great comfort and salvation in your personal life. May God bless you and your family and let you continue your wonderful mission in life for many many years ahead.

Dave
Posted 5/14/2007 7:11 PM (GMT -8)
Hi! Kitt,          A    “Special”   Warm Welcome   to   You!   Yes ~ we saw your postings…. and the last thing I wrote down on my note pad before signing off the forum for 11 days…. was stkitt on Tim’s Wife’s posting…   I had seen several postings from you on other member’s Threads ~ so this would be a reminder for me to check on you when I got home.     Now having been home for just under 24 hours….   I’m getting caught up and wanted to send a special note to you.   I will post…. on each thread that you started.   Thank you for sharing your background with us….   It brought back something that took place a little over 2 ½ years ago.   My mom was diagnosed with gallstones and was awaiting surgery in Canada.   After 6 weeks of pain and no surgery date scheduled… she ended up at the emergency room… where after taking a chest x-ray it was discovered that she had a spot on her lung…   Cancer… and within a few days she died of metastasis lung cancer.     One of the nurses told us that on Friday when she left for her weekend off…   my mom was in good spirits having had her first radiation treatment.   When she returned to work on Monday afternoon… she did not recognize my mother.   She went down hill so fast ~ it shocked everyone.   My sister and I had plane reservations made for 2 weeks to leave on Tuesday a.m.   We got a call on Monday late afternoon ~ that she was not expected to make it through then night.   She did…. She waited for us to arrive (3:30 pm. Tuesday)   and stayed with us until (2:17 a.m. Wednesday).   She passed away with both her girls beside her.   At around 2:00 a.m. we knew the time was near so we stood on each side of her bed and we held our hands over our mom’s heart as she took her last breath.     I share this because   ~ my mom was not alone ……Her nurse spent time with her until we got there.    Holding her hand and talking with her.   What a precious gift she gave to all of us…     Thank you for being here for “all of us”…. in your manner of giving ~   “We” accept it with open arms.   In New Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
Posted 5/14/2007 8:41 PM (GMT -8)
Well, if you check my name you will find me in the Parkinsons group and I will still be there occasionally, but the doc says that I need biopsies, tongue and prostate.  Even I think that sounds funny for a second until I remember that I'm talking about me.  Although I work in a medically related job I know almost nothing about cancer and I will be checking in as often as I can.  I'll try to keep the questions down and for now just read what has been said.  Have to check out for now.  I hope that you guys don't have the awake at night-can't stay awake during the day thing like us parkies.
Posted 5/15/2007 4:00 AM (GMT -8)
welcome gtm,

i hope when you are ready you will start your own thread here, and keep us updated on your biopsy results, etc.

just curious, since i know nothing about it ... what does a tongue biopsy involve? and what are the indicators that you need one?

Thanks for posting and introducing yourself :) look forward to hearing more from you.

Tanya
Posted 5/15/2007 8:23 AM (GMT -8)
Welcome gtm,
I have worked in health care for a long time and I am not familiar with a tongue biopsy either.
We are always open to new members to this forum and there is wonderful information posted by the bluebirds that I try to keep at the top of our forum so read that and you will gain great insite to what is going on in our forum. It is a step by step guide to Prostate cancer and our forum.
Sorry we have to meet this way but it is an honor to meet you.
Posted 5/15/2007 4:32 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the replies and since you asked, the tongue can quickly develop white spots or patches and/or red swollen areas.  Both white or red areas may or may not be painful.  I had what they call "thrush" many years ago and a biopsy was done then.  It was not cancer and I haven't really had that problem for about 25 years.  Recently I very quickly developed the red, the white, the swelling and the pain.  Look online for some gross pictures.  Fortunately I am at the low end of grossness but some of them do look like me.  My dentist looked and said "hmmmm", never a good sign from your mechanic or a medical person.  My gp looked and said "oral surgeon", never a good sign, and I will see him Friday.  A biopsy of the tongue is a local followed by removing a small snip of the area affected and this time I figure maybe more than one.  In the meantime I have a mouthwash that has a topical anesthetic and a small tube of gel that I apply several times during the day.  Sometimes I think that it's looking better and sometimes not.  Back to the gp, insert finger, "hmmm", gastro guy, "hmmm".  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

Post Edited (gtmriviera) : 5/15/2007 6:34:56 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/15/2007 6:14 PM (GMT -8)
Dear gmt
Thank you so much for explaining the tongue biospy situation. We will be awaiting your next post.
We are here for you.
Bless you
Posted 5/16/2007 4:35 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks and by the way, my mechanic said the Riviera would be ready last Friday and he still has it.  Life certainly is interesting these days.
Posted 5/17/2007 4:44 PM (GMT -8)
Talked to the garage owner today-his mechanic had a heart attack.  Sounds like he must have at least looked under the hood.  I talked to the oral surgeon's office today, will just talk to me tomorrow, biopsy later.  I hope that he will at least look in my mouth and go "hmmmmm" tomorrow.
Posted 5/17/2007 5:22 PM (GMT -8)
gtm
I hope your oral surgeon will do more than say hmmmmmmmm. Maybe "Oh My" or "Now that is interesting"
Your Riv gave the mechanic a heart attack, mercy.
I know this is all frustrating to you. Good Luck tomorrow.
Posted 5/19/2007 6:25 AM (GMT -8)
Car running fine, oral surgeon to do biopsy on 6/15.  Ok.  I've got to say that I always notice a lot of people logged in, but too many people like me doing too much about their lives while the majority of you are not saying anything.  I assume that you are here because you have personal experience with this problem and maybe you have an experience or some knowledge that would be helpful to others.  If you are new at this, as I am, and don't know a lot about it, feel free to ask questions because I'm thinking that you can learn a lot from this forum and certainly get a lot of support.  I know that I have and I appreciate the kind comments, replies and support.  It will hopefully turn out that I have no serious problem in this area, but I will stick around anyway and try to keep my eyes open and my mouth shut.  Could we hear from you and get your valuable input?  Thanks.  
Posted 5/19/2007 2:32 PM (GMT -8)
gtmriviera - Do not keep your mouth shut!!! Please!

You may see my name as if I'm on line but I'm so very bad about logging off that half the time it says I'm here and I'm not...guess I'm out to lunch!

All the best,
Susan
Posted 5/19/2007 4:14 PM (GMT -8)
Not to worry.  I seem to be unable to refrain unless you guys stop me.  Let me know.  Thanks.
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