3 ms·

My mom was diagnosed with a form of aggressive kidney cancer about 10 years ago that had no really great treatments. Luckily it had not spread (apparently) and

My mom was diagnosed with a form of aggressive kidney cancer about 10 years ago that had no really great treatments. Luckily it had not spread (apparently) and they cut out the whole kidney with good success. Until about 4 years ago when it returned, and it had spread to several places. She was going downhill so fast the changes were detectable day-by-day, but they started her on an immunotherapy combination that worked wonders. Gave her about 4 years, as it turns out, she finally succumbed to the cancer a few weeks ago. But it was an amazing four years! And that treatment did not exist when she was originally diagnosed. She'd have been dead years ago if they hadn't been able to buy her enough time for the treatment to become available. Which is to say, I don't agree with your statement. Cancer treatment has made really great strides and continues to do so.

boredemployee 3y ago
Sorry for your loss!
jseliger 3y ago
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has been an incredible breakthrough for many cancers. CAR-T therapies have been amazing for non-solid cancers. I personally am hoping to hold on until mRNA cancer vaccines are available via clinical trial (bit more about that towards the bottom of this: https://jakeseliger.com/2023/09/09/life-swallowing-tasting-and-speaking-after-a-total-glossectomy-meaning-i-have-no-tongue/ https://jakeseliger.com/2023/09/09/life-swallowing-tasting-a...), and there have been incredible early results with them. Cancer treatments are improving, but with agonizing slowness due to FDA intransigence: https://jakeseliger.com/2023/07/22/i-am-dying-of-squamous-cell-carcinoma-and-the-treatments-that-might-save-me-are-just-out-of-reach/ https://jakeseliger.com/2023/07/22/i-am-dying-of-squamous-ce....
- monero-xmr 3y ago
  Hang in there man. Do you feel any better with your latest treatments?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
raffraffraff 3y ago
Sorry to hear that you lost your mom. That 4 years is such a gift though. I lost my sister to a very aggressive ovarian cancer a few years back. Diagnosed and dead within a few months, and she had just had a baby a few months before diagnosis. She didn't make it to his first birthday. Aside from the grief there was just a feeling of such... I know it sounds odd, but "unfairness". Like the whole universe was unfair and wrong. Like there should be a big red button you can push to stop everything and demand a recount. My mom lost her religious faith the day my sister died. My father was, right to the end, certain that something would be done to save her. It was very much a "this isn't happening" moment. If some treatment had given her 4 years... She'd still be gone by now, and that would still be a tragedy, but she would have had a whale of a time with her boisterous son. He never got to know her. Sure, he would have had to deal with losing his mother. But we all experience love and loss. You can't have one without the other.
happytiger 3y ago
I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad you got the extra time! But still… condolences my friend. Losing parents isn’t fun.

boredemployee 3y ago

Sorry for your loss!

jseliger 3y ago

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has been an incredible breakthrough for many cancers. CAR-T therapies have been amazing for non-solid cancers. I personally am hoping to hold on until mRNA cancer vaccines are available via clinical trial (bit more about that towards the bottom of this: https://jakeseliger.com/2023/09/09/life-swallowing-tasting-and-speaking-after-a-total-glossectomy-meaning-i-have-no-tongue/ https://jakeseliger.com/2023/09/09/life-swallowing-tasting-a...), and there have been incredible early results with them. Cancer treatments are improving, but with agonizing slowness due to FDA intransigence: https://jakeseliger.com/2023/07/22/i-am-dying-of-squamous-cell-carcinoma-and-the-treatments-that-might-save-me-are-just-out-of-reach/ https://jakeseliger.com/2023/07/22/i-am-dying-of-squamous-ce....

monero-xmr 3y ago
Hang in there man. Do you feel any better with your latest treatments?
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

raffraffraff 3y ago

Sorry to hear that you lost your mom. That 4 years is such a gift though. I lost my sister to a very aggressive ovarian cancer a few years back. Diagnosed and dead within a few months, and she had just had a baby a few months before diagnosis. She didn't make it to his first birthday. Aside from the grief there was just a feeling of such... I know it sounds odd, but "unfairness". Like the whole universe was unfair and wrong. Like there should be a big red button you can push to stop everything and demand a recount. My mom lost her religious faith the day my sister died. My father was, right to the end, certain that something would be done to save her. It was very much a "this isn't happening" moment. If some treatment had given her 4 years... She'd still be gone by now, and that would still be a tragedy, but she would have had a whale of a time with her boisterous son. He never got to know her. Sure, he would have had to deal with losing his mother. But we all experience love and loss. You can't have one without the other.

happytiger 3y ago

I’m sorry for your loss. I’m glad you got the extra time! But still… condolences my friend. Losing parents isn’t fun.