I haven't been on this site for years! I was hoping to find out
some info on someone I was emailing who had found my profile years
ago, so I need to see if I can find her profile.
Anyway, I am so very sorry about the loss of your friend. I lost
a male co-worker a few years back who had recurrent breast cancer
(after being clean for ten years). We became close because this was
all happening to him when I was first diagnoised with CML. So we were
kind of going through it together. I light a candle for him every
year at the Relay For Life luminary ceremony.
My main reason for writing this, is to give you all
encouragement. You mentioned the gentleman who has been living with
CML for eight years and I want you to know that I have had it for 15
years! I have a "reunion" with several Leukemia survivors every year
through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society where we catch up on our
health and talk about people we've shared our experiences with (we
talk with newly diagnoised patients on the phone). I was recently
"spotlighted" in our local newspaper in a special section for the
Relay For Life and I'm including it below so you'll know where I'm
coming from!
I am thankful for this site, even tho, like I said earlier, I
rarely look at it anymore. But it is nice when I need it.
Tamera's CML Adventure
May 20, 1992. That was the day my life changed. Leukemia? Me?
There must be a mistake! Where did it come from? How do I tell my
parents? My brothers? My friends? I was only 32 years old and from
what I had researched about Chronic Myelogenous (or Myeloid) Leukemia
(CML) since then told me that this was an older person's disease.
The outlook was bleak for CML 15 years ago. Survival rate was low.
But I have an attitude problem and I won't let anything beat me down,
even this. Attitude is a huge part of survival. So are humor and a
great support of family and friends. And let's not forget God.
Treatment for me started with Interferon, a daily injection which
causes flu like symptoms and fatigue. Most people could not tolerate
this medication and therefore lost the battle. Thank God I could
handle it, even at extremely high doses and went into a remission.
Unfortunately, it's not a safe drug to be on forever, so I would be
taken off of it each time I reached a remission only for the Leukemia
to return. I've been in and out of remission three times with the
Interferon!
In 1996, I got my family involved in the American Cancer Society's
"Relay For Life" with a team made up of family, friends, and co-
workers. Our team sponsor was my parents business, Bears Bike Barn.
The next year I joined the planning committee. My life goal now was
to raise awareness and as much money as I could to get rid of cancer
and support research. Well that has paid off. A doctor from OHSU
discovered a way to kill off the cells responsible for CML and the
drug, Gleevec, was put on a fast track to be used by patients around
six years ago. None of this would have been possible without money
from the American Cancer Society (ACS). I started taking Gleevec in
December 2001 and went into a remission again a few months later and
have remained on the medication and in remission. Most CML patients
can tolerate it and the survival rate has soared.
I also volunteer for another organization, speaking with newly
diagnosed CML patients, passing on my experiences and giving them
hope.
There is still much research to be done for CML as well as all other
cancers, so I will continue the fight until cancer is only a past
memory.
Since my cancer journey began, my mother has dealt with breast cancer
and my younger brother had skin cancer. All of us are doing well,
thanking God and ACS for our survival!
On Aug 6, 8:42 am, Suzieq <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> To Everyone Who Responded:
>
> Thank you all so very much. Yes, Arlene is in a much better place.
> Her daughter sent me an email this morning of the words to the songs
> used during the slide presentation at her memorial service last Friday
> as well as some photos. Arlene always had such a beautiful smile on
> her face even though she was probably suffering most of the time. Her
> motto for living was used as the theme......."Don't worry about
> tomorrow, God is already there" I think that ought to sum it up for
> all of us, don't you?
> She was a very brave & gracious woman and had a beautiful family. My
> prayers now are for them that God will comfort them during this time
> of grief.
>
> I want to congratulate the one who's been surviving eight years now
> with CML, six of those "philly free"! You are an inspiration to all
> of us living with this disease. God bless each & everyone of us to
> keep on keeping on with the fight & the daily struggle. May we have
> more good days than bad. Lets fill our days with what makes us happy,
> such as grandchildren for those of us who have them......with good
> friends to laugh with......after all, laughter is the best medicine
> I've been told so often........with helping others less fortunate &
> they are many..........or whatever it is that lifts our spirits. It
> might be here encouraging others, etc. Life is way too short to spend
> it "down in the pits"! So, get up and get busy!
>
> Keep Looking Up,
> Suzieq
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