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Pattym

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    writing, llamas, gardening
  1. I am so sorry for your loss and your pain. The journal is a great idea. I am so glad I did, it really helps to write it down and get it out. Thank you so much for a glimpse of your husband. He was one in a million. Patty
  2. Hang in there. I didn't loose a husband but I did loose my mother 15 1/2 months ago and it still feels like yesterday. My parents were married 51 years and the first year without Mom was beyond horrible for him, but he is slowly learning to live again. He hasn't forgotten her or anything like that and he still has his bad days, but he is alive and slowly learning how to live alone. I can't imagine your pain but want you to know that you are not alone. Take care, deep breaths and let the regrets go, they don't help. Patty
  3. Lab Study Finds Protein That May Inhibit Cancer Spread Tests in mice show prosaposin injections reduce tumor growth -- Robert Preidt MONDAY, June 22 (HealthDay News) -- A protein produced by certain kinds of tumors inhibits the spread of cancer and could potentially be harnessed as a cancer treatment, researchers say. Currently, there is no approved therapy for inhibiting or treating metastasis -- the migration of cancer cells from the original cancer site to other parts of the body. Metastasis is one of the leading causes of cancer death. Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston had found previously that metastatic tumors prepare "landing places" for cancer in other organs by secreting certain proteins that encourage tumor growth and attract feeder blood vessels. In the new study, they found that non-metastatic tumors secrete a protein called prosaposin that inhibits metastasis by promoting production of factors that block the growth of blood vessels, according to a news release from the hospital. Laboratory tests showed that high levels of prosaposin were secreted by non-metastatic, localized prostate and breast tumors but that metastatic tumors secreted very little of the protein. The researchers then added prosaposin to highly metastatic tumor cells and injected them into mice. Lung metastases in the mice were reduced by 80 percent, lymph node metastases disappeared, and there was a significant increase in survival time, the researchers found. When prosaposin was injected directly into mice after they'd been injected with tumors cells, there was a large reduction in lung metastases and the mice lived at least 30 percent longer than those who didn't receive prosaposin, the study reported. Further research revealed that prosaposin stimulated activity of the tumor suppressor p53 in connective tissue (stroma) surrounding the tumor, which then stimulated production of an inhibitor of blood vessel growth in the tumor stroma and in distant cells, according to the study. "Prosaposin, or derivatives that stimulate p53 activity in a similar manner in the tumor stroma, might be an effective way to inhibit the metastatic process in humans," Randolph S. Watnick, an assistant professor in the Vascular Biology Program at Children's Hospital Boston, said in the news release. The study appears online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. More information The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about metastatic cancer. SOURCE: Children's Hospital Boston, news release, June 22, 2009
  4. I lost my mother 10 months ago. My Dad has seen her. She would come into his room at night and touches his arm, smiles and then leaves. This was around November and she died the end of June. I have felt her, and heard her. I answered the telephone and all she said to me was, "Patty,your Dad needs to talk to you." Then dad was on the line. I know it doesn't make sense, but I believe she was there because we needed her. I feel it was mostly to calm our anger, because she always did. I strongly believe there is more after death. I am not sure if this helps you any. This week with Mother's Day approaching is really hard. I still get angry and wish the commercials would stop. Have faith, I truly believe she is watching over you.
  5. Pattym

    My Mom

    I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Patty
  6. This will be my first Thanksgiving and Christmas without my mother. I am the oldest of two. I made sure last Christmas everyone was all together, my kids and my grandchildren so they could be with my mother. I knew in my heart already that it would be her last. I know the grief that you are feeling. Just enjoy each day as if they were all Christmas. That way, they will each be a blessing. I will send all the extra strength and prayers I have toward you.
  7. Pattym

    She's gone

    I am so sorry. Hugs and prayers sent your way. Patty
  8. I am so sorry. I prayed that your outcome would be different and that you would still have plenty of good years together. This disease is so ugly and does its best to take the light out of our lives. I pray for peace for both of you. Patty
  9. My mother's hard fought battle ended on Wednesday evening at her home. We brought hospice in on Tuesday. They were great, the nurse was fantastic and stayed with us until we had her pain under control. Wednesday her breathing changed and we called the nurse and administered oxygen for the first time. She left us at 5:30p.m. She is finally pain free and can rest from this horrible war. Patty
  10. I am so sorry. My prayers are being sent to you. Patty
  11. Hi, We contacted her doctor and he is aware of the situation and has called in some pain medicine for her. We did get the county health nurse to come out. My dad is refusing any hospice, bathers or help like that. It was very reassuring to have the nurse look Mom over and check all her signs. She is also concerned with the distended abdomen and not we have newly acquired incontinence issues. These all came about last night. The cancer center asked Dad what he wanted I think he is finally aware that we are or close to the final stages. She has declined so rapidly. Just ten days ago we were shopping all afternoon. Her coloring has changed and she just doesn't look right. She hasn't been in any pain this afternoon, but the nurse told us the restlessness all night is probably another form of pain. She enjoyed watching her 3 grandsons and 2 great granddaughters swimming this afternoon. Patty
  12. Hi, We are approx. 3 weeks from her last WBR treatments for the multiple brain mets. She hasn't rebounded at all. She is getting weaker and even with the steroids she isn't eating much. This past Sunday was the first time she complained about any type of pain. She says her stomach hurts. Dad gave her one of her nausea pills and the pain went away. Repeat on Monday. Tuesday it took 2 pills, but the pain went away. Today, her abdomen is distended but no pain. She gets full very quickly. Two bites and she is done. She has really changed for the worse each day. Her family is all flying in on Thursday for a family reunion we had planned months ago. While I was typing this, My Dad called and asked if I would call the Dr. in the morning to try and find some answers. Has anyone had any of these symptoms? Or heard of them? I am actually afraid of what is happenning.
  13. Pattym

    Two Years!!

    MAJOR CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND PRAYERS FOR MANY MORE. Patty
  14. Hi, There is hope, your sister is young and has a lot to fight for. My mother is on her second week of WBR. Her appetite is better than with the chemo. They told us to expect fatigue, but she isn't any more tired than she was before. The confusion isn't gone, but it hasn't gotten any worse. The doc told my father yesterday that her confusion will slowly go away. She feels better. They stop the chemo because the brain mets can be very serious. Our doctor said not to worry to much about the chemo and to take a month off after the radiation. My mother did have 9 series of chemo between the radiation therapys. I'll keep you and your sister in my prayers. Don't loose faith, there is always hope. Patty
  15. We just got back from the radiologist. They started WBRT today and she will receive 10 doses in the next 14 days. He won't do the main tumor in her lung, because he said the chemo is working on it. He doesn't want to use that part of his arsenal unless he has to. He said at this point in time, there isn't any way to stop the cancer from causing the brain mets, it would take some type of blood filtering that isn't available yet. The WBRT should take care of any cells in her brain at this time and he said we might look at a different chemo combination that works through the blood brain barrier. He also stated that this is the last time he will be able to use WBRT on her. This wasn't exactly an uplifting experience. She appears to be handling this much better than my Dad and I. He mentioned taking a break from the chemo for a few weeks and so did the oncologist. I don't know. Too much to process and too many consequences with the choices. Again, thank you for listening. Patty
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