Cancer Blows

[Vinsk]

Sorry bro...I know the feeling. Iost my mother 3 years ago to lung cancer. Cancer is just a never ending case of shanks.

[boogielicious]

Thanks everyone for the comments.  It is hard on all of us.

[tristanhilton85]

Sorry for your loss.

[DougJ]

Scott,  so sorry to hear about your friend.    I hope you have a lot of fond memories of him because that helps when you reflect on your loss.   I have just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that sure has changed my life as would be expected.    l am undergoing treatment but nothing is for sure.     I was absolutely overwhelmed with the with support and prayers that people have given me.

The blitz group that I play with have been absolutely wonderful.     They want me to come out and just ride the 18 holes with them,  even if I can't play.   The club pro says I can use a cart anytime w/no cost ,  just come on out and enjoy being with my friends.  I give thanks to God for having such wonderful friends.

Doug

[rkim291968]

Scott,  so sorry to hear about your friend.    I hope you have a lot of fond memories of him because that helps when you reflect on your loss.   I have just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that sure has changed my life as would be expected.    l am undergoing treatment but nothing is for sure.     I was absolutely overwhelmed with the with support and prayers that people have given me.

The blitz group that I play with have been absolutely wonderful.     They want me to come out and just ride the 18 holes with them,  even if I can't play.   The club pro says I can use a cart anytime w/no cost ,  just come on out and enjoy being with my friends.  I give thanks to God for having such wonderful friends.

Doug

My heart goes out to you, DougJ.   I wish you the best.

[boogielicious]

Scott,  so sorry to hear about your friend.    I hope you have a lot of fond memories of him because that helps when you reflect on your loss.   I have just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that sure has changed my life as would be expected.    l am undergoing treatment but nothing is for sure.     I was absolutely overwhelmed with the with support and prayers that people have given me.

The blitz group that I play with have been absolutely wonderful.     They want me to come out and just ride the 18 holes with them,  even if I can't play.   The club pro says I can use a cart anytime w/no cost ,  just come on out and enjoy being with my friends.  I give thanks to God for having such wonderful friends.

Doug

Best of luck Doug.  My thoughts are with you for your recovery.

[DougJ]

Well,   just to give you an update.....

I finished my 4th rd of chemo.   the side effects are cumulative.    The effects seem to last longer/ more intense after each round.     I can't complain as there are a lot of people at the chemo center who are worse than me.     I have lost 35+ lbs so far.   Down to 144.     The effect on my golf game has been significant.   I 've lost 10-15 yds on my driver/irons.    I get tired quickly and can only play 9 holes before calling it quits.   I an scheduled to go to Johns Hopkins Hospital,  the leader in pancreatic cancer research  for a consultation.   I am still optimistic and am planning our annual golf trip to MB with my friends.   I have met quite a few people who have overcome this disease and that is an inspiration.

Doug

[boogielicious]

Well,   just to give you an update.....

I finished my 4th rd of chemo.   the side effects are cumulative.    The effects seem to last longer/ more intense after each round.     I can't complain as there are a lot of people at the chemo center who are worse than me.     I have lost 35+ lbs so far.   Down to 144.     The effect on my golf game has been significant.   I 've lost 10-15 yds on my driver/irons.    I get tired quickly and can only play 9 holes before calling it quits.   I an scheduled to go to Johns Hopkins Hospital,  the leader in pancreatic cancer research  for a consultation.   I am still optimistic and am planning our annual golf trip to MB with my friends.   I have met quite a few people who have overcome this disease and that is an inspiration.

Doug

Best of luck!

[rkim291968]

Well,   just to give you an update.....

I finished my 4th rd of chemo.   the side effects are cumulative.    The effects seem to last longer/ more intense after each round.     I can't complain as there are a lot of people at the chemo center who are worse than me.     I have lost 35+ lbs so far.   Down to 144.     The effect on my golf game has been significant.   I 've lost 10-15 yds on my driver/irons.    I get tired quickly and can only play 9 holes before calling it quits.   I an scheduled to go to Johns Hopkins Hospital,  the leader in pancreatic cancer research  for a consultation.   I am still optimistic and am planning our annual golf trip to MB with my friends.   I have met quite a few people who have overcome this disease and that is an inspiration.

Doug

@DougJ, I hope yo u keep playing and have fun despite the lost yardage, and being able to play only 9 holes.   Keep up the spirit.

Cancer can be beat.  Stay strong!

[colin007]

@DougJ , if I can offer my 2 cents... I'm a cancer survivor, I had a pretty rare form of non Hodgkins lymphoma a few years ago. The one thing -practical advice- I wish I had gotten and heeded was, stay as active as you can. I had the mindset of conserving my energy and trying to rest as much as I could. I wish instead that I had tried to stay more active and encouraged my body to fight by keeping it in better shape. Your body will let you know when it's time to rest. My recovery after chemo ended took that much longer because I had let myself get so out of shape. Anyways, take it or leave it, but best wishes for you and fight as hard as you can and then fight harder.

[DougJ]

colin,

what do you suggest to keep up my fitness.   I rode my bike for a couple miles the other day and was fairly tired.    My muscle mass is disappearing with my weight.   Any suggestions.

Doug

[colin007]

Do what you can do. The treatment is going to sap your energy, it's going to make it hard for you to maintain your weight, but you don't have to give up and sit in bed all day. Walk, ride your bike, swim, whatever....just stay active. Then when you're over the hump on your treatment, you won't have to struggle to get back in the mindset of getting active again. Rest when you need to, push yourself a little when you can. I'm not saying lift weights or anything (I don't think I could have anyways with the port in my chest), but simple body weight squats, lunges, sit ups....

[No Mulligans]

Hi Doug,

Leukemia and bone marrow transplant survivor myself.

I went from 175 and fit with low body fat to 132 during the period.  The fitness part is tough I think it is good to get help if you can.  I was at the hospital for 7 months and would have daily visits from a occupational therapist and a physical therapist for the almost 2 months in which I wasn't allowed out of my 'clean room'.  I remember doing curls and leg extensions in the hospital with no weight.  Yikes!  Most of my exercise came from just walking laps around the hospital when I was allowed to do that.  I think that you are moving around a golf course is great, staying mobile and maintaining flexibility is the key.  Just make sure you are really protected from the sun as I'm sure your Doctors have told you.  Your chemo depleted white cells won't be able to protect you from the sun as much as they normally could.  I would do my outside walks just before sunrise and then again just after sunset.

And I believe of the most importance is support from friends and family, a good attitude, and staying as stress free as possible.  For me, playing guitar was a great escape and I think that was important to staying relatively stress free and to my recovery.  I found a great hospital and Doctors and then just gave in to the process.  My decisions had been made and at that point I "just got on the bus for the ride".

[boogielicious]

Do what you can do. The treatment is going to sap your energy, it's going to make it hard for you to maintain your weight, but you don't have to give up and sit in bed all day. Walk, ride your bike, swim, whatever....just stay active. Then when you're over the hump on your treatment, you won't have to struggle to get back in the mindset of getting active again. Rest when you need to, push yourself a little when you can. I'm not saying lift weights or anything (I don't think I could have anyways with the port in my chest), but simple body weight squats, lunges, sit ups....

[quote name="No Mulligans" url="/t/82584/cancer-blows/18#post_1174285"]Hi Doug, Leukemia and bone marrow transplant survivor myself.   I went from 175 and fit with low body fat to 132 during the period.  The fitness part is tough I think it is good to get help if you can.  I was at the hospital for 7 months and would have daily visits from a occupational therapist and a physical therapist for the almost 2 months in which I wasn't allowed out of my 'clean room'.  I remember doing curls and leg extensions in the hospital with no weight.  Yikes!  Most of my exercise came from just walking laps around the hospital when I was allowed to do that.  I think that you are moving around a golf course is great, staying mobile and maintaining flexibility is the key.  Just make sure you are really protected from the sun as I'm sure your Doctors have told you.  Your chemo depleted white cells won't be able to protect you from the sun as much as they normally could.  I would do my outside walks just before sunrise and then again just after sunset. And I believe of the most importance is support from friends and family, a good attitude, and staying as stress free as possible.  For me, playing guitar was a great escape and I think that was important to staying relatively stress free and to my recovery.  I found a great hospital and Doctors and then just gave in to the process.  My decisions had been made and at that point I "just got on the bus for the ride". [/quote] I wish I could give you both 50 skins each for these posts. Thanks for posting.

[DougJ]

Thanks guys for the tips.  I appreciate it.

Doug

[colin007]

I wish I could give you both 50 skins each for these posts. Thanks for posting.

Thanks for the kind thoughts! When something like this happens you just have to do whatever it takes. [quote name="DougJ" url="/t/82584/cancer-blows/30#post_1174531"]Thanks guys for the tips.  I appreciate it. Doug [/quote] No prob broseph. Keep us updated if you feel like it.

[DougJ]

Just finished my 6th chemo yesterday.   Only 2 more rds left.    I played 9 holes on Monday.   It was pretty easy as it was best ball.   Had fun being out with my golf buddies.  I am trying to walk a little more just to be more active.  I signed up for a best ball tournament.  I have 3 friends who have signed up with me.

After the chemo then I start with radiation treatments.   Hopefully if the tumor has shrunk enough I will be candidate for surgery.

One of the worst side effects is loss of appetite.   I am eating about 60% of what I normally eat.   Food just doesn't taste good anymore.  However the Doctor said eat ice cream everyday that will help me to keep weight on.   That still tastes good.

[rkim291968]

Good to see you playing golf.  Yeah, we take them for granted but eating and keeping your weight are big challenges during cancer treatments.  Eat what you like to eat as much as you can stomach.  My brother got into cooking his own food as hobby during his treatments.  That helped him eat more.