Sunday, August 26, 2007
A prayer for Gloria "We're not out of the water" - Seattle Times
The 11-year-old moves in ways she could not three weeks ago. She can walk, sometimes gingerly, but she can walk. She can roll over on her swollen body. She has more energy. More life.
"I think we finally got her medicine caught up to her cancer," a hospice nurse tells Gloria's father, Doug Strauss.
"No," Doug retorts.
He prefers a divine explanation.
...
The Strausses understand pain more than most. Examine their family tree, and illness, especially cancer, hangs on both sides. They do not believe these are random acts of misfortune. This is God's plan, they say.
...
"When we're suffering, it's God kissing us," Doug says. "But sometimes we wish God would stop kissing us."
For four years, Gloria has fought neuroblastoma, an unrelenting childhood cancer. Her condition worsened in late April. She is dying, and with doctors unable to discover an elixir, the Strauss family has chosen to abandon cancer treatment and lean on God for a healing miracle.
...
Daughter is up, and Mom is down. Just the way Kristen prefers it. Throughout Gloria's struggles, her mother has offered up her woes to God. If she could, she would happily negotiate a trade.
Kristen's multiple sclerosis for Gloria's cancer.
Kristen learned six years ago she had MS, a chronic and progressive disease that turns the body's central nervous system against itself. For the past five years, however, she has relegated it to a footnote.
...
After surgery, chemo and radiation, Grandma was healthy again. It was not that hard, she says. Gloria's cancer is "10 times worse."
When Grandma is around, Gloria falls asleep in her lap. Grandma knows just the right touch for Gloria's aching legs. Gloria is unafraid to be vulnerable around Grandma.
"I actually feel I got cancer so I could help Gloria through her cancer," [Grandma says.]
---
[See the sidebar for more stories about Gloria and her family.]
The 11-year-old moves in ways she could not three weeks ago. She can walk, sometimes gingerly, but she can walk. She can roll over on her swollen body. She has more energy. More life.
"I think we finally got her medicine caught up to her cancer," a hospice nurse tells Gloria's father, Doug Strauss.
"No," Doug retorts.
He prefers a divine explanation.
...
The Strausses understand pain more than most. Examine their family tree, and illness, especially cancer, hangs on both sides. They do not believe these are random acts of misfortune. This is God's plan, they say.
...
"When we're suffering, it's God kissing us," Doug says. "But sometimes we wish God would stop kissing us."
For four years, Gloria has fought neuroblastoma, an unrelenting childhood cancer. Her condition worsened in late April. She is dying, and with doctors unable to discover an elixir, the Strauss family has chosen to abandon cancer treatment and lean on God for a healing miracle.
...
Daughter is up, and Mom is down. Just the way Kristen prefers it. Throughout Gloria's struggles, her mother has offered up her woes to God. If she could, she would happily negotiate a trade.
Kristen's multiple sclerosis for Gloria's cancer.
Kristen learned six years ago she had MS, a chronic and progressive disease that turns the body's central nervous system against itself. For the past five years, however, she has relegated it to a footnote.
...
After surgery, chemo and radiation, Grandma was healthy again. It was not that hard, she says. Gloria's cancer is "10 times worse."
When Grandma is around, Gloria falls asleep in her lap. Grandma knows just the right touch for Gloria's aching legs. Gloria is unafraid to be vulnerable around Grandma.
"I actually feel I got cancer so I could help Gloria through her cancer," [Grandma says.]
---
[See the sidebar for more stories about Gloria and her family.]
Monday, May 07, 2007
A prayer for Gloria: Coach's daughter fights cancer - Seattle Times
... Gloria discovered she had cancer at age 7. Neuroblastoma, doctors called it. Children are typically diagnosed before turning 5. When Gloria's neuroblastoma was detected, her condition was already at an advanced Stage 4.
She had a stem-cell transplant that did not work. She has tried three experimental drugs. But the cancer will not die. It hibernates and attacks, hibernates and attacks. It creeps through her liver, lymph nodes, bone marrow and various spots throughout her body.
Two weeks ago, she was told she might live only a few more weeks.
"She absolutely needs a miracle," Doug says. "I don't like to say I worry about her dying, but I do."
...
The Strauss family does not soak in tears too much. They lean on their Catholic faith and pray for strength. When Gloria learned of her illness, Doug told his kin, "I'm declaring a breakthrough for our family."
He is waiting for the miracle, but he can see some evidence of this breakthrough: stronger faith, more united family, friends galore showing their unselfishness.
T-shirts that read "Glorified by Gloria" soothe their angst. They stand amazed as friends donate money and food and offer to do household chores. They say they have seen God's heart through this experience. ...
... Gloria discovered she had cancer at age 7. Neuroblastoma, doctors called it. Children are typically diagnosed before turning 5. When Gloria's neuroblastoma was detected, her condition was already at an advanced Stage 4.
She had a stem-cell transplant that did not work. She has tried three experimental drugs. But the cancer will not die. It hibernates and attacks, hibernates and attacks. It creeps through her liver, lymph nodes, bone marrow and various spots throughout her body.
Two weeks ago, she was told she might live only a few more weeks.
"She absolutely needs a miracle," Doug says. "I don't like to say I worry about her dying, but I do."
...
The Strauss family does not soak in tears too much. They lean on their Catholic faith and pray for strength. When Gloria learned of her illness, Doug told his kin, "I'm declaring a breakthrough for our family."
He is waiting for the miracle, but he can see some evidence of this breakthrough: stronger faith, more united family, friends galore showing their unselfishness.
T-shirts that read "Glorified by Gloria" soothe their angst. They stand amazed as friends donate money and food and offer to do household chores. They say they have seen God's heart through this experience. ...
Friday, March 23, 2007
14-year survivor is living proof cancer can be fought - Seattle P-I
Cancer, even when it has spread, doesn't necessarily mean nothing can be done. Ann Wolz, whose cancer recurred in the same manner as Elizabeth Edwards, has lived with it for years.
Ann Bisgyer Wolz was 38 when breast cancer came into her life.
Two lumpectomies, chemotherapy, radiation, two mastectomies, skin transplants, tumor surgery, more radiation and 14 years later, she's still going strong.
...
"Things have changed. Cancer isn't a kiss of death. You live a good life, with a good quality of life. It's not to say it's not scary, and yes, I'll probably die of this disease, but my husband and I have tried to keep a balance with it. Nobody has any guarantees," Wolz said. ...
Cancer, even when it has spread, doesn't necessarily mean nothing can be done. Ann Wolz, whose cancer recurred in the same manner as Elizabeth Edwards, has lived with it for years.
Ann Bisgyer Wolz was 38 when breast cancer came into her life.
Two lumpectomies, chemotherapy, radiation, two mastectomies, skin transplants, tumor surgery, more radiation and 14 years later, she's still going strong.
...
"Things have changed. Cancer isn't a kiss of death. You live a good life, with a good quality of life. It's not to say it's not scary, and yes, I'll probably die of this disease, but my husband and I have tried to keep a balance with it. Nobody has any guarantees," Wolz said. ...
Labels: cancer
Thursday, March 22, 2007
A deadly cancer, a winning fight - Seattle P-I
A dose of naturopathy gives man a second chance at life
The paramedics wheeled him in on a stretcher, weak, pale and barely alive.
After five months, the most evil of all cancers was about to declare victory. His pancreas was riddled with the disease, and tumors had spread to the liver and other surrounding organs.
His doctor predicted he would be dead within weeks.
Aaron Barrett, just 35 years old, sought one last treatment. The paramedics deposited Barrett's thin body into a bed at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center. There, his new treatment began.
It was largely untested, and controversial.
...
Barrett received chemotherapy from the end of January 2005 through last August and progressed from being bedridden to sitting up in a wheelchair, to using a walker, to walking with a cane.
Now, 2 1/2 years after his initial diagnosis, Barrett is alive, walking on his own and virtually cancer free, Chue said. The 10-centimeter tumor in his liver has shrunk to 2 centimeters. All other tumors in his pancreas and other organs are gone. ...
A dose of naturopathy gives man a second chance at life
The paramedics wheeled him in on a stretcher, weak, pale and barely alive.
After five months, the most evil of all cancers was about to declare victory. His pancreas was riddled with the disease, and tumors had spread to the liver and other surrounding organs.
His doctor predicted he would be dead within weeks.
Aaron Barrett, just 35 years old, sought one last treatment. The paramedics deposited Barrett's thin body into a bed at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center. There, his new treatment began.
It was largely untested, and controversial.
...
Barrett received chemotherapy from the end of January 2005 through last August and progressed from being bedridden to sitting up in a wheelchair, to using a walker, to walking with a cane.
Now, 2 1/2 years after his initial diagnosis, Barrett is alive, walking on his own and virtually cancer free, Chue said. The 10-centimeter tumor in his liver has shrunk to 2 centimeters. All other tumors in his pancreas and other organs are gone. ...
Labels: cancer
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A peril that dwelt among the Navajos - L.A. Times
During the Cold War, uranium mines left contaminated waste scattered around the Indians. Homes built with the material silently pulsed with radiation. People developed cancer. And the U.S. did little to help.
... Over the decades, Navajos inhaled radioactive dust from the waste piles, borne aloft by fierce desert winds.They drank contaminated water from abandoned pit mines that filled with rain. They watered their herds there, then butchered the animals and ate the meat.Their children dug caves in piles of mill tailings and played in the spent mines.And like the Holidays, many lived in homes silently pulsing with radiation. ...
During the Cold War, uranium mines left contaminated waste scattered around the Indians. Homes built with the material silently pulsed with radiation. People developed cancer. And the U.S. did little to help.
... Over the decades, Navajos inhaled radioactive dust from the waste piles, borne aloft by fierce desert winds.They drank contaminated water from abandoned pit mines that filled with rain. They watered their herds there, then butchered the animals and ate the meat.Their children dug caves in piles of mill tailings and played in the spent mines.And like the Holidays, many lived in homes silently pulsing with radiation. ...
Labels: cancer
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Fresh start is best medicine for young cancer patient - Newsday
An 8-year-old girl whose birth parents failed to treat her advancing cancer and kept her in a filthy home was too sick to go to court Tuesday for her adoption ceremony.
...
Krista was diagnosed in 2003 with a malignant teratoma, a type of cancerous tumor. She underwent surgery, but her birth parents, Ursula and Frank Loscalzo of Mastic Beach, refused to allow Krista to receive chemotherapy and did not follow up on her care, according to a Family Court decision.
When Ursula Loscalzo called an ambulance for Krista in August 2004, the child's belly had swollen to the size of a basketball and she was near death, according to court papers. An emergency-medical technician who went to the Loscalzo home said that it was filthy. Krista had dirt in her skin folds and a milk bottle encrusted with green fungus, the papers said.The tumor, which was left untreated, had spread to Krista's lungs, liver and abdomen.
Ursula Loscalzo was sentenced last year to three years of probation for endangering the welfare of a child. Her other five children were placed with a different foster family. ...
An 8-year-old girl whose birth parents failed to treat her advancing cancer and kept her in a filthy home was too sick to go to court Tuesday for her adoption ceremony.
...
Krista was diagnosed in 2003 with a malignant teratoma, a type of cancerous tumor. She underwent surgery, but her birth parents, Ursula and Frank Loscalzo of Mastic Beach, refused to allow Krista to receive chemotherapy and did not follow up on her care, according to a Family Court decision.
When Ursula Loscalzo called an ambulance for Krista in August 2004, the child's belly had swollen to the size of a basketball and she was near death, according to court papers. An emergency-medical technician who went to the Loscalzo home said that it was filthy. Krista had dirt in her skin folds and a milk bottle encrusted with green fungus, the papers said.The tumor, which was left untreated, had spread to Krista's lungs, liver and abdomen.
Ursula Loscalzo was sentenced last year to three years of probation for endangering the welfare of a child. Her other five children were placed with a different foster family. ...
Labels: cancer
Monday, March 12, 2007
My Cancer: A Very Important Day - Leroy Sievers podcast & essay
... Tomorrow I will undergo the third and final — at least for now — Radio Frequency Ablation procedure. There's one last tumor still alive in my lung and this procedure should kill it. So when the drugs wear off and my head starts to clear in the recovery room, I should have... well, I'm not sure how to put it: No more tumors? NED — what the doctors call "No Evidence of Disease"?
...I know it's more than likely that the cancer will come back somehow, somewhere. But that's a worry for another day. Maybe I don't fear that as much as I used to, because I have new weapons for that day. Another tumor in my lungs? We can do the RFA again. In my spine? Attack it with radiation. And so on. Chemo is still on that list, too, but I have to admit I don't really think of that as a very effective tool any more. But that day may come, too.
I have a hard time looking too far into the future. It does take a while to recover from the RFA. Hopefully, I won't have another collapsed lung. I really don't want to go through that again. Even if that doesn't happen, it takes almost two weeks for the coughing to stop, for the pain to go away. And of course, at some point, I'll have to take the bandage off. That hurts — a lot.
Then I'll need to get to work rebuilding my body. Get my wind back. Start working out regularly again. Try to do many of the things that stopped abruptly back when the doctors told me I had tumors in my brain and lungs. I'm looking forward to that, but I know I have a long way to go before my body will be anything like it was before.
And I've thought a lot about what would happen if it all goes terribly wrong again. What if multiple tumors show up all of a sudden? Another brain tumor? Multiple brain tumors? Well, quite honestly, if that happens, I won't be much worse off than I've been this last year or so. There have been times that looked pretty bleak, and we got through them. I can do that again. So even if my tumor-free time is limited, it's all worth it. Because it will mean that, even for a short time, I have beaten this disease. The monster didn't get me this time.
But I really need to push those thoughts to the back of my mind, and concentrate on this next procedure. Because tomorrow is a very, very important day. ...
... Tomorrow I will undergo the third and final — at least for now — Radio Frequency Ablation procedure. There's one last tumor still alive in my lung and this procedure should kill it. So when the drugs wear off and my head starts to clear in the recovery room, I should have... well, I'm not sure how to put it: No more tumors? NED — what the doctors call "No Evidence of Disease"?
...I know it's more than likely that the cancer will come back somehow, somewhere. But that's a worry for another day. Maybe I don't fear that as much as I used to, because I have new weapons for that day. Another tumor in my lungs? We can do the RFA again. In my spine? Attack it with radiation. And so on. Chemo is still on that list, too, but I have to admit I don't really think of that as a very effective tool any more. But that day may come, too.
I have a hard time looking too far into the future. It does take a while to recover from the RFA. Hopefully, I won't have another collapsed lung. I really don't want to go through that again. Even if that doesn't happen, it takes almost two weeks for the coughing to stop, for the pain to go away. And of course, at some point, I'll have to take the bandage off. That hurts — a lot.
Then I'll need to get to work rebuilding my body. Get my wind back. Start working out regularly again. Try to do many of the things that stopped abruptly back when the doctors told me I had tumors in my brain and lungs. I'm looking forward to that, but I know I have a long way to go before my body will be anything like it was before.
And I've thought a lot about what would happen if it all goes terribly wrong again. What if multiple tumors show up all of a sudden? Another brain tumor? Multiple brain tumors? Well, quite honestly, if that happens, I won't be much worse off than I've been this last year or so. There have been times that looked pretty bleak, and we got through them. I can do that again. So even if my tumor-free time is limited, it's all worth it. Because it will mean that, even for a short time, I have beaten this disease. The monster didn't get me this time.
But I really need to push those thoughts to the back of my mind, and concentrate on this next procedure. Because tomorrow is a very, very important day. ...
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Survivors: Told their time was up, they're refusing to lie down - Seattle Times
She was just 28, living on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, when she first felt the lump in her breast.
Told she was too young to get cancer, it was five months before she had the biopsy that confirmed it. She was pregnant with two small boys at home and had to drive three hours to Great Falls for a mastectomy. She made the heartbreaking decision to abort her baby.
For eight months she was on chemotherapy, continuing her job teaching second grade and caring for her children. Five years later the cancer was gone. She was cured.
Nine years ago, she had a bad pain in her chest that wouldn't go away. Tests showed her cancer was back and had metastasized to her lungs. She came to Seattle for tests, and her doctor told her she would live 18 months to two years. Today, Kristin Johnson has been at Stage 4 cancer, the most serious kind, for 10 years. ...
She was just 28, living on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana, when she first felt the lump in her breast.
Told she was too young to get cancer, it was five months before she had the biopsy that confirmed it. She was pregnant with two small boys at home and had to drive three hours to Great Falls for a mastectomy. She made the heartbreaking decision to abort her baby.
For eight months she was on chemotherapy, continuing her job teaching second grade and caring for her children. Five years later the cancer was gone. She was cured.
Nine years ago, she had a bad pain in her chest that wouldn't go away. Tests showed her cancer was back and had metastasized to her lungs. She came to Seattle for tests, and her doctor told her she would live 18 months to two years. Today, Kristin Johnson has been at Stage 4 cancer, the most serious kind, for 10 years. ...
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Michael's inspiring cancer journey - EvieE's blog
[The ongoing story of a man with faith who is battling pancreatic cancer.]
[The ongoing story of a man with faith who is battling pancreatic cancer.]
UK cancer boy's treatment hope - BBC News
Jack has lost his hair; a scar snakes down towards his forehead and a surgical dressing hides a tube that is used to feed the doses of radioactive antibodies that he is being fed to fight and kill the cancer that is attacking his brain.
But the first thing you notice is not that. He is shy and a little tired this morning, but peeping out from behind his mother's legs, the cheeky five-year-old's smile shines through.
...
He has neuroblastoma, a solid tumour cancer that began in the nerve tissue of the abdomen and rapidly spread through his body, making it difficult to treat.
...
His parents knew that an experimental treatment was available in the US and, fearing that he would soon be too ill to travel, headed straight for Heathrow airport.
...
"The body could not stand the same amount of chemotherapy over again, and therefore they've had the treatment and they're not strong enough to undergo it again.
"An adult could not undergo this treatment at all.
"It's only because children are so resilient that their bodies can cope with it."
...
Richard and Yvonne have found schools for all three children here while Jack's treatment continues.
The room is small for five people, but it's a haven for the family.
From here they have been running a campaign to raise awareness for the cure, and money to fund the treatment.
Looking out through the huge windows that look out over New York's skyscrapers, they appreciate all the attention people have been giving their cause.
"Knowing that people have an affinity with Jack without actually knowing him but perhaps knowing how special he is, or how special he is to us has kept us going" ...
Jack has lost his hair; a scar snakes down towards his forehead and a surgical dressing hides a tube that is used to feed the doses of radioactive antibodies that he is being fed to fight and kill the cancer that is attacking his brain.
But the first thing you notice is not that. He is shy and a little tired this morning, but peeping out from behind his mother's legs, the cheeky five-year-old's smile shines through.
...
He has neuroblastoma, a solid tumour cancer that began in the nerve tissue of the abdomen and rapidly spread through his body, making it difficult to treat.
...
His parents knew that an experimental treatment was available in the US and, fearing that he would soon be too ill to travel, headed straight for Heathrow airport.
...
"The body could not stand the same amount of chemotherapy over again, and therefore they've had the treatment and they're not strong enough to undergo it again.
"An adult could not undergo this treatment at all.
"It's only because children are so resilient that their bodies can cope with it."
...
Richard and Yvonne have found schools for all three children here while Jack's treatment continues.
The room is small for five people, but it's a haven for the family.
From here they have been running a campaign to raise awareness for the cure, and money to fund the treatment.
Looking out through the huge windows that look out over New York's skyscrapers, they appreciate all the attention people have been giving their cause.
"Knowing that people have an affinity with Jack without actually knowing him but perhaps knowing how special he is, or how special he is to us has kept us going" ...
Labels: cancer
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Faith heals - by Jeff Scorer and his mother, Joan
... Then after another short remission a stomach tumour was diagnosed. Lots more painful treatment began and through out this Jeff's faith continued to grow and he would only accept the trial treatment as he knew that others would benefit from this. His teacher continued to visit him and although he was so ill he was very happy and peaceful. Then again he went into remission.
A few months later another type of brain tumour was found and all the usual treatment began again. Some times the untested treatment was so painful and caused many unknown side effects that due to Jeff's experience it was discontinued. He always said that he was glad that he had been the person to experience this pain as it saved others from having to do it.
...
Then the next tumour was a very aggressive type which was in his stomach again. This one grew very rapidly. No treatment could shrink this tumour and with the other ones he had been told by doctors at various times that he only had a few months to live but this time it was 2 weeks!
He was very ill and the tumour rapidly grew to the size of a melon and at Jeff's request all treatment was stopped. His kind teacher visited him frequently and gave him advice and meditations. At this time Jeff began to give away most of his belongs and soon did not have much left but he had no attachment to anything. Friends and family came to say Good bye.
Then one evening he became violently ill and called his McMillan Nurse in. She was amazed at what she found and took samples which were later found to be bits of tumour which had suddenly broken up. A few days later a scan showed that the stomach tumour had gone. ...
... Then after another short remission a stomach tumour was diagnosed. Lots more painful treatment began and through out this Jeff's faith continued to grow and he would only accept the trial treatment as he knew that others would benefit from this. His teacher continued to visit him and although he was so ill he was very happy and peaceful. Then again he went into remission.
A few months later another type of brain tumour was found and all the usual treatment began again. Some times the untested treatment was so painful and caused many unknown side effects that due to Jeff's experience it was discontinued. He always said that he was glad that he had been the person to experience this pain as it saved others from having to do it.
...
Then the next tumour was a very aggressive type which was in his stomach again. This one grew very rapidly. No treatment could shrink this tumour and with the other ones he had been told by doctors at various times that he only had a few months to live but this time it was 2 weeks!
He was very ill and the tumour rapidly grew to the size of a melon and at Jeff's request all treatment was stopped. His kind teacher visited him frequently and gave him advice and meditations. At this time Jeff began to give away most of his belongs and soon did not have much left but he had no attachment to anything. Friends and family came to say Good bye.
Then one evening he became violently ill and called his McMillan Nurse in. She was amazed at what she found and took samples which were later found to be bits of tumour which had suddenly broken up. A few days later a scan showed that the stomach tumour had gone. ...
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