My LMS adventure

http://www.ralphehanson.com/2016/01/22/what-kind-of-cancer-was-it-and-why-do-we-care/ Interesting blog about celebrities dying of cancer and whether we should care what type of cancer caused them to perish. When I first found I had uLMS, I was pretty pissed at the "popular" cancers. You know the type, pink products, fund-raising and teams of people showing support by walking several days in a row. There was also the annoyance that I had a rare, aggressive cancer that no one had heard of. So, this is serious. No, really, it is serious. Why does it matter what killed our heroes? Do we want to focus research and funding on a specific cancer because (for example) David Bowie died of it? Do we want a lifestyle to blame? It was liver cancer, he did a lot of drugs, it makes sense. Furthermore, since I don't do drugs, I'll be safe. Substitute Lungs and smoking, anal cancer and sexual practices... anything to make us feel safe. There are a lot of types of ca...

okay, just a miserable me. Neulastin shot today, I'm anticipating a miserable, painful weekend. Read about several cool events at the local Renaissance Fair this weekend. I'm trying to switch phone providers to save some money. That's not working. I just want a damn cheap phone. My hands are still peeling and painful. My tummy is upset. I didn't sleep well last night. I got up at 1:15 and didn't get back to sleep. My Fitbit isn't working. Technology and my body are failing me. I asked my roommate to wash the crock pot liner, since I can't with the stupid flaking hands, and he told me it would fit in the dishwasher. Later I tried it. And remembered why I knew it had to be hand washed.... because it may have fit in his LAST dishwasher, but not in this one. Growl. Postiive? no I'm not positive... I'm just feeling rotten. This too shall pass. Another day down. Second Cycle of chemo over (or half way depending on how I count t...

When I say I've got cancer, and someone tells me to have a positive attitude, I'm torn.  I know what they mean.  Don't give up.  Keep fighting.  I know that my quality of life is better if I am focusing on the good in life, avoiding negative emotions, and surrounding myself with happy positive people.  It's easier to be around people who are happy than those who are miserable.  I won't scare off people, so will have a larger pool of volunteers to help. That all makes sense.  But somehow I hear, "You will get better if you have a positive attitude."  Maybe that is true of some cancers.  I am quite envious of all the bouncing boobs out there.  My cancer is special, yep, special and unique just like me.  (that was probably sarcastic.)  A positive attitude won't change the cancer.  How likely am I to die?  Only 14% who have this cancer survive five years after diagnosis. (ULMS with mets to Liver)  My ...

Recently I went to a weight loss seminar with a friend.  It was a sales pitch, carefully crafted, but I wasn't the target audience.  One of the frequent refrains was "They lied to me."  They, of course, being the government, the pharmaceutical companies, the medical community, etc.  This group offered a simple solution to weight loss.... a few minutes exercise each day (buy the DVD) and a few simple rules to change the way you eat.  Because everything you know is wrong. Wow, how nice, for a few dollars and changing how I eat, I can get healthy.  But they had already planted some trap doors in the presentation.  "Don't look at your scale...it doesn't show how healthy you are."  Please don't tell me that grapefruit/vitamins/herbs will cure me.  This is not a simple problem.  There is not a simple fix.  I understand that my illness scares some people.  I've already gotten the question, "What did you do to get this?"  I...