OT. Cancer the greatest mongrel out there!.

Very sad Axle.

We've been through the same thing and understand.

Sorry I can't offer anything more.

Kind regards,

Jim.

Our sympathies Axle. Like Jimbo, can't think of anything else to say really.

Can sympathise with you Axle,

Was diagnosed with the dreaded CLL approx 3 years back - live for what you have - was given 5 - 10. Can relate to what you F.I.L. is going through.

Enjoy and live what you have got.

81yo is magnificent span to enjoy.

One day I want to leave with a glass of red in hand, beside a fire, in the bush - being in a place I enjoy and love - call me an old softy, but what the he** ,go for it while you can.

Sorry guys, off post, but a thought

Seeya

C

My sympathies. Been there, don't want to go back. Best wishes to the FIL.

Sorry to hear about your F.I.Law, Axle, I can honestly say that I understand what you (and your family) are going through as we went through it in 2000. After suffering through standard treatments in '99 he went to an alternative therapist- a fully qualified M.D. who was also a fully qualified psychiatrist- who put him on a very stringent diet. This was made up of lots of raw vegs and juices, at $100 per hour, she then told him that he would not die of Prostate Cancer! That was in January 2000, when his P.S.A was in normal range. In May he was suffering from 'bladder infection' and undergoing humiliating treatment for same. Eventually he asked to be sent to Veterans hospital and was diagnosed with return of P.C. The Urology specialist said that she had never seen such a rapid onset of it after a good remission. He died in August, on his grandson's birthday. Our first experience with cancer was in '88 when 10 yr old daughter had malignant Brain Tumour, she survived, thank God, not many with her particular cancer did twenty years ago. Next was me, in '95, with breast cancer, a year later, Mum-in-law, didn't survive lung cancer. During all that time, I heard some of the quackiest remedies ever invented, from all types of people.
The day my daughter was operated on I went to a chemist to get some vitamins to help boost her immune system and maybe get rid of the cancer as well. The chemist told me that I was vulnerable right now and that she could probably sell me one of everything she had on her shelves. She said that if I went that way I would have to give the stuff to my daughter in such massive doses that to all intents and purposes I would be poisoning her which would basically amount to chemotherapy anyway!
After Dad's experience I will never advocate alternative therapy for anything!
You can just be there for your F-I-Law, Axle, talk with him, but more than that, listen to him. For your kids sake, tape some conversations with him, get him to tell you his personal history and then more of the family history. Since then we often wish we had asked more questions and listened harder. When they are gone there seem to be big gaps in your own memories of the things they told you. Set aside a bit of time each day/week for this and you will probably both enjoy it immensely. Also, one thing that older folk don't seem to get much of is -- touching. If your family is close, try to get them to hold his hand, give him massages e.g. hands, feet, head, if he will allow it of course. You will all feel much better for it, too.
I wish I could say/offer something more helpful, but I guess it is a right of passage on this mortal coil that we all have to pass through - May your journey, and his, be soothed by love.

OzeSheila

Axle
We all have to go at some time but damn hard when they go before they should, I lost my Dad back in 2003,he was 86 ,just be with him mate ,

Doug

No good Axle, not much to say other than keep your chin up as I'm sure he would not want you to remember anything other than the good times.
At 81 he's had a great innings.

Axle

I can relate to how youre feeling right now mate , i have lost 3 of my very good friends in the last twelve mths to this horrible disease , the latest being just last sunday ...keep your chin up mate and take care ........Cheers .......Dave

Axle man, my sincere condolances.

A friend of ours died today of undiagnosed lung cancer, leaving behind the dad and 6yo son. The sons 7th birthday party was literally this sunday, my own eldest was invited, now cancelled.

Lest be dwelling on such negativity, my father in law, a great man I will never live up to, lived 10yrs beyong his cancer life projection. A very full life it was too. He was diagnosed with it before I first met his daughter, I never knew him to be different, he ran a full cattle farm until virtually the end. The bloody SOB would out do me on digging post holes.

Thanks for your post. Kinda an outlet. Sitting here a bit angry about it all at the moment.

Our thoughts are with you and your family, we are no strangers to this dreaded disease so we know what you are going through. Keep your chin up.
Our thoughts are with you, there is nothing more that we can offer, I wish there was.

Cheers

D&B

Axle

My father in law died of cancer, started in the prostate.

One in three people in Australia get cancer. We all have lost friends and family to this dreaded disease.

I know what you and your family are going through. You have my best wishes.

Tjilpi

Axle I think I know a little of what u r going thru. Father in law, mother in law sister in law all within the last five years. All that I can say is strive to keep a dignity in such a sad time mate and support your wife and expect the unexpected around every corner, its like a minefield. Look after yourself too mate cause you need to be strong to help others.

Axle,

My mum had breast cancer five years ago, she was so brave when she had her double mastectomy, then follow up treatment. She beat it only to die in a senseless road accident in November last year. Dad is only just out of hospital after four months and still frail and heartbroken. She was 75 and he is 80.

My thoughts are with you and your family now. Life is wonderful at times but so harsh and cruel at others. All we can do is to show our loved ones how we feel and live each day to the utmost.

Viv

Axle

There is a possible cure for prostrate cancer nearing the Phase I testing stage . Get Virax on the net and read up . It's a long shot , but if you can get your father-in-law accepted for the trial he may have a chance . I am sorry there is such a small probability of making the trial , but this is a desparate situation and worth investigating .

Hi Axle,

Very sorry to hear of your FIL's cancer. its something no-one deserves to go thru but so many seem to suffer from. I lost my mother to cancer 7 years ago at age 60 - much too young.

Keep your chin up and support your family, you will all need each other.

Cheers

Captain

I'd just like to thank all for their kind thoughts, another good thing about this forum ,it proves theres a lot of good people out there!.

Regards Axle.

Sorry to hear your news. We were on our trip for 3 months to WA in 2005 when we got the phone call that Father in Law in hospital for tests, Day 20 of our 85 day trip. We suggested that we should come home but he was addiment that we continue. Before this date he was ringing us regularly to ask where we were having the map on the table to mark our progress. He was operated about 2 weeks later so we stayed within easy tripping back to Perth in case we had to fly back in a hurry. As things were stable and he was in hospital and really knowing that we cound not do anything for him we kept going up the coast of WA ringing the hospital everyday. If I had known would have certainly changed the phone plan we had. Could have had shares in Teltras with the phone costs. When we got to Barn Hill we got the phone call to come home as soon as possible. So left about 10.30 in morning on Wednesay after organising overseas daughter to arrange flights back from UK and arrived back at hospital in Brisbane about 4.30 following Monday. 5 Hard days driving setting up in the dark and pulling down on daylight where we hit a kangaroo i1 km from where we were going to camp one night, blew 5th gear of the GU about 5 hours from Brisbane arriving the same day as o/seas daughter who left on the Saturday from England. He passed away on what would have been day 84 of the trip.
So yes we still did enjoy our trip but we say it was a bitter sweet trip as so many times we were thinking should we keep going or should we just go home. Although he did enjoy our phone call each day saying where we were and what we were doing.
Enjoy the time you have left and may he depart with as little pain as possible.

Sorry to hear about your FIL I cannot add to what others have said, I also know many friends that have been affected by Cancer ......... just hang in there and take care.

Brian

You are so right Axle, cancer in any form is indeed a mongrel.

We too have lost family and friends, and you just do not get to pick and choose who goes and who stays.

I was diagnosed with protate cancer 7yrs ago, hits you like a brick bleep house when you get the message.The dog and I sat down and had a big discussion and I told him that he had to look after mum........

7yrs on, after treatment....still here, still annoying the missus..and the kids.

Get tested every few months, sad to say PSA is on the rise....however there is much that can be done. A friend of ours who has a more active protate cancer is being given injections direct into the area (not too sure on details but can find out if you want)..a 'pill' of sorts is injected into him that helps stop the spread of the cancer from the prostate.

It is indeed an insidious desease and I would urge every man over 45 - 50 years of age to have their PSA tested........get it early.

Not much help Axle but my thoughts are with you and your father-in-law.

Michael