Patti Pilat Buono

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Cancer Is A Killer

Here’s some cancer basics for you: Over one-third of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. More than one in three people—that’s a lot of people and pretty crappy odds. The odds are even higher if you have a family history of some type of cancer—hello mirror, it’s me, Patti—so sometimes I think it’s not “if” but “when” cancer will hit me.

Statistically, more people continue to live more than five years after a cancer diagnosis, as treatment plans and alternatives become much more widespread and common. This is the good news of the diagnosis stage—you’ve got a good fighting chance!

While I am encouraged by these statistics and improving medical care, the cold truth is that cancer played a deciding part in Pop’s death, and the death of other people I care about, and it is something to fear. You don’t hear that from me that often, but, yeah, cancer scares the crap out of me.

As with anything that scares me or concerns me, I did what I always do: I researched the hell out of it.

What Is Cancer Exactly?

Here’s some more cancer basics for you: Cells in your body are in a constant state of growth and death, repeatedly growing and changing based upon orderly methods and reasons. Cancer cells are cells that are growing out of control, and without a healthy purpose. They merge together and form what we know are tumors. These tumors can either be benign—growing without causing any illness or danger to the host, or malignant—which is a deadly form of cell growth that can spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant is the word we all want to avoid. Benign tumors can occur at any age in many different parts of the body without causing any medical emergency or problems.

Pop’s cancers were malignant. Every. Damn. Time.

The Four Types Of Cancer

Cancer basics by category:

Carcinomas – This is far and away the most common form of cancer. Beginning in the skin or tissue covering the surface of internal organs and glands, carcinomas usually form solid tumors. Common forms of this cancer are prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.
Sarcomas – This type of cancer begins within the tissues that connect the body. Examples of where sarcomas can develop include muscles, joints, lymph nodes, cartilage or bones.
Leukemia – This refers to cancer of the blood. This type of cancer is a good example of cells growing uncontrolled in the body, changing healthy blood cells.
Lymphomas – This type of cancer has its origins in the lymphatic system, which is a network throughout your body that fights infection.

What You Need To Know?

This is serious shit.

Pop’s cancer started in the prostate, and over many years migrated to his skin, lung, kidney and bones. The scary thing for me was that I felt that once we had a diagnosis of cancer, that shit would be back. And it was.

Several years ago, Sweet Husband was diagnosed with a dangerous skin cancer. Now that fear is back, because I believe—with absolutely no medical training or knowledge to back me up—that once cancer gets in your system, it will come back.

Now it’s in your house, too.

I’m really sorry to hear it.

The most important thing for you to be concerned with right now, in my opinion, is the research phase of cancer diagnosis. You need to know exactly what you are dealing with, and you don’t have time to wait for that first oncology appointment. Doctors being as busy as they are, you might have to wait weeks or even months for your first consultation with the doctor. Use this time effectively by educating yourself on everything you possibly can related to your loved one’s cancer diagnosis.

What Are The Statistics On Mortality?

Some more cancer basics for you: I’d love to just write that they are getting better and leave it at that. They actually are getting better, as medicine devises new and different treatment plans for people to follow. Further, people are being diagnosed at a much earlier time. The best thing going for you is early detection of cancer. This is just another reason it is extremely important for you as Mayor to make sure that your loved one is keeping up to date on all of their doctor appointments. Pop was unlike many men of his generation, in that he kept up to date with every doctor, followed through on every referral, and kept up with his blood and other tests. If you can convince your loved one to do that, your chances of catching the cancer early rise dramatically.

With lung and bronchial cancers leading the way, it is estimated that over 600,000 people will die from cancer this year. On the very positive side, approximately 80% of all people diagnosed with cancer this year will still be alive and in remission in ten years. That is very encouraging, and another reason early detection is so important.

Your loved one’s chances center primarily on their ability to endure treatment and their underlying medical conditions. Pop was extremely healthy outside of the various cancer problems, and his general good health was the main reason he was able to fight and remain active for so many years.

Where Do I Start Now That It’s Been Diagnosed

Read

I’ve listed a number of resources below—all of which are definitely readable for the novice like you and me. When you do an internet search, I recommend you try to stay primarily with sources that are written at your level. I’ve been very confused and frustrated trying to read things that were well over my head, and I didn’t learn a darn thing. Senior citizen websites and sources will be an excellent place to start, and you can build your research from there.

Your PCP

I’m positive that as a regular reader, you have already cultivated a strong relationship with a great Primary Care Physician. They will be the one to really explain the basics of cancer to you. This is your “quarterback”, and your first stop for absolutely everything medical. While I could usually count on the first referral we received for a specialist, don’t be afraid to “interview” oncologists until you find a doctor—and a treatment office and facility—that is convenient and will work with your individual needs.

Start talking

Let people know. This very well could be the beginning of a sharp downward spiral, and people have a right to know that. Alternatively, you will find a wealth of information and suggestions from people who have been through a cancer diagnosis. From them you might get a great referral or suggestion, and you will definitely get the emotional support that you will need for this journey.

What Treatments Might We Be Offered

Radiation

Usually the first stop on the cancer express, radiation will be the first thing they try if they catch the cancer early enough. This is what Pop had on the prostate, and it was certainly effective. Point for you to know: A person can only have radiation a certain amount in their entire lifetime. For this purpose, it might NOT be offered if you are a younger patient. The least invasive of the medical treatments, recovery from radiation treatments should be relatively seamless. It is still, however, potentially dangerous, and you should do as much research as you can before agreeing to this (or any) treatment.

Surgery

I’m a big fan of cutting the bitch out! Get it out of my body, and then let’s work on the surrounding area to keep it from coming back. We went this route several times with Pop, as well as with several other people I love, and it is my first go-to. While every surgery has concerns and dangers associated with it, I personally feel that this is the best way to eradicate cancer from your body with the least chance of it returning. Surgery might be complicated, however, with extensive removal of surrounding tissue, as they continue to take things out until they get “clean margins”, meaning all cancerous cells have been removed.

Chemo

Just in the several decades I’ve been involved with a cancer patient, chemotherapy has definitely gotten better. Even though Pop was in his 80’s during chemo, he was barely down for a day after each treatment, before returning to a good appetite and some energy. Your mileage will absolutely vary on this, but consider it as an alternative or after surgery. Anything necessary to get that cancer out!

Homeopathic

This is totally not my thing, at all, but I do respect it enough to include it on this list. Consider doing some research about organic and non-medical treatments. Personally, I’d do anything to make sure the cancer never comes back on Sweet Husband. Send me your crystals!

The Case For Non-Treatment

I have an aunt who died from untreated breast cancer. I can’t even imagine the pain she endured before she finally shared her concerns with my cousin, a Registered Nurse. It was the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Even if she didn’t want treatment for the cancer, she was entitled to palliative care as she declined and finally died.

Ignorance in cancer will kill you. Very slowly and painfully.

Make your own decisions. Don’t let it just “happen” to someone you love.

What We Did…

We fought hard until we were done fighting.

We took every treatment. We followed every recommendation. We fought the beast with everything in our arsenal.

Then we just stopped.

When Pop was done, he was just done.

We moved to very heavy-dose palliative care, and Pop died.

But cancer didn’t beat him. Don’t let it beat your loved one, either.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR!!!

Wow! You made it! Thank you for reading about cancer basics!

Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out Part 1, here, or if you’ve read that, check out more dementia problems, here! Or maybe you want to hear more about Pop, here. Or, check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!

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Cancer Basics - Cancer For The Layman