Lisa Whiting wrote:
>
> Marty:
>
> Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I am not being negative,
> only realistic. You are right; there is a chance of "cure"...5% at best is
> what they say. This type of cancer is in the Mesentary, which is basically
> the stuff that glues some of your body parts together, so in this particular
> kind, there seems to be no way to get all of the cells but we are hoping
> that there is no reoccurance of the tumors, of course. We are "hopeful",
> Marty.....no matter what. But both of my parents are gone and, as siblings,
> we only have one another. Therefore, I feel it's important to be positive
> but also realistic. I was quite young when my mother died and had no
> knowledge that she'd never be coming home from the hospital again. I don't
> intend to be "blind-sided" again. If we were truly giving up hope, we would
> not be supporting Bob in Chemo and Radiation treatments....after all, this
> surgery was quite traumatic and why put yourself through more if there's no
> hope of survival anyway? We will never give up hope.
>
> While I'm on the bandwagon, I'd like to just present an issue......Asbestos.
> My brother's type of cancer is rare (150-200 cases a year in the US) and
> attributed to Asbestos. He has no knowledge of any exposure. Ever.
> However, he was a school teacher for a few years, and that is a possibility.
> Anyway, they say this disease can take 10-30 years after exposure to present
> itself. I was just told the other day about a local (Omaha) Catholic High
> School that has a sign when you enter the school, indicating that "there is
> asbestos in this school". Knowing what I know now, I would never consider
> sending my child to a school that I was aware had asbestos. In fact,
> someone is coming to the house next week to test for asbestos. I know this
> sounds a bit paranoid maybe, but think......if you are a smoker and you get
> lung cancer, you may think that it was a risk you took (there are warnings),
> now when I drink diet coke w/ nutrisweet, I guess I realize I'm exposing
> myself to risk of getting cancer. But something like this.....I think it's
> different. And, it's not like my mom's breast cancer where she just got
> it......this is a disease caused by something environmental that you have no
> control over. I find that frightening.
>
> Opinions?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Lisa
Dear Lisa,
Good morning and thank you so much for the information about Asbestos. I
am glad there are people such as yourself that get on the bandwagon to
inform and warn us about dangers to the environment and to the human
beings quality of health. I believe when we are in this situation, like
yourself and your Brothers and ours that we tend to be the bandwagoneers
of sorts to pick up the banner and try to change. Its very difficult,
but if we can reach a few, it is worth the effort. So once again,
continue with your bandwagon stance, it is worth the effort and
knowledge to many of us who care.
I am sorry you and your Brother are alone. May we be supportive and be
part of your family? Would be our pleasure and gratitude.
Sometimes reality or facing reality about statistics becomes a
misnomer. Sometimes reality is in fact not reality at all but a negative
emotion and positive emotion because statistics has two sides. There is
no reason that your Brother can't be on the 5% side of the statistic and
that is the reality. But the most important fact facing reality is that
there is HOPE and a means to beat cancer even in the most advanced. We
know you have HOPE, we can see what your effort and passion is while you
have hope. I am just trying to provide you with encouragement as reality
is something that we have faced in the light of the most advanced stages
of cancer ourselves and yet, the statistics in which we chose not to
hear, were not in our best interest, but the reality was that we have
HOPE, as you do, and that statistics were on our side even if it were
1%. And that was a fact and a realiity, believe me. It has been three
years plus and counting and each day we face reality, the fact of that
reality is we have survived and continue, God willing, to get better.
We pray for your Brothers recovery, and your comfort. We know that you
are a great and sincere caregiver and that it is not easy indeed. In our
hearts we have this great sensation and emotion that good things
eventually happen to good people. Take care dear lady. We are your
friends and only mean to encourage you when you are facing reality
whether it be in compassion, or education. We are there for you.
God Bless You and your Brother
Marty and Barb Auslander
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