Tweety: It's worst than we though talking about Elizabeth Edwards cancer

[bigdarryl]

Where is he getting his info from he stated this on his show that things are not good for her. The doctors have not said this the only thing they say is the cancer is treatable but not curable.

[knitter4democracy]

1. Hubby said that last night.

If it's in her lungs, like her doctor hinted it might be (they're not entirely sure), then it is really bad.

[bigdarryl]

2. I though they said it was isolated in the rib area

[Colobo]

3. The doctor said

It was probable she could also have it in her lungs...

Cancer and AIDS are the biggest enemies humanity has faced, apart from itself.

[knitter4democracy]

4. There might be a spot on the lungs, too.

I asked Hubby, and he said they most likely won't operate, which means she'll start the chemo faster. What a hard thing.

[Bucky]

7. I hate it when hope is under fire.

Attack me in my wallet, my laws, my streets, even my schools. I can deal with it. The shit about cancer is it attacks hope.

If you let it. I don't think Elizabeth Edwards is gonna let it. I can only pray I can learn from her example.

[knitter4democracy]

15. Me too.

I had my cancer scare last fall, and I'm still nervous about it. I can't imagine how things would be if the cancer they thought my tumor might have been actually had been there. *shudder*

I wouldn't have the class she has, I think.

[Mme. Defarge]

22. Glad it was only a "scare".

Be well.

[knitter4democracy]

24. Me too. It's still hard to think about.

If it had been the cancer they first thought it was, I would have had a zero percent life expectancy at three years. Still scares me, so we're still checking to make sure I'm okay.

Btw, if you're a knitter, stop on by the Crafts forum. Lots of knitters here. :)

[Morgana LaFey]

19. She said the kids were disappointed she'd not be losing her hair

are you SURE she'll be doing chemo??

[knitter4democracy]

23. It's standard. Huh. Well, then, I'll donate mine locally.

I hadn't heard that. Chemo is standard in this case, so they must be doing something else. That's interesting and good news. :)

[anitar1]

26. I heard her Dr. say, there were 2 very tiny spots

seen on xrays, one in lung and one somewhere else. Can't remember the second site. Dr. said they had to look again to find out what these spots were.

[BootinUp]

5. doesn't sound

too good to me. :(

[Bucky]

6. When it metastisizes into the bones, I've heard, the long term survival rate drops to the 30%'s.

I've never been to Vegas, but I understand those aren't terrible house odds.

But my gut says Senator Edwards and his wife may have to revisit their decision in the next couple of months, even if the chemo goes well.

[calimary]

8. Its my understanding that if it gets to the bones, it's bad.

What distressed me most is how thin her face and neck were. If she's losing weight...

ICK. I am not a bit happy about this. I hope she can hang on. Lots of people love her. far beyond her family members.

GET WELL, DEAR ELIZABETH!!!

[karynnj]

12. I thought she actually looked very good considering the news

She clearly lost a lost of weight since 2004 and that was true a year ago. I would guess that her doctors highly recommended it.

I really thing that people like Matthews should repeat exactly what her doctor says - and not speculate. To my knowledge he doesn't have an MD degree.

[anitar1]

27. Tweety is an ass, imho. Needs to watch his mouth. n/t

[roguevalley]

16. Good nutritution is part of beating disease. Her weight loss is a good

thing. If it keeps going, it would be worrisome.

[Gloria]

9. VERY CLEAR report, pessimistic..bad thing is also her initial diagnosis was only in 2004...

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=health&id=514 ...



Local cancer expert weighs in on Elizabeth Edwards' recurrence

WTVG-- March 22, 2007 - Dr. Iman Mohamed is the director of the University of Toledo Breast Center. She says Elizabeth Edwards' doctor mentioned other small "suspicious" spots elsewhere in her body, possibly in the lung. She says when the disease spreads only to the bone, survival rates can be 10 to 20 years. But when there's soft tissue involvement, like the lung, survival rates are reduced to anywhere from two to five, or maybe six years.

But she says every patient is different, and there are still many different treatment options for Mrs. Edwards. "There are lots of good options. There is hope. Definitely, but people need to be realistic, and that's what we always discuss with our patients, we're very optimistic, but our feet are on the ground. We're not flying. We're very realistic as well."

Dr. Mohamed says she was concerned to see that Mrs. Edwards' first diagnosis was only back in 2004. She says the cancer coming back so soon suggests it is aggressive. The doctor says the goal with stage four breast cancer isn't a cure and to one day be cancer-free, but treatment that will allow a good quality of life for as long as possible.

[Colobo]

10. That's some terrible stuff right there...

I wish good vibes could cure people... she would be cured by now...

[LiberalHeart]

11. I had "highly aggressive" breast cancer diagnosis (based on DNA studies of tumor)

...that was in 1990. Still going strong. No signs of cancer now.

Also, I have a friend who was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago. It had spread to her brain,which is how she found out she had it (excruciating headaches). She had lung surgery and brain surgery. No sign of cancer now.

Patsy Ramsey lived several years after being diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer.

I think getting the very best care possible could have a lot to do with survival. In my case, I was in a study done in conjunction with Mayo Clinic. They still follow my case. I was given chemo with meds that were never revealed to me (experimental). Maybe that's what helped. I'll never know.

I think Patsy Ramsey went to a treatment hospital in Pennsylvania somewhere; I read about its being top-notch.

My friend lives in Houston and she went to the research hospital there (can't remember the name of it).

[Rusty MacHenry]

13. I was listening to the Alex Bennett Program on SIRIUS today

And he thinks Edwards wife is a goner. He also thinks Edwards is playing politics with his wife's illness to get votes because he won't suspend his campaign to take care of her.

What an ignorant fool.

[peaches2003]

21. I take it he knows the Edwards intimately?

It is disgusting how many know-it-alls on the internet are criticizing both John and Elizabeth and don't know a thing about them and even less about her cancer or potential treatments. She is a vibrant woman and keeping up her life is probably what both of them know will give her hope and strength. What gives these people the right to second-guess people they don't know. It's sickening.

[Rusty MacHenry]

28. Probally not

Him and his sidekick Garrett just like being assholes from saying the wife of an Ex-Senator is seriously going to die fom critizing Democrats for everything on earth. In the world of Alex Bennett the Democrats should just give up on everything and shut down Congress until the next Congress convienes because they don't control the WH, they only got a one vote majority in the Senate so that means no work will get done.

SIRIUS Radio should be ashamed for employing this worthless hapless POS on there liberal station.

[Justice]

17. I am glad for you and your friend - think getting to research hospital

is the best thing - get the newest treatments.

Your story is pretty amazing - so glad you are cancer free.

[Morgana LaFey]

20. Nice, hopeful post. Thanks. And CONGRATULATIONS yourself!! nt

[loyalsister]

14. It's not fair to presume the worst

But, I think the Edwards' and everyone else should be realistic about the range of possibilities.
Every person I have known who has had cancer has been told that range of potential responses to treatment existed and that there was a degree of uncertainty as to what kind or how long of future they may have.

[venable]

18. Her situation is just as it was described in the presser

There are 'specks' in her lungs that are not threatening.

She will have cancer the rest of her life, and will be treated for it. At this point it seems as if he treatments themselves will not be as debilitating as her earlier, aggressive treatment.

She is a powerfully optimistic and practical person who will take care of herself, partly by doing what she believes in, which is the need for new leadership in this country. She is of the opiniion that her husband is the best prospect for that new leadership, and that her husband is the one most likely to lead a Democratic return to the White House. That is her opinion, and, coincidentally, mine.

Those, like Bennett, who think there is an iota of political calculation in the desire to continue are as wrong as a human could possibly be.

The last thing Elizabeth Edwards needs is to sit at home thinking about her cancer. She has spent her whole life thinking of others, and doing for others, and any doctor would agree that she should do what most fulfills her. This is the most beneficial therapy, even from a medical standpoint.

As someone wrote the other day, we should all feel lucky to be on the planet the same time that she is here.

I expect and pray that she will live a very long time, and do much good in those years.

[ChiciB1]

25. I Can Only Add That I Will Stay Optimistic Myself... Thank You For

your input here. Let's keep focused and pray for the very very best. She's a wonderful "plus" to so much that has gone wrong. I can't imagine why she would be taken away so soon!

But things happen for a reason, one reason could be the need to focus on "health issues" and how we need to shine a spot-light on what is happening. Another reason could be that, this scare will be a HUGE plus for Edwards and there will be much more focus on "reality" rather than sound bites and spinning!

Whatever happens, I doubt seriously that many will ever forget her courage and her compassion!

[AshevilleGuy]

29. Everyone please remember, Elizabeth is known to read and post here.

Let's 'speak' as if she were in the room, she might be. Thanks.