I Do So Hope That Elizabeth Edwards Gets Well

[Dinger]

I am not as informed as I should be on cancer. I had my first mammogram last year, and they found something. I was worried sick, and had to wait out the holidays for further testing in the new year. Everything turned out fine. It really woke me up, but lately it seems like so many I know or know of have have cancer (thankfully, most have survived). Does anyone know what Elizabeth's prognosis is? I know she said that they were optmistic, and I'll take that as a positive sign, but I can't help worrying. She and the whole Edwards Family are in my thoughts and prayers. Guess I'm kind of down in the dumps since I heard this. Can anyone cheer meup?

[Karenca]

1. I wish I could cheer you up

but this news has really saddened me.

I'm so scared for her.

[tblue]

2. They are such selfless people. I can just imagine her telling him, 'If you drop out of the race

and give up on our dreams just to sit and stare at me, I won't be happy.' He's carrying on because that is what they both want him to do, contrary to what that Oxymoron and his ilk say.

[Olney Blue]

3. Thank you for the great pics of the Edwards.

I hope she does OK, but they did say it was "incurable" now. She will always be fighting it. It's very sad.

[blindersoff]

4. stage 4 cancer is not a good sign for recovery

I had stage 2 breast cancer 7 years ago and so far have not had any further problems, but I know many, many women with breast cancer that metastasized to the bones or lungs, who had very little time to get their lives in order. Having had this disease, hearing about someone else always makes you wonder if/when the other shoe will drop. It made me cry to hear that she was affected again... she's a really good woman and I wish her the best.

[Gloria]

5. 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.