1. Hi Jacki,
Not too long after my cancer diagnosis I met a woman diagnosed with inoperable glioblastoma (a nasty brain tumor) whose doctor told her she had three months to live. Well, we invited that doctor to her 5 year party and to another at 8 years! Theresa lived to die from something else but she felt that death sentence hanging over her head like a hex. My hope is that everyone will realize statistics don't mean squat when it comes to the individual survivor. If we all use the cancer diagnosis as a wake-up call to live more joyfully, we'll have just enough time, don't you think?

Posted at 1:56PM on Mar 10th 2007 by patmcree

2. In 1967 when doctors told me they couldn't even guarantee me a year of life, then when I survived that, couldn't guarantee 5 years of life. I also had that sense of death waiting to take me away. As the years went by, and the recurrences kept happening, I became more accepting of death being a natural part of life, like birth, and that there were worst things for me to die from than my cancer. With two near-death experiences under my belt, I am no longer fearful of death. So here I am forty years later at age 61, with grown kids, grandkids and great grandkids.

Were the doctor's wrong?

Doctors can only surmise one's outcome based upon the statistics they are familiar with. There are always exceptions to the rule. Two years ago I was told I had a brain tumor, slow growing. I have gone through scans every 4 months until January, when the Neuro-Onc told me that he doesn't think it is growing at any significant rate to bother to do a biopsy. That's okay with me. I'd rather getting my head drilled for now. I will return in six months and see what happens next.

It is daunting to hear that one only has a few months to live, even if it is true, but if one makes that time full of fear and regrets, it is sad. Even if that is the outcome, living each day to the fullest extent of one's being, treasuring what one has, might make it all a bit more tolerable.

There is hope.

Posted at 10:59PM on Mar 10th 2007 by Elizabeth Munroz

3. It is said that playing game can reduce risking sickness.
http://www.igolg.com

Posted at 9:01PM on Mar 11th 2007 by slplayer

4. It's so easy to get hung up on the statistics, and it's hard enough to keep your chin up without obsessing on which percentage you fall into, and whether the numbers will catch up with you. Life with or without cancer is never a guarantee, so we need to do everything possible to avoid cancer and make the most of every single day whether we're healthy or not.
Love to all,
Richard Day Gore

Posted at 10:37AM on Mar 11th 2007 by richard day gore

5. I have just completed chemo for breast cancer. My diagnosis was Stage 1 and the statistics I have seen show anywhere from 80 - 95+ survival at 5 years. The oncologist mentioned a 5-6% recurrance rate for my prognosis. For cancer, that's pretty good, but it's not 100%! I find it hard to not go to that 5-6% in my mind. So whether the stats are bad or less bad, I think it's better to try to ignore them. That is the challenge for me for the next phase of this journey I never would have chosen to take. Let statistics dictate treatment plans, but they do not provide meaningful information about how long any of us will live.

Posted at 2:54AM on Mar 12th 2007 by Darlene Craig