Strength of a hundred men.

[Tobias]

Hey Faye. You know that Ming and I are always right behind you. I know i've heard of your relationship to you rmother: It sounds a lot like the relationship that Ming and I had with my father. Just make sure that you are there for here. I know that my Dad's only wish for me was to continue doing well in school, but it was hard to only be there some of the times. Make sure that you spend time with her, but don't get completely caught up in everything.

The family is there for ya man. Trust me. If i've learned anything within these past few months, whether it be a new muse or whatever it is, its that family is important. While friends are great to talk to at times, you share blood with your family, and all of your famly are shoulders to go to when you need them.

Unfortunately, it takes sickness to throw families back into the pots with everyone else. It took my father''s death to see for the first time in my 20 years and for the first time in 29 years the coming together of my dad's side of the family and my mom's side of the family. They were all there, as much as i know that your family is going to be there for you.

And remember: we're like family here too...not a substitue, but we can be pretty homey Tell your mom that we all love her, and know that she's gonna get better. Just remember to be there for her, and keep rooting for her, no matter what kind of curve ball is thrown.

Yoda says: "You do, or do not...there is no try." Just do it man. I know you can.

[Faye]

I really appreciate everyones support, and shino with supplying me with those websites. Knowledge is power and a feel a lot more confident about us being able to get through this after reading up and being able to understand what exactly is going on. Unfortunatly we are not completly out of the woods yet.

She has Ductile Carcenoma(sp?) Its Cancer of the milk Ducts. Its the most common form of breast cancer, 85% to be exact. And the tumor takes up more than half her breast. So we didnt exactly catch it early. It has also already spread to her lyphnodes(Sp?). Which pretty much means it could be anywhere now in her body now. January 2nd she goes in for tests figure out just that. MRI, Bone scan, Brain scan, you name it she's getting it scanned. With any luck it will not have gotten any further than her lyphnodes. On the 3rd she starts Kimo for 12 weeks she gets kimo once a week, and the oncologist expects to see shrinkage after teh first treatment. Currently the tumor is attached to here breastplate wall so they must shrink it enough so that it detaches itself from the breasplate and then they can remove it.

Luckly for me this christmas, we have had family coming out of the woodwork. I've seen members of my family this year that I havent seen in 5 and 6 years. In fact my mother and her sister have hardly spoken in the better part of 10 years. But she has been her right next to my mother since her diagnosis. Which has helped her through a lot of this and she is even driving back into town next week to go with her to the hospital for her tests and her first kimo treatment. It is unfortunate that it takes something like this to bring a family back together. I dont know whether to be thankful they are here now, or be pissed that they wouldnt have anything to do with us until something like cancer comes up.

Again I want to thank you all for your thoughts, your prayers, and you kind words.

[Shino]

I'm sorry to hear that they caught it late. But keep the faith.

You're mother is going to need you more than she ever has before.

Chemo is very hard. And it takes a huge toll on a person, mentally and physically.

There will be times when she will feel very very sick. Be aware of this. And be supportive. If she can stay positive, it will be easier on all of you.

Faye, I'm sure this is hard. And I want you to know that I'm hear if you need someone to chat with. Remember that you can also call Alison if you need some insight.

Also, get with the ACS. They have a program that I think your mother may want to get involved in after she's been in Chemo for a while. They have a program called "Look Good Feel Better" that is specifically for women going through Chemo.

Good luck to you and your family. Keep us up to date with what's going on. And you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Ming]

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling more positive about the whole situation. I did want to say two things, however. One, don't be upset at your family that comes out of the woodwork. Tobs and I had this happen, and at first I was a bit upset, but remember that we're only human. We lose touch with each other or say and do stupid things, and while it's unfortunate, sometimes it takes a serious situation like this to make people break down and and realize that they were wrong in their words and actions. And most importantly, it reminds people of who they love and what is truly important in life.

The other thing I wanted to mention is that you guys seem to be moving very quickly through the situation, and that's a very good thing. My dad's cancer was caught very early, however, to me it always seemed like the doctors waited much too long to have anything done. When they discovered that it had moved to his brain, it took a month before any treatments and/or surgeries had started. I believe that this is one of the reasons why he did not ultimately survive. From what I experienced, this is a race against time. Every day that something is not done is an opportunity for the cancer to grow larger and therefore harder to deal with. So just make sure you guys keep on your doctors and don't let them put things off for too long.

[Faye]

Her doctor has been the one stressing the importants of acting ASAP on this. She has done nothing but stress the importance of being agressive with the situation. So hopefully we wont have an issue with things being put off. Also my mother is in the process of getting an appointment at MD Anderson in Houston, unfortunatly it takes about a month to get in down there. Regardless though we are going ahead with the treatments here until we can get in for a second opinion down there.

I was the same way at first Ming, all the family coming out of no where was grating on my nerves. But after a couple days I realized that my feelings about it werent really that important, it was making my mother feel better and more comfortable and thats all that mattered. Besides its nice having them all around again.

[Graillik Tur]

Bro...I just don't know what to say. And you know me, I always like to run my mouth. I know the fear of losing a parent. Dad was finally diagnosed with infazima and high blood pressure. We all new it would eventually happen but it's that point where your faced with it and have to say...shit...this could happen. It just breaks your heart. I'm sorry to hear that it has advanced that far, but there is still time. Lyphatic cancer is treatable and since she's gonna take the chemo it should blast the hell out of that stuff.

I know you don't need to be reminded but your mom is probably one of the most stubborn women I have ever met. I really don't think cancer is mean enough to get her. She's just to onnery to be taken out like that. If anything your mom is a fighter and so are you. I know you'll get through this just like everything else you've had to go through. You are one of my closest friends and it hurts to know that you have to do this, but you know we are all here to stand beside you.

Tell the one I love her and I love you to man. If ya need anything, just give me call.

Late.

P.S. I heard this one today.

When God created woman he made her with three breasts. After some thought he decided that she only needed two. So he came down and removed the extra breast. One of his angels said "God what will you do with that useless boob?" And he said, "I will give this useless boob purpose." And so became Man.

[Tobias]

hey man, like i said: Its all about the family. Unfotunately, it takes tragedy to get something liek this to happen. But family is important: It can help everything when you need anything most.

I hope all of the appointments and everything goes well man. I'm still prayin for you guys.

[shadokastur]

[Faye]

The cancer has not spread beyond her lymphnodes!!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!!!!
They did find a mass in her uterus, however the doctor seems very confident that it is a fibroid cyst and they are going to Biopsy it as well jsut to be safe. Very exciting day today, she took her first Chemo treatment today and so far is relativly unaffected. She has an appointment with MD Anderson on the 16th for a second opinion, and a more extensive line of testing. She is in good spirits, we laugh and joke all the time and I think her attitude has improved 100%.

The most unfortunate news we had today is that she is not going to be able to work through all this, since her blood count will be so low and she will be more suseptible to infection. This is not only unfortunate for our finances but for the fact that she is not going to have much to do other than sit at home all day. My mother is not one to just sit around and do nothing, I'm affraid the worst part about all this is the fact that she will be going stir crazy. Regardless, I am just happy that the cancer hasnt spread.

Woohoo!!!

[Graillik Tur]

Fantastic! Maybe now is the time to pick up a hobby? Has she considered Exotic Dancing?

just kidding.