pjrv : Messages : 3874-3881 of 4038 
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pjrv/messages/3874?? )
?006/07/01 16:19:17

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#3874
 	From: Penny Zingery 
Date: Wed Feb 18, ?004 8:17 pm
Subject: Re: Cancer - off topic again 	pzingery

  	  	

Hi, Barb and PJ,

Thank you for the information.  My sister currently has a very rare form
of pancreatic cancer.  Luckily, it's very slow growing, (she's
apparently had it for years? ), and she's able to live a somewhat normal
life, with no pain at present.  I've talked to her a little bit about
alternate forms of medicine, how faith is known to affect the disease
process and other things of that nature, including psychic and distant
healing.  She hasn't been interested in those kinds of ideas, though, as
she's a born-again Christian, and looks to God as the ultimate "distant
healer." (Even though members of her church, and only church members,
are allowed to do what I'd view as psychic healing. Go figure.? )  But I
can say one thing.  Her faith is keeping her calm and grounded, much
more so than I'd probably be at this point. Her attitude is amazing, and
for now, she's relatively "healthy."

At first she wanted to trust only in God, and not explore surgical
options, chemotherapy, other drugs or  forms of therapy. She did finally
agree, though, to undergo a radical form of surgery that removed a part
of her pancreas. She's rejected the idea of chemo for now. Which
troubled me a great deal, initially, as pancreatic cancer requires an
aggressive approach, according to what I understand. After agonizing and
being angry about her unwillingness to be a little more pro-active in
fighting the disease, (at least, according to how I was seeing it? ), I
finally realized that she must know that the odds that she's facing are
against her long-term survival.  And that what she might be doing, was
trying to make a decision about the quality of life that she wanted to
live, if, in fact, the disease would ultimately kill her anyway.   I
don't give up hoping, though, that she might decide to try some other
forms of dealing with the disease. (That's my faith, I suppose.? )  But by
then, of course, her survival might have become much more "immediate."

One of the biggest lessons (actually a reminder? ) that I've received from
all this, is that each person not only has the right to decide how they
want to live, but also, how they might wish to die.  And that's a tough
one.  Actually, my sister is basically  following the same course of
action  that my friend from work chose (except for the surgery? ), due to
some of the same motivations.

Penny

	
#3879
 	From: Barbara 
Date: Thu Feb 19, ?004 6:33 am
Subject: Re: Cancer - off topic again 	threebears4u

  	  	

Hi Penny and PJ,

Penny, my advise to you to help your sister would be for you to buy the book and
look at it for your own refreance. Then, you could 'tell your sister about it,
and all the testimonies from the people who it helped ( just 4 common herbs ? ).
She may be interested after that and when she finds out that Ted Kennedy's son (
the one who had bone cancer and lived when everyone else died from it ? ) took
Essiac and was cured and is still living.

I do however understand what your sister is saying, and I have to agree with her
about the chemo. It can kill one faster than the cancer. It attacks all the
major body organs and kills cells, the good with the bad. Especially dangerous
is an aggressive campaign.

But, on the other hand, it has helped prolong life by killing cancer, so it is a
toss up.

My former father in law had cancer and opted for no treatment. The docs said he
would die in 6 months. He lived for about 3 years, most of it active, doing what
he wanted to do, and very happy. About the last 6 mo he was in a nursing home,
but he was happy.

No one really undrestands death and exactly 'when' one will die. At best, it is
just an educated guess, but after ? NDE's myself, I know that we, as
individuals, do have a choice here too. I had a choice both times.

If you would purchase the book and leave it laying around someplace where she
can see it, she will pick it up and look at it, probably when you are not
around. That is what I would do. There is no pressure that way, and the choice
is hers, either way.

Barb

	
#3881
 	From: Penny Zingery 
Date: Thu Feb 19, ?004 10:54 pm
Subject: Re: Cancer - off topic again 	pzingery

  	  	

Hi, Barb,

My sister is very head strong, and heavily invested in her faith and
beliefs.  She's also deeply involved with her (fundamentalist? ) church.
  (I guess you could say she's a fundamentalist's fundamentalist, haha.? )
  Agreeing to the surgery was a big deal for her, and I know it
challenged her beliefs to their very core.  She lives in another State,
too, so having the book lying around wouldn't work. I don't want to add
to the stress she's already dealing with, either, by challenging what
she believes. That wouldn't do either of us any good.  And, if I try to
influence her decisions in any way, that might push her away.  She's
already said so in so many words.

She's already told me that she didn't want to insult me, but that she
was doing things the way she wants to do them. So, in order to respect
her, and her decisions and wishes, I had to set aside what I want, which
is that she do things differently.  As that would only make me feel
better for time, you see.

She does think that she's made the right choice, and I'm sure she feels
that she's being pro-active. And according to what we know about the
power of prayer and faith (and I'd imagine, placebos? ), I suppose that
could very well be true.  The bottom line is, it's not my life.  Though
being her oldest sister, sometimes that issue gets a little cloudy for
me.  We all want to protect those we love, but... sometimes we just can't.

Anyway, if I'm ever diagnosed with cancer (again? ), I'll be sure to check
out the book.  Thanks.

Penny