Here we go again

S

Steve Tarbert

I just found out Friday that a very rare form of cancer has returned to my body. It is so rare that there has been less than 400 cases in the US since 2005. My onocologist is part of a clinical trial that is accepting 14 patients at the Ohio State University Medical Center. She said that I would be a good candidate for the trial. Now it is up to the insurance company. All I know about it is that it involves administering two cancer medications at the same time. There are many adverse side effects to each med which is the down side. As a result, I am unable to renew my membership even tho I looked forward to each issue of the magazine with great interest. I was unable to attend the Ohio event this summer because of my health and had been looking forward to the issue featuring it. There will never be an ambulance as nice as the car based models, I am particularly fond of the Cadillacs, and some Oldsmobiles. Thank you for the wonderful website as well as the issues that I received this past year.
 
Steve...

I am saddened to hear of your decline in health, and I wish you all the best for a successful treatment plan. As for you missing the 2011 International Meet Commemorative Issue, I will personally be sending you a copy as soon as mine arrive. Please send me your U.S. Postal address by PM.
Thanks
Paul
 
I think Paul said it best and saddened as well Steve. Terri and I wish you the very best and will keep you in our prayers daily.
 
Never give up Steve !

Even with what the doctors tell you. They are often wrong and people live years past the dates given by doctors in many cases.

Stay strong and keep on going !
Darren
 
Best Wishes

You have enough on your plate to worry about not receiving The Professional Car. I just renewed your membership for another year. Best wishes for full recovery, and you'll certainly be in our prayers. Tom & Marlene Hoczyk
 
I just found out that the insurance company has approved the treatment in the clinical trial. I just hope that I am up to it. I want to thank everyone that has reponded to this and especially Tom Hoczyk for renewing my membership. Now I have something else to look forward to.
 
Hi Steve. I understand how you feel, as I am in a situation similar to yours. I have a terminal CA of the bile ducts, lymph nodes and gallbladder. This was diagnosed in March. In May and June I rec'd 25 radiation treatments, which did shrink the tumors somewhat. Another PET scan will be done in late Dec. to see what the tumors are doing by then. ( My insurance won't spring for these scans too close 2gether.) Eventually the little bleeps will re-assert themselves and head for the liver, but I have understood that from the beginning. So, I am basically just waiting for the last chapter to unfold. As someone else on here remarked, the diagnoses and prognoses are not always accurate, so I hope that you prove the predictions wrong. Also, like you, I have been down to OSU for procedures. I don't know which is worse; this malady or trying to find one's way around Columbus and the OSU traffic snarls. I wish you the very best, and admire your courage and fighting spirit. You are an inspiration to all of us who face this foe.

Jim Tighe in Galion, Ohio
 
I was just thinking about Jim Tighe before he replied and wondered how he was doing. I haven't seen much from him on here and am glad to see his reply.
 
Steve...

I just wanted to let you and everyone else know that another anomomous donor has paid your membership in the Society for another year. This bring your membership up to a total of 2 years and / or the next 8 issues.
 
A couple of other comments here. First, altho Steve and I are in similar situations, there are notable differences as well. Steve has chosen to participate in an experimental trial of new meds, a decision that takes guts. I greatly admire him for that. By contrast, I have opted for a sort of minimalist approach, with radiation only. My decision was based on several factors, including age, overall health and the history of my particular CA and the treatments for it. Basically, I weighed the pros and cons of a more intensive regimen, and decided that the known negatives outweighed the possible positives.

Our two variations on this disease, and our different approaches to its treatment, illustrate the fact that no 2 cancers are alike, and that there are many different ways of dealing with them. I hope that Steve and I have made the best decisions possible for our own versions of this disease. I know that I can speak for him in saying that both of us value the support of all of you on this forum. As the Squire of Possum Lodge says, "Remember, I'm pullin' for ya. We're all in this together..........."
 
I agree with Jim in that we have similar situations. In my case, I am 56 and had 2/3 of my right lung removed just over 2 years ago because of cancer. At that time, I was told that chemo and radiation was not needed. My onocologist said that the cancer meds at the time would have no effect on it. Now, she says that by "experimenting", they can see if the meds in some combination might just fight this rare beast of a cancer. I currently do not have any tumors, but most of the symptoms of Carcinoid Syndrome have returned. All I can say it's going to be a long haul which I hope isn't too rough. I also want to thank the anonymous member who paid for a 2nd year of membership for me.
 
Well, I just received a phone call that my testing will begin on Friday,11/18. I go to OSUMC for labs, a full body CT Scan and who knows what else.
 
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