Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

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Maggie Nell
Posts: 1150
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby Maggie Nell » Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:09 pm

Playing the cancer card is privilege afforded to only those with actual cancer, and I initially thought it would be a bit like the gold card that old-aged pensioners get given when they turn 65 and immediately get curmudgeonly, righteous, and critical of young people for buying too much smashed avocado on toast. [...]
I have to be careful too – after I used the cancer card to get out of helping Batman with his homework...


Image


https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well ... ancer-card


British group Fascinating Aida and song 'Big C' (wude word alert)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFCSTUf ... ture=share
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

martd
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:48 pm
Location: Phoenix, Az

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby martd » Tue Aug 28, 2018 7:47 am

Good read, very funny! I want those cards!! A few months back after the panic scary days settled down we were all together at a family gathering. I can't remember now what the subject was but something needed done and I played the cancer card. I said oh can't do that I have cancer. It really lighten up the mood, got a laugh out of everyone. It kinda opened the subject felt like it made it a little easier for everyone.
49 y/o male dx 11/2017 crc
Stage 4 with 17 liver Mets, cea 490
RAS, BRAF WT Tp53 LOF
12 rounds folfox , avastin
5/18 cea 2.8 liver resection and pve
7/18 part 2 liver resection, remove right side of liver
Surgical site mrsa infection, wound vac
8/18 cea .9 cCR, rectal tumor is gone
Rectal surgery postponed, watch and wait
10/18 clear scan CEA .7
01/19 clear scan CEA .9
04/19 clear scan CEA .9
07/19 clear scan CEA 1.0

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juliej
Posts: 3114
Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:59 pm

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby juliej » Fri Aug 31, 2018 6:50 pm

Thanks for the laugh, Maggie Nell! The song is a riot!

I often wished I had a button to wear on my subway ride home after an infusion. Seats were reserved for the Hugely Pregnant and the Very Elderly. I didn't fit either category. I did play the cancer card once to get my favorite Italian bakery in the Village to open up after it closed minutes before I got there. I can't believe I sank that low. But their anisette almond biscotti was the only thing I could keep down. :)
Stage IVb, liver/lung mets 8/4/2010
Xelox+Avastin 8/18/10 to 10/21/2011
LAR, liver resec, HAI pump 11/2011
Adjuvant Irinotecan + FUDR
Double lung surgery + ileo reversal 2/2012
Adjuvant FUDR + Xeloda
VATS rt. lung 12/2012 - benign granuloma!
VATS left lung 11/2013
NED 11/22/13 to 12/18/2019, CEA<1

jortego128
Posts: 288
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 7:47 am

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby jortego128 » Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:18 pm

You know what guys, everyone with this disease can and SHOULD be able to play that card anytime you want to, and not feel even slightest bit of guilt or shame for it. F anyone who would give you sh*t for doing so...
DM 57 yrs old dx 6/8/15 T:4a N:1b M:1
KRAS G12D and TP53 C242fs mutations
Poorly Differentiated, Prominent Signet Ring Component(~50%)
Microsatellite Stable, 3 of (13)lymph nodes positive
15 Liver mets, largest 3.2 cm
Prim. Resection, Right Hemicolectomy 6/21/15
Start Chemo 7/20/15
2 rounds FOLFOX, 1 round FOLFOX +Avastin
CT 8/28/15, met growth, largest 4.5cm
4 rounds FOLFOX+Avastin
CT 11/06/15 mets stable, lungs clear
Begin FOLFIRI+Avastin 11/17/15, Stop chemo 1/26/16
Entered Paradise 3/11/2016

martd
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2017 3:48 pm
Location: Phoenix, Az

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby martd » Wed Sep 12, 2018 4:58 pm

jortego128 wrote:You know what guys, everyone with this disease can and SHOULD be able to play that card anytime you want to, and not feel even slightest bit of guilt or shame for it. F anyone who would give you sh*t for doing so...


Well said, I agree

I got out of jury duty last month playing the cancer card. First time I ever had a ligit excuse. I had no problem with my oncology nurse sending a letter for me.
49 y/o male dx 11/2017 crc
Stage 4 with 17 liver Mets, cea 490
RAS, BRAF WT Tp53 LOF
12 rounds folfox , avastin
5/18 cea 2.8 liver resection and pve
7/18 part 2 liver resection, remove right side of liver
Surgical site mrsa infection, wound vac
8/18 cea .9 cCR, rectal tumor is gone
Rectal surgery postponed, watch and wait
10/18 clear scan CEA .7
01/19 clear scan CEA .9
04/19 clear scan CEA .9
07/19 clear scan CEA 1.0

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CRguy
Posts: 10472
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby CRguy » Thu Sep 13, 2018 7:32 pm

I believe the only place I recall playing the C card was with bitchy nurses and medical office receptionists,
along the lines of :
" I am Doc Homie's cancer patient and he told me to call anytime to get directly through to him,
and I would be booked in at the end of any day." (( true story as my Doc was totally on board with it ! ))

Never failed, though one particulary gnarly bee-atch pushed back and I told her to take it up with Doc Homie as I was on my way and would be there in 20 minutes ....
It worked :shock: :mrgreen:
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby Lee » Thu Sep 13, 2018 8:18 pm

Cancer Card per say. I'm sure I did, just can't remember when. Once I was hooked up to my favorite pump, as tired as I could possibly be, at an ice cream social at my dear young son's school. I gave it all I could, butt wanted to go home and fall into bed. Dear son wanted to stay longer, one of his teacher told me to go home, she would get DS home. THANK YOU!!

I have a permanent colostomy, when I need to change my bag, I always use the handicap stall, or the bathroom for "families only" because I DO need the extra room. Once I was with a friend, she went into reg bathroom, I chose family bathroom. When we met up I comment, i feel I am entitled to use that bathroom. She said she would stand with me if someone "ever" argued with me about using it.

The best!!! I was early in my diagnoses, meeting surgeon for 1st time. Dropping DH off back at work when it hit us, DS will be home in 15 min. Doors are locked, he does not have a key (9yrs old). DH called school and explained situation. DS on bus was suppose to get off at the next stop. As bus was stopping, driver told son, "you are my special helper today" . I will take you home later. He was the last person off, got delivered to our house. DS was so excited to be a special helper for bus driver, THANK YOU!!

Sometimes you find the best in people, other times the worst when dealing with a cancer diagnoses.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

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betsydoglover
Posts: 978
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:31 pm
Facebook Username: Betsy Lindh Williams
Location: Maryland - outside DC

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby betsydoglover » Fri Sep 14, 2018 2:05 pm

I've played the cancer card once that I can recall. However, age 65 does not mean you are cranky,cumugeonly, demanding, critical of young people or feel you are entitled to a seat reserved for the "elderly". Just finished painting 2 walls of my dining room and now I'm off for a 1 mi walk with my dog. Just sayin...…. (Betsy who is 69!)
Betsy
diag. Stage IV, 5/05, liver met
lap sigmoid colectomy, 6/05
6 cycles Xeloda/oxaliplatin/Avastin (NED after 2)
11/08 9x13mm right lower lobe lung nodule; removed via VATS 4/09
NED
6 cycles Xeloda + Avastin
Avastin only 10/09-5/11
Still NED 06/18

Cmac1275
Posts: 55
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2018 4:21 pm

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby Cmac1275 » Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:17 pm

The first time I did it, it was totally inadvertently. My parents and I were getting a quick bit to eat. The cook, whom I was already friendly with, asked how I was doing. I told him about my situation. Next thing you know, our Mediterranean salads were on the house. Been getting some kind of freebie every since :-)

The funny thing is my wife has picked up on this “fringe” benefit. Works wonders if you ever need to blow off an afternoon at the office :wink:
42 yr, male, husband and father of 3
DX Stage IV Colon Cancer Jan 2018
Multiple liver mets
KRAS G13D / MSS

Jan 2018 Partial colon resection
Mar 2018 FOLFOX + Avastin | CEA 60.1
July 2018 Partial liver resection | CEA 4.7
Sep 2018 Recurrence in liver | CEA 2.9
Oct 2018 FOLFOX + Avastin
Nov 2018 Stopping FOLFOX. New mets | CEA 4.3
Dec 2018 Beginning AbbVie ABT-165 Trial

Caat55
Posts: 694
Joined: Sat Dec 23, 2017 6:01 pm

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby Caat55 » Mon Sep 17, 2018 7:32 pm

I shared the cancer card, passed it off to my husband to use so he could get out of something stupid and work and spend time with me. Does that make me the user?

Susan
Do at 55 y.o. Female
Dx 9/26/17 RC Stage 3
Completed 33 rad. tx, xeolda 12/8/17
MRI and PET 1/18 sign. regression
Surgery 1/31/18 Ileostomy, clean margins, no lymph node involved
Port 3/1/2018
Oxaliplatin and Xeloda start 3/22/18
Last Oxaliplatin 7/5/18, 5 rounds
CT NED 9/2018
PET NED 12/18
Clear Colonoscopy 2/19, 5/20

Gravelyguy
Posts: 382
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:03 pm

Re: Sorry, I can't do that, I have cancer....

Postby Gravelyguy » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:49 pm

I am a middle school teacher of 31 years. Last year when I was going through treatment I didn't have the energy to make it through a whole day so only worked mornings. The C card came out at every staff, IEP, coaches', PLC, and any other meeting. Wish I had it this year. I am still tired and still don't care for meetings.
6/17 dx mRC t3n1m1 very low rectal tumor 2 liver Mets 1.3 cm and .9 cm

6/17 begin 4 rounds Folfox w/Vectibix
9/17 short course radiation
10/17 rectal and liver resection LAR with coloanal anastomosis (no rectum left)
11/17-3/18 8 rounds Folfox
6/18 still NED!! Takedown
8/28/18 still NED! CEA .8 new low for me
10/18/18 colonoscopy clear
12/12/18 CEA .9 still NED!
6/11/19 CEA 1.0
12/19/19 CEA 1.0 still NED!
6/17/20 CEA 1.1 still NED!
12/15/20 CEA 1.1still NED!
12/16/21 CEA 1.2 still NED!


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