Hi Ken,

Thanks for the update. I'm glad you are home and recovering nicely. Sorry
to hear the diagnosis. You've been dealt a rough hand. I strongly suggest
that you find a private, online support group. Research shows that support
groups improve quality of life and overall coping (and I've got 10 pages
of cites to prove it - <g>). I know that mine saved
me. I had radiation and surgery (in that order). If you need to talk,
vent, or ask questions, don't hesitate to contact me. You are not alone.
There are those that can tell you what to expect from treatment and give
you tips and ideas to make better a difficult situation. Keep a good
thought. Radiation and Chemo are doing great things nowadays.


Elaine, too


On Wed, 16 Nov 2005, Ken Davey wrote:

> Thanks!!!
> To all of you who took the time to send me a card.
> As I figured - all those cards caught up with me long after I had been
> released from the hospital.
> Not for the update.
> My stomach - the source of the tumor - was (80%) removed.
> I am recovering, without complications, from that surgery.
> As is the norm with this particular type of cancer it has spread.
> The report from the surgeon was that he had removed all the lymph nodes in
> the vicinity of the stomach and 50% of those nodes tested positive for
> cancer.
> Bad news to be sure.
> Next week I check into the British Columbia Cancer Agency for further
> treatment.
> I have been told that I will be receiving both radiation and chemo
> treatments.
> They would not be hitting me with 'both barrels' if they didn't think my
> survival chances weren't good.
> It is going to be a bitch of a ride; but, as bad as that may be, the
> alternative is worse.
> The worst thing about all this is that food has become uninteresting
> I mean - something tasty ain't anymore.
> It is a real effort to feed myself.
> Junk food (dammnitt) seems to be a way to go to keep sufficient caloric
> intake.
> Just about anything I haven't eaten since the operation seems to taste
> good - once!
> The next time I can't force it down.
> I have a fridge full of leftovers that I can't face.
> All that be what it is.
> I will rise above this.
> My apologies to the group for bringing anyone down but I felt that those who
> care should know.
>
> Love to you all
> Ken.
> PS: Please look at the sig line below and go there - not just for me.
>
> --
> Volunteer your idle computer time for cancer research
> http//www.grid.org/download/gold/download.htm
>
>
>