Fun to read during my chemotherapy

RonRLambert wrote:Honor of course is one of my all-time favorite characters. I am not so keen on the queen, whose stubbornness caused millions of unnecessary deaths.

I enjoy reading such books during my chemotherapy sessions, which can last 2½ hours. If I may, I would say something about the reoccurrence of my cancer, because there are lessons I have learned I wish to share with others.

I just began my chemotherapy a few days ago, for lung cancer. Ironic, because I have never smoked in my life. Four and ½ years ago I had two tumors removed from my colon. I did not have the follow-up chemo that my oncologist recommended, because I had heard that chemo is a dreadful experience to be avoided if you can. Doctors said some of the cancer cells must have migrated from the colon tumors to lodge in my right lung. This is surprising after going undetected for 4½ years, but my oncologist said such long delays are possible. So if I had received the chemo right after my surgery, this might not have happened. I had also delayed having my first colonoscopy until I was 72. If I had done this much sooner, doctors could have routinely clipped off the pre-cancerous nodules before they became cancerous, and I never would have needed surgery.


As it turns out, the chemicals in chemo have been greatly improved. I do not feel nauseous at all. And my oncologist said people seldom have any hair fall out anymore. Curiously, one of the two chemos I am taking is platinum-based, and it operates by throwing a monkey wrench into the DNA of cells, that prevents them from undergoing mitosis and replicating. Healthy human body cells normally undergo mitosis very seldom, typically only a total of 50 divisions during your entire lifetime. But cancer cells are continuously undergoing mitosis and growing, which is what characterizes them as cancerous. So the chemo works most directly on the cancer cells.


My oncologist told me that at this stage, he could not cure my cancer, only slow it down, and perhaps give me another two or three years of life. I am hoping that with chemo combined with a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating more of the foods that statistically show anti-cancer properties, I might be able to prolong my time more. I would of course appreciate your prayers on my behalf. God does listen.


Six months ago, I did suddenly have an awareness that I might die soon. I was not depressed, and felt fine. It was just an awareness, like the Holy Spirit was beginning to give me a preparation. In my present intention to improve matters with chemo and lifestyle, the Lord has not said yes or no, only said it was alright for me to try.


But if I am to die sooner than my mother did (she died at 101 and ten months), I remember that death is a mercy of God. He must deal with sin so decisively that it never will arise again in the universe. But since He foresaw that would take thousands of years for all the needed demonstrations to take place, He chose in mercy to allow those faithful to Him to sleep along with everyone else, with no awareness of the passage of time, until (for the faithful) the Resurrection when Jesus returns the second time. We close our eyes in death, and the next moment we are aware of, we open our eyes to see Jesus in the air, coming to take us with Him to the residences He has prepared for us. That way, we pass through all the misery and suffering and tumults that take place during the ages of sin, and do not have to be aware of the suffering of our loved ones. This is a mercy. We do not go directly to our final reward at death, but we do have a shortcut from death to eternal life in a sinless abode in Heaven followed by the Earth made new. This is the doctrine the Bible actually teaches, despite the mistaken tradition of many churches that the dead immediately go to their reward.


I would offer this advice to everyone: Do not make the mistakes I made. (1) Get your colonoscopy beginning at age 50 or even 45 as is now recommended. (2) If you do have to have cancer surgery, do accept chemotherapy as a follow-up, necessary to ensure that the cancer does not migrate through the body to lodge somewhere else. I still reserve judgment on radiation therapy, since it can CAUSE cancer by indiscriminately damaging healthy body cells, depending on where the nuclear particles strike.


I hope someone will profit from the lessons I have learned. And always trust in the leading of God. No matter what He allows, He does love us enough to sacrifice Himself for us, and He will bring forth His good out of whatever happens.


Most sincerely,

Ronald R. Lambert

Daryl wrote:Interesting to read of your journey so far. I will endeavor to provide mine without being to long/ Diagnosed with leukemia about a decade ago, started chemo nearly 8 years ago. Three agents (two traditional poisons and one more modern specific DNA agent, every fourth week for six months.) They won't say cure, but I go to the chemo ward every month for further treatment and have not had a return so far. Ironically, my T white cells were at 280, not the 4 they should be, and now are at 1.5 so I need immunotherapy to stay alive.
I envy you your faith, as I lost mine 65 years ago in a church run boarding school. Be nice to see my long lost mum and dad again, alas.
My Plan A is to stay alive long enough to catch every new technological break through. Then eventually gain a sort of immortality from medical progress, or from being uploaded into a quantum computer.
In all cases, I have been helped by reading Weber, Stirling, Anderson, Flnt, Turtledove, Ringo, and many others such.

penny wrote:

RonRLambert wrote:Honor of course is one of my all-time favorite characters. I am not so keen on the queen, whose stubbornness caused millions of unnecessary deaths.

I enjoy reading such books during my chemotherapy sessions, which can last 2½ hours. If I may, I would say something about the reoccurrence of my cancer, because there are lessons I have learned I wish to share with others.

I just began my chemotherapy a few days ago, for lung cancer. Ironic, because I have never smoked in my life. Four and ½ years ago I had two tumors removed from my colon. I did not have the follow-up chemo that my oncologist recommended, because I had heard that chemo is a dreadful experience to be avoided if you can. Doctors said some of the cancer cells must have migrated from the colon tumors to lodge in my right lung. This is surprising after going undetected for 4½ years, but my oncologist said such long delays are possible. So if I had received the chemo right after my surgery, this might not have happened. I had also delayed having my first colonoscopy until I was 72. If I had done this much sooner, doctors could have routinely clipped off the pre-cancerous nodules before they became cancerous, and I never would have needed surgery.


As it turns out, the chemicals in chemo have been greatly improved. I do not feel nauseous at all. And my oncologist said people seldom have any hair fall out anymore. Curiously, one of the two chemos I am taking is platinum-based, and it operates by throwing a monkey wrench into the DNA of cells, that prevents them from undergoing mitosis and replicating. Healthy human body cells normally undergo mitosis very seldom, typically only a total of 50 divisions during your entire lifetime. But cancer cells are continuously undergoing mitosis and growing, which is what characterizes them as cancerous. So the chemo works most directly on the cancer cells.


My oncologist told me that at this stage, he could not cure my cancer, only slow it down, and perhaps give me another two or three years of life. I am hoping that with chemo combined with a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating more of the foods that statistically show anti-cancer properties, I might be able to prolong my time more. I would of course appreciate your prayers on my behalf. God does listen.


Six months ago, I did suddenly have an awareness that I might die soon. I was not depressed, and felt fine. It was just an awareness, like the Holy Spirit was beginning to give me a preparation. In my present intention to improve matters with chemo and lifestyle, the Lord has not said yes or no, only said it was alright for me to try.


But if I am to die sooner than my mother did (she died at 101 and ten months), I remember that death is a mercy of God. He must deal with sin so decisively that it never will arise again in the universe. But since He foresaw that would take thousands of years for all the needed demonstrations to take place, He chose in mercy to allow those faithful to Him to sleep along with everyone else, with no awareness of the passage of time, until (for the faithful) the Resurrection when Jesus returns the second time. We close our eyes in death, and the next moment we are aware of, we open our eyes to see Jesus in the air, coming to take us with Him to the residences He has prepared for us. That way, we pass through all the misery and suffering and tumults that take place during the ages of sin, and do not have to be aware of the suffering of our loved ones. This is a mercy. We do not go directly to our final reward at death, but we do have a shortcut from death to eternal life in a sinless abode in Heaven followed by the Earth made new. This is the doctrine the Bible actually teaches, despite the mistaken tradition of many churches that the dead immediately go to their reward.


I would offer this advice to everyone: Do not make the mistakes I made. (1) Get your colonoscopy beginning at age 50 or even 45 as is now recommended. (2) If you do have to have cancer surgery, do accept chemotherapy as a follow-up, necessary to ensure that the cancer does not migrate through the body to lodge somewhere else. I still reserve judgment on radiation therapy, since it can CAUSE cancer by indiscriminately damaging healthy body cells, depending on where the nuclear particles strike.


I hope someone will profit from the lessons I have learned. And always trust in the leading of God. No matter what He allows, He does love us enough to sacrifice Himself for us, and He will bring forth His good out of whatever happens.


Most sincerely,

Ronald R. Lambert

I appreciate your post. It is very good reading. I must warn you that a lot of people in the forum do not believe in a God. I am certainly not one of them and I agree with your post. I am even inspired by it. Thank you. I do pray that you will be okay and beat the cancer. Remission has happened to people I know.

It is ironic that you are not a smoker. Are you aware that second hand smoke is more dangerous? I saw a documentary showing a room full of smokers and several people who were not smokers. There was imagery showing where the smoke was going. It seems that the non smokers' lungs were much stronger and their breathing was deeper. The non smokers created more of a suction in the surrounding air and the visuals showed the smoke being inhaled by the healthier lungs.


But what's this about the Queen's stubbornness causing lots of deaths? What have I forgotten?

RonRLambert wrote:Honor of course is one of my all-time favorite characters. I am not so keen on the queen, whose stubbornness caused millions of unnecessary deaths. Incredibox Colorbox Mustard

I enjoy reading such books during my chemotherapy sessions, which can last 2½ hours. If I may, I would say something about the reoccurrence of my cancer, because there are lessons I have learned I wish to share with others.

I just began my chemotherapy a few days ago, for lung cancer. Ironic, because I have never smoked in my life. Four and ½ years ago I had two tumors removed from my colon. I did not have the follow-up chemo that my oncologist recommended, because I had heard that chemo is a dreadful experience to be avoided if you can. Doctors said some of the cancer cells must have migrated from the colon tumors to lodge in my right lung. This is surprising after going undetected for 4½ years, but my oncologist said such long delays are possible. So if I had received the chemo right after my surgery, this might not have happened. I had also delayed having my first colonoscopy until I was 72. If I had done this much sooner, doctors could have routinely clipped off the pre-cancerous nodules before they became cancerous, and I never would have needed surgery.


As it turns out, the chemicals in chemo have been greatly improved. I do not feel nauseous at all. And my oncologist said people seldom have any hair fall out anymore. Curiously, one of the two chemos I am taking is platinum-based, and it operates by throwing a monkey wrench into the DNA of cells, that prevents them from undergoing mitosis and replicating. Healthy human body cells normally undergo mitosis very seldom, typically only a total of 50 divisions during your entire lifetime. But cancer cells are continuously undergoing mitosis and growing, which is what characterizes them as cancerous. So the chemo works most directly on the cancer cells.


My oncologist told me that at this stage, he could not cure my cancer, only slow it down, and perhaps give me another two or three years of life. I am hoping that with chemo combined with a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating more of the foods that statistically show anti-cancer properties, I might be able to prolong my time more. I would of course appreciate your prayers on my behalf. God does listen.


Six months ago, I did suddenly have an awareness that I might die soon. I was not depressed, and felt fine. It was just an awareness, like the Holy Spirit was beginning to give me a preparation. In my present intention to improve matters with chemo and lifestyle, the Lord has not said yes or no, only said it was alright for me to try.


But if I am to die sooner than my mother did (she died at 101 and ten months), I remember that death is a mercy of God. He must deal with sin so decisively that it never will arise again in the universe. But since He foresaw that would take thousands of years for all the needed demonstrations to take place, He chose in mercy to allow those faithful to Him to sleep along with everyone else, with no awareness of the passage of time, until (for the faithful) the Resurrection when Jesus returns the second time. We close our eyes in death, and the next moment we are aware of, we open our eyes to see Jesus in the air, coming to take us with Him to the residences He has prepared for us. That way, we pass through all the misery and suffering and tumults that take place during the ages of sin, and do not have to be aware of the suffering of our loved ones. This is a mercy. We do not go directly to our final reward at death, but we do have a shortcut from death to eternal life in a sinless abode in Heaven followed by the Earth made new. This is the doctrine the Bible actually teaches, despite the mistaken tradition of many churches that the dead immediately go to their reward.


I would offer this advice to everyone: Do not make the mistakes I made. (1) Get your colonoscopy beginning at age 50 or even 45 as is now recommended. (2) If you do have to have cancer surgery, do accept chemotherapy as a follow-up, necessary to ensure that the cancer does not migrate through the body to lodge somewhere else. I still reserve judgment on radiation therapy, since it can CAUSE cancer by indiscriminately damaging healthy body cells, depending on where the nuclear particles strike.


I hope someone will profit from the lessons I have learned. And always trust in the leading of God. No matter what He allows, He does love us enough to sacrifice Himself for us, and He will bring forth His good out of whatever happens.


Most sincerely,

Ronald R. Lambert