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Cal Hurst · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 4:10 pm Post subject: Friendly reminder: Cancer sucks.

Fellow RPers, Gamers, human beings, and people who spend way too much time in front of a computer.

Cancer is one of the worst things anyone can get. Not only does it put a physical toll on one's body, but the mental mindf*ck it does to not only the victim, but the victim's loved ones is equally as painful. So I ask that all of you throughout the course of the next month do something to further the progress science has been making to cure and/or treat various types.

I also ask that if your family has a history of cancer, GET CHECKED!

Why am I telling you this? Because I neglected to do just that; get checked. After blood tests came back, I've come to find out that I have bladder and colorectal cancer. The good news is that it was detected relatively early, so the chance of coming out of this all good and well are fairly high. But this post isn't for any self-service. It's a reminder.

Get checked. If you get it real early, it's such an easy procedure it's ridiculous. But if you delay, you'll be jumping through hoops.

I still hate all of you though. Razz

Ken
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Kaylor · Journeyman Joined: 14 Apr 2010 Posts: 219

Truly SO very very sorry to read of this. RL I am an RN currently working in Pre/Post procedure GI endoscopy. You are so right - a simple colonoscopy can be a life saving procedure. Colon cancer is preventable. Polyps take years to develop, even the pre-cancerous ones take a very long time to become malignancies. Seen by endoscope and removed they never have that opportunity.

Wish you the best, Cal! Take care!

Iris
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*Even if you be otherwise perfect, you fail without humility. ~ The Talmud*

Joanna Weaver · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 5:35 pm Post subject:

Wow dude, glad you caught it early. *crossed fingers*

Good luck!
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"Art and architecture must combine to create something larger than either." ~ Robert Campbell

Wynn · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:36 pm Post subject:

Best of luck you will be in our thoughts.
And By the way we hate you too =P
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What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
-- Anonymous

Rosar Ashande · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:05 am Post subject:

Oh, man. Get better, brother. Sad

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a.k.a., Killian Ond, Oliver Dunham, Iorwerth (ap Gruffydd), Husam (ibn) Sadid, Ortinlem

Ari · Journeyman Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 107

Glad it was caught early! Recover well my friend.

Kal'iksix Viaxus · Journeyman Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 100

My thoughts and prayers are with you Ken. You are so very right about getting checked especially with a strong family history. Let me add that if for some reason, you aren't feeling well, have a pain that lingers for more than two weeks, decrease appetite, and lack of bowel movements, seek medical help. I too am a registered nurse (for the ones who don't know) and spent ten years as a med/surg nurse on a surgical floor that focused on abdominal surgeries (I've moved on to critical care this past October) and I don't know how many young people (30-50) I saw who ignored symptoms only to come in to ER and get worked up for 24 hrs only to find out they are stage four cancer (which is the last stage) I saw many return a month or two later for colostomy surgeries and sadly saw a few in the obituary column. I blame mainly the lack or loss of insurance in this country which make health care more of a luxury than necessity.

Also let me put this plug for National Heart Awareness month, especially for women this month. Wear red for heart awareness! Educate yourself on all signs of a heart attack. Not many know this, but women's signs are different from men's (men have classic ones you all hear ie: chest pain/pressure) and diabetics' signs differ from men and women. Again, family history plays BIG part in heart issues too.

So, please, don't ignore anything that doesn't seem to be normal!
Paying $25 for an office visit is way less than tens of thousands for surgeries, critical care stays, and funerals.

Shimakaze · Adventurer Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 84 Location: Iowa

This is a good subject to talk about. Four years ago I was having issues and went to see my doctor, who in turned had me get a colonoscopy. Because of it they found I had early stage of intestinal cancer. Since then I have had three operations to deal with it, my last being back in December of 2010. I am a survivor because of early detection and treatment, so don’t put it off. Get yourself checked.

Because of it, and a friend, I learned about UO and started playing as a way to take my mind off treatment and recovery. It was the folks I played with that helped me though some tuff times. For this I am grateful for the people I have meet in game and the game itself for helping me make it this last four years.

Samon Triest · Sage Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 720

Dear Ken, plz git bettar. K thnx
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Through all else, let Honesty lead you!

Molly · Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:38 am Post subject:

I stand in your shoes sir. Tom has cancer and we are trying to find out what stage right now. I fear the stage is late. He has a spot on his liver and Lymph Nodes. This was from a skin cancer guys. Don't forget to check your skin too.
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Grand Duchess Molly Kaldhel
Oracle of Truth
The House Gauntlet
Sanctus, Luna, Malas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXoGDbJ5nLU
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"In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman."
-Margaret Thatcher-

Shimakaze · Adventurer Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 84 Location: Iowa

Here is an idea, for valintines day, place a candle on the steps of your home in support of those who are in your thoughts.

Hermoine66 · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:01 am Post subject:

My heart and prays go out to all though who are dealing with cancer !

Isk · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:21 pm Post subject:

Ok my God dude. Everything will work out, you'll be fine. Jesus Christ man.

Ekoth Ilzaeum · Seasoned Veteran Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 412

I know you don't know me well, but I hope all goes well for you dude. It's a good thing you caught it early. My mom just got over breast cancer recently. Because she got it checked out immediately, it was in the earliest stage possible and she had to have the least amount of surgery done. But it was still a rough road through chemo and radiation. Even though she's been done with treatment for a few months now, she's still recovering and sometimes lacks energy, but she's been extremely strong and positive through the whole thing. She keeps getting better. So just stay strong dude, and you'll be fine.

Oh, and yeah, whenever I get a small lump or something somewhere, or some kind of pain, I immediately think the worst and that I have cancer and get it checked out immediately, and it's never anything. While I may be thinking the worst, I guess I'm thankful I'm this way, so if I ever do get cancer (which may happen one day, there's a bit of history of it in my family), I'll be able to detect it early. My grandmother died of ovarian cancer because she waited too long to get it checked out. I'd hate to see anyone else make that mistake. Treatment is remarkably better than ever these days.

Arcana · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:36 pm Post subject:

Holy crap, Ken, I hope things are going ok. I randomly decided to check this forum today.

I had cancer when I was 23, spent my 24th birthday getting chemo, blah blah. It. Sucks. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Ironically, I first got into UO to take my mind off the treatments.

Wishing you swift healing,
Arc, the by now ancient ranger that wandered off into the wilds