Fifty Plus (50+) - Never the news you want to hear

My sister is married to an airline pilot that is 55 and is with a major carrier. She sent us an email last week that he had to come home early from a flight to the far East as he was feeling very sick. Turns out he had pneumonia. During the doctor visits back at home for the pneumonia the doctor saw some questionable spots on the x-rays.

After biopsies and more tests the initial diagnosis was breast cancer-very rare for a male, but we were relieved and ready for the treatment regime. However, after more visits to the oncologist they have found that the cancer has spread. It is in his lungs, bones and lymph nodes-now metatastic breast cancer. Just devastating.

We also learned that the FAA does not allow pilots to fly unless they are cancer free. The initial comment from the doctor was that with this type of cancer patients are never considered "cancer free". Flying is his life and it's just hard to imagine having to end a 30 year career this way.......

Not to drag it out too much but he just lost both his parents within the last six months. My other sister is just finishing up chemo and radiation and will begin her second round of chemo soon for her breast cancer. This C stuff is just way, way too close to home.

Thanks for letting me share..............I think I need to go ride my bike on a big hill somewhere..........

Not to drag it out too much but he just lost both his parents within the last six months. My other sister is just finishing up chemo and radiation and will begin her second round of chemo soon for her breast cancer. This C stuff is just way, way too close to home.

Thanks for letting me share..............I think I need to go ride my bike on a big hill somewhere..........

Sorry to hear the bad news. It seems impossible that we have such advancements in the medical world and can't find a cure for this terrible disease. I lost my mother and both of her sisters to cancer several years ago. They are the reason I do the cancer charity ride each year.

The bike ride sounds like a good idea but I'll pass on the hills:)

I just lost my Dad to cancer in June, my mother-in-law 9 years ago, and an uncle 10 years ago ... I have two close friends fighting cancer right now.

I know how you feel ... it screws up everything that seems right.

I am riding the Livestrong Challenge in Philly this month ... I will continue to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation as long as I live, because I can't sit on the sidelines any longer. I may not be able to do much against the evil desease that cancer is, but I'm doing something.

The bike is (and always has been) my therapy ... I look for big hills and long rides on bad days.

Sorry, jppe. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. And a long bike ride is never a bad idea, especially now.

Very tough news. My condolences.

You have my condolences jppe, Myself and my family has to deal with cancer more than we care too , but it keeps knocking at our door. Myself, my mother died and 2 sisters died as well and many cousins, it just runs in the family. I feel bad for anyone, that has to deal this horrid disease.

Whooo, no fun. Sorry to hear this news.

Whenever I read a story like this, my reaction is to get very, very angry. Cancer is a ***** of a disease. The treatments, while frequently effective, are devastating. Research is essential if we are to find a cure for the myriad diseases that constitute "cancer."
The budget for the National Cancer Institute is about $5 billion per year. The US is spending over $10 billion per month in Iraq. About 500,000 Americans die of cancer each year. But we accept that toll because cancer is an old person's disease, and we all have to die of something. Well, bull****, I say. The 65 year-old who dies of lung cancer should have lived to 85, and seen another child graduate, and have gone to another grandchild's dance recital. We are far too accepting of this state of affairs. I encourage all of you to show your sympathy for jppe, his sister, her hsband, and their entire family. I also encourage you to get very, very angry.

jppe, I'm very sorry.

And with that anger:
1. Vote
2. Support leaders who understand the issue.
3. Support stem cell research
4. Vote
5. LiveStrong - Lance may be hard to take sometimes, but he gets it. Support them.
6. Teach those not so enlightened.
7. Support universal health care so that deadly disease in everyone can be caught and treated early, when it is easier, more likely to work, and much less expensive.
8. Write your legislators and ask them to adjust their priorities.

:( Tough news. Hang in there.

Sorry to hear that jppe. Best wishes for your sister and her family.

jppe, that's overwhelming! Please share whenever you can or feel a need. We're here, we'll listen. Cancer is a scary, awful disease. Everybody's pulling for your loved ones.

Red Rider lost both parents to cancer. We do relay for life every year. Our prayers are with you and your family.

There has been far too much cancer around me for as long as I can remember.
Even now it brings memories I'd rather not have.
I can only imagine the shock this must have been for you and your family.
My thoughts are with you. Go ride. Ride long. Ride hard.

Hang in there jppe.

I hope that long ride up majestic hills helps with the stress. This is terrible news. My sis has had 2 bouts of cancer, my mom (who is 94) one bout. I have regular minor skin cancer, but it is controllable. I underwent the male breast cancer scare a few years back - had to have a mammography with all of the ladies, etc. Everything was fine, but males DO get breast cancer.

Our best to your brother-in-law and sister. Share when you like. This group is a great support group.

And with that anger:
1. Vote
2. Support leaders who understand the issue.
3. Support stem cell research
4. Vote
5. LiveStrong - Lance may be hard to take sometimes, but he gets it. Support them.
6. Teach those not so enlightened.
7. Support universal health care so that deadly disease in everyone can be caught and treated early, when it is easier, more likely to work, and much less expensive.
8. Write your legislators and ask them to adjust their priorities.

It's a shame to see a personal tragedy exploited for a political agenda. That's like blaming Bush for the existence of pancreatic cancer. Not an enlightened view.

One thing we must keep in mind: no matter what the New York Times tells you, our mortality is 100%, no exeptions. The Baby Boomer generation has largely forgotten that, I fear.

And with that anger:
1. Vote
2. Support leaders who understand the issue.
3. Support stem cell research
4. Vote
5. LiveStrong - Lance may be hard to take sometimes, but he gets it. Support them.
6. Teach those not so enlightened.
7. Support universal health care so that deadly disease in everyone can be caught and treated early, when it is easier, more likely to work, and much less expensive.
8. Write your legislators and ask them to adjust their priorities.



It's a shame to see a personal tragedy exploited for a political agenda.

Agreed - this belongs in P&R. No matter what my feelings are for or against these statements, they just doesn't belong in 50+.

I also have had too much experience with this. My sister had breast cancer at 30 and my mother died last spring due to breast cancer at 73. We believe the females in my family have the BRCA gene and my daughter will have to get tested when she gets older. The good news is that cancer is much more treatable to day than in the past and this will continue. Good luck to your family.

Thanks for taking the time and trust to share this with us, Joe. No words can express the depths of our sorrow for this pain that has visited your family. Just know that we care deeply.

My condolences to the families. Sometimes a good exhausting ride can temporarily ease the torment. I know I had to do that after my mothers funeral (which, on top of her funeral, found out about 9-11 and the twin towers on the way). I really needed to exhaust myself just so I couldn't think of anything else. Go find that big hill and go hard at it!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your responses. Unfortunately after a very restless night of sleep the issues did not go away and are not any better nor clearer. However your expressions are excellent medicine and I really appreciate your thoughts more than you will know.

What is clear is that the road is calling.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your responses. Unfortunately after a very restless night of sleep the issues did not go away and are not any better nor clearer. However your expressions are excellent medicine and I really appreciate your thoughts more than you will know.

What is clear is that the road is calling.

Answer it.

I've enjoyed the support of my local cancer support group. There may be such in your area.

Thanks for letting me share..............I think I need to go ride my bike on a big hill somewhere..........


jppe- That is all we can do. We cannot control everything, only do the best we can.
You have my symphaty.

Your family is included in our thoughts and prayers.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your responses. Unfortunately after a very restless night of sleep the issues did not go away and are not any better nor clearer. However your expressions are excellent medicine and I really appreciate your thoughts more than you will know.

What is clear is that the road is calling.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and for the sadness and grief you and your family are experiencing. I'm keeping a good thought for you all right now.

And while a good ride won't make your problems go away, it may put them in perspective. Go. Enjoy. Be sane.

Man, life can throw some knock out punches. Hope the road becomes smoother soon. You know each of us has remarkable capacities, sometimes hidden or dormant, but necessary to live as a human. It seems that his are being tested pretty severely. I hope he, and those in his life fare well as this unfolds.

Best wishes to you and your family, from someone who knows several cancer survivors, including close family members. Please keep us informed, and thank you for starting this thread.

My best wishes to you also!

Cancer is a terrible tragedy - know that you don't walk (or ride) alone JPPE.

As for politics and this forum, I agree we need to keep things separate. I remember reading some posts awhile back here that completely changed my opinions of a couple of posters – there are some things I'd rather not know about people and their political beliefs.

That being said, this is a 50+ forum, there isn't a soul here that hasn't been touched by cancer in some way and as we get older the more we will see. Yes, I know I am mortal and may depart this existence tomorrow, but that doesn't mean I want to roll over and watch people suffer when we can at least attempt a solution at the problem.

I understand that there are those who believe that throwing money at a solution isn't always the best approach, but I'm with Armstrong on this one (and most medical matters), research is the key. Now maybe I’m biased, my wife (and oft-time riding partner) is a researcher at NIH (she deals with onset childhood metal disorders and not cancer). Their budgets have been cut, they give out fewer grants, the Institute is being run by a politician and not a scientist and many of their best and brightest are leaving in droves for work where their work isn’t being put through a litmus test for the current political correctness.

We all know this disease has a huge impact on people from the level of personal suffering, family grief and finances. In addition to these devastating implications, the disease has a huge impact on the US economy. As the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has recently reported, a one percent decrease in cancer mortality is reported to be worth $500 billion to our economy. Check out what Joan Brugge, a respected Harvard researcher, had to say on impact of budget cutbacks at the NIH and the NCI in particular: http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/blog/2007/03/hold_til_3_pm_s.html.

I’m not trying to be political here – it is all about advocacy and it starts on the personal level. Sure, there’s a political side to getting things done, but that transcends (one would hope) a personal political agenda or party. We are talking about making things better for the 50+ group here, whether it be directly related to biking (like getting better biking trails) or improving the quality of life for us (such as getting a colonoscopy). Demanding a better or more complete response to cancer is something I think we can all get behind – make your voice heard, politicians will respond.

A lot of sad news on BF recently.

I hope that jppe's family is first and foremost successful in their treatment regimes and that they treated by the medical profession in a manner that mitigates suffering to the greatest extent possible and is respectful of their wishes.

As to the advocacy/politics - seems to me that posts in this thread have been pretty innocuous and might just be useful.

That is just terrible news. It seems that cancer can strike at any time, at any age. Not being into politics, I can only do what I can on a personal level. That is why I got involved with the Pan Mass Challenge last year, and will likely continue in some form for the rest of my life. Whatever I can do to support those fighting this disease I am happy to do, whether it's fundraising, doing a charity ride, volunteering for events, or whatever. There has got to be an answer.

Tell him to hang in there! Positive outlook and family support is a must!
We are both cancer survivors.
Our motto: ' Screw it! We've got stuff to do!'
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

jppe-
We spin the prayer wheels on behalf of your family and you. A good reason to come into Charlotte next year and join me in the "Booty" ride. My first this last month in support of a friend in Wheaton, IL undergoing cancer treatment and a brother who is a testicular cancer survivor.