Mike Heimerdinger has cancer

If I loved my job, yes. You think work is more stressful than sitting at home thinking about the cancer?

 

Here are a few thoughts I've had hearing the news.

Jumping straight to chemotherapy tells me a few things. First- it is a chemosensitive tumor. Second- surgery or radiotherapy is not going to be beneficial at this stage. That means that either this tumor type is uniquely sensitive to chemotherapy (leukemias, lymphomas) or it has already metastasized (spread to other parts of the body). I'm betting the latter is not the case because they would use adjunctive therapies of surgery, immunotherapy and radiotherapy.

The fact that he had serious symptoms a few weeks ago, suggests that he was having systemic effects from his cancer. Colon, pancreatic, lung cancers usually also have surgery to remove the primary (original) cause of the tumor. No mention of surgery which makes these types less likely. Primary brain tumors are treated with surgery and/or gamma knife (radiation).

So- in summary I suspect Dinger has some from of lymphoma/leukemia (blood cancer) which most types are responsive to chemotherapy OR he has widely metastatic disease of unknown primary which portends a very poor prognosis. I believe he probably has the former with what I've heard thus far.

Just my 2 cents- could be way off. I pray for his health as well as his family's and that Lord will let him know that he is never alone no matter how dark it may seem.

 

Personally, I think I would too. But I may be a bit older than you and have a different view about life and longevity.

 

I think I would too....what is the point of sitting around the house thinking about the disease spreading until you are able to get into chemo? Stressful does not always mean bad...especially if you really enjoy what you are doing.

I truly admire him for doing this...shows me alot of mental toughness, which he will really need in the coming months/years.

 

please enlighten me on the non serious cancers out there

 

once you know exactly what it is, you go to chemo immediately. you dont wait around.

its very common. even if his chances of survival are good

 

great and informative post