Surviving, Thriving, and the Importance of Support

Hey there everyone!  I know that I officially "stink" as a blogger these days.  It is hard to believe that I have not written anything in months.  Life, reconstruction, hospital stays, exhaustion, etc. have simply gotten in the way.  I have done my best to keep friends and family updated via Facebook, but I promise to start writing again soon.  Good news...I'm cancer free!!  Bad news...my body just doesn't want to heal from all the trauma.  So, reconstruction is on hold.  In the meantime, please take a moment to read the guest blog spot about Kasie Coleman below.   

Kasie, you are in my thoughts and prayers.  

I'll write more over Thanksgiving break...I have SO MUCH to be thankful for and so many things to write about.  It is time to make blogging a priority again.  

Much love!!!  

XOXO, 

Sue

Hi there, Cancer and Cupcakes readers. I’m Faith, and I’m here on behalf of The Mesothelioma Center. We’re a team of cancer advocates who want to spread the word about health, research and recovery – and, of course, provide some inspiration to survivors, the way that Sue does every day here on C&C.

Sue’s been fearlessly sharing her story with us (and you!) and graciously offered us her blog today to let us share a similar story. My co-workers and I have all been cheering for Kasie Coleman as she bravely battles her terminal mesothelioma diagnosis, and consistently proves that there’s always hope for a future – no matter what your medical records read. Perhaps you’ll lend her some support as well? (You’ll also be happy to know that Kasie loves to bake cupcakes, as well, and actually has her own bakery.)

Kasie Coleman was diagnosed with mesothelioma in July 2010. She’d been experiencing symptoms for nearly two years – but because she was far outside the traditional patient profile, this rare cancer was one of the last things on her doctors’ minds.

(Of the 3,000 or so patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the U.S., the vast majority are white men older than 65. That’s three strikes for Kasie – an African-American woman who was in the first half of her 30s.)

But after a long – and emotionally exhausting – diagnostic process, a surgical oncologist finally nailed it down. The official result: malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

At the time, the outlook was not favorable. The most up-to-date research indicated a survival rate of several months to a year – and that was the most positive figure. But for Kasie, those statistics were just that – an estimate, not a final sentence.

Her medical team wasted no time in putting her on a highly aggressive treatment regimen. After nearly two years of chemotherapy cocktails and invasive surgeries, Kasie heard the news that incredibly few mesothelioma patients hear: “You’re in remission.”

While researchers have made major strides since the time of Kasie’s diagnosis (and have, in fact, found that her HIPEC treatment is one of the most effective ways to treat her specific cancer), mesothelioma is still considered an incurable disease. However, Kasie stands as proof that even when the outlook is statistically bleak, there’s always hope.

Real-life miracles like Kasie’s happen more often than we all think. Whether it’s in the form of remission, a promising response to an experimental drug or just earning one more day to spend with family, these successes deserve to be shared. It’s up to survivors to keep the community of support alive and well.

Faith Franz blogs for The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. She enjoys educating cancer patients and their families about the benefits of alternative medicine.