The Seven Levels of Healing

Message from Dr. Jeremy Geffen

DrJeremyGeffen — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:04:23 GMT

Welcome to the Seven Levels of Healing Message Board! I am happy and excited to inaugurate this wonderful resource for patients and loved ones who are navigating the journey through cancer. As an oncologist -- and as someone who has experienced cancer directly in his family -- I understand how important it is to find timely and meaningful answers to your questions, and to be able to reach out and connect with others. I am curious to hear your questions, and your stories. Please share them freely. Let us know how Caring4Cancer can best support you on your journey. I look forward to hearing from you. With warm regards, Jeremy Geffen, MD

Myxoid Liposarcoma

duffyamy — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:23:29 GMT

Hi,

This is the 1st time I have seen this web site and it is awesome! There is not a lot of info out there about sarcomas. My husband was initially diagnosed in March of 2002. After having 2 surgeries and radiation on his left thigh he was "clear" for 4years!! At his CT scan in July of 2006 they had found the cancer had metastisized to the lungs. At that time at MRI was also done and found 11 tumors on the spine. At this point we transferred all records to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The first step was radiation to the spine involving the worst area. After that chemotherapy was administered. Three months of chemo and things were looking good! He went 10 months with out any further signs or symptoms. This last October they could see the tumors were back in the lungs. So we started another round of a different chemotherapy, Gemzar and Taxotere which did nothing for the tumors. In fact they had doubled in size. This last week another chemptherapy was started Ifosamide and Etoposide. The first round and this last round have been by far the worst for side effects! The second round of the Gemzar and Taxotere were the easiest for him.

I know how frustrating all of this can be, because of its rarity! There just isn't a lot of info out there about this type of cancer. And what I have found is very negative and depressing!

Anyone out there that would like to share stories, I would love to hear them! We all need each other to get thru this aweful disease! Sometimes I think the caregiver is more negatively affected because of the unknown!

I look forward to hearing from some of you!

the goal

RosesareredCancerisblue — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:36:25 GMT

I guess the thing for me is to remind myself of my goals. To become cancer free. To take each radiation treatment and chemotherapy session as one more step to my end goal. Yes there is pain but with that I am closer to healing. I try to keep active when I am up to it. I dont beat myself up when I cant do something I used to do. It will come back in time. Yes I worry but then again who wouldnt in our shoes. It is a natural thing . I try to focus on the little things. Like the muffins I bake for my Mother-in-law, or the flowers I planted in my flower pot. These things help me forget for awhile, and enjoy what I have more. I still have moments , so I have to keep telling myself that I am strong and to hang in there. I know in my heart faith is the key. I am lucky in so many ways. I at times forget these things. I guess we all do at times. I am thankful for the times when I realize that even going through this I am loved and lucky. I am also hopeful .

I try to live out loud

RosesareredCancerisblue — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:41:25 GMT

I didnt want to wait as I saw my hair fall out. To feel the life drain out of my hair. The dry straw feeling the pain of the scalp. So when I got up this morning with hair all over my pillow, I said this is it. I told my husband it is time buzz it. He asked are you sure. I just smiled and said you bet. He went and got the clippers and then said last chance. It took such a short period of time. All gone just fuzz. My husband says I look hot! ( lol )Yes I have wigs . I may even wear them once every so often. Even hats. But I am not going to hide this is me . Take me or leave me. This is how I heal. One step at a time.

oh these hot flashes

nursey7337 — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:13:37 GMT

oh these hot flashes really get to me I hate going to bed at night covers on covers off hot cold hot cold then when morning comes your still tired because you were up all night with the flashes. Then you worry about is this going to come back again. I lost my right breast already. I wanted to remove both of them but the surgeon wouldnt do it. No one else in my family had ever had breast cancer. I'm the lucky one at age 44 and single I figure my life as fas as dating is now over. Its really hard dealing with all this even though my chemo is over and now I take tamoxifen. I had a port inserted and they say I can have it removed now but I dont want to because I want to make sure that the cancer will not come back. It's really hard picking up the pieces after all the things you go through with cancer. sometimes I feel that I am now in a different world than everyone else and this is where I will be from now on. I think about how long will it be before it comes back and when it does where will it be . It's like that hurry up and wait feeling. well thanks for listening. bye for now

fibro sarcoma

moparman — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 20:26:23 GMT

I am new to this site, and have been diag. with fibromyxoid sarcoma in my shoulder. I am not seeing anything about sarcomas at all in the site. I have just started a 25 day radiation regime, before surgery. I do not know what to expect, and am very concerned about loss of use of my arm or shoulder. They told me the worse case would be shoulder and arm amputation, this scares the **** out of me. I understand that it is very rare, but is there anyone that could share something.

Personality Changes

EvelynDTP — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:19:52 GMT

Dear Dr. Geffen, Does chemotherapy and/or radiation cause personality changes? I checked on the web and many sites come up in Google, however, the pages are so numerous to read that I cannot find the copy within them. Whenever I receive chemo, I feel like I'm going through extreme PMS (so says my husband), even though I am recently post-menopausal and haven't experienced these symptoms in many, many years. I find that I am hyper-sensitive, emotional, and get easily upset, although those who are closest to me have not provided much support and I originally felt that was the real reason. It seems to me that it may be a combination of both. I am also diabetic which I know can cause a hormonal imbalance when the glucose is off, and the chemo definitely threw that off! I am trying to sort this all out as I see relationships crumble around me. Last week was my last (4th) round of chemo (4 days each, 24/7). The recent biopsies I had showed no evidence of the 4" tumor I had in my rectum which I'm thrilled about. I'm hurting deeply though from the lack of support and sensitivity that I've had around me these past 5 months since diagnosis. Now that it's all behind me, I can't see a future in front of me. Please help if you can.

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

judydean — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:05:35 GMT

Doctor I was diagnosed last October 2006. I went through 8 treatments of Chem & Rutuxin. Two months after treatments were complete I had a PET scan. It had moveed to other lymphnodes. Now I am getting ready to do the Bexxar regimen. I am always so tired and I keep pushing myself to do things. I am normally a very active person but this Lymphoma is really taking it out of me. I am not sure what the odds of Bexxar helping my condition. I sure hope it does. My body is getting pretty worn down. I am constantly having hot flashes which also wear me out. I know it isn't hormones because I had a complete hysto 19 years ago when I was 30. Help I need energy! Any suggestions are welcome.

Thank You!!

Dad has prostate cancer and may have kidney cancer

Dee1976 — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:23:01 GMT

I really need some information. My father was diagnosed with prostae cancer 3 months ago and in the course of trying to diagnose the prostate cancer they found 2 lesions on my dad's left kidney. The largest one is 2 1/2 inches. He has had many kidney stones and UTI's. The Dr.'s are saying they cannot definately say if it is cancer or scar tissue. They say there is no definate tests available and the only way to be certain is to go in and take the kidney out and then diagnosee wether cancer is present or not. They cannot treat the prostate cancer until the kidney situation is addressed. My mother passed away 10 months ago and I just cannot face another loss like that right now. I want to help him but the info. we get seems to contradict other info. we have gotten. Basically, my primary question is that I want to know if we have been correctly informed that there is no way to be certain if the kidney lesions are cancer until after the kidney is taken out? They have already done a CAT SCAN and one Dr. wanted to do an MRI then suddenly another Dr. on his cancer team stood up and said it does not matter what an MRI will show because we still will not know. Is that a true statement?

Angiosarcoma - heart cancer

EvsGirl — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:37:06 GMT

Two weeks ago we thought my husband Everett was having a heart attack. I rushed him to the local ER and instead they found what they told me was a "large mass" in his heart. They performed open heart surgery a week later and were able to remove 80% of the tumor - which the Doc says was the size of a mans fist. They now have given this thing a name and are calling it an "Angiosarcoma". Cancer of the heart. Our first consultation with the oncologists will be on 8/21. From there, the plan is hospitalize him for four days a month for the next five months for Chemo. They call this a continuos infussion, and tell me it is the most aggressive form of chemo they can do for him. Radiation was also mentioned, but not further discussed yet. Does anyone have any information regarding this? I feel as if I've been sucker punched. Any support/information would be most appreciated.

The cancer journey

DrJeremyGeffen — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:22:59 GMT

Anyone dealing with cancer knows it is a journey that has many highs and lows, issues and challenges, questions and concerns. This is clearly reflected in the heartfelt messages that have been posted on this message board. I wrote my book, "The Journey Through Cancer: Healing and Transforming the Whole Person" and created The Seven Levels of Healing® program to provide guidance and inspiration for patients and loved ones, wherever they may be in their journey. Please feel free to post your questions or concerns and I will address them specifically. With warm wishes for a happy Spring, Jeremy Geffen, MD

why???

JS1345 — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:21:30 GMT

My namde is Justin. I have terminal lungt cancer. Im goibng to die why should i bother with the seven levels???//??

Anal cancer

mimagli — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:19:20 GMT

Is there anyone who has gone through their radiation and chemo for anal cancer that can give me some helpful hints? I have lost 11 lbs., been put on IV fluids twice and had 4 infections and I'm only 2.5 weeks into my treatment.

Level Two??

BeckyT — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:17:00 GMT

Hi, my name's Rebecca, and I just started reading about the Seven Levels of Healing on the website here, I'm apart from my kids and my husband passed away several years ago, so how can Level Two work for me, are there support groups anyone knows of in the Denver area, or a tool on the web I can use to find them, thanks.

New Year's Wishes

DrJeremyGeffen — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:11:58 GMT

Dear Friends, I am writing to express my best wishes and warmest regards for the New Year. I look forward to a lively exchange on this Seven Levels of Healing Message Board in 2007. Please let me know if you have any questions I can answer, or if I can be of assistance in any way. Sincerely, Jeremy Geffen, MD

Tips for the Holidays

DrJeremyGeffen — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:11:03 GMT

The holidays can be hectic and stressful under the best of circumstances. In the midst of dealing with cancer, though, it can become even more challenging. It is important to remember, especially during times like this, to be as kind and caring to yourself as possible. If you are feeling sad, lonely, or confused, reach out to a trusted friend or colleague for comfort and support. Consider getting more connected through the C4C online community. Take some time for yourself. Visit The Seven Levels of Healing and explore some of the many action steps it offers to help you feel better. I'd love to support you online with any questions or concerns you may have. Just let me know. With warm regards, Jeremy Geffen, MD

Thanksgiving

DrJeremyGeffen — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:08:48 GMT

Hi. I hope you all had a peaceful and joyful Thanksgiving holiday. I also want to acknowledge, however, that in dealing with cancer, some of you may be going through a challenging time right now. I know it can be hard to feel "thankful" when you or a loved one are not feeling well. I have found however, that it can be very helpful -- especially in times of challenge -- to ask, "what am I grateful for, or what could I be grateful for, right now in my life?" Giving thanks for even the smallest blessings can be deeply healing. I am thankful -- among other things -- for this opportunity to connect with you all, and hopefully be of service. Any questions or comments? Jeremy Geffen, MD

Welcome to the Seven Levels of Healing Forum

C4CModerator — Thu, 31 May 2007 23:28:36 GMT

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