Jim Kelly - Treatable

[Mace]

This is good news I think.

http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/doctor-says-kelly8217s-cancer-is-8216very-treatable8217-20140326


“Jim Kelly's condition remains very treatable and potentially curable,” Dr. Costantino said. “Our immediate focus is on controlling his pain and beginning the process of eradicating the cancer.”

[BertSquirtgum]

Please Jesus. Don't take Jim too.

[Crisis]

Worst offseason ever... hopefully things start to turn around

[Dr. Lecter]

I don't think the term "potentially curable" is encouraging. But maybe I am being too pessimistic

[RedEyE]

I don't know. I was thinking last night that if they decided to bypass surgery and go straight to chemo, I was afraid it meant the cancer had spread too far to cut it out. Praying for my life long hero.

[RedEyE]

This definitly reads like "better" news.

[chernobylwraiths]

I don't know. I was thinking last night that if they decided to bypass surgery and go straight to chemo, I was afraid it meant the cancer had spread too far to cut it out. Praying for my life long hero.

That's exactly why they said surgery isn't really a good option now.

[chernobylwraiths]

Seeing that picture of Jim in a hospital bed with his daughter hugging him doesn't fill me with a sense of optimism. Then again, I saw how quickly cancer took my mom.

[Novacane]

I don't think the term "potentially curable" is encouraging. But maybe I am being too pessimistic


But the term "very treatable" is! You ARE being pessimistic.

[Meathead]

I was afraid it meant the cancer had spread too far to cut it out.

that is what it means. you want to cut out as much as you can so youre fighting as small an infected area as possible. they only dont do surgery on aggressive cancer when they cant get to it, its too widespread, or it would do too much damage (ie in a vital organ or the brain)


“Because of the complexity and aggressive nature of this cancer and after more scans and tests, the plan has changed,” Jill Kelly wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon. The cancer is in areas that surgery cannot successfully eradicate. Therefore, the medical specialists here in NYC along with our Buffalo team believe that chemotherapy and radiation are the best option.”


I don't think the term "potentially curable" is encouraging. But maybe I am being too pessimistic

well you never know. weve all heard and/or seen stories of ppl who had aggressive cancer that suddenly just disappears. ive known a few ppl that had that kind of luck, but quite frankly they are the serious exceptions

so technically until you get to the very end stages its all 'potentially curable', tho in fact its quite a longshot

generally when cancer spreads from other areas into the brain its game over, all you can do then is try to extend life. and once its in your spine its in your brain bc your spinal chord is a no tolls expressway to your brain

sure hope we get that miracle, but if this were my loved one i would be preparing myself and others for what is likely inevitable

[Dr. Lecter]

But the term "very treatable" is! You ARE being pessimistic.

Treatable leaves a lot of room. What exactly is treatable? Giving him another 3-6 months of life?

The words used seem to have been very carefully choosen

[Forward_Lateral]

**** Cancer.

[Meathead]

agree

the only cancer that isnt treatable is the very end stages where the treatment itself will surely kill you

when my aunts fifteen year battle with cancer spread to her brain she lost the ability to speak. they gave her one last round of aggressive chemo to shrink the tumors enough so that her brain functioned semi-normally for a few weeks. we used that time to have a final family party at her house for about a week so that ppl could get there and spend some final time with her, sort of like a living wake. we did what we normally do at our family gatherings - get drunk, eat a ton of great food, play games, and rag on each other. it was a great way to say goodbye. after that the cancer came roaring back and she was gone in a matter of days

for other non-brain cancer patients, they can also pump you full of drugs to return to you a semblance of normalcy, but its so hard on the body they only do that when its surely over and they want to give ppl a chance to say goodbye and get a response. at that point youre talking about literally a day or two left of life and it doesnt always work

[Meathead]

**** Cancer.

no ****

[Novacane]

Treatable leaves a lot of room. What exactly is treatable? Giving him another 3-6 months of life?

The words used seem to have been very carefully choosen


If he had said treatable I wouldn't have been as optimistic. I find hope in the DR adding Very to his statement. One little word makes a big difference IMO. Hoping and praying for the best.

[TedMock]

It's so hard to know. I've seen cancer hit stage 4 and it was a death sentence. Then again, I've seen it hit stage 4 and it was overcome. Just last week I was with a colleague who, 18 months ago, was dying. He had stage 4 throat cancer. It was spreading and hope was all but gone. Today, the cancer is gone and he's in the best shape of his life. Exercises every day and competes in all sorts of races and obstacles, etc. Just did a tough mudder in Florida. He lost his sense of taste going through treatment and even has that back. Every cancer comes at you differently and even chemo is different, depending on treatment. My stepfather's chemo knocked him out for a day or two each week. My friend who I described above did chemo every Monday and Tuesday and then couldn't get out of bed until Sunday. It beat the crap out of him. Yet, he's doing great now. I just hope Jim's cancer bows down to his competitive spirit and he's able to figure out a way to win.

[THATHURMANATOR]

I don't think the term "potentially curable" is encouraging. But maybe I am being too pessimistic

I don't necessarily agree with this actually.

In most cases Cancer is never curable. You may go into remission but generally you are never "cured" of it. If they are even giving the possibility of curing that is a good thing.

[sukie]

I don't necessarily agree with this actually.

In most cases Cancer is never curable. You may go into remission but generally you are never "cured" of it. If they are even giving the possibility of curing that is a good thing.

7 years cancer free is generally considered a cure

[Ed]

Former Denver Nuggets coach, George Karl, was diagnosed with throat and neck cancer about 4 years ago now. They also used the term "treatable". I don't remember if he had any surgeries for it, but I know he went through radiation and chemo. He survived and seems fully recovered.

I thought the outlook for Jim looked pretty grim yesterday, but if they're saying it's treatable I think that's encouraging at least.

[swiper]

7 years cancer free is generally considered a cure

The American Cancer Society always says 5 years.


Still, even for highly curable stage I cancers, there can be relapses and some of these can occur after 5 years (the number most used in cancer statistics to imply cure).

http://blogs.webmd.com/cancer/2012/06/am-i-cured-yet.html

Blog article discusses the reality of "curing" cancer.

I have seen patients and oncologists claim cure when there is NED (no evidence of the disease) at 5 years. I have also seen recurrence at 10 years. So there is no bright white line in the sand. Prolonged surveillance and a healthy lifestyle are key to long-term survivorship.

[BLeonard]

I really don't want to dampen the mood here... But, I'm speaking from personal experience...

Last January, my father was diagnosed with cancer. After a few tests, it was determined that his form of cancer was "highly treatable." So, naturally, it sounded like that was good news.

After being diagnosed and going through treatment, it had zero effect on the cancer... He died last May... Less than 4 months after being initially diagnosed.

Again, not trying to dampen the mood, but don't let the term "treatable" fool you... While it may be "treatable," there is no telling how that treatment will affect the cancer.

Hopefully, it works out better for Jim Kelly than it did my father, who was also named Jim...

-Bill