Oh happy days! an update for our friends here, chemo almost done

[Lesinindy]

Over the last year I have been very blessed to have the good wishes and prayers of many CCers for my wife during her treatments for breast cancer. In the morning we will go to the hospital for her last chemo treatment:). I cannot explain how much your support and kindness has meant to both of us during this time. I have been very touched by the support we received from those that had survived cancer and from those that experienced profound losses to this cancer. I wish I could thank everyone that we have come in contact with but there are more than I can remember. I would like to single out a few:

My thanks to:

Those on the "on deck for the cure" that encouraged my wife and I

DBA, you know the impact you made on our lives.

Amber Comer, without you our memories and photos of the renewal of vows would never have made it home with us

CCers whose kind words meant so much.

To the Captain of the Eurodam who made our renewal of vows very special.

For the Crew of the Eurodam, that made our days before the surgery and unknown diagnosis easier to face the day after we returned.

For the Crew of the Noordam that supported the folks during the "on deck for the cure" and helped us celebrate a new life to live.

Sometimes I see our little community here as being like an extended family. When we get together we often look like we are not friends, we moan and groan, we complain and we challenge each other, but when the chips are down we stick together.

Thank you again and I look forward to seeing all of you again on another cruise.
Lester and Carolyn

I almost forgot, Thank you HAL for providing us with such a quality experience and for employing such wonderful folks on your ships. Our memories of our last two cruises on your line will stay with us forever.

[AZNative2000]

All the best, to you both!:) May the years ahead be smooth sailing!:):)

[canadarocks]

What a truly wonderful post!

Congratulations on your wife's amazing success story. I wish you two nothing but continued health and happiness from now on!

[PirateShark]

That is so awesome Les :) Best news of the day for me. My SIL was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before Christmas. We'll be doing the Walk for the Cure for her sake and your wifes on our March cruise on the "O".

My best to you and your wife and here's wishing you many more happy sailings with HAL.

[ricki]

What a wonderful milestone for your wife! May you both enjoy only good health from this point forward (and many more cruises!)

Ricki

[Krazy Kruizers]

that is wondeful

hopefully there will be no more cancer and no more radiation

[kazu]

all our best to you both. wonderful. may all your seas be smooth from here on in.

[Assateague Island Princes]

Oh Les, that is terrific news! You two have been thru the ringer and back, but you always seem to have a positive attitude which is what got you thru. Don't lose that! Continue to look at each day as a gift, many good wishes flying your dear wife's way -tomorrow she "graduates" to a whole new normal! Woo-hoo! Time to celebrate, time to book that next cruise!;) God bless you both!

[saltandpepper02476]

Congrats to you and your wife. I will begin my second trial of chemo for lymphoma soon. I am so glad everything went well and is over with. I didn't cruise this year but will hopefully next year.

[alpal1993]

Bless you both.I wish you many more marvelous cruises together

[Bighorn Hockey Nut]

Great news Les and Carolyn! Now I hope to see you in Dec. Are you still working on that cruise? I'll be there!
Hope that you have a great year and that life treats the both of you wonderful folks...well WONDEFUL!

[Gypsy2]

I understand, and wish all the best after treatment.

I am taking my mom on her first HAL trip to celebrate after her chemo treatments. We had to cancel one this past October due to a change in her treatment,

Bernuda is her choice and as long as we can I will take her wherever she wants to go.

[VermeulT]

So glad to hear an update.

Continued good progress and happy sailings!

[ironin]

So glad to hear an update.

Continued good progress and happy sailings!

Agreed! All the best to you both!

[RuthC]

Congratulations to you both on reaching this point. From now on, it will just get better and better.

[babyher]

Wonderful news .

All the best to both of you.

Many many more happy healthy years together and many more wonderful cruises

God Bless :)

[luvcruisn']

Les, that's great news. Hope you and Carolyn will be cruising again soon.

[Northshorecruisers]

I haven't been on the Boards much the last couple years - but as a breast cancer survivor - I know what you are going through.

After so many months of just taking things one day at a time, and knowing that there will be light at the end of the tunnel (even though you've doubted it many times) - now there is light:)

I've gone through the knowing I had cancer in my body (found out 3 days before our first cruise) - partial masectomy - radiation - chemo - followups. It is so hard to go through this. I have made 5 years cancer free just this month.

Congratulations for making this important step. I am so proud of you!!!

[Lesinindy]

We just got back from the last session and got very good news from the Doctor. He said that with the aggressive approach we took with this that the odds of a long term recovery are better than 85%. Things are looking up indeed. Now I need to start working on another cruise:)

[MrsMuir]

Thanks for sharing your good news, Lesinindy. My heart goes out to Saltandpepper, who shared with us that he/she is going thru another round of chemo soon. Memories of past cruises and planning new ones should bring comfort and hope.

Mrs M

[3rdtimecruising]

Over the last year I have been very blessed to have the good wishes and prayers of many CCers for my wife during her treatments for breast cancer. In the morning we will go to the hospital for her last chemo treatment:). I cannot explain how much your support and kindness has meant to both of us during this time. I have been very touched by the support we received from those that had survived cancer and from those that experienced profound losses to this cancer. I wish I could thank everyone that we have come in contact with but there are more than I can remember. I would like to single out a few:

My thanks to:

Those on the "on deck for the cure" that encouraged my wife and I

DBA, you know the impact you made on our lives.

Amber Comer, without you our memories and photos of the renewal of vows would never have made it home with us

CCers whose kind words meant so much.

To the Captain of the Eurodam who made our renewal of vows very special.

For the Crew of the Eurodam, that made our days before the surgery and unknown diagnosis easier to face the day after we returned.

For the Crew of the Noordam that supported the folks during the "on deck for the cure" and helped us celebrate a new life to live.

Sometimes I see our little community here as being like an extended family. When we get together we often look like we are not friends, we moan and groan, we complain and we challenge each other, but when the chips are down we stick together.

Thank you again and I look forward to seeing all of you again on another cruise.
Lester and Carolyn

I almost forgot, Thank you HAL for providing us with such a quality experience and for employing such wonderful folks on your ships. Our memories of our last two cruises on your line will stay with us forever.


Dear Lester and Carolyn,

I am so happy to hear that your chemo visits are coming to an end. :D My husband and I will be facing my first chemo visit the week after we return from our first HAL cruise on the Eurodam and 3/19. I am looking forward to a nice relaxed ,more adult, cruise where I can just recovery from the diagnosis and recent surgery and prepare myself emotionally for what is to come. It sounds like you have had wonderfully supportive friends and CC's to keep you smiling. I have also had the love and friendship of family and friends and look forward to the end of all treatments.

Be well and hope you have many more wonderful cruises.

Ann and Bernie:)

[Lesinindy]

Dear Lester and Carolyn,

I am so happy to hear that your chemo visits are coming to an end. :D My husband and I will be facing my first chemo visit the week after we return from our first HAL cruise on the Eurodam and 3/19. I am looking forward to a nice relaxed ,more adult, cruise where I can just recovery from the diagnosis and recent surgery and prepare myself emotionally for what is to come. It sounds like you have had wonderfully supportive friends and CC's to keep you smiling. I have also had the love and friendship of family and friends and look forward to the end of all treatments.

Be well and hope you have many more wonderful cruises.

Ann and Bernie:)

Last Feb. we went on the Eurodam right before she was scheduled to have surgery (day after we returned) and we knew that Chemo was around the corner. It is hard to ignore the 900 pound gorilla in the room when you cruise before such a thing, but it is possible. You need to really concentrate on living in the present. We as a society often live in the past and the future, but ignore the present. Just slow down, soak up the sea air, live each moment without regard to the next day. It will be hard, but with a little practice it becomes second nature. Enjoy your cruise, our prayers are with you.

[jhannah]

Now I need to start working on another cruise:)
Indeed you do! Blessings to you both as you move on and continue to enjoy all that life has to offer.

[3rdtimecruising]

Last Feb. we went on the Eurodam right before she was scheduled to have surgery (day after we returned) and we knew that Chemo was around the corner. It is hard to ignore the 900 pound gorilla in the room when you cruise before such a thing, but it is possible. You need to really concentrate on living in the present. We as a society often live in the past and the future, but ignore the present. Just slow down, soak up the sea air, live each moment without regard to the next day. It will be hard, but with a little practice it becomes second nature. Enjoy your cruise, our prayers are with you.


Dear Lester,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. Some days are harder than others. Today it will be 60 degrees in Boston and I am going to take myself to the mall and do some THERAPY shopping for the cruise. ;) I have lots to be happy about having just retired and becoming a Granny for the first time 9 months ago. Family is so important going through this and I am fortunate to have a wonderful one.
We have an aft balcony and can't wait to just sit and look at the sea all day! Best to you andl LInda.:)

Ann

[DutchByAssociation]

Thanks for the update Les! Continuing best wishes for both of you

[casbag]

Hi Ann and bill hope all is well!!

[kazu]

so glad for you - time to go on a cruise and celebrate ;)

[elycelynne]

Congratulations on the chemo completion and the excellent prognosis. Time to celebrate and plan!

[Lizzie1213]

What a lovely post. I wish all the best for you and your wife.

[slimknyzer]

Blessings to you and many prayers for your successful outcome! My three year old Grandson lost an eye to cancer and underwent six months of Chemo. I wish I had half his guts! The little guy did just fine and is now cancer free. He turns four in August. We will pray for you!

[Ocean Dancer]

having survived breast cancer myself, and all that goes with it, my dh and i also took a cruise and enjoyed it very much. my stamina was not yet back
to normal, and i missed some late night events, but i pushed myself to the max, doctors orders, and i know he would have been proud of me...........

have a great recovery, when does the port come out? have a wonderful cruise.............;)

[Jana White]

I truly understand having just been diagnosed for the 6th time and have been on chemo with occasional radiation for the last 3 plus years. It is important to stay in as much control as you possibly can. You have no control of the cancer. My mantra is eat healthy, exercise often and keep a good attitude. It has worked for me, I live a wonderful life with a great husband. Oh yes and don't forget to travel as much as you can. Congratulations on finishing chemo!

[cruzship21]

I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer Feb 17 2010 and went through aggressive
chemo for 7 months. I was so sick. But during in between treatments I went on 3 cruises to build me up mentally. Of course it wasn't the same as cancer has taken my life away but I'm still trying to live life. Since I was diagosed I have taken 6 cruises. I've been off
the aggressive chemo since 8/23/10 but still on avistan every 3 weeks. My ct-scan 2 weeks ago came back good the tumors have shrunk. I have colon cancer which spread to
my liver and lungs. I'm doing another cruise 6/12 to Bermuda on the Veendam as I know I will be going back on the aggressive chemo. Also I will never be in remission and I will die from this. I'm terminal. Doctor said what is making me do so good is my lust for life, staying positive and my sense of humor and my love of cruising. We just got off a cruise 3 weeks ago because we expected the CT-SCAN would say that's it. The time frame they
gave me to live just passed and the doctor said the way I'm going he doesn't see me passing away for awhile. I had lost 80 lbs. from the chemo and slowly putting it back on.
If I have a cruise to look forward to I think it helps me out mentally to fight this ugly disease and I'm not old by any means not that means anything but I haven't lived a long life. But I still feel blessed. I worked or wall street for 20 years and no longer can work.
I am really looking forward to the Veendam since it's small and it's hard to walk alot. And I love Bermuda.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE FIGHTING CANCER

DAVE

[Ocean Dancer]

dave and jana and to all the other posters/caregivers that are/have dealt with this awful illness, god bless you all............i am typing with a broken wrist, so please excuse my typing.............

i was stage 111 breast cancer, had 6 surgeries, chemo, radiation, and therapy, and also stopped smoking cold turkey after 40 plus years, all in one year.............this all happened in 2009, i'm doing well, but left with major scar tissue damage, and weak right arm from mastsectomy and lymph node removal. i had wonderful family support, and my husband of 41 years was my angel and my rock. we have been on two cruises since, and looking forward to one booked in november...........

my intent is not to take over this thread...........just to all whom cancer affects, it is day by day, try to be possitive and see the beauty in the smallest things. try to learn something new each day, take time to smell the flowers, and if possible, keep on cruising.................:)

wishing you all sunny days, happy thoughts, and a beautiful tomorrow :)

[signora]

11 years ago a doctor told me to start planning my funeral after my dire breast cancer diagnosis. Now, 14 cruises later, my husband and I try to live life to the fullest (I am very well). Start planning those trips! and keep hope alive and celebrate all the milestones! Keep us posted--Amy

[OceanQueen]

God bless all of you who have gone through or are still going through a tough time. You are all an inspiration that you need to enjoy every day of your life. My prayers are with you all! :)