The cancer I had is one of the least aggressive cancers, Peggy L. Thank you for sharing your story. I believe that 5 year wait post cancer is valid. I have lived 22 years since being diagnosed, cancer free. Walking a 5K next year is a stellar goal! It never crossed my mind the variety of side effects among recovering cancer patients.

Oh I love that story Fred. Confirms to me that really wonderful people joined for all the right, compassionate reasons. I’m happy for both of you.

I had a similar experience. A woman was there for chemo the same time I was. She seemed to recognize me from high school, which is sort of amazing because that was many years ago. Anyway, not that long afterward I received an email that she had passed away.

Thank you – I am happy to still be here too. It was a fast growing cancer and although the surgeon, who was great, seemes to have gotten it all (I understand that there’s a 5 year wait until you can feel reasonably confident) after the surgery I lost the mobility in my right leg – Along with some other things he had to sever the femoral nerve, but I have had strength training for almost 2 1/2 years and can now actually walk with a cane – I am so grateful! Thankful for the treatment and all the people involved in getting me to where I am now. My hope is to walk a 5K next year. Gotta think big!

Thanks again for sharing Fred – it helps to hear success stories.

Two-and-a-half years cancer-free — way to go, Peggy L!

I met Mary in 1977 when, at the old ASHO on Temple St. in Los Angeles (pre-Big Blue), she said, “Thank you. Your needle’s floating.” She wore the hat of Examiner (probably one of multiple hats).

Our paths paralleled each other through the years: in the Sea Org, our offices sat across from each other (hers being finance, mine promotion). A couple of years later, she held the Director of Income post on the first floor while I, no longer in the Sea Org, FSMed in her office to get other other Freeloaders to pay off their debts. When she routed out of the Sea Org and joined Shaw Health Center as Office Manager, we saw each other every time I visited my doctor (Dr. Denk) or chiropractor Dr. Price). Later, when I helped The Freewinds recruit finance trained co-workers for me on the Ship, I naturally selected Mary.

By the time I started chemotherapy, Mary had already been through cancer treatment herself, and with considerable success. Mary took me under her wings, and I’m so grateful. She made herself available so I had someone to talk to during treatment every single day. As an exchange, she asked me to do the same for another cancer patient (which I did a short time later).

I’m so glad you’re here. During my chemo, I often sat next to a fellow cancer patient, Annie, who had colon cancer. Sadly, I found out a few months that she hadn’t made it.

Out of the sea org it was same with Kirstie, JT’s wife Kelly Preston. Although they didn’t have the sleep deprivation and subpar nutrition they had the same mind fuckery of the daily part of being a scientologist first and that makes for some very serious sick mental duress.

Imagine trying for months to deal with cancer or tumors, or hypertension or diabetes with auditing (counseling) instead of getting immediately treated to catch it as early as possible. Oh yes I almost forgot there was no such thing as getting an annual physical to detect things early.

The denial and failure to face the hard truth that you are sick and it needs to be treated quickly is unbelievable.

I’m ashamed to say I was part of that sick culture for many decades and very grateful to be out for some time now.

Your friend sounds like a good person to listen to Fred. I suppose along with trust the treatment, listen to someone you trust who knows first hand how this works.

I felt sad reading that Kirstey Alley passed away when she should have been able to go to the best physicians available.

I am 2 1/2 years testing cancer free from colon cancer. It’s sure been a learning lesson! A bit humbling also.

Wishing you all the best.

“Trust the treatment,” Peggy L, reminds me of something a friend of mine told me as I prepared for chemotherapy. I learned that from fellow scientologist Mary Bievenouer who used to work at Shaw Health Center. “Follow the doctor’s orders implicently,” she added. Mary had survived breast cancer with considerable style, so I took her advice to heart.

Thanks for that, Angry Gay Pope.

When I knew that my hair would be falling out during chemo, I stopped at a sporting goods store to try on a baseball cap. When I switched from one hat to another, a whole patch of hair fell out onto the floor. Embarrassed, I bought both hats and left the store.

I know what you mean Fred, and you are right, the side effects are much better than the alternative. Going through chemo there are days when all you can do is trust the treatment and just take it one day, or one hour, at a time and keep on keepin’ on.

There sure were brighter days ahead and it was all worth it.

Cancer and hair cells are the only cells in the body to spontaneously create themselves. That is why chemo makes your hair fall out 🙁