My favorite, the butterfly, was the overwhelming victor in the logo vote! I think those of us with cancer see the butterfly as symbolic of transformation, hope and eternity. One of the voters sent me this that I really liked:
Butterfly: metamorphosis and transformation. Scientific research has shown that the butterfly is the only living being capable of changing entirely its genetic structure during the process of transformation: the caterpillar’s DNA is totally different from the butterfly’s. Thus, it is the symbol of total transformation. Butterfly represents a need for change and greater freedom, and at the same time it represents courage: one requires courage to carry out the changes necessary in the process of growth.
So the butterfly it is!
Also, tomorrow or Thursday I will publish a guest post, the essay of a 17 year old whose mother was diagnosed with an abdominal cancer like ours at Stage IV. The essay is one written as part of his application process for a college scholarship, it is the James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay contest. It is required that his essay be posted on a blog, and they asked that it be posted on my blog…I am honored. His mother will also post a response to his essay. Be sure to watch for it!
Thanks again for voting! And BTW, I filed my grad school application today…I’m both excited and nervous! Wish me luck!
And as a final addendum, I try to respond withing 24 hours to every email I receive from a cancer patient, friend, or family member of a cancer patient. I recently became aware that a patient never received my reply to her email. That bothered me a lot. So if you write me and don’t hear back, please let me know!! Write me again! I will never not answer!
Hello Carolyn,
I've commented in the past, now I have a question for you as a medically informed expert. I'm a little over two years into a signet ring stage 4 diagnosis, still in watch and wait mode. However, a CT scan showed a spot in an unusual place – my bile duct – and I had bile duct blockage symptoms. Now suddenly I have a swarm of doctors testing me incessantly for cholangeocarcinoma (all biopsies negative so far). Have you run across anything in your research or reading to indicate any connections, or anything that refers to constellations of rare cancers? This has me mystified – and it seems to have my doctors mystified too.
Karen Ebert
Hi Karen,
I'm so sorry you are having to deal with yet more medical issues. Of the over 700 patients I've communicated with who have been diagnosed with appendix cancer, only one has been diagnosed with yet another rare cancer (before she was diagnosed with appendix cancer). I have known of a few who had bile duct problems and who have needed stents, but related to appendix cancer, not another new cancer.
I don't know if that helps you?
I truly wish you the best,
Carolyn
Carolyn,
We could take this conversation out of the posted comments, but I'd be interested in hearing what you have encountered regarding the bile duct problems that are related to the appendix cancer. I am already on my third stent, still troubled by symptoms. And my oncologist seems convinced this is not related to the appendix cancer. If you would rather reply directly, my email is wwebert @ yahoo . com. Thanks –
Karen