Pancreatic Cancer Part 2

There are three stages of Pancreatic cancer. They are as follows:

•  Resectable: The tumor nodules can be removed
•  Locally advanced: The cancer has spread to areas surrounding the pancreas, such as tissues or blood vessels
• Metastatic: The cancer resides in multiple organs

Sometimes, doctors use a classification system based on four numeric stages. This is known as the

AJCC(American Joint Committee on Cancer) staging system and is used for a variety of different cancers types, including pancreatic cancer. Using the pancreatic cancer staging system, doctors differentiate when the disease spread to the tissue surrounding the pancreas(stage II) and when cancer has reached the blood vessels near the pancreas (stage III). This system still acknowledges the advanced stage of pancreatic cancer as metastatic.

Other times, a grade level is given to pancreatic cancer. Much like the stages of pancreatic cancer, grades help classify how aggressive the tumor is, and how likely it is to grow and spread to surrounding tissue and other locations in the body. Grade levels range between 1 and 4 with G1(grade 1) denoting cancers that look similar to normal cells, and G4(grade 4) denoting cancer cells that are highly abnormal in appearance.

Types of Pancreatic cancer.

Every pancreatic patient is different. Pancreatic cancer is classified into two main types: those that form in the exocrine gland and those that form in the endocrine gland. About 95% of pancreatic cancers begin in the exocrine(enzyme producing) cells of the pancreas. Most of the pancreas is made of exocrine cells, and most tumors affecting these cells are called adenocarcinomas. Found in many other cancers, including breast, prostate and lung, adenocarcinomas most often form in glads that secrete fluids. Pancreatic adenocarcinomas most often form in the exocrine cells found in pancreas ducts. Treatment for adenocarcinomas of thte pancreras is based on the stage and size of the tumor.

Endocrine tumors: These tumors are less common and are most often benign. Though rare, cancer stemming from a pancreatic endocrine tumor(PET) affects the hormone-producing cells. These

tumors are also called islet cell tumors or neuroendocrine tumors.

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

Each year, more than 55,000 Americans are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. Now one knows if or when the disease will develop, but understanding the risk factors for pancreatic cancer may help you take measures to reduce the likelihood of getting the disease.

What causes pancreatic cancer?

Cancer of the pancreas is caused when mutated cells grow out of control, forming a tumor. While the exact cause is not known, certain risk factors are strongly linked to the disease including tobacco smoking and obesity. Also, people with a hereditary cancer syndrome or specific genetic mutations have a higher risk or develop the disease.

Known risk factors. Age, with nearly 90% of all pancreatic cancers found in people 55 and older

Gender, with cancer somewhat more common in men than women. Obesity. Diabetes. Chronic panceatitis. Cirrhosis of the liver. Helicobactor pylon(H.pylori) infection . Almost one third of pancreatic cancers is linked to smoking cigarettes. Carcinogens(cancer causing chemicals) found in tobacco products may damage the pancreas, and smoking may add to the risks associated with other conditions, like long-term inflammation of the pancreas(chronic pancreatitis). Likewise, the risk of diabetes and obesity may also be greater if an individual smokes.

Genetic. About 10% of the pancreatic cancers are thought to be related to genetic factors, meaning an inherited gene mutation is passed on from parents to their children. Although these genetic conditions do not directly cause pancreatic cancer, they may increase your risks for developing the disease.

Next week, signs of pancreatic cancer and treatments.

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Patience... Not For The Faint Of Heart

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4 NKJV

Every. Single. Morning. I exit the Borman aka 80/94 W and merge on to 912 aka Cline Ave N. At about a half a mile from the off ramp traffic is backed up. Every. Single. Morning. Tuesdays and Thursdays are especially bad, and Saturday mornings are a breeze. But five days a week I am pushed to the brink of insanity. Stop go, stop go and on and on and on. In addition to this, the service road unloads and these considerate souls bogard their way in front of many of us. It's maddening. And in full disclosure, sometimes when I hit a certain point I get over just a little so no one else can merge ahead of me. I have to get to work too! They don't care, they're trying to as well. Construction is still in full swing in Northwest Indiana, and I suffer the consequences of this most of the year at some point in traffic or another.

Then, there are times I'm in the checkout at the grocers. Like clockwork, the person ahead of me

has a dispute with a price, or something is not marked at all. Then the ten minute CSI investigation begins. Now, this has happened to me as well, so I make sure all my items are clearly marked or in the weekly flyer. In order to avoid holding up the line, if something slips past me, I'll tell the cashier, to forget about that particular item, because, hey, I'm considerate like that. People have places to be and things to do. As do I. But has anyone EVER afforded me that courtesy, HECK NO!

In the first scenario, I must admit, I've never been late due to the constant irritating traffic I must deal with daily. I don't even let it affect my day, as a rule, because it's never made me late. But it does destroy my peace, my Phil Jackson type Zen, as I try so hard to hold onto to it as arrive at my BELOVED job. But almost daily I forget I'm never late, despite the madness that takes me out of character and jacks me for my peace. The market, pretty much the same, I never stop to realize in the moment that I go when it's most convenient for me, that I'm in no rush and time is not an issue. Then why on earth do these type of occurrences drive me to distraction. In a word, patience. Or lack of thereof. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PATIENCE. My mom used to tell me she was gonna to pray I'd get some, and I'd beg her not to. I know God, personally, and I have a good idea of how he works. You ask for patience, or someone does on your behalf, and you will go through so much stuff, that you'll be on the mat, face down screaming, UNCLE! Nah, I'll pass. That's what my high blood pressure pills are for, right? Life's inconveniences that make you crazy and raise it. So nooooo I do NOT pray for patience. I don't need that kinda drama in my life. I think it's hereditary though, because my beloved dad had none as well. NOT. ONE. DROP. Apple-Tree.

But lately, when I get to that spot in traffic, or something on another level my life isn't moving fast enough I remember that God's timing is perfect. God knows what we need, when we need it, better than we do. If we try to force some desire, it's probably going to be a messy outcome. and not God's best for us. I force myself to relax and remember, I've not been late due to the abysmal roads in Northwest Indiana. I breathe. I turn up the radio louder and try to relax. It actually worked Thursday(a really bad traffic day) and Friday. It's OK. It really is! The job isn't going anywhere, and apparently I can't either, so I force myself to calm down. I might even let one of the bogarders get in ( one), and that's OK to.

I have a sister friend Peaches, who exudes patience. She drives me crazy with that! She is thee most patient person I know. Oh it's sooo irritating. But she's always so right. What is getting all worked up accomplishing??  "Girl, you need to calm down." Ugh... but she'd be so proud. She's always been like this. All Zen. Calm Cool Collected. She's not popping pressure pills, and her hair is basically still dark.

In the listing of Fruits of the spirit, patience is number four, behind love, joy and peace, but ahead of

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. So to come before kindness and goodness, it's position must mean it's really really important to have.

So while I'm on this patience journey, please be patient with me.

Ninakupenda

 

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

For the first couple of Fridays I will be dispensing information on this dreaded disease. An overview.

Pancreatic cancer is said to be one of the more rare cancers, so says the Mayo Clinic. I cannot tell, because this is the disease that took my mom from me and it seems I'm constantly hearing of someone who has been diagnosed with it. Fewer than 200,000 cases are diagnosed each year.

Pancreatic cancer is a cancer that begins in the organ lying behind the lower part of the stomach(pancreas). Pancreas secretes enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help regulate the metabolism of sugars. This type of cancer is often detected late,        and reads quickly and has a poor prognosis.

Symptoms.
A medical diagnosis is required. There are no symptoms in the early stages. Later stages are associated with symptoms, but these can be non-specific, such as lack of appetite and weight loss. Also experienced is pain the abdomen or middle back, fluid in the abdomen or nausea, body fatigue or loss of appetite, dark urine and yellow skin and eyes.  

 

Treatment depends on the stage.
Treatment may include surgically removing the pancreas, radiation and chemotherapy. Lastly palliative care.

Specialists.
Oncologist, who is a specialist in cancer is the doctor who will diagnose the disease.
Palliative medicine, who focuses on improving the quality of life for those with severe illnesses
General surgeon.
Gastroenterologist.

Pancreatic cancer is treatable when caught early. The vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until too late. Five year survival rates approach 25% if the cancers are surgically removed while they are still small and have not spread to the lymph nodes.

As stated, this is somewhat of a rare disease, and the number of people who succumb to it is horribly high. Next week I will share the various stages of this disease.

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Breast Cancer Part 3 With Ruth Wilson and Stephanie Young-Johnson

Thursday, October 17th, I had the honor of chatting with two of my sheros. These woman won the battle and came out on the other side.

Stephanie Young-Johnson and Ruth Wilson are breast cancer survivors. Their journey was hard, but they made it through, with the grace of Jehovah Rapha, family, church family, friends and each other.

Please listen to their inspiring journey. You'll rejoice with them and be blessed.

What's On Your Mind?

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things. Phil 4:8 NKJV

Social media giant, Facebook asks the question, "what's on your mind?" Today, that's an extremely loaded question. Our minds, most of us I venture to say, are filled and clogged with all manner of stuff almost like a head cold. Crammed. This is treacherous terrain for those of us unfortunate enough to be overthinkers such as myself. Sometimes the mind just will NOT shut off. There is no switch, no pull chain, or any other mechanism that can deliver us from this affliction. It is the cause for many sleepless nights, or nights of disturbed sleep. We have a tendency to borrow trouble. Imagining all the worst, never considering it is just as easy for a positive outcome to be manifested as a negative one.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV  I wish I could put that in red, being Jesus's words.

Sometimes we'll run into situations that makes positive, affirming thoughts almost impossible. But that's what we're called to do. We need to, as the elders used to say, stop borrowing trouble. Jesus told us exactly that. But again, for all of us, many times in life that's easier said than done. We must learn to train our thoughts. We must break away from self-destructive thoughts that keep us tossing and turning, walking the floor, having that extra glass of wine, or whatever it is you do to enable you to relax. They'll be trouble always, this side of paradise. It's totally unavoidable. But the great thing, the only GOOD thing about trouble is, it doesn't last forever. While we're in the midst of it, it can feel that way, but feelings lie. And if you're a child of the most high, then you know something good will come from your suffering. The bible says God gives beauty for ashes. Isaiah 61:3 Furthermore, it also says in Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. So there's but two of the promises in the word that let's us know that when the smoke clears everything will be alright.

So next time you cannot sleep, for whatever reason, reflect on these things. And...    

Stop worrying about grown children, give advice, if asked, but turn them over to the Lord.
Stop worrying about that job. If you die tomorrow morning, your position will be filled the next day.
Stop worrying about that spouse/so. People love you the way they know how.
Stop worrying when your king/queen will come. Live YOUR life.
Stop worrying about bills. You'll owe someone until the day you die.
Stop worrying about America. We won't have to suffer this nut in the oval very much longer.

Remember His promises. Ask Him to increase your faith. The bible says in Psalms 121:4 says, indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. That's praiseworthy!!!!

So let God be God. And go to sleep.

Ninakupenda

Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Although it shares this month with Breast Cancer Awareness, it doesn't get the attention that it so rightly deserves. Women, and in many cases, men to are pummeled sometimes beyond all recognition by husbands/boyfriends, wife/girlfriends at rates that are on the increase. I won't pontificate on why people choose to stay in such dangerous situations, although I know why many do, as probably you do as well. I am not going to judge in this space. My intention is to share the information I've gleaned in regard to this topic. But before I venture any further, please take note of the phone number provided below.

IPV, short for Intimate Partner Violence is a very frequent occurrence all over the world. According to data from the CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey(NISVS), about 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men have experienced contact with sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported some form of IPV-related impact.

Wife beating was made illegal in all states of the U.S. by 1920. Modern attention to domestic violence began in the women's movement of the 1970s, particularly within feminism and women's rights, as concern about wives being beaten by their husbands gained attention.

A UN report compiled from a number of different studies conducted in at least 71 countries found domestic violence against women to be most prevalent in Ethiopia. In the U.S., numerous studies have found that women and men are equally likely to report to researchers that they have hit their partners during the preceding 12 months. Domestic violence, they argue, exhibits gender symmetry: that is, an equal number of women and men are it's victims. Surprisingly.

Health consequences of IPV include, increased health problems such as injury, chronic pain, STDs, depression, and PTSD as well documented by controlled research in abused women in various settings

Of the 2340 deaths at the hands of intimate partners in America in 2007, female victims made up 70%. FBI data fro the mid-1970s to mid-1980s found that for every 100 husbands who killed their wives in the U.S., about 75 women killed their husbands. 

Marital Status. Cohabitating women are at greater risk of domestic violence and uxoricide than married women. Research has found that cohabitating women are nine times more likely to be killed by their intimate partner than a married woman. A number of possible reasons account for this finding. 1) Cohabitating women are more likely to be young, with a lower level of education and are more likely to bring children from a previous relationship in their home with their new intimate partner. 2) In addition to this heightened risk to a mother with stepchildren, the genetically unrelated stepfather also poses a risk to the child; research has shown that children are at much greater risk of violence and filicide(murder of a child) from stepfathers compared to a genetic father. Research has found that the presence of stepchildren can significantly increase the risk of uxorcide(the murder of one's wife or female romantic partner. It can refer to the act itself or the person who carries it out). The killing of a partner is called mariticide. A large number of filicides are accompanied by uxoricide and suicide.

It goes without saying both alcohol and drug abuse contribute greatly to domestic violence. Today's stresses, learned behavior from childhood. also contribute to the mix among a myriad of other reasons/excuses. Some people are just not good and decent human beings.

My own godmother was a victim of domestic violence. My beloved Momma Eva. She was a hairdresser and gave me what I used to call shaky curls(what a seven year old calls banana curls). He hardly served any time. Full disclosure, I saw him once and almost ran up on the curb to run over him. He killed a beautiful woman. Eva Mae Campos. I'll say her name. I would overhear my parents talking, because little ones love to listen to things they should not. She suffered greatly. Frequently. Even my dad tried to get her to leave. But every one has to have their own fill, revelation, epiphany, if you will. Sadly she never did.

So if you know someone suffering through this, be there for them, but just know, they won't make any moves until they're ready. Just pray they do before it's too late.

ONE FINAL THING... I am still awaiting word on how to bring the 3rd and final breast cancer blog to you. I'm dreading typing it, praying that my techie comes through and helps me out. Fingers crossed. 


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Kupendana
 

Growing Old Or Grown Up?

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11  NKJV

When we are children, we cannot wait to grow up. We long for the days of making all our own decisions, doing what we want-when we want, and answering to no one. We're grown! We've arrived! In the words of Janet Jackson, we want to be in control. We never take into consideration what this entails. Responsibilities. Jobs. Health issues. Financial setbacks. Errant children. Aging parents. And the list goes on and on and on. But not being psychic and being immature, we live in the moment, and the moment knows nothing about how hard knocked life can get.

Most of us, grudgingly rise to the occasion, face the music and handle our business. We may groan, moan and complain, but miraculously by the grace of God, we get through the valleys and revel in the mountain tops. We grew up. Adults in every sense of the word.

However, there are some, whom age chronologically, but they don't fully mature. Some never grow up at all. Some are doing the exact same things they did 20-30-40 years ago. They give little thought to the future, help no one but themselves and treat and interact with others in their retarded mental state. Going from woman to woman, man to man, still trying to recapture the "glory days," when they had no paunch, and shapes like coca cola bottles. They're still hanging out in clubs, wearing clothing that should be given to younger relatives or Goodwill. They're spreading around their four syllable words trying to impress and using most of them out of context. They work and amass nothing. Just good time Charlies/Charlottes. Or worse yet, they're in churches, doing the same thing, swapping out church for clubs, hearing the word, but it taking no root. Most have very little conscious and therefore could not give a whit about any one's feelings apart from their own. Playing games with no shame.

Question is, who's to blame for this? Did their parents not give them what they needed to be well rounded, fully developed human beings? Or were their lives so fraught with dysfunction, that some how it impeded their mental growth? What happened to them? Who dropped them? Or could it be, they alone decided that they would be narcissistic and all about themselves? Unable to communicate and afraid of confrontation, man/women babies are perfectly OK with walking away from their offspring, loving spouses/mates, many times without a second thought, to continue in their narcissistic behavior, believing, in err, that the world evolves solely around them. They believe they are the sun. And those who fly too close will get burned.

They're easy to spot. Most still live at home, or worse yet, in their mom's basement. I really don't think we can be mad at the man woman/-babies, they probably don't even know that their maturity is stunted. It's kinda of sad. So instead of being enraged at those who, for whatever reason will not grow up, even into their 40s-50s-and 60s, I say they are to be pitied, and prayed for. Probably even the one whom inhabits the oval. So lets make that 70s as well.

Admittedly, we all probably have areas where there is room for growth. No one is perfect, no not one, the good book says. I, personally petition God everyday, less of me, more of thee. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

If it's possible, talk to them. find out what makes them stuck/stagnant. Do it with love and concern. If they're receptive, that's wonderful. If they are not, and it irritates you, remember, some we are called to love from afar. Pray for them. Love them. But re-evaluate how you interact with them for your own peace of mind. Let peace always lead the way.

You're the keeper of the castle, so be a father to your children. A provider of all their daily needs. Like a sovereign lord protector, Be their best friend, please direct them, and they'll do well to follow where you lead.

You're the keeper of the castle, so be a good man to your lady, the creator of the sunshine in her day. In the garden that you seeded, be a friend when a friend is needed. You won't have to look the other way. 
Sung by the Four Tops, circa 1972. Written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter.

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