My good friend is groaning in pain

[MaryBear]

from cancer treatments - chemo followed by radiation.

I put towels in the dryer to warm them and they seem to help.

when she puts them over where it hurts.

It is hard to hear her.;( :scared:

[AngryAmish]

1. Golly that is awful

I wish there was a nice way to say this but: my mother died of cancer BUT narcotics did a world of good. Suffering does not mean survival. Tell your friend to take the drugs. They help. Cheers.

[MaryBear]

7. Mine did, too, AngryAmish.

My understanding is that some survive and some do not.

Now I understand why one would turn from treatment if even slight chance of survival was not present.

My friend has Stage 3 Breast Cancer. :shrug:

She does have some chance.

I pray she survives and thrives.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Is it your housemate?

I'm sorry. She's a neat lady. :(

[MaryBear]

8. Thanks, Oedit.

She is a very neat lady. And you are a neat man. Come on over and visit us.

Can you believe I am still putting things away in my room?

I have decided to take much of it to storage so I can survive and thrive myself!

MB:hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. Your friend is lucky

to have a wonderful friend like you. :hug::hug:hug:

I hope she gets results from the treatments...

[MaryBear]

9. GoddessOfGuinness, remember when we almost met?

Thank you for your kind words.

She took me in when I needed a place.

We are both lucky.

I hope she gets results, too -- otherwise it is kinda like childbirth without the baby and then you die.

I have to remind myself to be positive.

[WCGreen]

4. Boy, I went through that with my mom.....

You are kind and loving....

[MaryBear]

12. Kind and loving....

I have my moments of that.

Anger, too.

Her boyfriend was transferred to southern California.

Her daughters are not speaking to her.

I think they don't know how to handle her illness and so do exactly the wrong thing.

So I breathe.

[u4ic]

5. Gentle

:hug: to your friend, and to you.

It is heartwrenching to know someone you love is in that sort of pain. :-(

[MaryBear]

14. Yes, u4ic.

It is!

I pray to the Goddess to bring even more healing strength to this Christian woman and end her pain.

I pray to God that she may thrive.

I pray to the Universe that she lives or dies in peace.

I pray to God/dess the Universe that I know when to help and when to just breathe and go on about my day.

[BrotherBuzz]

6. We do what we need to do - thanks for being there

Dampened hot towels retain the heat longer. Just make sure they are changed out before they get cold. Moist heat can be very soothing. Martha says you can even heat a wet towel in a microwave and wrap it in a dry one.

[MaryBear]

15. Tell Martha thank you.

And ask her when you folks are coming down for a visit.

If the pain worsens again tonight I will do that. Damp towel in dry one. Warmed.

:grouphug:

[Callalily]

10. All I can offer you are

hugs and prayers. You and your friend are very brave.

[MaryBear]

16. Brave means living through difficulty.

I read that somewhere.

Thank you for your prayers.

[libnnc]

11. I am so, so sorry

I lost my partner's sister to pancreatic cancer last year. It was horrible to watch.

hugs to you :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

[MaryBear]

17. Pancreatic cancer

is a bad deal. My mother died from it. Luckily for her, the cancer did not press on nerves so she had little pain until the very end. We have too much cancer around us. It is past time for a cure!

[Swede]

13. Oh Marybear,this is tough to reply to.

I hope both of you find peace.

[MaryBear]

18. Thank you, Swede.

May peace also find you.

MB

[RFKHumphreyObama]

19. I'm so very sorry MaryBear

My thoughts, prayers, positive vibes and best wishes to you and your friend -I'm so very sorry that the both of you have to go through this :hug: :grouphug:

A loved one of mine is going through chemotherapy -although not fully fledged chemo -and there are some days when it has been absolutely heartwrenching to witness. I know some of what you must be experiencing :hug: :hug:

Once again my thoughts, prayers, best wishes and positive vibes to the both of you

[MaryBear]

21. Thank you, socialdemocrat1981.

I had heard that chemo made people sick, and their hair fall out.

I did not know about the pain.

Talking about this here helps.

[bertha katzenengel]

20. oh, god, oh shit, Mary Bear

I am so, so sorry. I'm sure your presence comforts her. I am so sorry.

[MaryBear]

23. bertha katzenengel, thank you.

MB

[jmm]

22. I've got an uncle going through that now.

It's difficult watching someone you love suffer but atleast she has you to help her through it.

:hug:

[MaryBear]

24. I don't know enough about it

to know whether this is normal post radiation pain or whether it means the cancer has gone to her bones.

She is in the hospital now. The pain was too much for her to bear. Hopefully only a nerve pressed by swelling is the problem.