... He was taking the compound from a western yew - Taxus(?), finally after six or so years he developed a lung fungus and the treatment for one interfered with the treatment for the other. He'd go until one condition got bad enough to treat it. And then the other.
My cancers were more straight forward. The bladder cancer was of a type that radiation or chemo just won't work. I had two courses of BCG, tumors removed 5 or 6 times, and my bladder removed.
I've had about half of my colon removed, and my prostate was taken with the bladder and it was found to be cancerous, too. All in eight years, with the bladder removal in June two years ago.
None of pain and discomfort came from the cancers, but I got more than my fair share from treatment. At least a surgeon could put his scalpel on my cancer.
Irv never had that chance. He had to depend solely on the chemo, he could only hope for a cure, I at least had surgery as a good option.
The way I found out Irvin passed was when I went to his room, his bed was made up. He just "checked out".
The bright point and blessing in that for me and for Irvin, too, I think: Irv didn't know he was dying at the moment. On top of his table over his bed were the last two album covers he putting together for two discs he was recording. He had worked on them till he went to sleep that night and didn't wake up the next morning.
Please remember: All cancers are very personal diseases. What happens to one is not what happens to everyone. I had to debate relating this all to you because, again, all cancers are personal, and I do not want to take any hope of a cure that personal cancers do hold. When I say your mom and you are in my thoughts, it's because you all are. And because I know there is a cure for everyone, knowing when, where and how is a delicate thing and I didn't want to possibly close anyone's mind on that possibility.
Bless you both.
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