Oh dear, Sharon, I'm so sorry that your niece is so ill.

You are certainly in my thoughts and prayers and are getting all the positive thoughts I can send to you. I'll pray for healing for Kate and wait to hear that the news is good.

Annie

Oh Sharon, that's dreadful news. Very positive thoughts to your niece and fervent hopes that the new treatment is effective for her.

what a scary thing to go through, I wish you all the best in this.

Oh Sharon, I am so sorry to hear this. Kate is so young to have to deal with the "C" word.

Sending a boatload of healing thoughts to all of you. Hoping the trial treatment does the trick, I'll be checking back for updates.

Linda

Yes, way too young, she should be having fun and setting her life's course not suffering and wondering. My thoughts and prayers are also lined up with your friends and family.

We are dealing with my youngest brother colon cancer and the subsequent problems it caused his pancreas.

What an awful thing for someone so young to have to deal with. Kate will be in my thoughts, and so will your whole family.

Yes, way too young, she should be having fun and setting her life's course not suffering and wondering. My thoughts and prayers are also lined up with your friends and family.

We are dealing with my youngest brother's colon cancer and the subsequent problems it caused his pancreas.

Oh dear! Sending as many positive thoughts and energy as I can muster. She's so young, but clinical trials are worth exploring. A good friend had stage 4 melanoma in 1994. He entered a very early trial and today is fine. There are miracles!

Thanks everyone ...it is so tough watching her go through this, in some ways even tougher watching my sister.

All I know is that if she can be so positive and so upbeat then I certainly can.

Maybe that's a gift youth has, she just simply does not accept that this can "get" her. She says she has way too much to do and intends to do it!

Thanks again

Also including my most positive thoughts and prayers to the others. Way too young. There is never a good time but 29 is way to young.

My thoughts are also with you, Sharon. I understand what you're experiencing. I lost my sweet 17 year old niece to leukemia. There are no words for how painful it was to watch my sister and BIL endure those months. Karen's disease progressed quickly - just 8 months between diagnosis and when we lost her.

In February, our neighbor and fellow marina/boating buddy was diagnosed with neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer - the type that Steve Jobs fought. He's been receiving aggressive chemo but a couple weeks ago found out there are 2 new lesions. It's our understanding that the treatments are to improve life quality rather than extend life. There is too much of this stuff happening...

/tricia

Sharon, I have a good friend of mine that is going through pretty much the same thing. It is so sad to see such a young person going through this terrible cancer. Kate and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers today, tomorrow and always.
.

Oh, Sharon, I am so sorry this is happening to your niece, your family, and to you. I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers. 29 is way too young for this, but I guess at that age, maybe healing is more likely to happen.

Sally

Thanks again for all the good thoughts.

Sally, one of the reasons Kate was accepted into this trial is because of her age and overall good health, She is very strong both physically and mentally.

Her surgery for the implant should be around our Thanksgiving and we should know how effective it was by Christmas.

I'll be sure to keep you all posted.

So sorry you and your family are going through this. Praying here.

So on the hope side those little implants sound very similar to what they use in prostate cancer and the success rate is 90%. A friend just had them done. So cheers to a great clinical trial.

I will certainly add Kate to my prayers.

Sharon, the fact that she's young and armed with a positive outlook already tells me she's a survivor. The latter is particularly important.

I will certainly keep your 'sweetie pie,' and everyone whose hearts she's captured, in my thoughts. Many hugs.

Sol

I look forward to hearing more about her progress, and appreciate you keeping us updated.

Sally

Best wishes and prayers for Kate!

I'm sorry to read this, Sharon. I'll remember you all in prayers.

In my thoughts and prayers also. Please do keep us posted.

Sherry

Sending all those things to Kate and her family, and to you and yours, Sharon. I agree with Tricia...there's way too much of this stuff.

And she is way too young. But I'm also way behind research and trials.I'm glad she is strong. Hoping for the best.

Chase, I came back to this thread because I was thinking of you and your family.

Praying are going up to your Kate in hopes that she is doing well and continued thoughts are said for her everyday.

RR, I check back periodically too, hoping that Kate is recovering and feeling better.

I'm also sending prayers and strong thoughts.

Annie

Praying for Kate! Please keep us informed!

Positive thoughts for Kate.

May we all be truly thankful come Thanksgiving Day.

Sol

Kate is still waiting for the surgery to implant the test "chemo bomb" in her liver.

Poor kid was quite weak from her regular chemo and she caught a cold which turned into bronchitis. So the oncologists are waiting for her to get her strength back before proceeding,

It's a tough, tough road for her but she is keeping a positive attitude.

There is much for us to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend but there is a cloud over our happiness. Meredith says that we are going to call today Hopegivng Day instead of Thanksgiving. Day...next year we'll be back to Thanks!!

Thanks for the update, Sharon. I hate that she is sick, but I hope she gets better soon. I like the idea of Hopegiving Day. Brilliant!

Sally

Thank you for the update Sharon.
I think of you and your Kate daily. Still praying!

Best thoughts for Kate's recovery from the bronchitis so she can regain her strength for the next phase of her treatment.

Praying here for Kate!

I'm sending up some more prayers for Kate too, and hoping that she overcomes the bronchitis quickly so she can go on to the next phase of her treatment.

Hang in there, I'm hoping along with you this year that all will be well for Kate.

Annie

Liver bomb- I pictured when they bring down buildings in a populated area and have to protect all the buildings around it. May the charges be in all the right places and the surrounding good tissues be safe.

IJN

I'm still thinking of you all.

Sharon, sending strong thoughts and good wishes for Miss Kate!

Sending prayers for healing for Kate, and strength for your family.

Tami

Thinking of your niece and sending positive thoughts - my sister battled with colon cancer several years ago and is in remission -- your niece is much too young to have to do battle with such a tough disease - so sorry she is having to go through this, sending her and all of her family strength

Latest news is that Kate will be going to NYC for the trial procedure. As much as I'm thrilled she will have this chance it is an emotional and financial hardship for my sister.

Canadian health insurance will pay everything for Kate but not the expenses associated with my sister flying to NYC and staying there for 10 days....plus of course she has to take the time off work.

When I talked to Kate she was not as positive as she has been . She missed T-Day with the family and looks like she will miss Christmas too. She told me she is so tired of being sick....it just breaks my heart.

I hate cancer but I love Kate and we will keep marching forward...

Chase, So sorry to hear that Kate is still not doing well, but how exciting that she can be part of the trial procedure. It sounds hopeful. I feel terrible for your sister. She must be at the end of her rope. Wish I were closer to NYC so I could offer a place to stay. Has she looked into Air BNB? Perhaps she can find a more affordable option there.

I hope for only the best for Kate and your sister -- and you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Air BNB New York

Oh, Sharon, I was hoping for some better news.

I'll keep praying for a positive outcome for Kate and for strength for your sister and the rest of the people who love Kate.

I wish I knew someone in New York where Kate could stay, l'm also too far away to be of any help.

Annie

Latest news.....

Kate is scheduled for the trial procedure January 7th. The doctors were very positive saying they expected this would add several years to her life...I was hoping for something better but you take what you can get at this point.

Better news is my sister 's company is paying for her to fly to NYC and putting her up in a hotel for the week to 10 days Kate is in Hospital.

So go out and buy Wrigley gum and Mars bars....it's the Mars family that is picking up the tab.

I'll let you know how things progress but in the meantime please keep her in your thoughts.

I'm glad the doctors are positive, at least, and adding years can add time for something else to be discovered, perhaps.

She'll stay in my prayers, hoping for a miracle treatment for Kate.

Annie

I am keeping Kate and family in my thoughts for a successful procedure and improvement. I'm pleased to hear about the Mars Family picking up the tab. Their charitable foundation spreads good will to others around the world, it's nice that they're helping one of their own "family" too.

Still in my thoughts. And maybe, she'll blow them away with how much longer she gets (with good quality life) with this trial. She may be breaking new ground for something that gives loads of people loads of hope!!!

Okay, M&Ms in every holiday stocking this year. Kudos to Mars!

Still thinking of Kate and hoping for the very best.

You're right, dedtired, I just went out and bought 20 packages of M&Ms for the little bags of goodies for the kids at the family Christmas party this year, as a nod to the Mars family.

Annie

Nice, Annie.

That's great news, Sharon. I'll remember that date because it's my FIL's birthday, his 94th! That's gotta be a good omen if there ever was one.

Sally

Really wonderful news.

And I'll definitely be buying Mars bars this Christmas.

~Ann

Thanks everyone...Kate is very positive and that's what matters most.

Yes Mars, actually the Mars family themselves, will be paying all of my sisters expenses as well as any of Kate's expenses not covered by Ontario Health Care.

Lots of Mars stuff in out holiday stockings too!

Glad to see good news and that Kate is positive. Attitude is important.

Thinking pretty highly of the Mars family right now...