(no subject)

[amberdreams]

My best friend up in Liverpool has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 Astrocytoma.I've been trying to do some research and this is not good. It's an incurable brain tumour and the longest I can find anyone surviving diagnosis is twelve years - but that seems to be very unusual. Two to five years appears to be more 'normal'.

She doesn't want to know the results, so one of her two daughters is acting as the conduit for all the information. I don't know if this is a good idea but on balance, it probably is, because in this instance, being armed with all the information would probably not help approaching this with a positive frame of mind, and that is going to be essential for surviving for any length of time, I think.

I want to see her but she didn't want me to take a trip specially up to Liverpool so I'll have to wait for November, when I am going up to Shrewsbury again. I can't make it an urgent trip because she doesn't want to know what's going on.

She's three weeks younger than me. We've been friends since we were seven, when she moved in across the road from our house. She's the closest thing I had to a sister growing up; we lived in each other's pockets except when we argued and fell out.

I feel a bit sick.

Fuck. Just fuck.

Comments

[herminekurotowa.livejournal.com]

Oh crap :(((((

I'm so sorry.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Me too. :(

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear that; I hope your friend can be one of the statistics that can last for a good many years yet.
I'm keeping everything crossed for her x

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks Diz. There's nothing anyone can say really, I just had to stick this here for me, you know.

[fufaraw]

I'm so sorry. I can't say I'd make a different decision in her place. I'm a self-admitted hypochondriac, and every little itch and muscle twitch immediately becomes a symptom of something. For someone I love, I want to know, so I can do the research and do what I can to help, even if that's nothing but fetch groceries and hoover the upstairs. But for me, I think not knowing would be better.

I'm sorry you're dealing not only with your friend's illness, though, but the need to maintain the facade of ignorance for her. That's doubly hard.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm not very good at keeping secrets, I'm a very bad liar. But I can see why not knowing could be a positive move.

[sillie]

Oh no, I'm so sorry bb. *hugs*

[hugemind.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry, bb. *hugs*

[chellexxx.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I wish that there were words that could help. *Hugs*

xxx

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry to see this...I can't imagine how tough this is for you...Sending a hug and all my positive thoughts.

[jj1564.livejournal.com]

I am so very sorry to hear about your friend, what an awful shock for you and her family and friends. I can empathise, as my ex-brother-in-law, Mark, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in March and was basically told he has 2 years, but as upsetting as the news was, I'm not that close to him. I can't imagine how awful it must be to be facing this news about your best friend.

But please don't give up hope, every one is different in how things develop, and new cures are being found all the time for cancer. When I spoke to Mark, we decided that we are going to be statistical anomalies and out-live all expectations, so I hope this applies to your friend, too.

I'm sending you huge hugs, my dear, and lots of love xx

[sw0rdy.livejournal.com]

Crappy news. Love and positive vibes to you both. X

[kazluvsbooks.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry for you, that is awful news **hugs you tight**

[de-nugis.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope she has as long as possible as healthy as possible. And it's always hard negotiating around people's choices about healthcare and information, even when you get where they are coming from.

[toratio.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

[ephermeralk.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry Amber. Hopefully if she doesn't want to know results, she will take whatever time she has left to live life to its fullest, rather than spend her last years in a hospital, sick on chemo. At least, that's what I would do if I had astrocytoma.

Xx sorry you, and her have to go through this

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

:( *squeezes you*

[yohkobennington.livejournal.com]

Oh god, Amber, Im so sorry :c

[galwithglasses.livejournal.com]

((hugs)) It's just rotten. I'll be thinking of you and your friend.

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Hopefully not knowing what could lie ahead will be a positive thing for your friend, but it must be very hard for family and friends. I wish you, and your friend, all the best. Take care and keep us updated too *hugs*

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I am so fucking sorry honey! *hugs*
I don't know that this is any help at all, but if she doesn't know the results or the time frames, she will at least be able to enjoy what time she has left without a ticking clock over her shoulder.
I think perhaps I'd have taken the same route.
If you need anything,y ou let me know, okay? xx

[http://users.livejournal.com/tesserae_/]

Aww, honey, that's wicked. I am so sorry...

[monicawoe.livejournal.com]

So sorry for you both. My thoughts are with you.
::hugs::

[blackrabbit42.livejournal.com]

So sorry to hear this honey. What a blow. Will keep both of you in my heart and in my prayers.

((((Hugs)))))

[fridayblues.livejournal.com]

Oh no :(
It's always so sad to hear about this. I'm sending your friends and her family and you good thoughts and vibes.
*hugs*

[jimbobjoe.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry about your friend. *HUGS*

[somersault-j.livejournal.com]

FUCK IT! Godamn! I am so, so sorry :( *hugs*

[big-heart-june.livejournal.com]

Gosh, BB, I cannot even express how very sorry I am. Sending you every loving vibe 💗

[dear-tiger.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, I am so sorry about this happening to your friend, hun D: It must be an awful shock. I can see why she might not want to know: some people can't just tune out the bad news and enjoy what they have, and she must know that something isn't right if she made that request. I'm so sorry! I hope you get to go there soon and see her and have an awesome time together ♥