Farrah Fawcett dies after 3 year battle with anal cancer - Los Angeles Times

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Oh, that's so sad.....

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That is so sad.
I didn't know about that.
RIP Farrah

My husband said he read in the paper that she and Ryan O Neil were going to get married again and broadcast it live for the world to see.

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Be careful what you wish for.....

There was a new break when I was watching t.v. earlier this morning, and it instantly brought me to tears.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

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I just saw that....how sad.

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Turned on the tv and just saw it. I guess she and Ryan didn't have a chance to marry. God rest her soul.

I just opened up yahoo and saw it on the front page. I have been gone all morning so I don't know if it's on our news or not.

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So so sad I also read that her and Ryan O'Neil were going to remarry. She was suffering so much and may she now rest in peace and God give strength to her family she was beautiful.... Peace. Catherine

Prayers and sympathy for the family.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

She was a very classy, beautiful lady...so courageous. I'm sorry that she and Ryan never had the chance to marry. He adored her and was so devoted to her throughout her illness.
I hope her son will get his act together as a tribute to his mom.

That is so sad. I always liked Farrah and after watching her documentary about her struggle with cancer, I respected her so much. She was definitely a fighter. May she rest in peace.

Farrah turned out to be a great actress after Charlie's Angels. I got a new respect for her watching her documentary about her fighting cancer. This really really saddens me.

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They were never married. This would not have been a re-marriage, but their first. I sure wish they had made it.

I don't think she knew her son was in prison, which is a good thing.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Sad news - the world lost a beautiful and strong woman. May she rest in peace. Cancer stinks.

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

While it's sad that someone who is forever youthful in our minds has passed, Farrah and Ryan had nearly 30 years to marry. Seems he asked her numerous times, but after her marriage to Lee Majors (she said he was controlling), she always turned down Ryan's proposals. I also hope she was unaware of her son's problems in her final days.

I watched Farrah's Story last night on NBC. I cried through many parts of it. One of the things that really struck me is what an absolute gem of a friend Alanna Stewart was to Farrah. It would appear that she was by Farrah's side for everything through those two wretched years. May Farrah rest in peace, and may those closest to her find solace in the end to her suffering.....and may Redmond get the wake-up call to turn his life around.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Shame he wasn't more adoring and devoted to her BEFORE her illness instead of beating her up and mistreating her until she finally left him. What do you mean she and Ryan never had the chance to marry? They had more than TWENTY FIVE YEAR'S worth of chances! They could have married any time since 1982 and chose not to. Ryan milked Farrah's suffering for all it was worth and gave interviews every day saying how hard her death would be on HIM - HE would miss her, HE would be lonely, HE would be so sad, HIM, HIM, HIM.

Ryan had no interest in marrying Farrah until she was on death's door and too sick to sit up in bed - then he used her impending death as a PR opportunity for himself.

Yeah, I have to agree that I am not too impressed by Ryan O'Neal...but my exposure is pretty much limited to the movie. I kept wondering how come he wasn't around very much....and mostly did cameos.... As an aside, he hasn't aged that well....

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I am sorry that she lost her battle with her anal cancer.
After watching her documentary I realized just how vain she really was. She opted to not have a colostomy. My oldest sister also had anal cancer. I say "had" because she opted for the colostomy, had chemo and radiation, and is now cancer free.

I also feel that Ryan was only there for the publicity. He was probably more upset that Michael Jackson passed away the same day and overshadowed Farrah's passing.

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Living well IS the best revenge!!

I am a member of a very large ostomy board. I have a permanent colostomy. Many of the members have been talking about how they felt she "dissed" them when she opted not to have an ostomy. She did not want to "live with a bag" all her life. While I did not see the documentary, many of them had. They felt that she made like they were freaks because they had to live with a pouch for the rest of their lives. Not all ostomy's are permanent. But then again, she died and they are alive. No one wants to have a pouch. It's not a great way to live. But if I had to chose between having a pouch and possibly prolonging my life, or else unconventional therapy and/or medicine, I would go with the pouch. But, it was her choice to make.

OP: I am happy that your sister is now cancer free.

I can't believe people would worry about which form of treatment she wanted. It had nothing to do with them. It was here every right to decide, no matter the reason.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I believe that you might have misunderstood what I posted. The people on this ostomy board who felt she dissed people with "bags"...many of them had colon cancer, anal cancer (like she did), cancer of the rectum, etc. They were told that their best chance for survival is to have surgery and have an ostomy. Many of them have been cured of their cancers. While I did not see the documentary where she refused to have an ostomy, they felt she was putting down people who did have an ostomy. They said she was told her best chance of survival was surgery with an ostomy. However, they felt she was being vain. No one cares what treatment she did or did not do. It was her choice.
No one wants to live with an ostomy pouch. It's not very much fun. However, if it means she might have lived as opposed to dying, she would have done more good to publicly say that having an ostomy can prolong and even cure cancer. She just did not choose that option.

I understood. I just don't think it is right to assume why or care why she did not go for that. It is her own personal right. Even if she was being vain.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I agree -- and I don't think it's fair to assume that she made the choices she made because she was "vain"

Right. I just hate all the assuming that goes on.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

You still are not understanding what I am saying. Below is just one of the posts from the board. Some thought she was being vain. So? Again, if you had an ostomy and had to live with one, you would understand what is being said here. She opted not to have one. Ryan O'Neil himself said she was vain. Read below.

DEATH OF FARRAH FAWCETT FROM RECTAL CA
by xxxxx 06-26-09

I just needed to write this email for a discussion, and ventiliation, of how sad I felt for the death of Farrah Fawcett, Charlies Angle, and I know we chose our own paths, and treatment in life, but after watching her story on TV and hearing Ryan ONeal say she was "too vain to live with a bag and colostomy and have her colon removed" which could have saved her life horrified me. She chose alternative treatments, and I cant say I blame anyone for chosing that, but to lose your life due to not trying surgery to have a permanent colostomy/ileo due to vanity, is sad sad sad. I just wondered how others felt. I heard her story on TV, and was shocked, even though it was a shock to me waking up with a colostomy after a surgery mishap and I was truly in shock, but it saved my life, and I learned to live with it, wheter or not I ever had a reversal or not, which I was able to Thank g-d. But if I ever need another colostomy permanent down the road, no one is ever happy about it, but they live with it , accept it and go on with life, and make the best of it, being happy to be alive, but this was so sad and really threw me that she wouldnt accept living with a colostomy so had to die, she might have died either way from the cancer, but her chances they said on TV were alot better with the colostomy, which my aunt has lived with for over 30 years due to rectal CA. Just wanted to know how others felt.

Again, I did understand and I think it is wrong for anyone to judge her in any way for a personal choice she made and had every right to make. She was "dissing" them. Please! My best friend lived with this from birth until recently when she opted to have major reconstructive bladder surgery. She was not vain, but she did not like having a bag of urine hanging on her at all times. Whatever the reason, it is no bodies business to be talking about.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Oh please...no bodies business to be talking about? Why did she film a documentary and put it on national TV? For the fun of it? And these people who have ostomies and have cancer, also have every right to judge her. Been there, going through it. Again, her own partner said she was vain. Big f'ing deal. Was she dissing them? Many people on that board felt she was. Why she would never LIVE with a poop bag attached to her. Except she is dead and they are alive. For the record, I liked Farrah a lot. I feel badly that she evidently made the wrong decision regarding her treatment. She might still be alive today.

You sound really bitter. I don't believe in people on message boards saying things like what you posted they are saying. Period.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Oh really? Are you calling me a liar? Here's the url. It's an open board. Go read. Here's a few posts for you.http://www.uoaa.org/forum/viewforum....c1a7fc0eba7c88 I have a colostomy. So, I know exactly what I am talking about. I am just like all the people on the ostomy board.

Re: DEATH OF FARRAH FAWCETT FROM RECTAL CA
by SandyRN0224 » 2009-06-25 18:39:15

The whole thing is very sad, but I was personally offended at the way she portrayed ostomy patients, whether it was inadvertent or just her own "vanity". She made us out to look like the stigma that having an ostomy is a horrible thing, a fate worse than death in her eyes. In her show she NEVER mentioned bowel movements which must have been incredibly painful considering where her CA was. I WANTED to hear her say that it hurt to poop. I didn't WANT her to hurt, just wanted it mentioned that yes, she does do that particular body function. I think it was important for other CA patients to know what she went through in that area. Not one word, unless I missed it.

I asked my fiance, a survivor of Renal cell carcinoma, this question....'if you had CA and you had an opportunity to have it ALL taken out with a stoma surgery, would you?" He looked at me like I had 4 eyes and said, "what do you think?" I knew his answer because he had his kidney removed so that the CA would be gone. He's been CA free over a decade now, thankfully.

I know I must sound judgemental. Maybe I am a little. I'm an RN, raised on science. I think experimental/alternative treatments are wonderful (usually) and we would not be as far as we are now in treating CA and other diseases without them, BUT, when you have an option to just take it out, why don't you do it? Why do you risk death?? I know nothing is 100%, but she could possibly have had a better chance. I say this without knowing how deep the CA cells were, etc. Also, her liver mets were not there when she was initially diagnosed, right? That could possibly have been prevented as well.

I know vanity plays a very big part in many of our lives. I'm as vain as the next person. I dye my hair, I pain my nails, I watch my weight, but I would gladly lose my entire colon, rectum, kidney, whatever, to live this life!

It's not for me to judge what she did, I just think it's sad that she's not here now when she might of had a chance at life. I think that, in my own life anyway, the science comes first, the treatment most likely to keep me alive is what I'm going to do first. Then I'll look at alternative and experimental treatments to compliment......

I haven't read all your replies yet so I hope you don't find me rude....I guess I just don't understand it.....and it's not for me to understand. I'm just sorry she's not here anymore, and I'm real certain Ryan O'Neil feels the same way. That poor man must be devastated. "Sometimes that mtn you been climbing is just a grain of sand"
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Re: DEATH OF FARRAH FAWCETT FROM RECTAL CA
by xxemo_bearxx » 2009-06-25 19:16:07

SandyRN,

I know exactly what you mean. I've hesitated to post my thoughts because well, they may seem harsh or rude. I was frustrated with the way she portrayed us, and the fact she would rather have died than get an ostomy which may have saved her. I got mine at 16 and I chose to live rather than die which I would've if I didn't get my ostomy. It's very sad that people are that vain..

MorganStarving Artist/Nursing Student
18/crohn's colitis
Ileostomate 10/06

Oh, I know people do it. There are a lot of sick things people do and say every day. I said I don't believe in it, as I don't approve.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Nope! No one has the right to judge anyone's personal choice as it pertains to a "quality of life issue". Sometimes, even the "best" chance of survival does not equate to a person having an acceptable quality of life. FURTHERMORE: some people won't accept a particular treatment because of what it would mean to their caretakers---they don't want to be a burden, they don't want their friends/family to have to "suffer" along with them (although, we all know that the friends/family do...).
A person who is terminal has to make healthcare decisions based on what they can LIVE with---regardless of what your or I may think.

My BIL opted to not undergo chemo/radiation w/ pancreatic cancer. He didn't want to lose his hair, or so he said. I suspected that he didn't want my sister to watch him die a little bit at each treatment, and he didn't want to prolong the ineveitable (chemo/radiation offered MAYBE 6 months--at best). He made his peace w/ his God, his family and with himself. I don't think he was vain. I think he was incredibly well informed and made a decision that he could live (or as the case was, die) with.

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Very well said! That is not why she did the documentary.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I agree while it was sad to hear about her suffering and passing away, utlimately its her body, she is a an adult and its her personal choice what she decided what to do. Personally I have to admit if I ever had to go through cancer and suffer with chemo treatments I personally cannot truly say I would either opt or decline it would all have to depend on the circumstances, while my Aunt Theresa passed away from lung cancer in October of 2003, at that point she was told she had stage 4, and also had copd, so operation because of severe breathing problems was not a option. She was told to start heavy duty chemo treatments. She was 71 at the time, she made the decision with her 5 children present and decided to try it. Personally I felt no, but again her body her children her choice. Well 15 days later after 6 treatments she suffered so much no longer ate and was so sick with throwing up and she passed away. So in the end for me again I honestly do not know if I could deal with side effects of cancer. In Farrahs case again her body her choice, in making the story I personally took it has a chance for her to share her story with millions of viewers and perhaps raise awareness to the illiness. Also aside from already being so sick and willing to film all she did. I personally choose not to watch it, however from reading so much about it, again personally I do not think she ever thought about being vain, afterall why would she choose to do the show then if she was worrying about being vain. Sadly in the end its a loss of a very beautiful women, may she rest in peace. Peace. Catherine

I understand what you are saying, bascapline, and think there is an irony when considering what those opposing you are saying.

Forgive me if I am misinterpreting here, but I think you are actually trying to say that you and others with 'poop bags' felt Farrah was actually judging people like *you* and you found that offensive. It sounds like the reasons she gave for not wanting one left people who had made the decision to do what you did... well, like she was judging you as being 'gross' because you would make the decision to essentially walk around 'wearing' poop in a bag.

Kind of like I felt as a kid when people would say, "Eeeew- four-eyes! You wear GLASSES? Well, I wear CONTACTS! I would NEVER wear glasses because they are ugly!"

And the only conclusion left for me to draw was that they thought I was ugly.

And that was hurtful.

And I think that's what those on that message board with ostomies were feeling. Not having seen the documentary, I can't say for sure, but I am guessing that she made some statements that sounded like 'absolutes' about ostomy bags - said they were gross, repulsive, whatever - and that it was better to die than to walk around like *that*.

I can see why someone who chose to walk around like *that* might take offense.

I agree that her personal feelings are hers and hers alone and that it's not good to be judgmental of her if she was just doing the best she could to live by her own 'code of conduct' and make it through. But if she in any way made it appear that *she* had judged the choice *others* made to be a bad one, I can't fault them for feeling the need to defend the wisdom of the decision they opted to make - a decision that ultimately resulted in them, unlike Farrah, being alive.

No, I understood what I read....People were clearly just worried about the fact that she might be vain and that she did not make the choice they made or would make.

and I cant say I blame anyone for chosing that, but to lose your life due to not trying surgery to have a permanent colostomy/ileo due to vanity, is sad sad sad. I just wondered how others felt. I heard her story on TV, and was shocked, even though it was a shock to me waking up with a colostomy after a surgery mishap and I was truly in shock, but it saved my life, and I learned to live with it, wheter or not I ever had a reversal or not, which I was able to Thank g-d. But if I ever need another colostomy permanent down the road, no one is ever happy about it, but they live with it , accept it and go on with life, and make the best of it, being happy to be alive, but this was so sad and really threw me that she wouldnt accept living with a colostomy so had to die, she might have died either way from the cancer, but her chances they said on TV were alot better with the colostomy, which my aunt has lived with for over 30 years due to rectal CA. Just wanted to know how others felt.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

What really makes me annoyed is that poor Farrah died and instead of the all the tv shows and stuff honoring her Michael Jackson the child molestor dies at the same time and steals her thunder.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I think it was her body, and her choice. No one has the right to make the decisions involving her life...she was clear as to what she was willing/not willing to do to save her life. I guess I have a difficult time understanding why it should be anyone elses concern.

ITA it's her body and her choice to make, as it should be with any patient.

I think many here are missing bascapline's point entirely, even though you think you understand it.

Those in her shoes who have lived through colon cancer are naturally going to have opinions and feelings and thoughts about this issue. It is surely extremely emotional for them. I've seen people on this very board be critical of people who think it's stupid *not* to exercise the freedom to jabber away on a cell phone while flying around town driving a vehicle. We ALL have situations/conditions about which our very personal, first hand knowledge has led us to conclusions.

The point is that Farrah had cancer, and she wanted the world to see how terrible cancer is and chose to make her painful moments very public moments. I have absolutely no problem with that - whether she wanted privacy or publicity was her choice to make. But I think that once someone opts for the 'publicity' decision in order to make a statement or paint a picture or to inform the public, it's certainly fair game for others who have walked that same walk - with a different outcome, set of decision-making tools, or whatever, to counter the 'statement' the movie star is making with their own equally-valid experiences.

Farrah CHOSE not to go with the ostomy, and that was absolutely her decision to make. The reality is that an ostomy MIGHT have saved her life. Her reasons for NOT wanting one were her to carry and she had a personal obligation to *herself* to own those reasons and act on them in whatever she felt was best for her. I think that was absolutely appropriate.

And I think it is equally appropriate for others who found themselves in the EXACT same situation but chose a different path to want to make sure, in light of the publicity that she gave HER choice, that the world understands that the OTHER path - TO have an ostomy - is ALSO a valid choice and that the death of Farrah, which we essentially witnessed on television, MIGHT have been prevented had she been able to get past the "yuck factor" of the ostomy.

You're talking about a demographic of people who have LIVED this issue and are far more educated about it than the rest of us. If it bothered them that she apparently gave the impression that an ostomy bag was so bad that it wasn't worth getting even if it upped your chances of survival, and they had a different experience, I can absolutely see why they would discuss her situation amongst themselves, as they did on that message board.

I don't think anyone ever said it wasn't her right or her choice. I just saw people saying they did not believe she made the BEST choice and that perhaps she was giving an inaccurate depiction of how bad an ostomy is. It's personal to them, so I cannot find it in my heart to bash them for it.

THANK YOU! That is exactly the way it is. No one said that it was not her choice to do what treatment she wanted, where she wanted to do treatment, etc. The only thing I said was that some people on the ostomy board, felt that she "dissed" them by saying she would not have an operation to have a colostomy and have a permanent pouch. Ryan O'Neil, her partner of 30 years was the one who used the word "vain". Would an ostomy have given her a better chance of remission and possible cure? I don't know the answer to that. I think that people who have had cancer and had an ostomy and are in remission or cured of their cancers hoped she would have been given the same opportunity they had.

Having to live with a pouch is certainly not a wonderful way to go through life. It's awful. It is. It's not as simple as it all sounds.

I did not see the documentary. Did Ryan O'Neil come right out and use the words "vain" when talking about her decisions? I don't know. I just repeated what I read on a board where I am a member. Then people jumped all over me because I repeated what I read. Jeesh.

BTW..my husband has had anal cancer. He had his removed. He had a surgical procedure. He has been in remission for 10 years for that. They talked of doing radiation and chemo for his, but he opted for the surgery. I don't know if Farrah had surgery in the beginning. I did read that she had radiation and chemo.

No, I have said more than once, I UNDERSTAND.....I just don't think it is okay....a lot of the things I read were NOT what you are saying and they were way out of line.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

You don't think it is okay? What the hell are you talking about? Way out of line? What? A comment that some people on an ostomy board felt she was dissing them? Who cares? People are free to post what they want about how they feel about a subject that is in their area of expertise.

Excuse me, but what comments are out of line? Go back and read all my posts on this thread. What's out of line? I said in the very first post on this thread that it was her decision. So what's wrong with that?

It is not okay, but bitter people like you will do it anyway. I do not think it is okay and you can't change that any more than I can change what you think or say.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I do agree that those who have been through cancer can see a part of the picture that many of us may not grasp. I think whatever the situation may be, if you have experience with it, then chances are that your opinion would come from a different perspective than those who have not had to deal with it. Does that make sense? I know what I am trying to say, just having trouble putting it into words. I do think that it us up to each individual to make the choice that is right for them. My mom had MS and made decisions that I didn't always agree with, but it was her body and her life. I don't think it matters if it is a medical issue, relationship issue, work issue, or family issue, if you have had experience with it, often you do look at the situation differently than someone who has not experienced it. I think because of this scenerio, we often get such a wide variety of opinions on this board. I have come to appreciate and value some of the advice I have received from people on this board, I may not always agree with it, but it has made me stop and see a different side. Part of my issue is learning that not all who post here are really interested in helping, now I just have to learn to not take those posts personally.....

I am bitter? About what? That I have an ostomy? Absolutely not. I am thankful. I really think that you are extremely judgmental. You don't know me nor anything about me. Because I posted that some people of a board where I am a member of think that Farrah dissed them, you think I am bitter? OMG....you are funny.

Whatever. You seem to know all the answers and know everything about everyone, so whatever.

And again- those who have lived through the disease are certainly within their rights to discuss her situation and their feelings about it and whether or not they believe she made the wisest decision. Particularly if she painted the decision THEY made in a negative light, given that their reality is that the decision TO have one saved their lives.

Those women were defending the wisdom of the choice THEY made regarding treatment, which is their right to do.

Once SHE - Farrah - chose to bring everyone into her disease, she opened things up for speculation about her choices. Did she expect to just show her story and for everyone to ONLY have the reaction she presumed they would have without any of their own opinions entering the mix?

I bear her memory no ill and don't have any opinions as to whether it was right or wrong for her to do the documentary. It was entirely her choice, and if it was cathartic to her in any way, that's great. She was in control of what she did and it's a decision she appropriately 'owned' when some were critical of her choice to go public.

I don't personally find fault with her one way or the other regarding the ostomy but I can't be critical of someone who has LIVED with the outcomes related to that particular cancer, were saved by a procedure, and felt she was dismissing the benefits of the procedure for a less-than-impressive reason to a large segment of the population. It's only natural that they would commiserate amongst themselves - on their own message board - if they felt her angle was going to influence others to turn down that option that had saved their life.

groovy, as an example... a real live one....

I had an opportunity recently to go to New Orleans to do some relief work, but chose not to in part because I knew the heat index would be 115 degrees. Who wants that? Why would anyone choose to live or work in a place where they will walk around with sweat dripping from their armpits all day? How embarrassing! How gross!

If you participate in any local message boards, feel free to cut and paste that statement there and see if anyone is critical of me for that choice. Would you blame them if they were?

I ended my first post on this thread that it was her choice to make. Someone put words that were not there.

You keep proving my point. Roll your eyes if it makes you feel better, but you just prove what I already said every time you come back. I don't have to "know" you to pick up the bitterness in your replies.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Wow..an Internet psychologist. Where did you get your degree?

What am I bitter about?

Read my first post. Read the last line.



I am a member of a very large ostomy board. I have a permanent colostomy. Many of the members have been talking about how they felt she "dissed" them when she opted not to have an ostomy. She did not want to "live with a bag" all her life. While I did not see the documentary, many of them had. They felt that she made like they were freaks because they had to live with a pouch for the rest of their lives. Not all ostomy's are permanent. But then again, she died and they are alive. No one wants to have a pouch. It's not a great way to live. But if I had to chose between having a pouch and possibly prolonging my life, or else unconventional therapy and/or medicine, I would go with the pouch. But, it was her choice to make.

Here are two posts from the ostomy board today. I suppose that groovy girl is going to be upset or feels that NEgirl was bitter by herlast line.
I'm not going to be logging in here anymore. It's just not worth it.


Re: DEATH OF FARRAH FAWCETT FROM RECTAL CA
by NEgirl » Today 07:17:33

Like BagMan I too contemplated VERY seriously doing nothing beyond chemo and rad. Her documentary and Dateline segment mentioned only once each that a colostomy may very well have saved her life which I thought they could have stressed a bit more. I had visions of myself enjoying life for what ever period I had, slipping away gracefully in the hospital, and then everyone graveside on a rainy day (why is it always raining?) the next like they do in the movies. That looked attractive compared to a colostomy but I'm now very sure there is far more to it than that.

She was brave and did what she thought was right for her. I respect her decision but feel she chose a sad and futile one.

KarenStage 3 rectal cancer 11/08
Temp ileo 02/09
Take down sched for 07/28/09
NEgirl

Posts: 125
Joined: 2009-01-18 15:07:00
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Re: DEATH OF FARRAH FAWCETT FROM RECTAL CA
by djdjd04 » Today 10:33:15

I am very saddened by Farrah's passing. I just needed to comment here about those who say Farrah may have been misinformed by her doctors. No one really knows what Farrah's doctors told her. When I watched the documentary, I saw that one of her doctors was my surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Sack, from UCLA. I can only speak from my experience, but his is an incredible doctor & surgeon. If he was on her team, I would guess she was given the best advice possible.

May she rest in peace.djdjd04

Posts: 1
Joined: 2009-06-27 14:54:59
E-mail djdjd04 to be upset at what

Why are you so angry? I have no idea what it is, I just sense it. Oh, and that stuff you posted now is NOT what you posted before. Well, anyway.....bye bye.

__________________
"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

Can you read? You said that that stuff I posted now is NOT what I posted before? It was a C&P off this exact thread. Go read it. I did not change the words.

If you are referring to the two posts off the ostomy board, I said that it was posted today there. Go read for yourself. It's an open board.

UOAA Discussion Board • View forum - Discussion Forums

Click on "general ostomy discussion". Then, it is all there, under FARRAH FAWCETT DIES FROM RECTAL CA.

Ugh....thought I told you bye bye. Welcome back. You won't change my mind, so maybe you could save your energy?

__________________
"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

bascapline, thanks for directing us to that thread. Those women/men were very kind in their discussion regarding the choice she made.

I have a relative who was dx'd with colon cancer two years ago and opted not to go with the iliostomy (had a temporary one and had it removed much earlier than the doctors wanted because some alternative doctors were explaining why they believed the chemo/radiation/ iliostomy path was going to result in death) .

We just had a scare, thinking the cancer had returned, but got word today that the biopsy came back all clear. So far, so good.... but I think many of us would rest easier if we knew the path that had been recommended by the dr's had been followed.

I think that's why I bothered to become involved in this discussion...

Bascapline, I appreciate you posting the link. It is always a good thing to be as informed as possible about cancer and the impact it has on those who deal with it on a daily basis. I hope you decide to keep posting and share your opinion, I find your posts informative.