Only lately have I noticed the importance of being informed in what concerns these things related to health and diseases. Being not a fan of medicine and not quite understanding certain mechanisms of these so-called organism malfunctions, I have been mostly ignorant regarding this subject.

What caught my attention. My grandfather's case. He has accused for many years stomach problems and has had a fragile digestive system for as long as I know. About two years ago, he also started having difficulties in speaking in what meant articulating certain words. We ignored it at first. After one year, the latter problem accentuated and we started investigating by analyzing his nervous system. And every doctor said everything is fine, even though we were seeing him getting worse. A few months ago, he started chocking on food, not being able to eat anymore. I can't say how many times I freaked out and had to apply the Heimlich maneuver. He also started losing weight, eventually reaching 48 kilograms (~105 pounds) for a man whose height is about 1.77 meters (~5.8 ft). He was taken by the ambulance three times. Twice being discharged because the medics could "not find anything wrong with him". (I would begin telling how corrupted the medical system in our country is but that would only kill my energy which I need right now) The last time he was hospitalized in a "special" kind of hospital, at intensive therapy. Hospital where you can get to only by filling the pockets of the doctors handsomely as they graciously snatch your bribe and mutter a "oh, you should not have...". He is still hospitalized where I mentioned, and a couple of days ago, the doctors released the verdict: pancreatic cancer.

He will not make it trough this week as he is in the horrible pains of the terminal stage of cancer. He even tried to disconnect himself from the apparatuses last night, fact that only brought the nurses to sedate him. My family and I now await in grief.

Aside the psychological involvement, the cancer is a horrible, horrible disease. In my grandpa's case, it somehow connected to his nervous system and affected his ability to eat and speak.

I do not understand cancer too well, as I do not understand medicine generally. But what I do understand is that it is based on a single cell that can occur in any place in our body that is basically an "evil cell" which contaminates the others and start destroying the organism, which does not really recognize them as threats. They can also spread to areas that seem to have no relation whatsoever. (Correct me if I am wrong in anything I post here, I don't want to be misleading people in pointless paranoia)

Also, I recall having heard that this cancerous cell is possessed by 95%-ish of the people, and the places it can manifest... endless. It has some hereditary involvement as well. People having ascendants that suffered from cancer being prone to manifest this cell.
In my family is somehow hereditary. My grandpa's grandmother has had cancer, his sister has had cancer, and his brother's son (my uncle) has had cancer.

I am now afraid of the implications of this disease. Mainly because it cannot be seen in incipient stages, nor in a routine control.

I wish people are aware of these horrible diseases and inform themselves properly, not having to deal with what I am dealing to realize the importance of this information. With the risk of being boring and "yeah, I've heard that before", I advise people going for the healthy, stress-free lifestyle and learn from my story. Even the littlest of symptoms can be important.

ohh.......so sorry for ur grandfather....
btw,a cancerous cell is not an evil cell, it is just a cell who has lost its ability to stop dividing,when there is no use.as a result, a mass of cells or a tumor is formed in the body.
i dont think cancer is hereditary.it is generated from bad lifestyle
(take the example of people who smoke too much, develop mouth and lung cancer), and sometimes injuries.

@wolfie_girl

Unfortunately, it seems that your grandpa could have been saved if it was caught earlier. I am sorry your family has to go through this though.

@soumayakhanna

No. Cancer can run in families. Some people are more at risk at getting cancer because their family has gotten one type of cancer.

Thank you for your support

@soumayakhanna: oh, yes. I understand now. I thought all along that cancerous cells are like going berserk or something. I don't understand medicine but thanks for clearing it up for me.

And I know that cancer IS more probably to happen due to an unhealthy lifestyle, but genes also influence it. Each of my family member got cancer in conditions of extreme stress. My grandpa's sister developed it after her mother died and she had to take care of everything by herself, her own husband having died before too. My uncle also developed it after going trough a series of brain surgeries. So both the stress and genetics had their word here, in my opinion.

@moepiece: I am not 100% positive about the one type of cancer thing. All my relatives and other cases as well had cancer in totally different places. My grandpa-pancreatic, my uncle-skin(and eventually hepatic) and my aunt-bone cancer.

@wolfie_girl

I mean that some people are more prone to developing cancer, because others in the family have had cancer.

I hope your family recovers from this tragic happening. Sometimes laughter is the best cure. Find something that makes him laugh to see if it will help him recover faster. Normally the more you laugh at something you like the healthier you will be. I pretty much laugh all the time (mostly at memories) and I don't get sick that much at all.

@princessbinas

Read wolfie's post again. She already said her grandpa isn't going to make it. And laughter won't cure cancer that is in its terminal stage.

I understand but I am trying to create a little bit of a light side for them to head to so they don't think it's hopeless. There is always a chance he will make it.

No princess, you don't understand. There is no chance he'll make it. He is in the terminal stage, meaning there is nothing left for doctors to do, except try to ease the pain.

I know movies and TV like to make it out like there is always a chance. But there isn't. All her family can do is prepare for the inevitable passing of their loved one.

I'm hating how trite this sound but I'm bad with words:

I'm sorry for your lost.

Just stop binas. Not only are you embarrassing yourself but us too.


And wolfe:
Sorry for what has happened to you. Stay strong. (If you don't mind me asking, which country are you from that the medical system could be that corrupt?)

Thank you for your support everyone. After all, this is part of life and sooner or later, everyone faces a situation like this. I did not want to sound like this is a post for me to mope or something, and even if I am, I will have to get over it sooner or later. It will be fine. He will be with us.

@binas: You know, there are certain situations in life when you just can't just laugh. Usually, when someone dear leaves, it is only natural to mourn for a while. Because, let's face it, you can't start laughing at a funeral because of some memory without having people think you are either clinically retarded either gone insane because of the depression.
I understand and appreciate your optimism, but things like these happen. And I doubt you have been in such a situation, else you would have had a different opinion on the matter.
And in the terminal stage of cancer, you will die.

@KTC: No worries, I appreciate it. I am not good with encouraging people myself. But honestly, the intention is more important.

@Ivana: I don't mind, since Romania is a country with quite a reputation. In Europe, at least. There are a lot of people who are in authority and who got there because of their money. Our current leaders steal from the population, accusing the IMF, cutting salaries, pensions and whatnot. Because of the budget salaries being cut a lot, good medics go abroad. And only the people who suffer from an eternal spleen are left in the sanitary system. These people are ever so bored of life, they treat you like scum unless you slip some notes in their hands. They ask for bribe directly sometimes, when they feel their pockets light. I don't say that all medics are like this. But much too many for me to change my opinion on them, are. If you don't have money to give them, you die. And that is the case of the elders that receive insipid pensions they barely feed themselves with and which need medical attention.

Our whole system is sick. And no, you cannot accuse them of corruption. The government is as corrupted itself. I once wanted to film nurses asking for money with a hidden camera, but, apparently, if you are not from the press, they can sue you for that, so I ended up not doing it.

In church I've been told of stories of miraculous healings of people with terminal stage cancers, so I'm always told that no matter what there's hope in God. Which might not be very helpful if you don't believe in God.

I'm sorry you had to deal with the stress and worry because of terrible diagnosis.

My condolences.

Cancer has affected both my family and others we're close to, so I understand how awful it is.

I'm so sorry to hear about this.

@d_a: There might be people that somehow defeated cancer in terminal stage. But they might have been younger and could be able to move. My grandfather is 75 years old and currently immobilized and unable to breathe by himself. I don't say I don't believe in God, but in his case, there really isn't much left to do.

Also, thank you for the support.

@Elemental: It is a horrible disease and I am sorry to hear your family has dealt with it to. Thank you for caring.

Well. I dunno. Last time I heard, the miracle healing happened to an old man too. I have no idea how old the man was and when the pastor prayed he still had a few weeks to live. Your grandpa's case is definitely more severe. If you believe in God, it won't hurt to pray. If you don't mind, I can pray.

I hope I don't come off weird with the religious talk. If your grandpa has to go, then may he go in peace.

Not at all. I am quite surprised someone in my age group is actually still religious. And I don't mind you praying, though, I pray as well. If not for the better, at least for him to leave nicely.

Thanks. Luckily it was a long time ago, but it makes it much harder to know someone else is going through it.

I'm sorry you still have to deal with it.

Regarding prayers, I'm non-religious, but I wish your family the best and will keep you in my thoughts.

@Elemental: Thank you once again.
He passed away yesterday. There is nothing much left to do now, except the preparations for the funeral and stuff like that.

I am although relieved that he confessed that he is not mad at any of us before he left. I hope I was there before he died, though, to tell him I loved him once more. But I know he already knows that. May he rest in peace.

Thank you all for the support.

I'm sorry for you, wolfie. May his soul rest in peace.