Prednisone ... Metastatic Lung Cancer ... Olympics

Hi, gang,

I have an advanced case of metastatic lung cancer. I don't know for sure,
but I think I may be able to do a 500 meter run in two hours. That is not
exactly Olympic time. After all, if anything takes the wind out of you,
lung cancer will sure take the wind out of you at warp speed. However,
even if, through the grace of God, I could work my way up to Olympic time
standards, the fact that I take a pill to ease my lung cancer symptoms,
prednisone, would still automatically disqualifiy me from competing. Hey,
if I could pull of a reasonably competitive time with lung cancer it seem
like I should get a medal just making the effort; that is one thing.
However, to be denied any opportunity to compete because I am on lung
cancer medicine; that is another thing. While I may not live long enough
to compete in the next Olympics, why should taking cancer medicine
disqualify me.

What am I missing? Why does this make make no sense? Enquiring minds
need to know (No, I don't actually plan on competing).

Frankly, the whole thing is confusing to me. Is there any logic there --
anywhere. I have never heard of prednisone until after I was diagnosed
with NSCLC.

--
Andy -- The Cheerful Pickle keeps on trucking

"Cheerful Pickle" <cheerfulpickle@in.the.arms.of.the.Father> wrote in
message newsan.2007.11.30.22.23.49.195487@in.the.arms.of .the.Father...
> Hi, gang,
>
> I have an advanced case of metastatic lung cancer. I don't know for
> sure,
> but I think I may be able to do a 500 meter run in two hours. That is
> not
> exactly Olympic time. After all, if anything takes the wind out of
> you,
> lung cancer will sure take the wind out of you at warp speed. However,
> even if, through the grace of God, I could work my way up to Olympic
> time
> standards, the fact that I take a pill to ease my lung cancer
> symptoms,
> prednisone, would still automatically disqualifiy me from competing.
> Hey,
> if I could pull of a reasonably competitive time with lung cancer it
> seem
> like I should get a medal just making the effort; that is one thing.
> However, to be denied any opportunity to compete because I am on lung
> cancer medicine; that is another thing. While I may not live long
> enough
> to compete in the next Olympics, why should taking cancer medicine
> disqualify me.
>
> What am I missing? Why does this make make no sense? Enquiring minds
> need to know (No, I don't actually plan on competing).
>
> Frankly, the whole thing is confusing to me. Is there any logic
> there --
> anywhere. I have never heard of prednisone until after I was
> diagnosed
> with NSCLC.
>
> --
> Andy -- The Cheerful Pickle keeps on trucking

Andy, I looked it up on Google, it's a form of steroid? That alone would
disqualify you.

Betsy

Cheerful Pickle wrote:
> Frankly, the whole thing is confusing to me. Is there any logic
> there -- anywhere. I have never heard of prednisone until after I
> was diagnosed with NSCLC.

I am taking prednisone because my platelets took a nose dive
to 3K instead of my normal 300K. My immune system decided
it didn't like platelets for some reason and the prednisone is
used to get my immune system to calm down. It is similar to
a massive allergy attack that is targeting my platelets.

Cheerful Pickle wrote:

> Hi, gang,
>
> I have an advanced case of metastatic lung cancer. I don't know for sure,
> but I think I may be able to do a 500 meter run in two hours. That is not
> exactly Olympic time. After all, if anything takes the wind out of you,
> lung cancer will sure take the wind out of you at warp speed. However,
> even if, through the grace of God, I could work my way up to Olympic time
> standards, the fact that I take a pill to ease my lung cancer symptoms,
> prednisone, would still automatically disqualifiy me from competing. Hey,
> if I could pull of a reasonably competitive time with lung cancer it seem
> like I should get a medal just making the effort; that is one thing.
> However, to be denied any opportunity to compete because I am on lung
> cancer medicine; that is another thing. While I may not live long enough
> to compete in the next Olympics, why should taking cancer medicine
> disqualify me.
>
> What am I missing? Why does this make make no sense? Enquiring minds
> need to know (No, I don't actually plan on competing).
>
> Frankly, the whole thing is confusing to me. Is there any logic there --
> anywhere. I have never heard of prednisone until after I was diagnosed
> with NSCLC.
>
> --
> Andy -- The Cheerful Pickle keeps on trucking

Hi Andy,
I could be wrong but I think it's the anabolic steroids thar aren't allowed
because they add muscle and strength.
I think that asthmatics are allowed to participate in marathons or Olympics.

Asthma UK does min=uns where each school has to cover a distance of 26.2 miles
each, but in any way they choose. Dividing the event into lots of short
segments means that everyone can take part, whatever their fitness level or
ability.
Schools can organise their mini-marathon to coincide with World Asthma Day, 6
May 2008, or at any time during the year. As well as raising money, the event
aims to highlight that asthma need not be a barrier to young people taking
part in physical activity.
Maybe you could ask a school to organize something similar in your area
(indoor or outdoor).
Cheerful Pickle could wheelchair (or run) the first leg.
J

"Mark Jones" <noemail@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:13l18ho4akg1kaf@corp.supernews.com...
> Cheerful Pickle wrote:
>> Frankly, the whole thing is confusing to me. Is there any logic
>> there -- anywhere. I have never heard of prednisone until after I
>> was diagnosed with NSCLC.
>
> I am taking prednisone because my platelets took a nose dive
> to 3K instead of my normal 300K. My immune system decided
> it didn't like platelets for some reason and the prednisone is
> used to get my immune system to calm down. It is similar to
> a massive allergy attack that is targeting my platelets.
>
>
Gots to arm them platelets better!! So they can fight back properly. If
I am not mistaken, when I donated blood 4 years ago, they took platelets
out and returned the leftovers to me. Maybe the Red Cross could help
gather s bunch for you. Were you ever a donor? If so, you should be
entitled to free stuff.

Betsy

betsyb wrote:
> "Mark Jones" <noemail@mindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:13l18ho4akg1kaf@corp.supernews.com...
>> Cheerful Pickle wrote:
>>> Frankly, the whole thing is confusing to me. Is there any logic
>>> there -- anywhere. I have never heard of prednisone until after I
>>> was diagnosed with NSCLC.
>>
>> I am taking prednisone because my platelets took a nose dive
>> to 3K instead of my normal 300K. My immune system decided
>> it didn't like platelets for some reason and the prednisone is
>> used to get my immune system to calm down. It is similar to
>> a massive allergy attack that is targeting my platelets.
>>
>>
> Gots to arm them platelets better!! So they can fight back properly.
> If I am not mistaken, when I donated blood 4 years ago, they took
> platelets out and returned the leftovers to me. Maybe the Red Cross
> could help gather s bunch for you. Were you ever a donor? If so, you
> should be entitled to free stuff.

I had a platelet transfusion just before midnight on Wednesday
of last week. I have had two different cancers and am on several
lifelong medications. I can't donate, but thankfully there are those
who can and do donate. Anything under 20K is considered life
threatening, so the ER docs set me up for a transfusion to occur
as soon as I was admitted last week. I have to watch what I do
and I can't go to work until my doctors tell me the numbers have
recovered enough. I have been home since last Friday, but I
can't do much.

Cheerful Pickle wrote:

> Hi, gang,
>
> I have an advanced case of metastatic lung cancer. I don't know for sure,
> but I think I may be able to do a 500 meter run in two hours. That is not
> exactly Olympic time. After all, if anything takes the wind out of you,
> lung cancer will sure take the wind out of you at warp speed. However,
> even if, through the grace of God, I could work my way up to Olympic time
> standards, the fact that I take a pill to ease my lung cancer symptoms,
> prednisone, would still automatically disqualifiy me from competing. Hey,
> if I could pull of a reasonably competitive time with lung cancer it seem
> like I should get a medal just making the effort; that is one thing.
> However, to be denied any opportunity to compete because I am on lung
> cancer medicine; that is another thing. While I may not live long enough
> to compete in the next Olympics, why should taking cancer medicine
> disqualify me.
>

Wheere's Andy? Training for the Olympics or what?
I miss hearing from you. It's been over a month now.
If you see this post, please grab onto it and update us.
Mark it as "watch" if your newsreader will do that, so you don't get lost in
all that other mess (of posts).
J