Post by Susanelizabeth28 on Aug 31, 2004 1:27:36 GMT -5
I received a note from Pam. She asked me to post this letter to everyone and to also post the review that was in the local paper. I am asking a friend to scan the review (I don't have a scanner at the moment), but here is the letter now. It was good to hear from her 
Hi Everybody,
Well, I'm between chemo treatments again and I have one more session on the 7th-9th
then I'm done with that part of it. I switch to injections every 4 weeks after that
and they will scan me again sometime down the road. I requested a scan on the 16th
of August and the tumor had gone down some so at that point my doctor said it was 70%
working. I am hoping my last session and the next one will do even more so the shots
can take over from there.
But I also need to point out that although this is positive and I am grateful for it,
my doctor was also blunt as he should be. He told me there is no cure for my type of
cancer. Even though the pancreatic neurendocrine tumor may shrink down so it can't be
seen, he said there will still be cells left behind. So you might as well say I am
terminal and they can't pronounce me "cancer free' as they do others often. I said, so
maybe I'll get 3 years?" He said, or more. OK...so I'll do what I can on the healthy
food end of things then. I have to keep it at bay or from it coming back. That and
prayers are all I'll have. So I'll fight it guys. I have to. Three years onto 70 is
one thing...but 3 years onto 45 SUCKS!
OK, now for the good news. As you all know, I made the Cher concert here! Believe
me, to appreciate the full spectrum of that attendance, you need to know that just a
couple of days before the show I had been in the hospital again and had only eaten
once in 4 days leading up to that stay after my second chemo session. I even asked
for the clergy each day to pray with me and I was very weak. So with all the strength
I had and with God's help especially, I made myself go home 2 days before the show
to prepare myself to get there. I had friends coming in from out of state and I knew
if after waiting 32 years for Cher to come to my own home town...if I let that pass...
I'd just kick myself later on. So even as depressed as I was and as sick as I was, I
made it! I could not miss Cher. So a wheelchair was rented for me by a friend and I
was wheeled down to my 3rd row seat so I didn't have to walk it.
Seeing Cher was like a breath of fresh air. No matter how many times I have seen her
on this tour, this was where I felt most like myself though. Almost "normal" to be
there. I will always love that first glimpse of Cher when the silks rise and there
she is. I don't care how many times it has been. I just want to see her. That will
never change, sick or not. Just look at the medicine poured into that sparkling and
spangled bottle! Honestly, there is no one else I would've drug I disagree out of bed for
to attend a show anywhere on the planet, even here, as sick as I was, but Cher. Anyone
who thinks that a show is a show is a show and they are all alike if seen before or
like any other performer's concerts, is just missing something in my book. I've been
to other shows. Nope. It's the soul and spirit of the woman. You could cut the love
in the audience there that night with a knife.
What I found so cool was when she sang "Walking In Memphis." I had no clue the crowd
in Cedar Rapids even knew this song and when she began singing it...the audience started
to sing along so loudly with her I was so pleasantly blown away! It was so very cool how
we sang to her. We also made eye contact during "Take Me Home" and often, like many fans,
I'm not always sure if I'm right or not. Could be for someone in front of me or behind me,
ya know? But after I felt a shiver down my arms and I noticed 2 fans looking at me after
that, smiling, then I knew I wasn't wrong. So that was very much a highlight! Also, she got
a great review in our paper...not one bad word about her in the least. He loved her! Believe
me, here they always find something to say that is negative about a show of almost any kind
and Cher got the best one ever! I will mail a photo copy to Susan and see if she can put it
up for you all to read.
Well, this is about it for now, I guess. Please continue to send me good wishes in thought
and your prayers. I will need them. THANK YOU.
Love,
Pam
Hi Everybody,
Well, I'm between chemo treatments again and I have one more session on the 7th-9th
then I'm done with that part of it. I switch to injections every 4 weeks after that
and they will scan me again sometime down the road. I requested a scan on the 16th
of August and the tumor had gone down some so at that point my doctor said it was 70%
working. I am hoping my last session and the next one will do even more so the shots
can take over from there.
But I also need to point out that although this is positive and I am grateful for it,
my doctor was also blunt as he should be. He told me there is no cure for my type of
cancer. Even though the pancreatic neurendocrine tumor may shrink down so it can't be
seen, he said there will still be cells left behind. So you might as well say I am
terminal and they can't pronounce me "cancer free' as they do others often. I said, so
maybe I'll get 3 years?" He said, or more. OK...so I'll do what I can on the healthy
food end of things then. I have to keep it at bay or from it coming back. That and
prayers are all I'll have. So I'll fight it guys. I have to. Three years onto 70 is
one thing...but 3 years onto 45 SUCKS!
OK, now for the good news. As you all know, I made the Cher concert here! Believe
me, to appreciate the full spectrum of that attendance, you need to know that just a
couple of days before the show I had been in the hospital again and had only eaten
once in 4 days leading up to that stay after my second chemo session. I even asked
for the clergy each day to pray with me and I was very weak. So with all the strength
I had and with God's help especially, I made myself go home 2 days before the show
to prepare myself to get there. I had friends coming in from out of state and I knew
if after waiting 32 years for Cher to come to my own home town...if I let that pass...
I'd just kick myself later on. So even as depressed as I was and as sick as I was, I
made it! I could not miss Cher. So a wheelchair was rented for me by a friend and I
was wheeled down to my 3rd row seat so I didn't have to walk it.
Seeing Cher was like a breath of fresh air. No matter how many times I have seen her
on this tour, this was where I felt most like myself though. Almost "normal" to be
there. I will always love that first glimpse of Cher when the silks rise and there
she is. I don't care how many times it has been. I just want to see her. That will
never change, sick or not. Just look at the medicine poured into that sparkling and
spangled bottle! Honestly, there is no one else I would've drug I disagree out of bed for
to attend a show anywhere on the planet, even here, as sick as I was, but Cher. Anyone
who thinks that a show is a show is a show and they are all alike if seen before or
like any other performer's concerts, is just missing something in my book. I've been
to other shows. Nope. It's the soul and spirit of the woman. You could cut the love
in the audience there that night with a knife.
What I found so cool was when she sang "Walking In Memphis." I had no clue the crowd
in Cedar Rapids even knew this song and when she began singing it...the audience started
to sing along so loudly with her I was so pleasantly blown away! It was so very cool how
we sang to her. We also made eye contact during "Take Me Home" and often, like many fans,
I'm not always sure if I'm right or not. Could be for someone in front of me or behind me,
ya know? But after I felt a shiver down my arms and I noticed 2 fans looking at me after
that, smiling, then I knew I wasn't wrong. So that was very much a highlight! Also, she got
a great review in our paper...not one bad word about her in the least. He loved her! Believe
me, here they always find something to say that is negative about a show of almost any kind
and Cher got the best one ever! I will mail a photo copy to Susan and see if she can put it
up for you all to read.
Well, this is about it for now, I guess. Please continue to send me good wishes in thought
and your prayers. I will need them. THANK YOU.
Love,
Pam
