Valerie Harper Has Terminal Cancer

Friday, March 08, 2013

The TV actress Valerie Harper, who starred in the Mary Tyler Moore Show and spun off her character on Rhoda, revealed that she has a form of cancer that's expected to be terminal within months. "I don't think of dying," said Harper, 73. "I think of being here now." Tests revealed in January she has a condition known as leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. She said she was told by doctors that she could have as little as three months to live. Harper has a daughter, Cristina Cacciotti, with her husband Tony Cacciotti. "I've had a good run," she said. "What more could I ask for?"

Posted by gracieamazed at 11:30 AM | 42 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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gracieamazed

Joined 2011/10/25
Visited 2013/05/18

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We are not growing old. We are decomposing alive.

#1 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-03-06 08:32 PM | Reply | Flag:

Oh hush Diablo you're not decomposing you're ripening.

Eventually we all become the communal wine of the Universe.

#2 | Posted by Tor at 2013-03-06 08:45 PM | Reply | Flag:

I finished ripening a while ago. Now each body part is doing a center stage bow and one-by-one exiting the stage.

#3 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-03-06 08:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

Sorry, Tor, you might be right. Maybe I am fermenting rather than decomposing. It would reach the same inevitable end.
I frankly have enjoyed aging, and had you told that to Diablo four decades ago he would have looked at you as if you had a bird on your head.
Something happens around your fifties/sixties that is really, really cool. You are able to see your life in a context finally. It gives great peace of mind and does wonders for the humor. After that, you no longer thirst for youth but rather get more interested in helping the younger appreciate what they have. And nothing can threaten me! I began to see what a component of inexperience fears and doubts are.
I do not go as far as to call it the golden years or some other rot. Bursitis, failing eyes and such are not fun. But it sure is a free feeling.

#4 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-03-06 09:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

such are not fun. But it sure is a free feeling.

#4 | Posted by Diablo

No it is not fun and in fact in most physical things it is more of being imprisoning you are trapped in a body that just can not do what you use to do, in my case like walking or standing up.
now mentally, yes my memory is not as good as it was BUT I think as you age you see things in a light that only come with wisdom, a wisdom that only comes with age.
I am not saying every old person is wise lot of us are idiots but those have always have been idiots from there start of adulthood.
but a good chunk of us did grow wiser in life as we aged.
another blessing as you grow older a lot of junk that was all so important in my life I discovered was BS and I do not sweat it any more.
as for the youth yeah I like helping them when I can, what I fine about the youth I think there music suck But you know I think when we die we will be passing this great nation into better hands then ares.
The kids are all right.
that is my rant on aging.
and oh yeah Valerie Harper is funny and lovely the world will be losing a great entertainer

#5 | Posted by PunchyPossum at 2013-03-07 04:32 AM | Reply | Flag:

The only thing worse than growing old is the alternative.

#6 | Posted by hawk at 2013-03-07 09:33 AM | Reply | Flag:

The only thing worse than growing old is the alternative.

#6 | Posted by hawk at 2013-03-07 09:33 AM |

Becoming a Lost Boy?

Party all Night
Sleep All Day
Never Grow Old
Never Die

#7 | Posted by kanrei at 2013-03-07 09:36 AM | Reply | Flag:

I don't mind growing old.

As long as I don't have to grow up.

#8 | Posted by kamakiri at 2013-03-07 09:40 AM | Reply | Flag:

A while back, visiting the nurse practitioner, I was complaining about some article or particle going awry. She's fairly young - from my perspective - and after giving the matter a couple of seconds' worth of thought smiled wryly and said, "Think of it as part of the maturation process."

It didn't help.

"Never give up. Never surrender."

(Then again, from the same source we receive: "By Grabthar's hammer, by the sons of Worvan, you shall be avenged.")

#9 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2013-03-07 09:47 AM | Reply | Flag:

Doc, we're all glorified extras in life....

#10 | Posted by kamakiri at 2013-03-07 09:54 AM | Reply | Flag:

We are all Don Quixote. We think of ourselves as brave knights fighting giants for our fair Desdemona, but in reality we are broken old men tilting windmills for the attention of people who don't even know we're alive.

I wonder why Hallmark never took the above for a card.

#11 | Posted by kanrei at 2013-03-07 09:57 AM | Reply | Flag:

Yeah, they really missed the boat on that one, Kanrei.

How about a multi-page greeting card based on the "Deteriorata"? I'm particularly fond - as I'm sure you will be - of this passage:

You are a fluke of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not,
The universe is laughing behind your back.
dmdb.org

#12 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2013-03-07 10:01 AM | Reply | Flag:

Nice.

#13 | Posted by kanrei at 2013-03-07 10:06 AM | Reply | Flag:

The only thing worse than growing old is seeing your children leave this place before we do.

#14 | Posted by danni at 2013-03-07 10:09 AM | Reply | Flag:

"We are all Don Quixote."

I thought Doc was the real Don Quixote....maybe he's really just Sancho Panza???

#15 | Posted by jestgettinalong at 2013-03-07 10:30 AM | Reply | Flag:

I finished ripening a while ago. Now each body part is doing a center stage bow and one-by-one exiting the stage.
#3 | Posted by Diablo

.....was the brain the first to go ? .... just a hunch .....

#16 | Posted by skizziks at 2013-03-07 01:27 PM | Reply | Flag:

The only thing worse than growing old is seeing your children leave this place before we do.

#14 | Posted by danni at 2013-03-07 10:09 AM | Reply |

Happened to my dad when one of my brothers died suddenly. He was devastated and would cry periodically when we talked about my brother.

#17 | Posted by matsop at 2013-03-07 01:34 PM | Reply | Flag:

Growing old is more tolerable with friends like Jack, Jim, Johnnie, and Jose.

#18 | Posted by path at 2013-03-07 01:35 PM | Reply | Flag:

"We are all Don Quixote."

I thought Doc was the real Don Quixote....maybe he's really just Sancho Panza???

#15 | Posted by jestgettinalong at 2013-03-07 10:30 AM | Reply |

Could be; I know one thing, Doc ain't Speedy Gonzalez.

#19 | Posted by matsop at 2013-03-07 01:36 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Happened to my dad when one of my brothers died suddenly. He was devastated and would cry periodically when we talked about my brother."

I think it would be so tough, I can't even contemplate enduring it.

#20 | Posted by danni at 2013-03-07 01:44 PM | Reply | Flag:

"Happened to my dad when one of my brothers died suddenly. He was devastated and would cry periodically when we talked about my brother."

I think it would be so tough, I can't even contemplate enduring it.

#20 | Posted by danni at 2013-03-07 01:44 PM | Reply |

My dad died a year later---I always wondered whether my brother's death had something to do with it. To me, dad's death was tough but I'll never get over my brother's death. All of us boys did everything together.

#21 | Posted by matsop at 2013-03-07 01:47 PM | Reply | Flag:

my wife has incurable cancer. Her mom just died of cancer. These are hard times. I'm near retirement and keep wondering what life will be like in the future. Meanwhile, I hold each day precious.

Like a fellow old-fart once tole me: Getting old isn't for sissies

#22 | Posted by path at 2013-03-07 02:34 PM | Reply | Flag:

#22 | Posted by path at 2013-03-07 02:34 PM | Reply

Path, sorry to hear that----as I'm sitting in bed dealing with my own health issues over this winter. But each day is precious even when you're not on the top of things. Wish you and your wife the best.

#23 | Posted by matsop at 2013-03-07 02:43 PM | Reply | Flag:

All of a sudden this thread makes me think of Briwo.
www.youtube.com

#24 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2013-03-07 03:00 PM | Reply | Flag:

That song breaks me everytime I hear it.

RIP Briwo. You are missed.

#25 | Posted by kanrei at 2013-03-07 03:01 PM | Reply | Flag:

I wonder why Hallmark never took the above for a card.

#11 | Posted by kanrei at 2

yeah I cant imagine why they passed on that one..could it be that its too long and boring?

#26 | Posted by afkabl2 at 2013-03-07 09:16 PM | Reply | Flag:

The only thing worse than growing old is seeing your children leave this place before we do.

#14 | Posted by danni at

let me tell you about it sometime...when the politics are over and the

game here is in the fourth quarter...and I've got a good drunk going..

#27 | Posted by afkabl2 at 2013-03-07 09:18 PM | Reply | Flag:

Happened to my dad when one of my brothers died suddenly. He was devastated and would cry periodically when we talked about my brother.

#17 | Posted by matsop

brothers and grandparents have a special role to play in tragedy such as you're talking about...

#28 | Posted by afkabl2 at 2013-03-07 09:19 PM | Reply | Flag:

#21 | Posted by matsop at 201

without knowing details but living with the pain, I think you are very much correct..

I am sorry for your loss

#29 | Posted by afkabl2 at 2013-03-07 09:21 PM | Reply | Flag:

"My dad died a year later---I always wondered whether my brother's death had something to do with it."

Think of the worst emotional pain you have endured and multiply it by 100. There is nothing as completely debilitating as the loss of a child, and it is even harder on the mother than the father.

#30 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-03-07 09:48 PM | Reply | Flag:

"my wife has incurable cancer. Her mom just died of cancer. These are hard times."

Ouch! I'll keep you and her in my prayers, Path.

#31 | Posted by Diablo at 2013-03-07 09:50 PM | Reply | Flag:

Think of the worst emotional pain you have endured and multiply it by 100. There is nothing as completely debilitating as the loss of a child, and it is even harder on the mother than the father.

#30 | Posted by Diablo at

well I don't know about that...its pretty damn tough all around....

your 100 times doesn't even approach it...

#32 | Posted by afkabl2 at 2013-03-08 12:36 AM | Reply | Flag:

I remember a little while back that heartfelt poem you wrote about your son, afkabl2. Sadly, some memories never seem to get any easier with time.

#33 | Posted by CalifChris at 2013-03-08 01:03 AM | Reply | Flag:

#23 | Posted by matsop
-and-
#31 | Posted by Diablo

Thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. It is appreciated. My biggest challenge is taking care of our special needs daughter (only child) as she will not be able to earn a wage in her life. She is a sweet loving kid and I hope our younger nephews and nices will step up to the plate when the time comes.

Life hurts, but love heals all.

#34 | Posted by path at 2013-03-08 09:04 AM | Reply | Flag:

First Bonnie Franklin, now Valerie Harper? I'm putting Charlotte Rae in my celebrity death pool asap.

#35 | Posted by Hagbard_Celine at 2013-03-08 12:53 PM | Reply | Flag:

When I'm lyin' in my bed at night
I don't wanna grow up
Nothin' ever seems to turn out right
I don't wanna grow up
How do you move in a world of fog
That's always changing things
Makes me wish that I could be a dog
When I see the price that you pay
I don't wanna grow up
I don't ever wanna be that way
I don't wanna grow up

Seems like folks turn into things
That they'd never want
The only thing to live for
Is today
I'm gonna put a hole in my TV set
I don't wanna grow up
Open up the medicine chest
And I don't wanna grow up
I don't wanna have to shout it out
I don't want my hair to fall out
I don't wanna be filled with doubt
I don't wanna be a good boy scout
I don't wanna have to learn to count
I don't wanna have the biggest amount
I don't wanna grow up

Well when I see my parents fight
I don't wanna grow up
They all go out and drinking all night
And I don't wanna grow up
I'd rather stay here in my room
Nothin' out there but sad and gloom
I don't wanna live in a big old tomb
On Grand Street

When I see the 5 o'clock news
I don't wanna grow up
Comb their hair and shine their shoes
I don't wanna grow up
Stay around in my old hometown
I don't wanna put no money down
I don't wanna get me a big old loan
Work them fingers to the bone
I don't wanna float a broom
Fall in love and get married then boom
How the hell did it get here so soon
I don't wanna grow up

#36 | Posted by uncle_meat at 2013-03-08 01:05 PM | Reply | Flag:

For my 59+1 birthday, my kid sent me a card that says we're all just kids stuck in old people's bodies. Goes with my motto - you're only young once, but you can be immature forever.

Kids also bought me a 40" HDTV. Really disappointing to learn porn in HD is somewhat gross.

#37 | Posted by northguy3 at 2013-03-08 02:56 PM | Reply | Flag:

Really disappointing to learn porn in HD is somewhat gross.

Almost as much as seeing it live.

#38 | Posted by 726 at 2013-03-08 03:59 PM | Reply | Flag:

Thank the godz they haven't invented smellinvision. ☺

#39 | Posted by madscientist at 2013-03-08 04:23 PM | Reply | Flag:

Really disappointing to learn porn in HD is somewhat gross.
Almost as much as seeing it live.
#38 | Posted by 726 at 2013-03-08 03:59 PM
Thank the godz they haven't invented smellinvision. ☺
#39 | Posted by madscientist at 2013-03-08 04:23 PM

Uh.. with Valerie Harper? Hmm.. well, there are made-to-order life-sized realistic "sex dolls". Your wish might one day be.. fulfilled. Ugh.

Here's an ADULT link to just a torso, and you can select from a number of faces, etc.

For Valarie: How to Make Rick Simpson's Medicinal Hemp Oil Safely

#40 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2013-03-08 05:14 PM | Reply | Flag:

Oops, the adult link: Real Doll torso - disturbing.. can't even put stockings on those nubs.. or, you might.:]

#41 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2013-03-08 05:15 PM | Reply | Flag:

.....best song ever about the loss of a loved one ....
....
..."Closing Up The Room" ......
www.youtube.com

#42 | Posted by skizziks at 2013-03-09 11:26 PM | Reply | Flag: