Say a prayer for Johnny Ramone

[Mudcat]

Sad news about Johnny. Story below.

 

In 1979 I saw the Ramones at the Motor City Skate Rink on 9 Mile Road, right outside the Detroit city limits. It was a life changing experience.

 

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Report: Johnny Ramone dying of cancer

Guitarist has had prostate cancer for four years

Updated: 9:06 p.m. ET June 15, 2004

 

LOS ANGELES - The guitarist with pioneering punk rock band the Ramones is fighting a losing a battle with cancer in a Los Angeles hospital, Rolling Stone magazine reported on its Web site Tuesday.

 

 

Johnny Ramone, 55, whose real name is John Cummings, was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago, and it has now spread throughout his body, Rollingstone.com quoted the bands drummer, Marky Ramone, as saying.

 

Johnnys been a champ in confronting this, but at this point I think the chances are slim, Marky Ramone said in the report. John never smoked cigarettes, he wasnt a heavy drinker and he was always into his health. It just proves when cancer seeks a body to penetrate, it doesnt matter how healthy you are or how unhealthy you are. It just seeps in and theres nothing you can do.

 

The Ramones, famed for playing their high-energy, unpolished songs at breakneck speed, rose to fame in New York City in 1974, paving the way for such British punk rock icons as the Sex Pistols and the Clash.

 

The band made its mark with such tunes as Blitzkrieg Bop, Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue and Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, but it never achieved the same commercial success as acts that followed in its path. The Ramones officially retired in 1996.

 

The bands singer, Joey Ramone (ne Jeff Hyman), died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer, while bassist Dee Dee Ramone (ne Douglas Colvin) died from a drug overdose the following year.

 

Link to source.

 

EDIT: Here is a link to the Rolling Stone article . It has a little more information than the one from MSN above.

[Caevan O’Shite]

" ."

[Tedster]

Man...so sad.

 

Let this be a note to all us guys out there...get a PSA test and a prostate exam regularly. Prostate cancer is curable, but it has to be detected early. Even though the docs say you don't need to do this often 'til you're 50, I'm 47, and every time I have blood drawn I ask for a PSA test. The last one for me was last fall when I had my knee surgery...came back fine. The ol' "thumb-up-the-ass" prostate exam is no fun at all, but if it saves that ass it's worth it.

 

A good friend, a guy I used to work with up in Alaska...had the PSA when it first came out. They found him in the early stages of prostate cancer. It's been almost ten years, and he's still kicking!

[NMcGuitar]

Sad to hear this.

I don't know what else there is to say.

[tiger85]

Excellent advice, Tedster. Prayers to Johnny Ramone and his family and friends.

[Guitarzan]

you have my prayers Johnny.

[zachg]

just read on vh1.com that he does indeed have the cancer, but is not crtically ill, here's the article:

 

"The Ramones guitarist, who has been living with prostate cancer for the past several years, was recently admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what his physician, Dr.

 

 

David Agus, told MTV News was a "complication from the cancer. But he got through it, and he's now on a new, experimental therapy. He's fighting courageously, and I think he will be going home in the near term."

 

Johnny's admission to Cedars-Sinai set off a nationwide maybe worldwide media death watch. He was said to be in an intensive-care unit, and very near the end. Characteristically, the 55-year-old guitarist, a stubbornly private man, refused to issue a corrective press statement. His wife, Linda, however, was appalled by the funereal headlines, and authorized Dr. Agus to explain Johnny's condition.

 

"He's not dying," Linda said on Wednesday afternoon (June 16). "He was okay for years, and he's fine now. He's in the hospital, but he's not in ICU. And I think he may be leaving by tomorrow." "

 

Kurt Loder

[tiger85]

Sounds like great news though with cancer you never know. Hope he continues to improve. He's to you John!

[Guitarzan]

well thats better than we first thought. go Johnny!!

[BiC]

Our prayers are with you Johnny. My Dad fought prostate cancer (PC) and WON. That's because it was detected early with the PSA blood test.

 

My Dad's father died from PC in 1973.

 

My Dad's brother died from PC a couple years ago.

 

My Dad's other 2 brothers are terminal with PC.

 

Researchers believe it is genetic. As you can see from my Dad's line, it most certainly is!

 

One of the TOP urologist in the country- Dr. James Catalona operated on my Dad in 1999. He's the same doc who operated on Jim Torrey- Yankee's Manager. Anyways, he told my brothers and me that we have an 80% chance of developing PC. To get in the fight EARLY, we have a PSA blood test taken annually.

 

Most doctors won't perform a biopsy from a PSA unless the PSA is 3.5 or higher. Dr. Catalona informed us that if our PSAs ever reached 2.5, that we should have our prostate biopsied. Don't wait for it to reach 3.5.

 

It is usually recommended that you don't get PSAs until you are in your 50s. BUT, if you have a family history of PC, start as early as you can, and TRACK IT. I write down my PSA on the inside cover of a book about preventing PC. I also hang onto my lab sheets.

 

If you go in for a PSA, be sure to abstain from an ejaculation at least 72 hours before because this may actually increase your PSA.

 

I hope this info. helps. I would like to recommend some books because there is SO MUCH to know about preventing PC, and fighting it if you are ever diagnosed with it- even down to using the RIGHT needles for the biopsy. Here are some great books:

 

BOOK

 

BOOK

 

A link to the BIO of Dr. James Catalona:

 

CATALONA

 

Remember, 2.5 = BIOPSY. DEMAND IT! Feel free to PM me with any questions. I'm no expert, but I have been through it with my Dad.

 

Peace

[BiC]

WHAT TEDSTER SAID!

 

Sorry Tedster, I posted before reading everything.

 

BTW, what have your PSA readings been since you've started getting them???

 

Have they been constant?

 

If you notice a gradual rise from them over time, then something may be "going on".

 

Please share your numbers, if you don't mind.

 

I'll share mine over the past few years once I get home from work to look at them. Be looking out for my numbers everyone.

 

Peace

[Dave da Dude]

I know this is a very serious subject , I have prostatitis (sp?) and have for 'bout twenty years (I was diagnosed at 39 yoa, PSA's "okay"). My uncle has PC; BUT, I just couldn't resist a little humor to lighten the mood a 'tad .....

 

BiC,

If you go in for a PSA, be sure to abstain from an ejaculation at least 72 hours before because this may actually increase your PSA.

Does this mean that abstinence will reduce your chances of developing PC?

 

BTW, I think I'll start tracking my "numbers" too. Although it may be difficult. Every time I've had the test its just ".. we'll call if there's a problem. otherwise no news is good news .."

 

And, YES, prayers for Johnny Ramone

 

Dave

[Mudcat]

That's great news from the VH1 website!

 

Since I said something about my first Ramones concert experience in my original post, thought I would mention something about the second time I saw them.

 

This time it was in 88 or 89 in a big club in Nashville. ALL of the local rockers were there. (Steve Earle, Warner Hodges from Jason & the Scorchers, etc.) along with this HUGE crowd of local punks and punk wannabes.

 

This particular venue had never had a hard rock act come in before. It was typically used as a show case for country & pop acts. Anyway, once the Ramones started, the moshers in the front of the crowd started doing stage dives and the manager (owner?) of the club started freaking out.

 

He got on stage wih some of his security guys and started pointing out people to get booted from the club. There were WAY too many people carrying on (and having quite a good time at it) for them to get things remotely under control.

 

Meanwhile....

 

The Ramones just kept right on playing as if the guy wasn't even on the stage.

 

Did I mention it was quite loud?

[BiC]

Originally posted by Dave th Dude:

 

BTW, I think I'll start tracking my "numbers" too. Although it may be difficult. Every time I've had the test its just ".. we'll call if there's a problem. otherwise no news is good news .."

 

_______________

 

Yes, It's VERY important that you track your own numbers because some doctors do not feel a biopsy is needed until you reach 3.5 and above. If your's is 2.5, they may feel that's a "safe" number, when actually it may not be. Then by the next time you get your PSA, it may be too late.

 

Case in point, my Dad's PSA went from a 3 to 14 within a year.

 

It's not difficult to track your numbers Just ask for your lab sheet- that's your right-, and keep an eye out for a trend of increasing numbers.

 

Again, the reason why it is SO important to track your own numbers is to be on the lookout for a trend of rising numbers. If your last 5 PSAs look like this:

 

1.5

1.8

2.2

2.8

3.0

 

Then that means there is more than likely cancer developing.

 

BTW, Your PSA should normally be .00(insert number). If your PSA is consistently WHOLE numbers, and there is a rise in that number with each PSA, then be on the lookout for that to surpass 2.4

 

If one test is 2.5 or higher, don't panic. But, get tested again shortly thereafter. If it is still 2.5 or higher after a few consistent tests within a few short months, get the biopsy, along with the DRE (finger up the butt to feel the prostate).

 

Peace

[BiC]

I'm going to start a PSA # thread. Let's post our numbers there.