Hallelujah and something to read

It was 5 years ago today, my birthday, that I was told those three little words "You have cancer"  Medical personnel proceeded to let me know that I had 6 to 9 months to live with treatment, but that I could die at any moment.  Flying on a plane, picking up heavy things, eating, etc, could rip open my colon and I would need to get an ER immediately.

As I was drove around town trying to pick up my medical records, a car tried to pass me on the shoulder and rendered me transportationless.  A round robin of friends and strangers got me home, got me a plane ticket, got me packed and carried my luggage onto a plane.  Fortunately for me, I have hopefully experienced the worst day, the worst birthday of my life. 

I have been NED since 9/04 and stopped all treatments in June of /05.  And that is why I always promote getting a second, third, fourth opinion and to get one at a top rated hospital.    

They say that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, and at first, that step can be so daunting.  Now that I am here, I can't believe it went by so quickly. 

On another note, every year on my birthday, and it's what I picked up to help me choose a great hospital, US News and World report comes out with their new issue of Best Hosptials.  You can look at it online, or support their efforts and pick up an issue at your local book store. 

Thanks for being my friends.   

On 7/22/2009 Cptmac wrote:

It was 5 years ago today, my birthday, that I was told those three little words "You have cancer"  Medical personnel proceeded to let me know that I had 6 to 9 months to live with treatment, but that I could die at any moment.  Flying on a plane, picking up heavy things, eating, etc, could rip open my colon and I would need to get an ER immediately.

As I was drove around town trying to pick up my medical records, a car tried to pass me on the shoulder and rendered me transportationless.  A round robin of friends and strangers got me home, got me a plane ticket, got me packed and carried my luggage onto a plane.  Fortunately for me, I have hopefully experienced the worst day, the worst birthday of my life. 

I have been NED since 9/04 and stopped all treatments in June of /05.  And that is why I always promote getting a second, third, fourth opinion and to get one at a top rated hospital.    

They say that a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, and at first, that step can be so daunting.  Now that I am here, I can't believe it went by so quickly. 

On another note, every year on my birthday, and it's what I picked up to help me choose a great hospital, US News and World report comes out with their new issue of Best Hosptials.  You can look at it online, or support their efforts and pick up an issue at your local book store. 

Thanks for being my friends.   

Cptmac, Happy Birthday!!! And Congrats to your 5 years milestone of surviving from cc. You are an inspiration here. Thank you so much.

Lucy

Happy birthday to you sir!  You're an inspiration to us all, patients and caregivers and loved ones a like.  What hope you continue give us!  Thanks for posting encouraging and thoughtful responses to patients and folks like me who care for someone with cancer.  You've paid your hard earned life experience forward, in that you've given us the best birthday present in just being here today -- proof in the pudding that cancer patients are not statistics.  

Indeed, like you, the docs gave my husband only 3 to 6 months to live, yet now he's NED and his oncologist at City of Hope (a great clinic) is cautiously optimistic and has even "officially" released him to go back to work (light duty).  He's now 5 months into his cancer journey.  In short, my husband is looking forward now, and throughout this challenging ordeal you've helped him vicariously by sharing your experiences.  In short, your posts have helped my husband focused on healing and, overall, to keep his eye on the donut and not on the hole.        

Paula Jean

Congrats Cptmac!!!  I have good news too.  My husband dx stage iv May 08 now after colon and liver surgery w/ RFA Jun 08 then a second liver resection Dec 08 followed by 10 cycles of chemo has been NED since his first post-op scan Jan 09 and just had his third clear scan.  He finished chemo mid June and is looking wonderful.  I hope anyone out there reading this looks at you and hopfully us and realizes that remission is possible with the right treatment and a whole lot of hope and prayers.

Bonnie