Lucky?

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Hugh Kearnley - 15 Mar 2007 21:45 GMT

After having read with not just a simple distress about you guys with this
curse who are having to go through so much sh.t in your lives that was
neither asked for nor deserved, I start to consider myself lucky in a sort
of way. And maybe I just don't know what I'm talking about - so don't be too
critical of me.
Perhaps I was "lucky" not to have been Dx'd until it was Mets. I think I
have managed to escape all the operations and procedures the earlier
diagnosed have had to put up with - all the uncertainties, psychological
suffering as well as the physical. The far travelling for treatments,
interminable waiting and the constant hoping, time that Cancer eats away,
the effects on personal relationships - I seem to be escaping all those -
for the moment, at least.
I just know I have a bad thing going on, not very much I can do about it
except put a smile on my face, try to eat and exercise properly, keep the
Faith, continue taking the tablets (injections too) and try at least, to
stop being so damn self-centred and selfish.
I really FEEL for all of you going through what you are.
Younger and MOST supportive 'brother' to all you damn bigger braver guys all
in our boats,
You are ALL heroes. My Heart in yours.
That's all.
HUGHIE.

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I.P. Freely - 15 Mar 2007 23:53 GMT

> Perhaps I was "lucky" not to have been Dx'd until it was Mets. I think I
> have managed to escape all the operations and procedures the earlier
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the effects on personal relationships - I seem to be escaping all those -
> for the moment, at least.

OTOH, much of those effects are optional, or at least in the minds of
the individuals, as opposed to being inherent to treatment.
Few people in the modern world live "far" from very good treatment.
Psychological suffering and worry are highly individual reactions; some
people would just find something else to worry about if they didn't have PC.
I slept through my operation, and if I hadn't documented the recovery
ward nightmares they'd be distant memories.
Pads beat the hell of cancer, and I began getting ED a decade prior to
my PC discovery.
Physical suffering? I guess I didn't notice that part.
"Waiting?" For what? "Waiting" is a state of mind. I have too much to do
to call the passage of time "waiting". I don't "wait" in a "waiting"
room; I read a book. I don't "wait' for PSA results; I do several dozen
other things, and some day I'll be informed of the results.
Cancer helped my personal relationships by helping me and my friends to
greater appreciate life and mortality.

So, you see, there are other ways to "escape" those optional hassles
than actually avoiding them; most of them are "optional" even if one is
diagnosed very early and gets treatment.

HOWEVER . . . I can never recover the damned *time* this beast has
devoured, even if my PSA never hits 0.030 again. It's cost me a year now
of real time, in research and typing, and I resent the beast for that.
Of course, if it ultimately kills me, I'll have other reasons to resent
it. I'll worry about that when it becomes productive or unavoidable.

> I just know I have a bad thing going on, not very much I can do about it
> except put a smile on my face, try to eat and exercise properly, keep the
> Faith, continue taking the tablets (injections too) and try at least, to
> stop being so damn self-centred and selfish.

Yup. Now aren't all of those (except the meds) GOOD things?

I.P.

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glassman - 16 Mar 2007 03:49 GMT

> After having read with not just a simple distress about you guys with this
> curse who are having to go through so much sh.t in your lives that was
> neither asked for nor deserved, I start to consider myself lucky in a sort

Thanks for the thoughts Hughie. At the risk of pissing off some readers
here... where is it written that we need to fight, suffer, and scrap for
every last day of life? In my middle 50's I am thankful for everything I
have ever experienced. Not too long ago in our history, we would been dead
before 30 of natural causes. My credo is to live a full life for this very
day that I woke up. I'm going hiking while my legs still work. I'm eating
whatever I want while I can still enjoy it. I'm seeing as many things as I
can while my eyes still work, etc etc. My dad never took a vitamin, or
dieted for one day of his life. When he was young he smoked. Until recently
he had a drink every day of his life. He eats bacon & eggs on a buttered
roll every morning. He climbs up on his roof to make small repairs when
needed. He goes out with some women that are 30 years younger than him, and
drives them around on errands everyday. Oh by the way he just turned 93.
Is he lucky? Sure thing, but he never looks back and thinks he may have been
able to extend his life by living more carefully.

Signature

JK Sinrod
www.SinrodStudios.com
www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com

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Hugh Kearnley - 16 Mar 2007 07:40 GMT

To be still going out with the ladies at 93 years of age - why, I think
that's simply marvellous and something, I'm sure we'd all like to do!
He must be a real Gent and you very proud of him.
Your self assurance and determination has boosted me a bit too.
Thankyou!
Hughie.

> Thanks for the thoughts Hughie. At the risk of pissing off some readers
> here... where is it written that we need to fight, suffer, and scrap for
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> just turned 93. Is he lucky? Sure thing, but he never looks back and
> thinks he may have been able to extend his life by living more carefully.

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Glassman@work - 16 Mar 2007 17:14 GMT

> To be still going out with the ladies at 93 years of age - why, I think
> that's simply marvellous and something, I'm sure we'd all like to do!
> He must be a real Gent and you very proud of him.
> Your self assurance and determination has boosted me a bit too.
> Thankyou!
> Hughie.

I must tell you that he's not close to a gent. He's loud, crude, sloppy,
and charmingly obnoxious! Works like a magnet to the ladies.... bu then
again he has what they're looking for the most. He drives at night! LOL

Signature

JK Sinrod
www.SinrodStudios.com
www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com

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kh - 16 Mar 2007 12:34 GMT

...

> here... where is it written that we need to fight, suffer, and scrap for
> every last day of life? In my middle 50's I am thankful for everything I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> whatever I want while I can still enjoy it. I'm seeing as many things as I
> can while my eyes still work, etc etc. My dad never took a vitamin, or

I agree with some reservations.

I made the choice to seek aggressive radiation treatment but choosing
to minimize the side effects.

I lost a year to ED and zero libido and 2 1/2 years later, I have mild
orgasms and soft erections. I was on Flomax for 6 months and had
"stinging" and blood seepage while peeing for 2 years. These were
inconveniences as is the urgency to pee, which is still with me.

I may have lost the treatment gamble, my PSA is rising fast. This
suggests mets but it is not a certainty. I'm still inside the 3 year,
all-bets-are-off boundary for radiation. The Prostascint, 2 bone
scans, an MRI, and a PET-scan have not found any hot-spots, nor do I
have bone pain.... yet.

If this is treatment failure, then so be it. I'm 60 and will live
out my life to the best that I can.

If they put me on Hormone-chemo, I know what to expect and will watch
the side effects like a hawk and hope that the molecular biologists
develop a silver bullet soon.

Either way, I'll make the most of every minute.

-kh

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WhiteSoxFan - 16 Mar 2007 16:16 GMT

When someone asks me "how are you today?" I answer, "It's the best day
of my life!"

WSF

OT- I showed my wife a thread from a while back and when I indicated
one of my replys she saw my signature WSF and responded you're "White
Single Female?"

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chasjac - 16 Mar 2007 20:18 GMT

> When someone asks me "how are you today?" I answer, "It's the best day
> of my life!"

While reading this thread, I was thinking about a coping strategy I've
been using for the last few months. I have a booklet, "The State of
the World's Children," an annual UNICEF report. I was getting them
every year for awhile; I'd used the statistical information the book
provides for examples in my statistics courses. The 1997 edition
focuses on child labor. One of the most heartbreaking pictures I have
ever seen is on page 16 of this booklet; a little boy (maybe 7-8 yrs
old) in the foreground, with a garbage dump behind him. He's grimy
from head to toe. He's a scavenger, picking through the dump to find
recyclable materials. It's probably one of the most dangerous jobs of
all, with the exposure to filth, germs, and sharp objects. But this
is the sort of thing discarded children endure the world over.

So, when I start feeling sorry for myself, I open that booklet and I
look at that picture for awhile, and think about just how blessed my
life has been: my stunningly beautiful (inside and out) wife, my two
great sons, my fantastic job. It gives me the perspective I need.

> OT- I showed my wife a thread from a while back and when I indicated
> one of my replys she saw my signature WSF and responded you're "White
> Single Female?"

My dad's a WSF, too. He still likes me, even though I went over to
the dark side and became a Cubs fan years ago.

--charlie

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Claude - 16 Mar 2007 21:44 GMT

"chasjac" <chjacobson@elmira.edu> wrote in message

> My dad's a WSF, too. He still likes me, even though I went over to
> the dark side and became a Cubs fan years ago.
>
> --charlie

As someone who has been a Cubs fan since 1949, I have to remind you that
it's been a good preparation for learning how to live with prostate cancer.

: >)

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chasjac - 17 Mar 2007 04:26 GMT

> As someone who has been a Cubs fan since 1949, I have to remind you that
> it's been a good preparation for learning how to live with prostate cancer.
> : >)

Hello, Claude:

HA! I think we should send this thread to the Cubs' front office.

--charlie

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