Facing Life As A Cancer Survivor Can Scare The Pants Off You!

Guess what? I am a cancer survivor and I’m apprehensive. Yeah…“apprehensive” is a good word for scarred!?

Me scarred? I’m an ex-Marine-2nd Degree Black Belt. I am scarred of nothing! Well, almost nothing. Maybe….in all honesty, I’m scarred of a lot of things. I am proud to say I am a cancer survivor. So what else is new. Join the human race Jack. Welcome. Me scarred? Well heck, so is the rest of Humanity.

I guess this enlightenment is called self-acceptance or whatever. Who cares?

You see, normally after a life threatening event like having colon cancer, I’d stash it in the back of my mind and get on with things. You know what I mean? No big deal. It’s done. I’m over it. I feel great. Am working out etc. Getting on with life. After all, I am a cancer survivor. Problem is, the Docs have me taking some test the end of the year to be sure cancer isn’t coming back! Get out of here. I don’t want to hear about it.

So, grow up Jackie boy. It is just a formality. Yeah I will do it to it. But, I am sure there are lots of other cancer survivors out there in the Big Net that have the same thoughts. They can’t all be Superman or Superwoman. Right?

There is one thing I have found out about myself, since I became a cancer survivor. It is much easier for me to express myself emotionally. Like I have no trouble using words like affection, caring, loving etc.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the reason I can express myself emotionally now is because I feel I have nothing to hide. The reason I have nothing to hide is because of my hospital experience back in April.

My back was against the wall and I was at the total mercy of the Docs and Nurses. The deal was, I was finishing my 4th week of radiation. I stopped eating and drinking that 4th week. Felt like hell. So, I got off the radiation table and fell down on the floor. The nurses laid me out on a bed, took my blood pressure, and told me I was going to Emergency Hospital. Oh, I also couldn’t stop hiccupping.

Making a long story short-I spent 18 days in the hospital. At first, they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I was continuously vomiting, hiccupping, and had diarrhea. Couldn’t keep down food. Then I got pneumonia to boot. Cheers, good times are hear. My Docs came in and just starred at me, seemingly totally dumbfounded. Shaking their heads. “I can’t figure it out”. (My radiation and chemo Docs)

After a few days they put me on a liquid diet. After 18 days they figured I was well enough to be release from the hospital. Yeah, I lost 25 lbs. I know one thing, there are worse things that can happen to you then dying. Several of the nurses told me I was in really rough shape when I came in their. The only thing I can say is Cancer treatment in some cases, is not for sissies. Don’t misunderstand, my case of disaster, doesn’t happen to all cancer patients, not by a long shot.

Anyway, needless to say, I appreciate the good simple things in life now. How sweet life is.I am a cancer survivor. Cheers, Adios, See Ya Latter alligator, jacksee details

p.s. I bet some of you readers have some very interesting stories to tell. Do you want to get published? Keep the story short.check this out

I Tanked!

Believe it or not...I tanked! I mean I was taking this radiation and chemo with no real problems. Like man, I was indestructible!

The last day of the 4th week of radiation I hit the wall. I got off the radiation table and fell to the ground. The nurses propped me up and took my blood pressure. "Mr. you are going to the Emergency Room of the Hospital." Apparently my blood pressure was extremely low. That's not all, I began hip coping continuously. And, I couldn't stop.

The Docs checked me out. They said I was dehydrated, developed pneumonia, and had one screwed up stomach. Additionally, my potassium count was very low. Most of this was contributed to radiation adverse effects.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I had continuous diarrhea and vomiting. Making a long story short, I was in the hospital 18 days. I lost 25 lbs.

No more radiation and chemo. I am on the mend. Getting my stomach back in shape.
I am optimistic that my cancer days are behind me.standgreat

While fighting cancer, I just finished my first week of chemotherapy and radiation.

Guess what? The treatment is nothing as terrible as I thought it would be! Yeah, I’m telling you the truth. I anticipated pure hell. And, to my wonderful surprise, I really don’t feel a thing. Maybe a little fatigue now and then. Mild diarrhea visits me once in awhile, but no big deal.
I just don’t want this disease coming back on me a couple years from now. So, I agreed to go full throttle with both radiation and chemo.

Five weeks of radiation and four months of chemo. Then, I am finished!standgreat

I Am Fighting Cancer!

Yeah. I am fighting cancer …colon cancer. Thank God, the Docs found it early, before the sucker spread throughout my body.
I had surgery two weeks ago. I am anticipating chemotherapy in a few weeks. My problem is, the initial cancer was in my appendix which burst. It’s not unusual to have cancer cells spread around the body in that general area. I don’t care, they can do whatever they want to me. Put me in a microwave oven. Whatever. I’ll do anything now to prevent a cancer relapse 2-3 years from now.
I am at peace with myself and this entire matter now. A couple weeks ago I was scarred stiff.I am a spiritual person. So I relaxed and placed my fate in my God’s hands. After all, everybody has to die from something. Hell bells, some people die from boredom.
I’ll gladly take one more year, three more, even ten more! Whatever I can get. You know what I mean?
Today the Doc said he was going to do radiation on me. Prognosis is excellent. Kill those microscopic cancer cells. Studies indicate no cancer return after five years. All right. Bring it on!
Those of you who have gone through this know the euphoria I felt when I heard good news. It’s dealing with the unknown that is scary. Your imagination can drive you nuts. All for now...stay tuned.StandforYourGreatness