What A Bloody Year!!

I know somewhat of how you feel and admire your strength, fight and bravery as know there can be some very dark days but I also know through my own cancer experiences that you can beat it and the odds.

Since I was 15 I learnt Iv got a genetic screw up that my dad and his side of the family passed down to me where I will develop bowl cancer and had yearly check ups ever since then (I'm now 3 months away from 40) but felt very lucky as I know my bodies weakness and will be monitored for the rest of my life.
In 2008 I was told after years of cutting bits of cancer out here and there from my colon I was told that the risk was now to great and that I will need a total colectomy (removal of the whole colon). I was determined that it would not affect me or my life style and was down the pub with all my mates only 7 days after the operation be it in some pain and only for a couple of hours but it was my stand.
Luckily my recovery from the opp was very fast and was back working after only 4 weeks and also use to be crippled pre opp with at least 4 days a month with incredibly bad stomach cramps where I couldn't move but since the operation I get them maybe 2 twice a year so it really worked for me.
The one thing I was always told though is if I get it in my duodenum it was game over and a nasty death where my stomach acids will get into my bowls and eat me from the inside out. Last August I was told I had it there, I was in devastated as felt totally fine and like I had a time bomb ticking inside of me but don't know when it could go off!
So what did I do, that's right went out and got a motorbike licence and decided to do all the things I wanted to do between going in to hospital having constant check ups.
Musgrove Hospital and there staff are excellent tho and pulled out all the stops and had some seriously James Bond style tech going on as took a pill that took photos of my whole interjection track so they could map it out and see exactly what was going on and this equipment was shipped from Israel just for me, also I had a rig shipped over from Germany every three months as it was the only viewing rig in the world that could see the area of issue from underneath rather than the normal forward field of vision from the normal scopes.
In short after a year of worry and a few more bits cut out I had a call in September saying they now believe it's manageable for the forcible future and now I'm back to yearly check ups which Iv has since I was 15 so to me that's me being all clear and I tell you that was the best ever phone call Iv ever had, I had so many emotions, laughter, crying, shouting and as you said in your post I did shout out fuck you cancer and I said to myself this is the start of my new life, one I appreciate far more.
So what am I trying to say in my normal waffle is no matter what they say their is always another option and that's to keep fighting and keep positive and medicine changes so fast as was told if I had it in this place only 2 years ago I would be dead but the technology is such Iv now got a chance and that's all I ever wanted and needed as if you give me a chance I'll take it.
Just make sure you have good family and friends around you when you have the bad low days and use there positivity to lift you when you need it.
As with a lot of stories on her along with yours the one think that is all common is the attitude, strength and spirit to continue and fight on. We know life is short and can be taken away from anyone at any given moment, make the most of it.
Take care and continue to put your two fingers up to cancer and if your like me the only way I'm going to leave this planet is on fire backwards through a hedge haha

 

Reading all this is truly inspirational.

Last year they discovered a Tumour in my daughters (13 yr old) face.
It turned out to be benign - so it was removed last November.
Unfortunately it came back and has been removed again this October.
Hope is that when she stops growing it will.
She has been brilliant and is determined to not let it stop her doing anything, although when it gets bigger it restricts her breathing.
Very proud of her - especially watching her do the race for life even though she was struggling to run far.

Again inspirational to hear of so many people with such a great attitude.

All the best to all of you

 

I have no idea what you are going through, but I do know not its not just physical. There is a mental hurdle to overcome as well. My dad had pancreatic cancer (glad we didn't know his chances of survival at the time) about 7 years ago, my brother in law has had double testicular cancer, both very positive characters but the mental battle was tough after.

What you are doing is great, a problem shared is a problem halved and if you share it on public forum they its diluted even more.

Keep strong

 

Hi there,
We've never met but your post bring my own experiences back, I had grade 4 lymphoma in the chest, none operable due to it encasing the heart, I had chemo and radio therapy, this was back in 2008, all I had was a man cough in the February, this continued until I collapsed in September, all I can say is stay strong, see it through, just think about the next ride out on a nice sunny day, as time passes you will feel you are pestering the doctors about every possible thing you feel isn't right, I tell you, don't give a toss whether you feel you don't deserve the attention, get everything checked, spend time with the doctors, you have earned the right to claim back some time from them, keep fighting, hold your head high and tell yourself "i want to live, I deserve my place in this world and I will continue to live my life for me, my family and I will continue to achieve all my goals I have set" Treatments tough, but its a test that you can beat, love life and live it..........

 

I was released from my check-ups this January, you may come to feel that these checks get cumbersome and you can't wait until you get released into full remission. I have got to say my consultant was superb throughout but I noticed that when she told me that I no longer needed to come in she was ultra sensitive, I was not sure why.... it wasn't until I was walking down the corridor to the exit of the hospital that I became overalled with emotion, yes a man on my own started crying for beating the big 'c', but then I felt all alone, a very strange feeling indeed, a bit like being told to continue your life on your own, I really hope your checks ups go positive but please take my advice, on the day that you think your check ups will stop take someone with you to hold your hand, lean on them a bit and let the emotion out, that will be the start of your new beginning, keep the old and start adding greater things into your life, I have raised over 30k from joining in with MacMillan events and this is one area I feel I can give back, just talking to someone in the middle of there treatment is so rewarding to them and to you, pat yourself on the back for thru fight you have won, and maybe offer 1 day a month as a volunteer at a MacMillan trust, good luck and attempt every opportunity that comes your way xx

 

That'll be good, I see your in Derby area, is the meet nearby? I used to live in Swadlincote, Burton on trent(with first wife!) that's a few years ago now,
Tell your hubby he's great too! I'm sure he felt every emotion you did, I know my wife went through hell with me, be good to get to some more meets this year.....

 

Wish you the very best, have a long and happy life

 

Good luck with the meet @JenC . I don't think I can make it to Spondon on Saturday, but best wishes to those who can.

On 1 July I have an oncology follow-up appointment where I expect to find out either that there is no detectable trace of the cancer I had removed in April or there is some left and more treatment may be needed. Hoping for the best.

 

good luck @JenC with the bbq on Saturday and the continued remission. Sorry I can't make the bbq, I have the kids this weekend.

Best of luck with your results @Pete1950 , too.

 

hope all goes well with your barby Jenny,,,,,,,,,,,,,,although never having faced such tribulatins peronally i have been close to a few,, my mother, then my brother who managed 16 years when he was given 6 weeks and my sister has just been given the all clear,,,, i nearly made your bbq last year but cant even try this time...

 

and Pete,, best of mate..