Halloween

[BenKelba]

Had my surgery on Halloween 2002. No recurrence. My belief is find it early and treat it aggressively. Guess this is my philosophy on cancer treatment.  

[CERICWIN]

I agree with your philosophy.      To me, active surveillance or watchful waiting is just leaving a ticking timebomb down there.      The earlier a cancer, any cancer, is treated the better the outcome.        But I write from hindsight; it was too late by the time I got diagnosed and treated, and it had spread beyond control.     I have a lot of regret over not seeking help sooner, and my doctors all have told me not to beat myself up over it, and they're right.

But at least I can hold myself up as an example of what can happen when cancer isn't dealt with early, and the symptoms are ignored.      If I can help save some others from what I'm going through, at least I've done something useful with my illness.

CERICWIN

[motosue in reply to CERICWIN]

Thanks for your great wisdom and for helping others.

Wilfred

[jimreilly]

We all have to balance out the watchful waiting/surgery and possible side effects decision. Circumstances are different for everyone--diagnosis, physical health, age, mental health, personal circumstances all enter in.