Just want to give a word of encouragement to everyone who is fighting this beast and getting weary sometimes.
All of us feel like giving up sometimes and I am no different. But when I feel that way I tell myself to look harder for what is still there for me to live for. I will find it. If there is only just one little drop left, I'm going to squeeze it out of my life.
Don't give up!
So far so good.. Scary, but I will beat this down for all I'm worth... Just got OK from Oncologist today to continue past 6 Taxotere treatments if I can stand it and want to.. You bet let's keep hitting it hard. Have to postpone two surgeries till at least April, but I can live with that..
Doug
PS Got lots to teach grand kids and son in law. Daughter says I need to stay and do it..
Jeez, Shooter, that's spot on.
At least the last part. I have one grandson, and his dad is one ...........I don't know how to explain him. Unfortunately, he was raised to think the world revolves around him. I laugh at him. Case in point: When I get Liam, M T W after preschool, I get flea infested Ginger all day, a 15 year old Spaniel. I have two little cats I saved, and my son has a big dog. At the start of the school year, we got fleas. This dog is so old, she can't feel the fleas on herself. I had to fix the dog. No, I did not put her down, I gave her meds. She's much happier now.
This may mean nothing to anyone but me. But, I get Liam three days a week, and every Sunday, when my daughter comes to do laundry. I live for him.
J
I like your daughter's approach Shooter. It often helps to do what we're told.
BIG HUGS, Gregg!!!
Charles
(Yeah, I hug a lot more now, after being on Lupron for 4 years. Ha. Ha.)
HUGS to you too Charles! See you before the support group on Monday.
My life is a balancing act. But I am blessed that I see opportunities to delay the disease. I hope to enjoy many more years.
Rich
Thanks for the words Gregg57. Please remember that they also apply to you. Please keep your strength up.
I keep thinking of the line from Star Wars; “Beware of the dark side”. I feel if I let my guard down and let depression really get a hold of me it will never go away...
You are right, having advanced cancer sucks. On the other side I now focus more on the beauty around our. Even though I am an eunuch I am closer to my wife than I have ever been. In some ways I am happier now more than before cancer (it still sucks). It does focus your mind on what is important in life.
Like you I wish everyone here the strength to fight this beast. (I just wish it was a mouse and not an elephant!)
I definitely have times when I'm down. The down times for me general involve doctors, hospitals, diagnoses, tests, procedures, etc. The more I can get away from these things, the easier it is for me to stay up. I've actually gone an entire 2 months without the above mentioned items. That's a first for this year.
Myself and my wife hate the hospital appointments, we walk in and automatically feel low in spirit! I think it stems from the initial diagnosis and shock. We laugh now about the fact that the low mood will precede the visit and the fact I walk outside at 5 minute intervals to breathe the air before being called in the room!! I’m also at my first two month gap and it’s been wonderful! 👍
Push back the 500lb gorilla in the room .what else can we do Dr who. For me one fantastic day can eliminate a week of bad. You crack me up and always spread cheer ,Enjoy this holiday.....
Thanks for keeping it real. I am with you on this. I have to agree with you, , it’s all the tests, ct & pet scans, mri & “visits” to infusion center. When I get home it’s really that great feeling of home sweet home.
Hang in there -you are not alone
Hank
Thanks. I remember distinctly the night I came home around 9 or 10 at night after going through a 45 minute MRI which was described by the operator as "A little like sound torture" Days before I had a bone biopsy which my primary care doctor had indicated was "not pleasant". Understatement! That along with all the other tests, needle sticks, procedures, appointments, etc. left me in state of weariness and complete depression. Despite the fact I had started treatment, I was still in pain and wondering if I would ever get better.
Then, the next day I woke up and got out of bed. Something was different. In that moment I had the first realization that I was getting better. Everything changed in that one moment. Suddenly, the previous month of hell just vanished. It was really amazing.
Thanks for the word Gregg! My grandkids are special too, that would be difficult to give up, so I am not!
I've been down at times, but I feel like that's pointless and wasted energy. Kick it and kick it hard and keep smiling I say. Great post.
Thanks. Once I had my diagnosis, there was more of an urgency to not waste time any energy on anything that doesn't have value. Life is a limited resource and that is more apparent now than ever. And now that we see that more clearly, the value of what we have has gone up significantly. I am determined not to let this disease take anything away from me if I can help it.
Positive messaging and thinking is your key. If we can all achieve these views we’d be ahead of depression and fear.
The good thing is that we can do this with some effort. The key is to keep working on it and not give up.
No body like me currently having great luck will envie your current position.Niether will I boast to anyone of being in remission .Truth is don’t want to jinx my fragile status.This is a lifetime of waiting for return or enjoying the present . I can tell you that things can improve and get much better. Just have to tolerate treatments then recover. Good luck and persevere.
gregg,
I have always noticed, there is so much meaning in one single word of yours! And that meaning spontaneously blooms into a HOPE!
You are above us and I look up to you ardently and sincerely.
Sisira
I'm not doing badly after receiving treatments for prostate cancer. I have another new and unrelated health issue that is bringing me down. It is tough getting old. I'll have to remember to count my blessings.
You are a real inspiration Gregg, your attitude and words on this forum have helped me so much. Thank you and keep posting 👍
Who doesn't ask from time to time; what's the purpose of all this? Now in my seventh year of living with cancer, I am surprised at the journey. The diagnosis was not a surprise to me as for years prior I anticipated that cancer would come to me in some form. Having been exposed to Agent Orange it appeared destined. I allowed myself 15 minutes of sadness and then returned to living. I was reminded of a time when I was dating my wife and we found ourselves on a lonely road in Kansas late at night with a second flat tire. It was either began a long hike or wait for someone to stop and help. My wife turned on the radio and said, "we might as well dance." And so we did on the roadside. Soon a kind person did stop and helped to get us on our way. I have used this experience many times over the last 58 years for myself and volunteering work with hospice patients. There are some challenges that we can not solve alone, but that does not mean you can not enjoy the moment in some way. I recently completed the Provenge treatment and know that new add on treatments are forthcoming. These are on my "side bar" of life as I continue projects on my ranch building fences, setting up a new shop for restoring autos and remodeling the house. I have written a script and will began shooting a short film this week. There is no time for grief when there is so much living going on. I recognize that we each must find our own way. I pray you strength and awareness of each day and consider that sometimes it is good to pause and "dance."
I feel exactly the same way. Like everyone else, I went through the same period of sadness over the diagnosis. But even from the beginning I was determined to keep that part as short as possible. I knew that there was no time to waste. From now on my life would be too valuable to spend feeling sorry for myself. In a way, we are lucky to have this kind of early warning to help us prioritize things in our lives.
