A Milestone that Shouldn't Be! - Lung Cancer Support

Lung Cancer Support

3,990 members2,163 posts

A Milestone that Shouldn't Be!

anrean profile image
14 Replies

Today is my 60th birthday. I have been thinking about all it has taken to get through to this day. In 2002 the prognosis was less than good that I would make it to the 5 year mark. It is 4 cancers later, and I am still kicking up my heels and fighting! While this is a big milestone, I would like to remind all of us that we need to celebrate each milestone as if it were the biggest. It is the baby steps that get us through. I am baby-stepping through each day, one day at a time. The lung cancer remains stable, and my oncologist continues to want to do the wait and watch for the two remaining tumors. Since killing the most aggressive one, time has been good to me.

One of my favorite things to do before the lung cancer was to kayak. I have not been in a kayak for two years because it takes strength to kayak the currents around my home. Last weekend a group of friends and I went on our annual vacation and we found a very nice area that did not have a strong current. Here is a picture of me doing what I love! They had to help me out of the Kayak, but it was glorious to spend time on the water again!! I am on the left.

Thank you to all who have supported me so far through this journey <3

Written by
anrean profile image
anrean
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
14 Replies

anrean, Happy Birthday. I wish you many many more. I am glad you had an opportunity to do what you love.

jpoehlmann profile image
jpoehlmann

What a wonderful cause for celebration! Congratulations.

SusieJo1948 profile image
SusieJo1948

Hi I'm glad you're doing better. I will be here a while I'm not completely down yet. I am still able to walk and I'm not house bound yet. My lungs are h hyperinflated but not bad yet they will keep. Blowing up and press against my stomach and heart

That's when they will dope me up good I hope it's awhile. Catch you later. Love susie jo1948

anrean profile image
anrean in reply to SusieJo1948

Dear Susiejo, keep fighting. We go through periods of good time and then bad, and back to good. One day at a time and baby steps!

scifiknitter profile image
scifiknitterBlogger

Love seeing you in your kayak!

Ncpoet profile image
Ncpoet

Way to go! Enjoy your life. You have earned this!

PegD profile image
PegD

Happy Birthday and congrats on getting back in your kayak!Wishing you many more special days.

anrean profile image
anrean

Thank you everyone! This cancer journey started 16 years ago and I thought two years ago with the lung ca diagnosis/confirmation that I would never be in a kayak again. Kayaking was my special place to go - I would fight currents and battle my way through places just to watch the sun rise or set, and to spend special time with my cousin. I fought currents even the guys struggled with - surprising them because I was slower than they were, but I wasn't afraid to push as hard as they did to get where I wanted to go. This time I had to swallow my pride and let my friends help me out of the kayak, and it was worth it. We all need to remember that needing help is part of our new normal. I have been struggling with accepting the new normal - this is my 5th new normal and the only one to permanently rob me of recovery. I paid dearly for the pleasure of kayaking again and had to bow out of the evening activities, but as we all should, I picked carefully what was most important...I could stand on the shore and be heartsick or swallow my pride and accept help. Please, please, please when people offer to help, choose wisely and know that swallowing your pride doesn't cost you anything. My friends smiled and were just as excited as I was, and for the moment they needed to help me out, they clearly did not see me as the burden I imagined being. Accept the help people offer without allowing our imaginations to let us think that help is a burden!

RuthieNJ profile image
RuthieNJ

Good for you! Happy Birthday. I’m happy for you that you got to kayak. I am celebrating 5 years of survivorship and I understand the “new normal”. Each day is a gift and I’m grateful for each and every one of them

anrean profile image
anrean in reply to RuthieNJ

Dear Ruthie,

Congratulations on reaching that magical milestone! WOW - 5 glorious years!! Yes, each day is a gift, and we need to treasure them. They are precious!

SusieJo1948 profile image
SusieJo1948

Good for you don't lose hope. Fight don't give in

I know it's hard all of us are here you need to talk we are for you. Just talk. I will listen. I'm here for you. Love susie jo1948

JeanE41 profile image
JeanE41

What a wonderful way to celebrate this milestone. We have to enjoy those good days. Congratulations!!!!

Denzie profile image
DenzieModeratorVolunteer

Way to celebrate! Sending hope that you enjoy many more special milestones and no more new normals! Happy birthday.

Spainy profile image
Spainy

So glad you are happily kayaking, living each day to the fullest, and celebrating your birthday! Thank you for sharing with us.

You may also like...

Looking for strength and advice

there in similar situations... how do we get through each day? What strategies and supports are out...

Oncologist Versus Clinics

right person. My cancer hospital works by separate clinics and I just went through being bounced...

Recovering from a lobectomy

nodule in question. Next step was a biopsy which came back as Stage 4 lung cancer and markers...

Waiting for Pet Scan results, so difficult in coping

had a left lung lobectomy bottom half removed , because of two cancers on bottom of lung, operation...

My bout with depression.

all , been a long time since I've been on here. I've been going through a bad time with depression...