5 YEARS ON.

[Mick]

Well, on Thursday 15th Feb I will be having my 5 yearly check-up with my consultant. If he`s happy with my progress then.....that`s it DISCHARGED

How time has flown, been on several cruises, become a grandfather for the 3rd time, spend hours making wooden toys for grandkids, dolls house, moneyboxes, rocking scooter and a lock/handle board for grandson who likes playing with door handles PLUS my wife and I decided to move house last September, so we all no what that includes.......keeping me busy.

So life continues on, day by day, taking each day as it comes.

Health wise no I`m still not 100%, still get pain in my ribs and back (scar area) Still eat what I want to, yes I still tend to forget....brain says have more then later realise I shouldn't have, but a glucose table lie down and cat nap for 1/2 hour and then I start to feel better. Having said that life is for living and I am so grateful that I was diagnosed early, and had a good team, (Mr Wadley from Worcester Royal)

Otherwise I`m fine, at 62 very close to 63, get the odd cold, ache and pains but I put those down to old age.

For those starting out on this journey, it may seem worrying and daunting but you are not alone, with the help of family and friends for support and sites like this there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel.

For me support came from my long suffering wife who had to put up with my problems to start with, and 2 sons, one who had just passed his driving test when I had my op. because my wife couldn't drive he drove her to the hospital everyday 35 miles including motorway.

So hopefully still got more years left, besides garden still needs doing, more wooden toys to make, and house to decorate when good!!! weather comes. Plus still waiting for our youngest son (23) to get married.

Best wishes to everybody, keep taking each day as it comes and enjoy life.

Mick xxxx

[Mark4]

Mike this is great to hear and a cancer diagnosis certainly helps one appreciate life. You've made the most of it the best present Mr Wadley could have hoped for.

Thanks for your story

[MikeK]

Well done Mick. I am 4 years post op next week and apart from the few issues which you mention life is good. So grateful to Professor Griffin and his team at Newcastle RVI.

[lynnbibb in reply to MikeK]

Well done and thankyou form the encouragement , as my husband is only 6 weeks post op, and still aclimatising!! Hoping and praying your 5 tearly check goes well!!

[Steve101]

Great to hear such a positive attitude.

I'm sure there are many more miles left on your clock!

My wife is three years post op and doing well.

Best wishes..........

Steve

[Blossomstix]

Dear Mick. I am very happy for you. Amazing and I am so glad you are enjoying life. I am 5 months post-op and 53 and hooping I'll be able to write the same as yours in a few years. All the best to you and your family who I am sure are thrilled to have you around.

[Mayan]

Hi what a lovely post you have put up I am 8 years post op now and like you say life is good,few hiccups,but we here to tell our tale and enjoying life to the full And one very important thing is like you are and myself, always positive , because we are very very lucky people Take care and keep smiling Mick X

[grannyjogger]

What a wonderful, positive post. A loving family - especially grandchildren - and a positive attitude keeps us going. Thank you for sharing.

[Mick]

Thank`s for all your kind words, after 12 years in the Army, 22 years in the Prison service I retired at 55 in 2009, hoping for a long retirement. So being diagnosed in 2011/12 was a bit of a bomb shell. I decided that I would take life and what is thrown at me as it comes, mainly to take one day at a time.

Keep smiling, take the rough with the smooth but be positive.

[Scrumtasticjojo]

Mick your positive message couldn't have come at a better time as I am due to have my oesophagectomy a week today and worried sick about how I will be post-op. Hearing about your journey makes me realise that I'm also doing this to 'live my life' in whatever capacity that might be but I will be cancer free (fingers crossed) and see my two young children grow. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Mick in reply to Scrumtasticjojo]

Good luck next week, we all seem to have similar problems but some have it easier than others. Your attitude is a good one to have, take each day as it comes, bad days and good ones. Even now I still have `off` bad days, usually if I try over doing things. Yesterday I was out gardening/fence painting and by the end of the day realised I`d done too much. So suffered with aches and pains.......up at 01.40am had a couple of pain killers and this morning fine so back out to finish painting fence.

Do you have a support group near you, either OPA or a local group. Here in Worcestershire we have a local `Gutsy` group where we meet about every 3 months. There is a lovely lady who had her op 11 years ago, and others who are starting the journey like yourself. Its nice too chat to other people who know what its like.

All the best, keep in touch, you are not alone. Support from your family will be a great help.

[Scrumtasticjojo in reply to Mick]

Hi Mick I did look for a group locally but unfortunately I'm in Cambs and there doesn't seem to be one around. However, it been great to meet people on here who have been through it and still going through it be able to take on their advice - its definitely gives me a broad perspective on what to expect in the weeks ahead.

[spanner16]

Mick, thats amazing news - I myself just passed the four year mark which is crazy - it seems like a lifetime ago and yet only like yesterday when it was all happening, I myself have just bought a house with my boyfriend, have completed three half marathons, more triathlons than I can remember counting, have taken my long suffering and all round amazing Mum on the holiday of a lifetime, worked offshore on the rigs, swum with dolphins (a huge lifetime goal of mine) seen my only sibling get married and was there to see him and his wife give me an awesome nephew and gorgeous niece and I'm currently training to compete in an ironman another huge lifelong goal - I, like you still have my troubles but life is infinitely better than those early dark days and although if you gave my symptoms to someone else they'd wonder what the heck was going on I manage the best I can and I'm determined to make my life the best it can be! I can only re-iterate to others that life can be good again - it takes a long and sometimes hard time but days will get better and better

Well done on your 5 year cancerversary - thats amazing news!

[Mick in reply to spanner16]

Well done, 4 years, yes looking back seems a lifetime ago but here we are still cracking on with life. Enjoy each day as it comes take the good with the bad and remember tomorrow is a new day.

Being Valentines day today, 5 years ago I was discharged from hospital so all my wife got was me......today she received a bunch of flowers a card and tomorrow a meal out for us.

[Scrumtasticjojo in reply to spanner16]

Spanner - I am truely in awe of your accomplishmentts and what you've achieved since having your oesophagectomy at such a young age. I always thought running was out of the question afterwards until I read your post, and training to compete in an ironman challenge wow! I've yet to start my journey but hoping I can come through it as amazingly as you have! I'm looking forward to experiencing some of my own lifelong dreams I suppose once I'm through the worst of it.

[sallym]

Congratulations on today. I can identify with your comments, took one spoonful too much etc. Given the chance to survive, suddenly life is for living and we make the most of it.

I decided when I was recovering that I would try to make a decorated Faberge style goose egg, reality hits home when I now have over five hundred. It was 23 yrs ago and I have passed the 80 yr mark. Enjoy your day and many more to come sally