The C-word.
Please note: Thursday, 1/20, Zoom conversation about the film “Until We Find Them” with the filmmaker, Hunter Johnson. Watch 31 minute film on-line beforehand. These discussions are always very interesting.
Monday, 1/24 international talks on Education, details here. “The power of international exchange.” At least take a look.
My 1/17 post covered two topics: Supreme Court and Covid-19; and Voting Rights.
“My Angel Tree up 36 years now!”
My Christmas present delivered on December 27 after a colonoscopy was to the point: “Adenocarcinoma” in the sigmoid colon. “Moderate in size”, the report said. Endoscopy found no problems in esophagus, stomach, and Duodenum. Remote film capsule was swallowed (went down easy!), went through, and apparently found nothing in small intestine.
Dec. 26 I spent preparing for the colonoscopy, Dec. 25 was Christmas….
Since Christmas, the train has been on the track. Surgery is scheduled for Feb. 17 – there is a process [1/21, date changed to Feb 18] This is serious business. My doctor asked me Jan. 18: “are you anxious?” I answered, honestly, “no”.
CT and MRI scans appear to show that the cancer has not spread, which is very good news. Nobody guarantees anything – prudent. But cancers warning shot for me, (in mid-October, 2021), was very helpful, and it was up to me to listen, and I did.
Enroute home from the Tuesday appointment, I met friend Kathy for breakfast and she showed me the above photograph she’d gotten from her friend, Ron, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1985. The picture and the caption are his, from Christmas 2021. This was his tree at the time of diagnosis in 1985, and its never come down. His “Angel Tree”.
Life goes on. I feel good. I’ll keep you posted.
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I come from a family where one branch has a rather high incidence of colon cancer, so it’s a known. Mom died of it at 72, and it afflicted a couple of brothers of hers. A niece died at 35 of it. Doubtless there are others in the family…
So, I’ve been doing the colonoscopies since my 40s, usually every five years. There was seldom anything of interest; the last one was clear. That was six years ago and I was 75 – the point where such procedures usually end. Why bother getting another one of those disagreeable procedures? Another lesson learned, at 81. Sometime after the last one, the cancer began. It didn’t follow the calendar…or maybe it did?
Lesson: Genetics does matter, likely a lot. Somebody recommended genetic counseling, which seems to make lots of sense. Just knowing your own family history is helpful. Three years ago I had my first major operation, aortic valve replacement. I first saw that with my Uncle Vince, who had the same procedure at age 81…and died 7 years ago at 90. In 2006, I had no idea that the same malady was brewing in me.
Not everybody will get a predicted disease. Disease isn’t a death sentence, either, though the fact of the matter is that every one of us will die of something…it’s inevitable.
Lesson 2: We live in an extraordinarily advanced society when it comes to medical care. I am amazed at the kind of service that is available to me, as a long-term Medicare recipient who can afford the needed supplemental coverage. There is no reasonable excuse for not having ‘national health’ for everyone. We owe it to each other.
A few days ago I was privileged to learn of a new film, Bending the Arc (Netflix) which tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health, a health initiative which began in impoverished Haiti about 1983, and expanded to Peru and Rwanda. We watched the film, which is very interesting (near two hours). We’ve been to Farmer’s facility in Cange, Haiti. For the ordinary Haitian, I suppose it might be said that if you get sick, you either get well, or not. We generally don’t experience this harsh either/or fact in our society. Health care is a luxury few can access. Bending the Arc, will bend your arc. Take the time to watch it.
COMMENTS (More at end of post)
from Carol:
An individual had died. They shrugged their shoulders. No one knew, even family. We are far from that, and so should they be…
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from Barbara: I’ll continue to follow you closely, at a respectful distance:
(1) You have cancer now.
(2) Some inconvenient stuff.
(3) Recovering.
(4) Recovery.
(5) Celebration
Here’s to best inconvenient stuff!!!
from Dan: Sending best wishes as you head toward surgery.
from Lydia: I was sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis. Your post was very indepth so, no need to ask questions about it.
from Christine in France: Covid is a nightmare too here….
And early so it has been easy and things are clear now. But it was a nudge. A wake up call. A notice to use each day well. I see that you already know that lesson.
Jan. 19, 2022
Hi Dick all will be well. I know. I was treated for Mantle Cell Lymphoma for six months and am now “Cancer Free” Amazing treatment. I didn’t have any experienced affects, no hair loss, nausea, etc. I know you’ll have comments when you are past the healing point. Fondly, Beth
So sorry to hear of this, I feel sure all will be well. I admire your strong stance on it. Keep us informed! Stay warm and cozy. Love, Catherine
You inspire hope in the rest of us. I am glad we met those many years ago. Until we meet again!
It takes courage to share this personal information, Dick. Just as it takes courage to look cancer straight in the eye. I’m sorry you have to face this but you certainly have the courage to get through it. Be sure to post the ‘all clear’ as well. We will all be waiting for it!
Dick, I am sorry to hear of your cancer. Best wishes for a fully successful surgery!
Thanks, Dick, for letting us know what’s going on with you. Thoughts and prayers to you and Cathy!
All the best, Dick. Hope your treatment and recovery go smoothly!
Best wishes to you. I do enjoy reading your blog and find my reaction to our world similar to yours. Perhaps it is our rural North Dakota backgrounds – (Sykeston for me)
It is now five years since I had Stage 11 colon cancer and lost half of my colon. At 78 at the time, you are right that they often say you no longer need to have as many of the tests like colonoscopy. There is no family history of colon cancer but the body tells you something is wrong. Breast cancer, heart problems, and loss of much vision (glaucoma and macular degeneration) are in our genetics. When I talk with my remaining two sisters and brother(Jim Eaton), we find ourselves talking about family history.
Yes, medicine has made many advances that allow many of us to live longer. The surgery will help but it will change some of the things we take for granted that were almost automatic. May your recovery be fast but some changes stay with us. I would find the waiting for surgery difficult but our mixed up world has made so many changes.
PS I graduated from Valley City State Teachers College in May,1959. Were you a student by that time?
Thank you, Ann.
First, the important question! I started at Valley City State Teachers College in the summer of 1958, and graduated from there in December 1961. This morning, actually, I’m wearing my VCSU sweatshirt (is that the correct word). If you look back at the blog archives, to January 2, 2013, you’ll find a lot about our college at that time. As you know, we share Sykeston background. We were there 1945-51 and again 1957-61. My last job in Sykeston – very brief – was pushing a wheelbarrow as the new St. Elizabeths Church was being constructed (1958). College seemed a good alternative! My brothers were contemporaries and friends of your brothers.
Re the ‘meat’ of your comment, everyone is well advised to pay attention to what is generally referred to as genetics. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist. We may not get caught in its web, but it is helpful to know what caused dilemmas in our ancestors. Many, many thanks for your insights. Go, Vikings!
Six years ago when I was 75, I told my doctor that at my age, I shouldn’t have to have any additional colonoscopies! He said that due my history of having several polyps, I still needed to have one. I did and they found an aggressive form of cancer that the doctor had to look up it was so rare. He scheduled surgery immediately and have not had any problems since then. Surgery for me was easier than the colonoscopy, only ibuprofin (sp?). I hope everything goes well for you too!
Many thanks. Most certainly I didn’t resist the colonoscopy, but the 75-narrative did tend to lull me into hoping I wouldn’t have to take another, until the wakeup call in mid-October. Thankfully, Mother Nature didn’t recognize mere human notion of time and opting out! I have had all sorts of tests and doctors. Apparently, the version of cancer I have is not an imminent threat though it requires surgery and as you know nothing is guaranteed 100%. So, my inclination is to follow advice as best I can and not invest a lot in worrying about things out of my control.
Know all will go well with cancer and recovery, your attitude is remarkably positive which it must be. You will get an inside view of health care and maybe share the good stuff. Tell your Methodist college buddy, all prayers go to God, which is where they stop and wait for fulfillment, AMEN