My take: It was a wonderful fantasy. I would write a piece about all the cancers I beat, having never actually been diagnosed with one. For years I always believed I had prostate cancer, only to find out that my high PSA is what I have had for 30 years — BPH or enlarged prostate. Now an MRI and PET scan confirm that. I also believed I had Colon Cancer, but a CEA blood test and a PET scan see nothing. I will have a Colonoscopy in May but I am pretty confident I “beat” that too and only have IBS. Finally, that nagging cough for 4 years. Man I googled Lung Cancer for years thinking that was my diagnosis only to find out my lungs are clear and I have GERD or an allergy to dander, so says the owner of two wonderful Golden Retrievers. The journey wasn’t over. I had a a lump on my neck. An ultrasound, CT and MRI all said it was a stone in my salivary gland, the submandibular gland. For 11 months, I have believed the all knowing doctors. Then a gentleman who once owned that Radiology center I did the tests at read the CT and MRIs said he didn’t agree with his former employees who made the call. He suggested a biopsy. The biopsy couldn’t get through the mass (way too hard) but a node below it swelled and they saw something irregular. With that my ENT referred me to a University of Miami surgeon. Surgery last Thursday more than likely showed cancer after I may have googled Submandibular Cancer 1,000 times — no joke. The doc said he had to pry it off my jaw and carotid artery. The pathology will be returned on February 24 and I will hear about what next steps are. He said he got it all but one of those buggers may have gotten away. Let’s hope for radiation. So I can’t write the Woody Allenesque piece that I “beat” what I never had. Today my neck is sore with ugly drains hanging and a massive scar to boot. Minor effects (with a droopy lip) compared to what may have been. There are lessons here. To start, I ran the car (my body) 70,000 miles and seldom put oil in. Maybe never. That will have consequences. Next, you can run but you can’t hide. After watching my father die when I was 18 after a 10 year battle with cancer and now this, be prepared for it with a strong body. Unfortunately, it is everywhere and seldom will any of us be spared. Another lesson for me is that there are some good doctors out there and many bad doctors. An Internist I paid $2500 to I just began with in Florida completed a 3 minute physical on me — no bloodwork, no EKG, no DRE (guys you know what that is) and no urine analysis. Obviously I don’t still go to him and the money must be returned. The medical industry is by my take a disaster that does not care about the well-being of you and I. Next, be appreciative of what you have now. Things can change quickly. Lastly, love those who so strongly love and support you. Without my wife, the wonderful Sara, I could not get through my google days, my surgery, the pain and aftermath and most importantly the future which today I feel a lot better about. She is my Valentine forever. To my family, friends, coworkers and simple acquaintances thank you for your well wishes. Today/tomorrow pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. I can google about them and not another possible diagnosis. See you all in a couple of weeks when I can be back at the keyboard writing about less important things. 😉
My Cancer Journey
My Cancer Journey
My Cancer Journey
My take: It was a wonderful fantasy. I would write a piece about all the cancers I beat, having never actually been diagnosed with one. For years I always believed I had prostate cancer, only to find out that my high PSA is what I have had for 30 years — BPH or enlarged prostate. Now an MRI and PET scan confirm that. I also believed I had Colon Cancer, but a CEA blood test and a PET scan see nothing. I will have a Colonoscopy in May but I am pretty confident I “beat” that too and only have IBS. Finally, that nagging cough for 4 years. Man I googled Lung Cancer for years thinking that was my diagnosis only to find out my lungs are clear and I have GERD or an allergy to dander, so says the owner of two wonderful Golden Retrievers. The journey wasn’t over. I had a a lump on my neck. An ultrasound, CT and MRI all said it was a stone in my salivary gland, the submandibular gland. For 11 months, I have believed the all knowing doctors. Then a gentleman who once owned that Radiology center I did the tests at read the CT and MRIs said he didn’t agree with his former employees who made the call. He suggested a biopsy. The biopsy couldn’t get through the mass (way too hard) but a node below it swelled and they saw something irregular. With that my ENT referred me to a University of Miami surgeon. Surgery last Thursday more than likely showed cancer after I may have googled Submandibular Cancer 1,000 times — no joke. The doc said he had to pry it off my jaw and carotid artery. The pathology will be returned on February 24 and I will hear about what next steps are. He said he got it all but one of those buggers may have gotten away. Let’s hope for radiation. So I can’t write the Woody Allenesque piece that I “beat” what I never had. Today my neck is sore with ugly drains hanging and a massive scar to boot. Minor effects (with a droopy lip) compared to what may have been. There are lessons here. To start, I ran the car (my body) 70,000 miles and seldom put oil in. Maybe never. That will have consequences. Next, you can run but you can’t hide. After watching my father die when I was 18 after a 10 year battle with cancer and now this, be prepared for it with a strong body. Unfortunately, it is everywhere and seldom will any of us be spared. Another lesson for me is that there are some good doctors out there and many bad doctors. An Internist I paid $2500 to I just began with in Florida completed a 3 minute physical on me — no bloodwork, no EKG, no DRE (guys you know what that is) and no urine analysis. Obviously I don’t still go to him and the money must be returned. The medical industry is by my take a disaster that does not care about the well-being of you and I. Next, be appreciative of what you have now. Things can change quickly. Lastly, love those who so strongly love and support you. Without my wife, the wonderful Sara, I could not get through my google days, my surgery, the pain and aftermath and most importantly the future which today I feel a lot better about. She is my Valentine forever. To my family, friends, coworkers and simple acquaintances thank you for your well wishes. Today/tomorrow pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. I can google about them and not another possible diagnosis. See you all in a couple of weeks when I can be back at the keyboard writing about less important things. 😉