I've Held Off Posting This, But Now It Looks Like Cancer May Get Me
To all my TBH brethren, I can't believe I'm even typing this, but I'm going to need all the prayers you can give me!
Long read, but back in December I started having some bladder problems. Nothing major, but it needed to be checked out. I scheduled a physical and thought I had a bladder infection. Physical came out great and my blood work was perfect. He prescribed some antibiotics and sent me to a urologist to have the bladder stuff looked at.
Long story short, he did a sonogram and saw something he didn't like, sent me to have a CT Scan and then tells me there is a tumor in my bladder, a large one and that I need to have a biopsy. I had the surgery/biopsy and then he hits us with that it's an extremely rare form of bladder cancer (only 2% of bladder cancers are this type), it's large and may have already spread into my body
My wife and I were in SHOCK! So then I had to do a bunch of other tests/scans and then last Thursday my Oncologist tells us that it is Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma and it's now spreading into lymph nodes and my lung area. I asked what the treatment is and if it's curable and she says "it's treatable, but not curable" She could not give me a time frame but it was "Months to Years"
So now we are really in shock and everything goes into fast forward mode. I found a connection to MD Anderson and have an appt tomorrow with an Oncologist and then next Monday, I have another apt with a specialist who deals with this specific type of cancer a week from today.
I've already met with a Nutritional Oncologist who is AWSOME! He has me on a plan that not only helps shut down the cancer during treatment but also minimizes the effects of the Chemotherapy. I had surgery last Thursday to get the chemo port installed in my chest, so now it's just a waiting game to see what the treatment plan is going to be.
We have already told my boys (11 and 17) and that went better than expected. We are prepping the house to sell this spring and they were OK with this too. I am terrified but ready to fight and stay around as long as possible, but this one is going to be tough.
I actually feel pretty good and am not showing any signs (asymptomatic) so far. I guess that's the most ridiculous thing about this; I'm 52, 5'10" and weigh 170lbs and with the exception of having terminal cancer, I'm in perfect health
Now, if you want even more irony, my Mom just got her 5th chemo treatment for Stage 4 Lymphoma, so we are going through this at the same time (I actually haven't told her that I have cancer yet).
I'm really hoping to make it to Bownanza and to keep working, but I just don't know what's going to happen day-to-day.
I shared this with you all because I've witnessed the power or prayer on this site and TBH has been such a HUGE part of my life, ever since I told Michael that I would be a writer for the first TBH Journal back in 1998!
Please add me and my family to your prayer lists and hopefully I'll be around for a long time! Time to KCA!
J.P.
Long read, but back in December I started having some bladder problems. Nothing major, but it needed to be checked out. I scheduled a physical and thought I had a bladder infection. Physical came out great and my blood work was perfect. He prescribed some antibiotics and sent me to a urologist to have the bladder stuff looked at.
Long story short, he did a sonogram and saw something he didn't like, sent me to have a CT Scan and then tells me there is a tumor in my bladder, a large one and that I need to have a biopsy. I had the surgery/biopsy and then he hits us with that it's an extremely rare form of bladder cancer (only 2% of bladder cancers are this type), it's large and may have already spread into my body
My wife and I were in SHOCK! So then I had to do a bunch of other tests/scans and then last Thursday my Oncologist tells us that it is Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma and it's now spreading into lymph nodes and my lung area. I asked what the treatment is and if it's curable and she says "it's treatable, but not curable" She could not give me a time frame but it was "Months to Years"
So now we are really in shock and everything goes into fast forward mode. I found a connection to MD Anderson and have an appt tomorrow with an Oncologist and then next Monday, I have another apt with a specialist who deals with this specific type of cancer a week from today.
I've already met with a Nutritional Oncologist who is AWSOME! He has me on a plan that not only helps shut down the cancer during treatment but also minimizes the effects of the Chemotherapy. I had surgery last Thursday to get the chemo port installed in my chest, so now it's just a waiting game to see what the treatment plan is going to be.
We have already told my boys (11 and 17) and that went better than expected. We are prepping the house to sell this spring and they were OK with this too. I am terrified but ready to fight and stay around as long as possible, but this one is going to be tough.
I actually feel pretty good and am not showing any signs (asymptomatic) so far. I guess that's the most ridiculous thing about this; I'm 52, 5'10" and weigh 170lbs and with the exception of having terminal cancer, I'm in perfect health
Now, if you want even more irony, my Mom just got her 5th chemo treatment for Stage 4 Lymphoma, so we are going through this at the same time (I actually haven't told her that I have cancer yet).
I'm really hoping to make it to Bownanza and to keep working, but I just don't know what's going to happen day-to-day.
I shared this with you all because I've witnessed the power or prayer on this site and TBH has been such a HUGE part of my life, ever since I told Michael that I would be a writer for the first TBH Journal back in 1998!
Please add me and my family to your prayer lists and hopefully I'll be around for a long time! Time to KCA!
J.P.
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