I hear and read all these sad stories of how cancer sucks and how it has impacted so many people, and each time I can't but thank God how lucky my wife and I have been with cancer. Perhaps our experiences will provide some hope to those recently diagnosed, that it is normal to think the worst when first diagnosed, but that isn't always the case.
I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in January 2014 when I had to have every test under the sun to be OK'd for my first knee replacement. My blood work came back with an elevated white blood count, and I got the news in a phone call from my PCP that I had CLL. I was referred to a hematologist/oncologist who I see every three months for blood draws and other occasional tests to monitor the progress of the disease. So far, I have been "stable" from the time of that diagnosis and am still in what is referred to as Stage 0, Watch and Wait, no treatments of any kind to date.
Just a few years ago, my wife found a lump in one of her breasts. Numerous tests, scans, biopsies, etc., diagnosed it as cancerous. She was presented with several options including a mastectomy, a double mastectomy or a lumpectomy, and she chose the latter, hoping it was that localized. The surgery was performed, and a lymph node was taken from under her arm to see if the cancer had metastasized, It had not! She did have to have a second lumpectomy as the margins were not clean after the first one. To date, she goes for periodic checkups, takes medication to include an infusion and thankfully the cancer has not returned.
Being diagnosed with cancer is not an immediate death sentence, though my SIL died quickly after being diagnosed, and a niece is fighting peritoneal cancer which is almost impossible to get rid of. She has taken a number of chemo sessions, but her numbers aren't good enough for a surgery that could possibly extend her life.
Cancer does suck!
I was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in January 2014 when I had to have every test under the sun to be OK'd for my first knee replacement. My blood work came back with an elevated white blood count, and I got the news in a phone call from my PCP that I had CLL. I was referred to a hematologist/oncologist who I see every three months for blood draws and other occasional tests to monitor the progress of the disease. So far, I have been "stable" from the time of that diagnosis and am still in what is referred to as Stage 0, Watch and Wait, no treatments of any kind to date.
Just a few years ago, my wife found a lump in one of her breasts. Numerous tests, scans, biopsies, etc., diagnosed it as cancerous. She was presented with several options including a mastectomy, a double mastectomy or a lumpectomy, and she chose the latter, hoping it was that localized. The surgery was performed, and a lymph node was taken from under her arm to see if the cancer had metastasized, It had not! She did have to have a second lumpectomy as the margins were not clean after the first one. To date, she goes for periodic checkups, takes medication to include an infusion and thankfully the cancer has not returned.
Being diagnosed with cancer is not an immediate death sentence, though my SIL died quickly after being diagnosed, and a niece is fighting peritoneal cancer which is almost impossible to get rid of. She has taken a number of chemo sessions, but her numbers aren't good enough for a surgery that could possibly extend her life.
Cancer does suck!
