SURVIVING CANCER

If you ask anyone that has had gone through the radiation and chemotherapy process they will tell you that it is not surviving cancer but surviving the cancer treatment that is brutal. I am in the final six days of treatment with one chemotherapy and six radiation's to go and man, am I hurting. I have lost 27 pounds due to the inability to eat. Whenever the esophagus, mouth, throat or upper chest is involved drinking, swallowing, eating, talking and breathing during sleep becomes exhausting.

The process also depletes the body of muscle tissue and strength and all the medicines you are on makes you feel even worse. This last week will be the hardest as the radiation burn is cumulative along with chemotherapy on Thursday that will lay me out by Monday. Hey enough of my whining lets get to the good part of this. In one week I will be a cancer survivor. This is a club that is bigger than I ever imagined. I have had hundreds of people come to me and tell me either they or one of their family members went through this process of survival.

Speaking of survival the best story came from a husband and wife who are customers of mine. Their story allowed me to right a wrong on something I had written regarding cancer to the liver or pancreas being fatal. It is not and the following only shows how not giving up and opening every door can save your life.

The wife in this case was diagnosed with stag four cancer of the pancreas. Seeking the number two man at Sloan-Kettering a laparoscopy was performed and the doctor told them he was sorry but it was best to go home and get her affairs in order. Her husband was not going to give up so easily. He kept asking questions and heard about a Dr. Fine at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He was doing experimental procedures for cancer of the pancreas. The bottom line is a year later she is free and clear of cancer. Her husband refused to give up….he opened every door in front of him and she will tell you that he saved her life. I guess I will be a member of the cancer survivors in another week.