Laz’ 5 year Anniversary!

lp1964
lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
edited May 2018 in Colorectal Cancer #1

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow will be the 5 year anniversary of my diagnosis. Clearly remember the dreaded phone call I received from my doctor in my office’s bathroom. I kind of knew, but was still shocked and went back to work. 

10 months of treatment: radiation, chemo, surgery, more chemo. After I felt better divorce and hit the floor again. 

But got up, dusted off and rebuilt again. I live on my sail boat in beautiful Los Angeles, spend the weekends in Vegas, in a great relationship again, my daughter doing great in college, I work, write poetry, travel etc.

Well, missing a few body parts, 30 inches of scars, colostomy, but I’m alive and feel very alive.

I still come here every day, because I cannot appreciate enough the support and the knowledge I received here. You guys saved my life and literally saved my life when my chemo dose was grisly miscalculted and brought it to my attention. You are my heros, and heroines.

Here is a poem about what we need the most of sometimes:

Patience

 

I know your mind's been heavy for way too long,

Fighting your fights all along, all alone,

It's time let go and move on,

For a new day is rising on the horizon.

 

I think about you every day,
There is no doubt you're in my heart,

There was a time I didn't know why,

But you gave many reasons,

For my thoughts about you to multiply. 

 

Lift your face to that brand new day,

When the long nights and old fights will end,

To be replaced with new games and new ways,

When you no longer have to pretend.

 

You just have to take it slow, things will be just fine,
Put your faith in patient time,
Those heavy thoughts,

Just let them fly,

Things will fall in place,

All you need is a little patience.

Wish everybody all the best in the struggle.

Laz

Comments

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    Not a nice anniversary to

    Not a nice anniversary to remember Laz. But you're here and you're doing well and I'm so happy for you! It sounds like your life has bounced back, yay!

    My five year anniversary will be this December 31. 

    Hugs,

    Jan

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    Congratulations

    Congratulations on your fifth.  Thanks, also, for all your helpful comments.

  • Pamcakes
    Pamcakes Member Posts: 112 Member
    Congratulation!! Wonderful

    Congratulation!! Wonderful poem!

  • BRHMichigan
    BRHMichigan Member Posts: 368
    Thanks for sharing

    Enjoyed the poem very much. How wonderful that you are alive and happy and enjoying life 5 years later! I'm just one year into this mess. Really inspired by your story and the beautiful gratitude you have.

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    Beautiful poem

    What a lovely poem, Laz. 

    So very happy that life is treating you well, and you're treating life well. 

    I must get back down and visit. It was such a joy spending time with you, when I was visiting Yo. 

    Keep up with all of the joyful living. 

    Tru

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    Woohooo

    That is awesome.  Thanks for being such a great contributor on this board.  Wishing you the best in the future.

    Kim

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 783 Member
    Congratulations Laz! 

    Congratulations Laz! 

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    Congratulations on your 5 years!

    I am glad your journey has brought you to a good place now. Thank you for all you kindness and support  on this board!!! 

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    congratulations Laz

    Wishing you a cancer free future. Ron.

  • darcher
    darcher Member Posts: 304 Member
    Congrats

      It gives me something to shoot for.  My follow up colonsoscopy is in a couple weeks and I'm terrified. Although I was lucky in a lot of ways it still is a horrible disease and the best we can do most days is try to stay focused on other things.  Falling into the cancer pit is like hell as we all know.   Getting to 5 years is pretty much the goal.  Make it there and you're cured, so says my oncologist. 

  • PamRav
    PamRav Member Posts: 348 Member
    Hooray

    for you!  Wishing you many, many more years of good health.  

    I’d say this calls for a really big celebration!!

    all the best

    pam 

  • Cindy225
    Cindy225 Member Posts: 172 Member
    Patience

    Laz – Five years!  That’s a huge milestone.  Congrats!  So happy that you feel so alive and are enjoying life to the fullest.  Living on a sailboat in LA writing poetry sounds fabulous…

    Cindy

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    Nice stuff, Laz, happy five

    Nice stuff, Laz, happy five years NED and it's great you've found a lifestyle you enjoy. Picking up the pieces and forging ahead is a great testament to survivorship, a story we all can celebrate..............................Dave

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,459 Member
    WOOT WOOT LAZ!!!!!!!!  You're

    WOOT WOOT LAZ!!!!!!!!  You're one year behind me with the same surgery and treatment so I'm always able to keep up with where you are.  I envy that you found a new someone, I'm struggling in the department. Hard to even tell someone you have no anus, nevermind get them to accept it.  It's fantastic that you found a person who accepts you for you.   Living on a boat is AMAZING!  So glad that with all the lemons, you picked them up and threw them right back, screw lemonade.  What did you end up doing for a living?  Did you ever go back to dentistry?

  • traci43
    traci43 Member Posts: 773 Member
    congrats!

    Well done Laz!  Five years, the time flies.  I'm happy you are doing well, have found someone, and an incredible new normal.  May you continue to be cancer free for years to come.  Traci

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    edited July 2018 #17
    Yes, I went back to...

    ...dentistry. It’s not easy with all that sitting and the colostomy bag. The only way I can do it is that I clean my bowels once a week with milk of magnesia then I don’t have any output for 4-5 days.