Crap...there is more than one part of my body to worry about

dhs1963

Ok, so a few weeks ago we got a NED, very happy about that.   We went to the beach, partially to celibrate.  I walk over the dunes, carying the beach crap, and I start getting pains....chest pains.

I stopped.  cold.   Now, I get another diagnosis code.  . 

It is funny, after battling stage IV RCC with Sarcomitoid features, a little heart procedure to put in stents does not scare me. 

My wife does not get why I am not scared. 

I face my mortality every day.  I am content with my life.  And I trust the Doctor.

Stents are nothing compared to a Nephrectomy.   Getting Stents are more like the quarterly scans, with a nap thrown in.

Now, if they want  bypass, that will be more like the nephrectomy, only without the worry of the path report, and no long term fear of future mets.

Think of me next friday, but don't worry.  I will not be worrying.

For what it is worth, I am ashkanazie Jewish.  I am named for my grandfather David.  If they had Stents or bypass 55 years ago, I would not be called David, and would know my grandfather.  I am not worried.

Texas_wedge

Changed attitudes

Wishing the best for you for Friday, David, but I won't be worried.  RCC sure does change one's take on life, doesn't it - especially if you happen to be a bit sarcy!

However,  as someone who never saw a doctor from one decade to another, I'm not finding it easy to remember that my situation is now so different and I have to carry a wadge of papers as a potential walking time-bomb should I have an accident.  As a universal donor, if I need blood I can only receive the zero, negative kind; I also have to carry a cancer med patient card, detailing the drug I'm on; it's necessary for anyone who could be involved to know that someone has to give me my daily Fragmin injection, if I am unable to;  now I also need to carry a steroid card to signal my being on dexa  - I wonder what else I could be forgetting! Oh, of course, there's the matter of being on large morphine doses ....

This said, you're right on the money - we just accept what we can't change and make the best of it.  I wonder where I've seen that so brilliantly illustrated ?  - come in Fox and I hope this has been a kinder week for you.

 

foxhd

Texas_wedge said:

Changed attitudes

Wishing the best for you for Friday, David, but I won't be worried.  RCC sure does change one's take on life, doesn't it - especially if you happen to be a bit sarcy!

However,  as someone who never saw a doctor from one decade to another, I'm not finding it easy to remember that my situation is now so different and I have to carry a wadge of papers as a potential walking time-bomb should I have an accident.  As a universal donor, if I need blood I can only receive the zero, negative kind; I also have to carry a cancer med patient card, detailing the drug I'm on; it's necessary for anyone who could be involved to know that someone has to give me my daily Fragmin injection, if I am unable to;  now I also need to carry a steroid card to signal my being on dexa  - I wonder what else I could be forgetting! Oh, of course, there's the matter of being on large morphine doses ....

This said, you're right on the money - we just accept what we can't change and make the best of it.  I wonder where I've seen that so brilliantly illustrated ?  - come in Fox and I hope this has been a kinder week for you.

 

changed attitudes

I have my  different take on this. I've said many times in the past that having worked in health care I never worried about what was gonna kill me. I wondered what "it" was. So it is kidney cancer. Sure didn't expect it. Maybe a little as both my sister and mother died from kidney disease. But not cancer. I have seen thousands of people become ill and die. I accepted it a long time ago. But non the less I continued to train and stay in shape for the best outcome of whatever struck me first. I know it has helped significantly. Now should something else go wrong like a stroke or MI, I'm still going out for pizza and beer. I am very thankful that I've gotten to my 60's. That also helps. It bothers me to no end to see a younger patient given a fatal diagnosis. It's just not fair. By the way, I hate nothing more than a younger person with multiple sclerosis. I also adhere strongly to my philosophy of not wasting time on that we cannot change. I have made the decision to not dwell on the negative. It's never  a recoverable commodity. There is that quote about when I die, I'll come sliding into heaven full speed and totally spent. Not entering without fighting all the way. Ron will know the quote as it is used in the motorcycle community.

GSRon

foxhd said:

changed attitudes

I have my  different take on this. I've said many times in the past that having worked in health care I never worried about what was gonna kill me. I wondered what "it" was. So it is kidney cancer. Sure didn't expect it. Maybe a little as both my sister and mother died from kidney disease. But not cancer. I have seen thousands of people become ill and die. I accepted it a long time ago. But non the less I continued to train and stay in shape for the best outcome of whatever struck me first. I know it has helped significantly. Now should something else go wrong like a stroke or MI, I'm still going out for pizza and beer. I am very thankful that I've gotten to my 60's. That also helps. It bothers me to no end to see a younger patient given a fatal diagnosis. It's just not fair. By the way, I hate nothing more than a younger person with multiple sclerosis. I also adhere strongly to my philosophy of not wasting time on that we cannot change. I have made the decision to not dwell on the negative. It's never  a recoverable commodity. There is that quote about when I die, I'll come sliding into heaven full speed and totally spent. Not entering without fighting all the way. Ron will know the quote as it is used in the motorcycle community.

Spot On

Spot On Fox...!   Yes the biker creed... of sorts..  WE all will go some day.. that is a fact.. when..?  who knows..??   As I prepare for my big trip.. I have many memories.. one special one of August 2008, the first year my bike raced on the IOM.   The Sunday before the race was a special presentation to one of the giants..  John Goodall..  John had been racing on the Island for like 25 plus years.. He was standing next to me when they called him up for his special award... yes John a tall man, over 6'2" with a full head of silver hair and a huge smile... next to him was his wife and some of his other family...  I got to talk to John a bit.. he knew every bump etc about the TT Course... he spoke with a gleam in his eye and a smile on his face..  At 67 years of age, John looked like the picture of health. Then on Monday he was gone.. poof. that fast.. crashed and died.  Yes I and others cried, but none of us really know... did John have something inside that would of taken him out soon anyway..?  Could be.. A bunch of us remember John and we toast him...

I would rather go doing something I loved that wasting away with some disease... but we do not get to choose...  But I do choose... I choose life..!  Like Fox and others.. will go down with a smile... one day... just not likely today...

Be Well All... enjoy while you can.!

Ron

dhs1963

POST Cath Status....

I was a "Widow maker" heart attack waiting to happen.  95% blockage in the LAD artery.  Cleared with a stent.  It should hold....odds similar to T1b  RCC cancer spreading (crap...).

Djinnie

dhs1963 said:

POST Cath Status....

I was a "Widow maker" heart attack waiting to happen.  95% blockage in the LAD artery.  Cleared with a stent.  It should hold....odds similar to T1b  RCC cancer spreading (crap...).

Status

That was quite a blockage, glad it all went well for you:) 

 

Djinnie x

dhs1963

Djinnie said:

Status

That was quite a blockage, glad it all went well for you:) 

 

Djinnie x

Yeah...would have sucked

Lets see, if that popped, I would have beat the stage 4 kidney cancer.  Actually am NED, so it would really suck.