Still Here!

PhillieG
PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Wednesday, Feb 25th was the anniversary of my 11th year of living with cancer. As many of you know, and many "newbies" don't know, I've been in treatment pretty much non-stop.

While it's been a bumpy ride, I've been very fortunate to have great Doctors as well as great luck. There's no secret thing that I've been doing at all. My diet is OK but nothing fancy. I eat cake, I have a beer here and there. I've juiced at times then I've stopped. I'm Agnostic so I can't say it's been divine intervention (Some might say I can't prove there wasn't divine intervention either. That's true.) I know people with a very similar dx and who've had the same Oncologist who passed away after a few years. I know a guy who was dx in 2002 and has been clear for 6 years. 

What's my point? I'm thankful for being in the position I am in now. I believe I'm mostly lucky as hell considering I have cancer. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time for drugs like Avastin and Erbitux were introduced.

Can special treatments in Germany cure cancer? Maybe. Can special diets cure cancer? Maybe. Can prayer cure cancer? Maybe. Can herbal TCM cure cancer? Maybe. Can traditional Western treatments like chemo and radiation cure cancer? Maybe. Is there one magic bullet that can cure cancer? My opinion is NO. 

Do I feel great all the time? No but I'm on Xeloda and back on Avastin and responding well. The side effects are a piece of cake for me. I'm very active with local politics which I find to be very therapeutic. I'm too busy to be sick.

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Comments

  • aggie0053
    aggie0053 Member Posts: 110
    #2
    congrats it makes all the

    congrats it makes all the diffence in the world having good drs

  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #3
    If you could go back to when the pyramids

       Were being built you would have seen a guy who looked like Phill as one of the overseers. He has been here for thousands of years. Well if not it shore seems like it to me. Good to hear from you mate and keep on going , I know and understand how hard survival is. Big man hug from me...Ron.

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,428 Member
    #4
    Congrats

    Congrats, real inspiring how you are keep on keeping on despite the cancer.  I am doing my best to keep positive (starting chemo shortly) and all the information and advice here has been helpful.  Saw that you went to Sloan, me too.  Also saw your 6 string "family" photo.  We may be related Laughing   Rock on man...

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #5
    Congrats Phil and thanks for

    Congrats Phil and thanks for posting.  These stories are so helpful.  

     

  • steve g
    steve g Member Posts: 58 Member
    #6
    Nice to see you are still around

    Well said comment and glad to see you, we have lost  alot of good people over the years. I'm going on 6yrs NED.   Steve

  • Easyflip
    Easyflip Member Posts: 588 Member
    #7
    Congrats Phil

    I'm like you, a little bit of a lot of treatment philosophies and not really a zealot for any particular one because we don't really know why some survive and some don't. Glad you're still kicking, I hope to follow in your footsteps. What I do know is not to waste our time here and to make it happy and meaningful. If that's politics for you I think that's great. And who knows, maybe a cure around the corner? You never know...

    Easyflip/Richard

  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #8
    hi my friend

    Hi Phil,

    Good to see you still have the positive attitude. Can't believe it's been 11 years. I will be 11 years out in may.

    I came back from hernia syrgery in dec and i am in the process of losing my job come the 2nd week in march. I guess my boss if happy he has been trying to get rid of me since i came back from my cancer 11 years ago.

    Will be looking for another job asap. Glad to hear from you, maybe we can get together this spring?

    let me know

    All the best

    -Bruce-

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #9
    Wowzer!

    11 years is pretty dang impressive.  So, it could be down to allot of things and I'm guessing you'll never know; but I get the feeling that you're a pretty tough chappie, so that has to have something to do with it. 

    I love what you said I'm too busy to be sick. May you continue to be busy, but still enjoy life. 

    May you see 11 and 11 more. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • Fight for my love
    Fight for my love Member Posts: 1,522 Member
    #10
    Great points with great

    Great points with great attitude as always. It's so nice to see you pop up, you were great inspiration 6 years ago when my husband got diagnosed, and you still are after all these years. Thank you.

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #11
    Thanks for Update

    So good to see your update and that you are still hanging in there.  Glad to see your positive attitude as well.  It would be nice to see you pop in once in awhile so we don't worry about you Wink

    Kim

  • Cathleen Mary
    Cathleen Mary Member Posts: 827 Member
    #12
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Thanks for Update

    So good to see your update and that you are still hanging in there.  Glad to see your positive attitude as well.  It would be nice to see you pop in once in awhile so we don't worry about you Wink

    Kim

    The fact that politics isn't

    The fact that politics isn't making you sick, means you are doing well indeed!  Keep on, keeping on. A treat for all of us to know how well you are doing even through continuous treatment. We miss you but glad to know you are "too busy..."

    Be well.

    CM

  • Phil64
    Phil64 Member Posts: 838 Member
    #13
    Cheers to being too busy to

    Cheers to being too busy to be sick! And Great to hear from you again Phil. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Thank you for being an inspiration to those of us battling this disease. I hope I'm as lucky as you in my battle.

     

  • marbleotis
    marbleotis Member Posts: 720 Member
    #14
    Congrats

    I just love your attitude.  You inspire!

  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #15
    Congrats!

    Very happy you are doing fine.  

    I'm very glad I peeked in now. 

     

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #16
    Marcia527 said:

    Congrats!

    Very happy you are doing fine.  

    I'm very glad I peeked in now. 

     

    Hey Phil

    can I be like you?

    congrats once again.....glad you're doing so well.

    Craig

  • Semira
    Semira Member Posts: 381 Member
    #17
    great

    and so inspiring. And lovr Rond Pyramide picture :-)

    Go on and tell about :-)

    Petra

  • Helen321
    Helen321 Member Posts: 1,460 Member
    #18
    Alright PhillieG, keep on

    Alright PhillieG, keep on trucking!  No time for side effects.  You go!

  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #19
    Woohoo!!!

    Congratulations!!! Happy Anniversary!! I've been missing you and wondering how you were doing. Glad you're okay and too busy to be sick!!

     

    *hugs*

    Gail

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #20
    Phil

    I always enjoy reading your post and Im happy your doing well.  LoriLaughing

  • Trapbear
    Trapbear Member Posts: 108 Member
    #21
    Congrats!  Great to see you

    Congrats!  Great to see you here again, I hope you have many more anniversaries!

    Bill

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