Surgery...again

stub1969

Here is an update on my continuing saga with cancer.  Going through my initial scans for RCC, prior to setting a surgery date, the chest scan reveled a thyroid nodule on my lower left lobe with a couple nodes involved.  Initially, I was pretty scared that my kidney cancer had traveled, but that was put to rest soon after when a fine needle biopsy revealed that the nodule was papillary thyroid cancer.  This past Wednesday, I had my thyroid taken out along with a few lymph nodes.  The surgeon feels really good about the surgery (I had this done at Mayo with Dr. Richards performing the surgery).  Other than being a little hypocalcemia, I'm doing pretty well. 

 

 

I have to say, surgery has a way of messing with your mind.  I mean really shake your core.  A few months ago I considered myself a healthy 47-year-old male.  I was training for another half marathon and was eating well--in all respects very healthy.  Cancer was not on my radar.  Now in the last 1.5 months I've had two surgeries to remove two primary cancers.  I do consider myself lucky in that both cancers were found relatively early.  My kidney mass (Chromophobe RCC) was 5.3 cm at it's greatest dimension and my thyroid nodule was a little over 1 cm.  I was asymptomatic and had no signs that would have triggered an alarm that my body was dealing with this.  As I said--lucky to have found both when they did.  

 

I know many of you are dealing with much more that what I have on my plate.  Please don't  take my ramblings as a pity party--it is not intended as such.  It's just perplexing how life throws curve balls at you and the new normal is so much different than what was planned.  I'm at the beginning stages of my life following my cancer diagnosis.  Soon regular scans start occuring and the anxiety of results will hit.   One day, one week, one month at a time..... 

 

Blessings to all,

Stub

 

 

foxhd

Stubbs

what really sucks is that we never stop thinking of cancer from this point forward. Now think of what you could accomplish if all the time devoted to cancer related  activities could be devoted to a preferable activity.

JerzyGrrl

foxhd said:

Stubbs

what really sucks is that we never stop thinking of cancer from this point forward. Now think of what you could accomplish if all the time devoted to cancer related  activities could be devoted to a preferable activity.

When you figure that out...

Fox, when you figure that out -- how to stop thinking of cancer -- and can package it, do let us know. I'm sure there's a pack of us that want to field test the product for you, go to trade shows, etc.

Jerzy

JerzyGrrl

That's quite the package deal

That's quite the package deal, Stubbs. Seems as though one's brains and emotions get shaken out, stirred around, dumped back in, too -- But nowhere has anyone made a note to that effect in our medical records, so we aren't even sure it really did happen. 

All the best on this next chapter of the journey, sorting things out and such.

Jerzy

hardo718

Good Golly Stubs

What the heck is a youngster like you doing with not one but 2 cancers in that kind of time frame.  It's not a contest you know....you over-achiever you!!  haha   Just messin with you, but in all seriousness, let's hope all this is behind you and you're headed for a long and healthy, blessed life.

Donna~

sblairc

Wishing you well. How's the family?

I hope you are doing well, and your family members are coping ok. That's a lot to handle. Best of luck in your recovery. Things do get easier but time is the only thing, really.  

Footstomper

foxhd said:

Stubbs

what really sucks is that we never stop thinking of cancer from this point forward. Now think of what you could accomplish if all the time devoted to cancer related  activities could be devoted to a preferable activity.

What we need

Is a really catchy tune about not thinking about cancer. I'll get my mandolin.

stub1969

Thanks

Thanks so much for asking about my family.  As all of us know they bare a large brunt of our cancer diagnosis and treatment.  As a reminder my wife (of 23 years) and I  have a 20 year old son that is a junior in college, a 17 year old high school senior daughter, and a 5th grade daughter.  They have handled this whole cancer thing much better than I ever imagined.  All of them are strong, but obviously concerned--it shows.  I see the concern and fear most when they see me recovering from my two surgeries.  I hate that.  One thing that resonates in my head is when I think back to when my dad was 47, in my mind, he was this strong man that was indestructible.  I suppose all kids carry that same image of their dad. .  I look forward to the day that they don't have to worry about this anymore.  Again, I feel blessed that it was found early in both situations and I pray that it is behind me.  I don't gamble and I don't like playing odds, but in this case they are in my favor.

 

Stub    

KrisKB123

I know what you mean. It has

I know what you mean. It has been a sudden life change for me, too. I am still reeling and ungrounded.