I never thought I would make it this far

I love seeing posts like this, when I was diagnosed almost 4 years ago, it was believed to be my last year of life by everyone. I'm still here and I love that you are going on 5 years, I'm looking forward to that as my next goal.

Hope is alive!!

Winter Marie

Seriously.  You must have thought it was death sentence for you.  I know I did.  My dad died of colon cancer 22 years before I was diagnosed.   I was positive I was going to end up like my dad.  I'd have a good fight, but death was inevitable. 

I'm not at that five year mark like you are, but I'm getting there and see no reason I won't get there (unless getting hit by a bus is a reason).  I remember having to renew my driver's license about a week or two after my hemicolectomy.  The lady behind the desk asks, "Do you want to renew it for four or eight years"?  I gave a look to my husband like, "Will I even be here in eight years?  Will I make it to four?"  Could she not see the horror on my face as she asked that?  How could she not see I have cancer?  Did I look healthy?  Did I look like I was going to live another eight years? 

I don't joke when I say that cancer gives us all PTSD in some way or another. All the onc visits, the chemo, the chemo brain, the neuropathy, the memories.   Every onc visit, I go through a series of emotions that make me want to dive under a table.  I should bring a security blanket, or hide a bottle of wine in my purse.   It's a heck of a way to live.  Well, getting a second primary cancer of the cervix was another cruel joke.  It was however isolated to just the cervix.  One more surgery six months after the first one and I was free of that one. 

I'm glad you've made it to five years.  I'm betting you'll make it to ten, twenty or forty.   It helps immensely to know that people actually do survive this monstrous disease.  I know it helped me when I found this board and God bless all the people that were here to help me.

Thanks Christine for being here when I first got here.  You and countless others have helped me immensely when I needed it.  I for one am estatic you made it this far!  **HUGS** 

The battle though long and difficult can be won. I was dignosed stage 3 rectal cancer at the age of 43 in Nov 2008, its been 5 years I am on the path to hit the 5 year cancer free mark this year. 

Keep fighting, there are more of us out here than you know! 

Christinecarl,

I so enjoy hearing from those that have challenged the odds successfully.  

For me, it provides hope that there is a real chance of beating this disease.  

Your success helps to validate my decision to continue my fight against this dread disease.  

Thank you so much for sharing,

Art

We really need a "Like" button or a thumbs up button on these posts!! 

That is awesome news.  Last month was my 5 years after diagnosis and now I'm just going to see my regular PC doctor and surgeon for the colonoscopy.  I'm so happy that you have made it to 5 years especially after your mother and grandmother passing from it.  It's still nerve wrecking when you get a pain that you don't know where it came from.  Congratulations and thanks for the update.

Kim

5 is a wonderful number in our world!  So happy you have achieved it.

Dispite your family history with cancer you have hung in there and fought and won.

May there be another 50 years and more of celebration in your future.

Hugs,

Marie who loves kitties

I wish you a lifetimes of NEDs.

Lin