anniversary

ron50
ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
This day in 1998 I was on the operating table having a nasty aggressive stage 3 tumour removed from my descending colon as well as most of my descending colon and 13 lymph nodes ,six of which were cancerous. A year of chemotherapy followed as well as the mandatory checkups. One of my early concerns was do you ever return to normal after ca and does anyone ever really overcome it,well it appears that we can and do. My life is much the same as it always was , I work too hard and have my list of medical problems as well as the usual fight to stay not too overweight. The concessions I have made include no smoking or drinking and trying to eat as much fresh fruit as the major part of my daily food intake as well as fresh fish. I no longer think of myself as having cancer nor do the doctors who consider me cured even to the extent that they let me donate blood once again. So as I enter year 9 of survival I stress to all of you survivors that there is real hope to beat this disease it isn't just a dream it really does happen ,good luck and good health to all of you ,From Ron who considerers himself a very lucky man.

Comments

  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #2
    Ron - what an inspiring tale. You give hope to all of us.

    Betsy (who already mostly considers herself lucky even though it's only been 8 months since diagnosis!)
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #3
    Thank You for that I love stories that keep you going and happy anniversary!
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #4
    Thank you very much Ron! Happy Anniversary! This helps since I was just diagnosed in Dec. 2005 with Stage 3 colon cancer. I have not started the chemo yet but I am agressively changing my diet and starting supplements. This helps me see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I can remember this inspiring tale when I start to get frustrated. This brings us all hope. Again Congrats!

    Lisa
  • rdy2shop
    rdy2shop Member Posts: 37
    #5
    Thank you for your encouraging message. I talked with you when my husband was dx in Nov 03. You gave me hope then, and you continue to give everyone else hope. I'm so happy for you....
    Take Care
    Elaine
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #6
    Thanks Ron for your encouraging words. I was diagnosed Stage 3 and have been fighting a recurrance for over a year now, keeping the monster hopefully in check even though it peeks it ugly head up every once in a while.

    Congratulations on your 9 years of NED. I am so very happy for you.

    Kerry
  • FRANTIC
    FRANTIC Member Posts: 106
    #7
    Dear Ron: You are very lucky. And you have also been such an inspiration to me when I started using this network. When I get down in the dumps and start to "panic" that this stuff is coming back I often reread the letter you sent me about what happened to you and that gives me hope and encouragement. May you have many more anniverseries. Your friend from Long Island Fran
  • suezav
    suezav Member Posts: 42
    #8
    Happy anniversary Ron and thank you, thank you, thank you! My daughter was dx last april with stage 3 rectal ca with 6 positive lymph nodes.Your story is just what i need as we navigate through these months of chemo, surgery, radiation and more chemo. Just to hear that your life is so normal now is wonderful. She just turned 23 and I know that some day she will remember way back when she went through all of this. It will be a distant memory. Thanks for some extra inspiration! susan
  • terril
    terril Member Posts: 296
    #9
    Congratulations, Ron!!!! You give us so much hope!!! God bless you!!! Terri
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #10
    Ron, Hearty congratulations on your anniversary. Thank you for posting this great event. You have served as a wonderful source of inspiration to me and so many other. You mentioned that you feel lucky. Well, I feel lucky (nay, blessed) to have had your presence in my life. Thank you so much for continuing to "give" to this community, so long after your "crises" passed.
    Tara
  • Glv49
    Glv49 Member Posts: 206 Member
    #11
    taraHK said:

    Ron, Hearty congratulations on your anniversary. Thank you for posting this great event. You have served as a wonderful source of inspiration to me and so many other. You mentioned that you feel lucky. Well, I feel lucky (nay, blessed) to have had your presence in my life. Thank you so much for continuing to "give" to this community, so long after your "crises" passed.
    Tara

    Ron,
    Congratulations on your anniversary!! Thats wonderful, I hope I can write that story some day, I was diagnosed in July 2003 with Stage IV, and I have been NED since April 2004! So as we have proved, we can beat this monster!! WE ARE BLESSED! Continued good luck, and good health to you.


    Gail
  • HowardJ
    HowardJ Member Posts: 474
    #12
    Ron,

    Congratulations on making it 7 years! And thank you for answering an ongoing question I have about returning to normal. It sounds like you've not only overcome cancer, but moved on with a great attitude.

    Howard
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #13
    Ron,

    WOOHOO!!

    You are inspiration to us all. You are where we all want to be.

    Than you for still contributing to this board.

    Maureen
  • Lisa Rose
    Lisa Rose Member Posts: 598 Member
    #14
    Congratulations Ron . . . Thanks for sharing your sucess it gives such hope to others.

    Lisa Rose
  • RunnerZ
    RunnerZ Member Posts: 185
    #15
    Ron, Congratulations on your Anniversary. your advice as a fellow long-term survivor has been so hlepful to me. I, too, work too hard, worry about money, hate to go to the dentist...all normal life things that you don't think you will ever worry about again. However, I too feel lucky to be here even worrying about these things. Your message helped me remember that once again. So, from a prosecutor in western New York State to my fellow survivor down under, good luck on the next 40 years!
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #16
    RunnerZ said:

    Ron, Congratulations on your Anniversary. your advice as a fellow long-term survivor has been so hlepful to me. I, too, work too hard, worry about money, hate to go to the dentist...all normal life things that you don't think you will ever worry about again. However, I too feel lucky to be here even worrying about these things. Your message helped me remember that once again. So, from a prosecutor in western New York State to my fellow survivor down under, good luck on the next 40 years!

    Hiya Ron..you know the greatest gift you give to us mate?
    Firstly you have beaten tha demon,
    Second....you have an unselfish attitude so profoundly evident in survivors to continue to come here to support and help those who are still at war.There is a word so commonly used here...hope! No matter how bad things get there will always be that glimmer of hope for sufferers while we have those like you that know the true value of a kind word, a shoulder to lean on, a message of hope.
    Thank you mate from a fellow ozzie......congratulations....sincere huggs, Ross and Jen
  • livin
    livin Member Posts: 318 Member
    #17
    Congrats on your Anniversary. You have proven Where there's a well There's a way. Live Strong my friend . I know there is hope. Livin
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #18
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #19
    Hi Ron:

    Thanks so much for sharing your experience. You've given me so much strength to go on! Best of wishes and may all of nature's healing forces be with you always!

    JADot

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