Dang! That teared me up. I hope it touches you to read this as much as it touched me when I wrote it. What am I talking about?Nobody reads this. Nobody replies. Thats okay. If it helps one person.
Today is my DX-Day anniversary. Today marks 18 years.
To those of you who know my story, you can skip this, but for those who do not, 18 years ago, I was diagnosed with stage IV Prostate cancer. My PSA was over 3200 and the cancer had metastasized to my bones, my lymph nodes and my lungs. Although I was never officially given a prognosis my oncologist at the time. ( he has retired as has my original urologist, as have I ) told me on my 1 year anniversary he did not expect me to make it a year. My 2nd oncologist, gave me a prognosis of 3 and a half years. That was 15 years ago. To put it lightly, I have done well.I have defied statistics. I have defied logic and I have exceeded every expectation. Some say I am atypical. Statistics would agree. I believe God gave me second chance.
A couple years prior to my diagnosis at age 42 I was a mess. I had destroyed my life. Most nights I wanted to die. I wished for it. In a lot of ways I was just done. Nothing had meaning. I was numb. Have you ever wondered if you made yourself sick. I wonder that a lot in hindsight. Some people would say there is science to back it up. There are cases where people actually died of a broken heart. Mine wasn't broken. It was on life support.
I was starting to get my shit together when I was diagnosed with this disease. I had family supporting me and someone special in my life. She helped open my eyes to the good in the world and in myself. We married a year later. . God showed me that he was real and breathed life into a heart of stone. Suddenly i was thankful for my life. I was really happy. I wanted to live my life no matter how much longer I had left and I did. I am a better person than I was back then. I am so thankful every day of this journey. It has been a wonderful crazy beautiful ride.
Sunday I will celebrate 17 years of marriage to my wife. On our wedding day I i promised her 30 years. Only 13 to go. I may need to renegotiate.
Three year survivor with advanced prostate cancer. Diagnosed at 49. You gave me hope when my little world was turned upside down. Thank you for sharing your battle with us!
ReplyDeleteHaven't heard from Todd in awhile, was wondering if he is O.K.
ReplyDeleteYour use of Finish, Focus Prep technique truly is at its optimal best. Prostate cancer awareness is so important — early detection truly saves lives. Regular check-ups and knowing the symptoms can make a huge difference in treatment and recovery.
ReplyDeleteThe development of advanced Prostate Cancer Drugs has significantly improved treatment outcomes for patients worldwide. Targeted therapies and novel hormonal agents are playing a major role in slowing disease progression and enhancing quality of life. It’s encouraging to see continuous research and innovation in this field, offering more effective and personalized treatment options for prostate cancer patients.
ReplyDeleteThis response to your blog has been long coming. Back in 2016 my husband’s jouney with advanced state prostate cancer began. You know the fear that unleashed. In the thick of it I found your blog. It always felt like a God thing. My husbands journey uncandidly mirrored what you had and was still going through. For years I followed you. Sometimes like a book I couldn’t put down and then other times like a book I couldn’t pick up (fear is real). Ten years have passed for us and thankfully we have also become that miracle statistic. We got back into life, guit living in fear and have lived a thank God every day kind of life.
ReplyDeleteJeff has been on Xtandi for the entire time and just today we had a doctors visit and she said “I’m beginning to wander if we misdiagnosed you”. Then she looked back on his records and checked his most recent scans and said “no you definitely have it. It’s still there. You are just that one patients that makes us scratch our heads”.
That made me think of your blog. I have not checked it in years. Actually had to do some heavy searching to find it. With a little uncertainty of rather I wanted to know I found it and I’m so happy to see your are doing well!
My main reason in writing this is just to say a long overdue thank you! Your blog got me through…(well you know what it got me through…y’all went through it first!). It really was a God send in a very difficult time. Just wanted to share that. Thanks!