Health report for 8/29/04

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
After 6 months and $125,000 worth of tests, procedures, xrays, the medical community has finally arrived at a conclusion with reservations, of course, since some of the results are conflicting. But, given a reliability in the 95 to 99 percent range here's the story.

There are several problems but the major one is a cancer, a carcinoid, living in and eating away at my duodenum. It is a stage 2, about 1 inch, and seems not to have metastasized (spread). The standard treatment for this condition is surgery called a Whipple procedure which I have declined for the following reasons.

The Whipple is a very complex surgery. " portions of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract are removed. This includes the "head" of the pancreas, the attached duodenum, a portion of the common bile duct, the gallbladder, and sometimes a portion of the stomach." It takes 4 to 8 hours on the table (for me probably 12 hours), two weeks recovery in the hospital (for me probably a month) and at my age and in my condition will probably take 6 months recovery before I am half normal again. And it is expensive. My best guess is 1/2 million dollars.

With surgery omitted as an option this leaves radiation, chemotherapy, percutaneous ethanol injection and a couple of others. At present I'm leaning toward radiation but may change my mind before actual treatment begins.

The course of action for me is to now see an Oncologist and to determine which type of treatment is best.

The upside to all this is a carcinoid is a slow mover, not aggressive like the adenocarcinoma of the pancreas which they first told me I had. If I do nothing at all the worst case would probably be death by Christmas. The best case is I would still be fighting the cancer ten years from now. Same cases apply if treatment is successful or a failure.

My belief system tells me my death day was fixed with my first breath so I believe there is nothing anybody can do to change that. The reason I seek treatment is to try to improve the quality of life between now and my death day. The cancer causes some nasty effects which I'd like to get rid of or minimize.

Effectively I am still who I am but now fighting a cancer. The only life changes I'll make are those forced upon me.

Not the best news, not the worst. The Wheel of Life simply keeps rumbling on.
 
Thanks for keeping us in the loop Uncle Bill. You may be stuck with the cancer, but I bet you can keep the bastard at bay just as you hope, for another 10 or 20 years! It's slow moving as you say and even a small dose or radiation every once in a while might give it fits and you some time and relief.

I sincerely hope your quality of life does improve and that you will get a good plan of attack going with your Doctor. There is no way I would go thru that incredible Whipple procedure either.

Best of luck as always, and more important than that I think, best wishes for a calm, peaceful and painfree life while you are still here with us; hopefully for another long long time!

Regards,

Norm
 
Thanks for the update, Uncle Bill. Cancer is never a good thing, obviously, but at least you have a fighting chance. Like you said, not the best news and not the worst. Prayers, smoke, and best wishes to a better quality of life for you Uncle Bill and prayers of strength for Yangdu. Keep us posted. you're very important to us.

Jake
 
Bill it may be that your Death Day depends on your having the surgery. Just depends on which way the God(s) figured it, one never knows about the sometimes damned God(s).;)

I don't blame you for not having the surgery though. I doubt that if I were in your place I would have it either. The other options would be very attractive to me as well if I had to choose.
It isn't about the quantity of life to either of us methinks, but the quality of life.:D
Why spend all the money, let alone the months of recuperation and pain and discomfort just to further walk the Path of Life in another dimension anyway; soon after or during.
 
We all live till we die.

I'm betting that your exit will be as admirable as your time on the stage.

Take care.
 
No doctor knows when our last day will be, no matter what procedures or lack of them are performed. Thats the bottom line. Keeping that in mind, I wish the best of health to you, Uncle Bill.
 
A close in-law had inoperable lymphoma. It was the size of a melon. It grew all through many internal organs. The outlook seemed most gloomy -
Fortunately, a fine oncologist helped with a course of chemotherapy that did the trick.
That illness was about 10 years ago. Chemo is even more effective now.
Good luck with the therapy of your choice....it can sometimes save you.
 
Thanks for keeping us informed Uncle, bad news and good. I have a neighbor about your age, a little older, who was told nearly 15 years ago that she had six months to live due to her cancer. She's still kicking, and I'm sure you will be too years from now.
 
UB, Drs. gave my mother months. She lived 11 more years. And they were GOOD years. Cancer is beaten in many ways. The combined goodwill of the people of the Cantina is working for you hard. Many, many people care. Good will always overcome. Karma is Karma, yes. But we make our own Karma, and the path you have chosen is admirable. AA
 
Dear Uncle Bill,

Praying for you to have "Quality of Life" with chemo or without it.

Personally I have never known a man other than you who has so fulfilled his dharma.

I wish you peace and a pain-free existance, either on this side or the other side.

Warmest regards,

Bill
 
I once read that "no man who has the opportunity to live an extraordinary life has any right to keep it to himself."

You did and you havent and we all hope you will fight like nine demons.

In short, I wanted to say that I am proud of you.
 
Uncle,
When Dorothy was diagnosed with a large breast tumor which required a radical mastectomy, chemo, and radiation, she made an observation which has always seemed to me the essence of wisdom: "Hell, I'm not sick, I just have a cancer!" Worked for her.
Berk
 
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