- Joined
- Aug 23, 2004
- Messages
- 1,499
Well, the doctors finally figured out exactly what it is, and we now at least have a game plan. There is bad news and there is good news.
As most of you know, I was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago. There's a pretty large tumor that's largely consumed my tail bone. Now, my enemy has a name: Sacral Chordoma. That, in and of itself would be fine news, and fairly easily cured. I, however, have an extremely rare sort of chordoma that has spread into the bone and throughout my body. A typical chordoma would stay put and react well to localized treatment. This doesn't. In other words, it doesn't act like it ought to and can't be treated as easily. The array of scans showed that it has really enveloped my sacrum, is pretty prevalent in the rest of my pelvis, and shows smaller tumors in several lumbar vertebrae, in several upper vertebrae, my right shoulder, and my sternum. Yikes. Also, I found out that, as of now, there is no effective treatment that will kill this stuff. That's the bad news.
The good news is that there is a drug, I forget what it is called, that will probably, hopefully control this. In other words, it will pause this thing, stopping it from spreading or doing further damage. I'm in pretty good shape right now, so if it stops where it is, I should be fine. The idea is that we stop it for now and live with it until they come up with a way to beat it. And I'll tell you, a rain check's a hell of a lot better than nothing! The only variable will be how well my cancer reacts to this, and for how long. I guess I'll just need some smoke for that one.
The other good news is that I get to go home for this, and there are almost no side effects to this chemo. No hair loss, no feeling lousy. I'm sure when they come up with a cure, I'll get my fill of that, but for now, I can just continue living life as I always have. To me, that's a very good thing and I intend to absolutely make the most of it. Things like this really put one's life in perspective.
So, I wish I could say that this thing would be gone really soon, but it's not in the cards. Makes no difference, though. I'm in this thing for the long haul, and I will prevail.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support. It really means a ton. I guess I'll have to ask for your smoke and good wishes a little longer. And I hope that someday I have the opportunity to repay you all for your goodness.
Thank you all, and my best wishes to every one of you.
Chris
As most of you know, I was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago. There's a pretty large tumor that's largely consumed my tail bone. Now, my enemy has a name: Sacral Chordoma. That, in and of itself would be fine news, and fairly easily cured. I, however, have an extremely rare sort of chordoma that has spread into the bone and throughout my body. A typical chordoma would stay put and react well to localized treatment. This doesn't. In other words, it doesn't act like it ought to and can't be treated as easily. The array of scans showed that it has really enveloped my sacrum, is pretty prevalent in the rest of my pelvis, and shows smaller tumors in several lumbar vertebrae, in several upper vertebrae, my right shoulder, and my sternum. Yikes. Also, I found out that, as of now, there is no effective treatment that will kill this stuff. That's the bad news.
The good news is that there is a drug, I forget what it is called, that will probably, hopefully control this. In other words, it will pause this thing, stopping it from spreading or doing further damage. I'm in pretty good shape right now, so if it stops where it is, I should be fine. The idea is that we stop it for now and live with it until they come up with a way to beat it. And I'll tell you, a rain check's a hell of a lot better than nothing! The only variable will be how well my cancer reacts to this, and for how long. I guess I'll just need some smoke for that one.
The other good news is that I get to go home for this, and there are almost no side effects to this chemo. No hair loss, no feeling lousy. I'm sure when they come up with a cure, I'll get my fill of that, but for now, I can just continue living life as I always have. To me, that's a very good thing and I intend to absolutely make the most of it. Things like this really put one's life in perspective.
So, I wish I could say that this thing would be gone really soon, but it's not in the cards. Makes no difference, though. I'm in this thing for the long haul, and I will prevail.
I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support. It really means a ton. I guess I'll have to ask for your smoke and good wishes a little longer. And I hope that someday I have the opportunity to repay you all for your goodness.
Thank you all, and my best wishes to every one of you.
Chris
