Quitters-
Before you cave I want you to think about a few things. As I sit here at day 1241 thinking back at what is was like to go through the fog of quitting I hear news of brothers and or sisters who have failed. It hurts me to the core to hear this because of everything that is available in this site, the support and everything that has gone on in my life the last year.
Look around you guys, there are so many stories and scenarios of people on this site who have succumbed to Cancer! We have many members right now who are suffering from the disease that does not differentiate race, ethnicity, white or blue collar and even sex. They go to Chemo or radiation all the time to try and prevent the disease from taking over. Hell!! We have a section for Eternal quitters that have passed on, now not all of them to Cancer but most.
In April of last year my father was diagnosed with Colon Cancer and had surgery to remove it on May 17th of the same year. With any surgery there were issues that came up to include sepsis, MRSA, ileostomy bag, weight loss from over 200lbs to 130lbs. He had over four surgeries to correct all the complications from not only the Cancer but the surgeries as well. He had two collapsed lungs, two tubes inserted into his lungs three times to drain blood and other fluids. Was fed through tubes, bed sores and a tube inserted into the bed sore to drain. He wasn't able walk because he was so week and relied on my mother and a nurse to take care of him.
Since he had so many surgeries to correct the mistakes from the previous surgeries he as unable to have the Chemo that he needed. For awhile he actually had a clean bill of health, had the bag removed and even started to gain some weight back. However, this past summer, he had to get some procedures done. Pet scan, biopsy, CT scan. Because of constant kidney stones and many other symptoms he was coming down with. So, the Oncologist in the VA was worried about him so she put him in for the tests. Well, she called back and informed my parents that the Cancer is stage 4 metastasized in is abdomen, pancreas, spots on his lungs and spread to his lymph nodes and he needs to start chemotherapy right away.
He is going to have to have a stent put in and will have to start a 48 hour Chemo session starting on Tuesdays and going back in on Thursdays to have it taken out. This will continue from now until he decides to be done with it.
He'll be on two types of drugs at first, then they'll switch it to just one of them. However, since he has the kidney damage from everything that happened within the past year they have to be careful which ones they do and what chemo they have to give him
As of right now the doctors are saying that there is no good outcome in this case. They said there is no beating it just a way to keep it in check, and that he has roughly 6 to 18 months to live depending if does chemo or not.
Now, since dad and mom missed their annual trip to Aruba last year he told the oncologist that his chemo will have to wait until after that. They go every year for their anniversary in August. The oncologist is pissed but he told her if it is gonna take him, he is going to go out with a bang.
My father just recently turned 73 and was the pillar of health and to the family. He was a work horse all the way up until his surgery. He never stopped and always was working on the house, cars, helping other people out. He was boisterous and outgoing, a strong man that I look up to all the time. Now he is week and in no way looks like the man he was just last year. We pray every day for his improvement but it looks bleak to say the least.
This came out of nowhere!! Cancer knocked on the door and is slowly taking my father and has taken friends of mine, to include people on this site. Cancer does not give a shit that we love him! Cancer does not give a shit that he still has things to finish for our mother! Cancer does not care that he was a strong man who fought in Vietnam and lived through that!
CANCER DOES NOT GIVE A FUCK!!!
So before you cave!
Think about this!
Ponder on this!
Visualize yourself going through this!
Visualize your family going through this!
Is it worth your life to put that shit back in your lip and assist Cancer in taking your life! Do not give it another reason to take you!
I quit with every single one of you bad ass quitters! For today! Tomorrow is another day!
Richard K
