For Us All: Hindsight 2005

[matthias]

Personally, for me, 2005 has been a blessing:

** I joined the Club of Cancer Survivors at only the price of a testicle (though, it was my favorite);

** I/O beats root canals any day; and I have about 6-8 of the later under my belt;

** I believe that on this board (and TCRC) we have not lost anyone since mid-year to the disease;

** more people get killed by Bush (US foreign policy, Iraq) in a month than by TC domestically in a whole year;

Please add your "lessons"....

[Chris'Mom]

This will be a special Holiday Season for our family as well, after a year we thought couldn't be worse with Chris being diagnosed March 1....but I look back at all the wonderful people we have met and all the support here and I really think we live life now with more appreciation. Chris is coming home today from college for the Holiday, and looks and feels great. That is the only Xmas gift I need. For everyone going thru chemo, surgery, etc....keep up the fight and soon the blessings will start flowing....thanks to everyone here for the last 10 months of support...sorry for getting gushy....Mary Ellen

[jdunn]

MaryEllen,
You said it all. AMEN.

[matthias]

I think you,as a parent, are really in the roughest and thoughest spot: I sleep very well at night as a TC survivor; and the surveillance regimen is not causing me much distraction or second thoughts either.

Now if my three-year old son were to get afflicted (now or later), that's a totally different story! I wouldn't even want to think about such a scenario. I'd be bouncing off the walls! Being a parent can be the most rewarding and most scary of all experiences...

This will be a special Holiday Season for our family as well, after a year we thought couldn't be worse with Chris being diagnosed March 1....but I look back at all the wonderful people we have met and all the support here and I really think we live life now with more appreciation. Chris is coming home today from college for the Holiday, and looks and feels great. That is the only Xmas gift I need. For everyone going thru chemo, surgery, etc....keep up the fight and soon the blessings will start flowing....thanks to everyone here for the last 10 months of support...sorry for getting gushy....Mary Ellen

[dadmo]

I have been blessed because
Jason is still with us
I love my wife
I have found a new purpose
I have found new friends
I forgive slights easier
I have forgiven God for doing this to me

[Jeff]

matthias forgot to mention that saddam hussein murdered over 900,000 people during his reign of terror, if an average of 300 people die in the US of tc per year it would take 3000 years to get to the 900,000 mark. Thanks for not bringing politics into the discussion. oh wait.

[Dylan]

Stuff

I'm thankful my mom and best friend dropped everything and came to Vancouver to be with me for my first session. I'm trying to come to grips with my situation and it's taking a lot of time. But I just realized I am already 20% done chemotherapy.....25% tomorrow!! I just don't know what's suppose to happen when it's all over......

I had a girlfriend going into this but times are very tough and as of last night it doesn't look like it's going to work out. It's tough to deal with on top of everything else but I think I'm able to put those feelings aside. I'm going to talk to some counselling at the cancer centre tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for their support here as well. I've found this a great outlet and comfort when I get up in the morning, before chemo and before bed. I've tried to thank everyone individually and for anyone I've missed mentioning, I'm sorry and do appreciate your comments.

I haven't had any adverse physical side effects and consider myself very lucky. I hope it continues. Mentally I'm keeping it together and with this, I'm sure that will continue too.

Talk to you all again soon.

Dylan

[Neandertal]

In a strange way, 2005 was good to me too:

* Losing a testicle wasn't as horrible as I expected. Honestly I never really liked the one I lost. It just always seemed to be adjusted wrong and got in the way. ^_^

* Radiation therapy is no picnic but I only have 4 more sessions to go before I can forget about this whole cancer "thang".

* Having TC has brought me closer to friends and estranged family members than at any time I can remember. I used to doubt if they really cared, but I no longer do.

Cheery'bye
Dave McConville

[huckchef]

matthias, lets not use this site for expressing your political views....thanks!

[matthias]

Tell Congress No Cancer Research Funding Cuts...(see the Thread in "News and Announcements")

Wonder where $80 billion/a (Iraq) are going and what they could do for US (!?). At 7,000 newly diagnosed TC afflicts per year domestically, that would work out to a cash payment of $1.15 million/person on diagnosis. As I have always said: it's like winning the lottery...

Enuff of that, I'll stop.

matthias, lets not use this site for expressing your political views....thanks!

[Jeff]

I don't want a cash payment from my government. My government doesn't owe me anything. I consider it a privilege to live in the United States. I have family in Europe. Try paying Europe's outragous taxes and their $5 per gallon of gas, you will be crawling back here in no time. Government is only good at 3 things: law enforcement, defense and roads. I'm happy with all 3 at the moment.

[Scott]

I moved this thread from the Treatment/Chemo/Surveillance Issues and Reports forum to The Ballroom, where it's a better fit. As long as the discussion remains civil, it can carry on here.

[Don]

Enough is Enough

I would have to agree with Huckchef in regards to your comments Matthias. Nothing personal against you ,BUT keep your political comments to yourself. I HAVE shed my blood for this country and would do it again if need be ,no matter who was in office or what their private aggenda was. Many people do not agree with our current presidents actions but, WE as a nation ,did grant him the power to do so. Hundreds of thousands(including myself) have served,shed blood and even paid the ultimate price for the freedoms you have today. Have a little more respect for your peirs before you go running your mouth about this country and is policies. People like me have put their life and limb on the line so americans can enjoy their freedoms, not so people like you can complain about our country and disprespect it. As they say "love it or leave it". Again nothing personal against you Matthias as you do share alot of good information and help many on this site. I (and others) wish you would keep your political views to yourself or share them on a web-site more suited to piont and counter-piont your views.

[Scott]

...but if the temperature keeps rising, we'll have to shut this thread down.

[Don]

Sorry!!!! Only a few things irritate me---This is one of them!!!!

Back to the original reason for this post!!!!!!

As devastating as cancer is mentally and physically
1) It has given me a different outlook on life
2) It has forced me to take nothing for granted
3) It has strenghtened my marriage
4) It has brought my whole family alot closer together
5) It has forced me to realize what is really important
6) It has put me in touch with a wonderful group of supportive people I would have never met otherwise(TC-Cancer.COM members)
7) It has taught me how strong the human spirit is and how willing people are to help(even if you don't know them)
8) It has changed the goals I have set for my self in life
Just to name a few!!!!!!! Thank you ALL for your help and support over the past year and I am looking forward to supporting many others in the coming years!!!!! Happy Holidays!!!!!!! DON