The dreaded "C" word

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:03 pm

As most of you know, I have been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer in both lungs. Four rounds down and a PET scan on last Tuesday. Filled with radioactive dye and a bloody HOUR in and out of that infernal machine. I went in shorts and flip flops 'cause it was s'posed to be close to 100º that day and darned near froze in that COLD room. The Onc Doc called me on Wednesday to tell me the result. I was nervous as a wh**e in church over the scan, fearing that the stuff had spread. Well, evidently not because he said the it was "dramatically improved". Whew! Was I ever happy to hear that. We meet on Monday AM to see the films. Sleeping much better now. Time for a cold beer.

Rube Burrows · Post by **Rube Burrows** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:13 pm

Well good to hear that things are looking up for you. May they continue to do so.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:15 pm

Good news is always welcome.

Joe

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:18 pm

Thet beer'll do yer better 'n thet PET scan, Mike - CONGRATS !

.

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:19 pm

Good news indeed. You have my permission to have another cold one.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:20 pm

You deserve at least one cold one after all that. Hope you continue to improve.

Alan Wood · Post by **Alan Wood** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:30 pm

Excellent news indeed Mike!

Nate Kiowa Jones · Post by **Nate Kiowa Jones** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:37 pm

Boy, Mike that is so good to hear. They scoped mind last week and said it's going away as planned. I have one chemo and 5 rads left next week then I should be done.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:54 pm

Thats GOOD news Mike. I Pray that it all goes away never to return.
Btw- Gun Show in Chico next month.

mod71alaska · Post by **mod71alaska** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:19 pm

Congratulations, Mike!!! That's GREAT news! I know the fight isn't over quite yet, so rest, and be at peace in so many people praying for you. Victor

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:20 pm

Excellent news!!!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:21 pm

That's definitely good news, Mike. I'd say you could have a couple of beers after that.

Canuck Bob · Post by **Canuck Bob** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:28 pm

Wonderful news. My stem cell transplant is getting jump started because chemo is going well. I sure understand the sleepless part. I hear rad is a tough therapy. Sure glad the therapy is working.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:39 pm

Congrats Mike. You too Steve.

crs · Post by **crs** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:41 pm

Congratulations to all fighting the big C. Hang in there and enjoy life every minute.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:05 pm

It's good to see you guys winning so many of these battles.

It's cool to have a place like Leverguns where the warriors can shed their armor and relax among friends.

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:07 pm

That's real good news, Mike!

And just in case this happens to you... my old Uncle Hughes had the radiation treatments (what they had 40 years ago, which didn't work all that well). And when he went home he found that the treatment had changed his taste buds to the extent that the beer and whiskey he was so looking forward to no longer tasted good to him. He discovered red wine, which he had previously not enjoyed, now tasted great!

Some years later telling me about this he said "the docs sent me home to die 'cause the treatment didn't work and the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. But the red wine fixed me up". Anyway, I drink a little red wine now and again in memory of Uncle Hughes, though I can't say I'm ready for it to replace beer and whiskey. But if the beer doesn't taste quite right Mike, try the wine.

WCF3030 · Post by **WCF3030** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:09 pm

Great news!!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:48 pm

Thanks all y'all. This is my second time beating back the beast, but for this one there is no radiation. The rads liked to do me in in '08. I dropped 60 lbs and din't swallow a thing for 6 weeks. I don't know what brings this on, maybe a life time of working with high voltage. I suppose that it can't be blamed on anything but drawing too many 7s. LOL. 2045 and I'm ready for the sack.

I sure do plan on going down to the San Benito ranch on August 12th for the deer opener. Well, if it isn't too hot, anyway. Maybe the Reno show the following week, who knows. Perry, when is the Chico show? I haven't been up there in a few years.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:42 pm

Mike,

Thanks for the good news. Keep the faith... we're pullin' for you.

Steve,

Keep doin' what you're doin'. We're pulling for you too!

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:13 am

Absolutely wonderful....

DixieBoy · Post by **DixieBoy** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:20 am

Mike - That is really good news. Been down the cancer road once, ten years ago. Hope you pull out of this and come back 100%. - DixieBoy

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:30 am

Glad to hear the good news, Mike! A prayer of gratitude has been offered.

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:54 am

Good news Mike. Prayer sent up asking that the good news continues.

Dave B

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:29 am

That is some awesome news Mike, I still need to come by and have a beer with ya the next time I visit my Sis in Felton.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:10 am

Prayers Up for a continued and complete Recovery.

guido4198 · Post by **guido4198** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:43 am

GREAT news. Thanks for sharing your good fortune.
Another vote for the Red Wine.
(It's my Italian blood....I can't help it.)

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:57 am

Great news Mike, I will drink to your health with my next cold beer.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:23 am

That is great!

mklwhite · Post by **mklwhite** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:43 am

That's great news! Congrats and keep it up! Attitude is everything on keeping your strength and spirits up and I bet yours is soaring right now.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:16 am

Wonderful news Mike!

Very happy to hear it!

jason

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:06 am

my prayers continue with you Mike and Steve. Great news Mike. blessings

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:25 am

Good news, keep up the fight.

madman4570 · Post by **madman4570** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:30 am

Great news Mike, prayers sent to make you completely well.
Hang tough and fight the fight friend

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:34 am

Well done

Nath.

Shasta · Post by **Shasta** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 9:04 am

Sure glad to hear your doing so much better, Mike. Good luck with that deer opener!

Tim

Old Time Hunter · Post by **Old Time Hunter** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:20 am

Great news! makes one wonder about "stray" voltage though???

Malamute · Post by **Malamute** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:40 am

Glad to hear it Mike, been thinking about you.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:09 am

OUTSTANDING! That is great news.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:42 am

Mighty fine!

damienph · Post by **damienph** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:54 am

game keeper wrote:Great news Mike, I will drink to your health with my next cold beer.

That is great news Mike. I'll enjoy a cold beer in celebration for both you and Steve (NKJ) later today. 32 years as a lineman myself, I hope that working with high voltage has nothing to do with your cancer.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:59 pm

Mike,Steve, CanuckBob,I know that there are a couple of more here that are in treatment now also. The Lord is still in the healing business and likes to hear from us. It is great that ya'll can come here and ask for prayer from the rest of us. James 5:16 says ;;;; the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I reckon the are enough righteous men here to do some good.

COSteve · Post by **COSteve** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 3:09 pm

Great to hear that you're doing well. We all enjoy your posts and hope for a full recovery.

mikld · Post by **mikld** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:03 am

earlmck wrote:That's real good news, Mike!

And just in case this happens to you... my old Uncle Hughes had the radiation treatments (what they had 40 years ago, which didn't work all that well). And when he went home he found that the treatment had changed his taste buds to the extent that the beer and whiskey he was so looking forward to no longer tasted good to him. He discovered red wine, which he had previously not enjoyed, now tasted great!

Some years later telling me about this he said "the docs sent me home to die 'cause the treatment didn't work and the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. But the red wine fixed me up". Anyway, I drink a little red wine now and again in memory of Uncle Hughes, though I can't say I'm ready for it to replace beer and whiskey. But if the beer doesn't taste quite right Mike, try the wine.

I finished my radiation therapy March. and it hasn't changed in that respect, taste. My taster isn't working at all well. I love an extra strong cup of coffee with a dab of cream in the mornimg, but now it tastes like I'm sucking on a .44 cal. LSWC!

Mike, congratulations on yout good report!

One thing I told myself when first diagnosed; a cancer diagnosis isn't a death sentence! By God's Grace, I'm gonna be around for quite some time to come.

Jeff H · Post by **Jeff H** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 10:49 am

Mike D. wrote:......he said the it was "dramatically improved". Whew!......

Man, that made my day!

Great news!!

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 11:02 am

Great news!

bogie

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 12:57 pm

After the last cancer go-round my taste buds were fine after a few months, but the ability to generate saliva has not returned much. This forces me to have liquids constantly when eating and never eat anything like coolies or crackers by themselves.

1894 · Post by **1894** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:48 am

Great news !!! That goes for all the others as well . I'll be sure to raise my next beer in a toast to everyone here that is fighting that "Dreaded "C" word " . Prayers sent as well.
Amazing the # of folks beating the disease , and I firmly believe that a good positive mental attitude is as important as good medical treatment.
December this year will be my 1/4 century aniverserary of being diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer. They killed it , cut it all out , and , sent me on my way. Hardest part for me was pushing the " what ifs " outta my head when treatments were making me feel like *stuff* and any food tasted exactly like it came out of a bag of conctete or mortar mix when I did try and eat.

Prayers and a cheers to all

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:20 am

I saw the Oncologist yesterday AM and looked at last weeks scan compared to the one a few months ago. Night and day! He is very excited, and so am I, that my tumors have resolved by 80%! They are flat GONE in my left lung and severely reduced in the right. Much of what showed was possible scar tissue, but very little of the black blobs that were evident in the initial scan. He calls me his ROCK STAR.

I still have a ways to go with the treatments, but have come a HUGE distance after only 4 rounds of chemo. Still very anemic so must take Proquit shots to help rebuild the red blood cells that the chemo is wreaking havoc with. Another side effect is burping and belching. I'm going to take Thorazine for that. Think "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest".

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 11:27 am

Great news Mike, especially with all the sadness around here lately.

Enjoy the Thorazine!

jb