Went for a long ride with Traralgon bunch on Saturday morning. Good to be out and about with like minded people. Lunch with Mum, Dad and Russ then a mate and his family rang out of the blue and offered to come around and bring beer and pizza for dinner. Sat around talking and laughing, a good night.
Spent Sunday working around house, not sure how long I will need to recover from surgery so we are trying to get a few things done that we had planned.
That unbelievable hapiness we have been experiencing is starting to fade. I knew it couldn't last forever. I still have a disease that kills almost one in three people in my situation, not great, but got to stay positive. Got to think of all the good things I have going on in my life right now.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Still Smiling
Met with plastic surgeon who will perform my operation today. Booked in for Friday 5th November at Epworth Hospital in Box Hill. The meeting with him reassured me I am doing the right thing and he is the right person for the job. Should be in hospital for aproximately a week and a week or two to recover. Then, fingers crossed, cancer free, although i will need to be checked for the rest of my life.
Had lunch with missus and sis today, then a bit of shopping before doctors appointment. Great weather food and company.
The feeling of pure joy, elation, hapiness whatever this feeling is, has not faded. Ive never taken drugs but if there was one that gave this feeling we would all be addicts, cant stop smiling.
To all the friends who I have lost touch with but have made the effort to get in touch, thankyou. I will make an effort to keep in touch, your thoughts and well wishes are appreciated.
Had lunch with missus and sis today, then a bit of shopping before doctors appointment. Great weather food and company.
The feeling of pure joy, elation, hapiness whatever this feeling is, has not faded. Ive never taken drugs but if there was one that gave this feeling we would all be addicts, cant stop smiling.
To all the friends who I have lost touch with but have made the effort to get in touch, thankyou. I will make an effort to keep in touch, your thoughts and well wishes are appreciated.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Time For Reflection
Today was a chance to recharge the batteries before we head back to see more doctors tommorrow. A great day to be alive, lots of hugs from family and friends, smiles all round, its almost as if we forgot I still have cancer. Went for a ride with a good mate of mine, Dave, even took the new bike on a training ride. Lunch with mum and dad, home to play with the kids and dog. Selina and I probably look like love sick teenagers to people who pass us in the street, we cant stop smiling. I feel like I have won tattslotto and the tour de france.
Although we got the best news possible from my oncologist yesterday I cant help feeling for the people who get confirmation of what I was expecting, my heart goes out to all of them.
Although we got the best news possible from my oncologist yesterday I cant help feeling for the people who get confirmation of what I was expecting, my heart goes out to all of them.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
You Bloody Rippa'
OPTION 3 FOR ME !!!!
Is this the best day of my life, if not it is very close. The cancer has not spread and I have a great chance of living. I still have cancer but i have a chance of growing old with Selina, of teaching Troy to ride a bike, of walking Lily down the aisle. WooooHooooo. Words cant describe how we feel, i have to say we because Selina has ridden the same roller coaster as me over the last few weeks. To go from thinking you probably have less than 12 months to live to a 70% chance of a CURE !!! is incredible. Thankyou to all who sent words of encouragement and positive thoughts. I still have a long way to go but I am on cloud nine.
Next step is a meeting with a surgeon on Friday and probably surgery next week, then depending on pathology reports, i may or may not need further treatment.
Went for a ride this morning, up Red Hill Rd (never again, well not on a 42, 21 anyway) the ride down from Mt Tassie was great, beautiful sunny day, fantastic views, flowing corners but i couldnt help but wonder how many more days I would have like this.
Is this the best day of my life, if not it is very close. The cancer has not spread and I have a great chance of living. I still have cancer but i have a chance of growing old with Selina, of teaching Troy to ride a bike, of walking Lily down the aisle. WooooHooooo. Words cant describe how we feel, i have to say we because Selina has ridden the same roller coaster as me over the last few weeks. To go from thinking you probably have less than 12 months to live to a 70% chance of a CURE !!! is incredible. Thankyou to all who sent words of encouragement and positive thoughts. I still have a long way to go but I am on cloud nine.
Next step is a meeting with a surgeon on Friday and probably surgery next week, then depending on pathology reports, i may or may not need further treatment.
Went for a ride this morning, up Red Hill Rd (never again, well not on a 42, 21 anyway) the ride down from Mt Tassie was great, beautiful sunny day, fantastic views, flowing corners but i couldnt help but wonder how many more days I would have like this.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
A Long Day
Today was supposed to be a quick trip to Epworth Hospital to have C.T scan and MRI, however Peter Mac rang at 3.00 pm yesterday to say they could fit me in for a PET scan at 8.30am this morning. A mad rush ensued to get the kids sorted and us to Melbourne last night. Stayed with Selinas sister and family. Nice to talk to people who are dealing with similar issues, thank you L & C. Tests completed and home at 8.30pm, back to oncologist for results at 5.00pm Wednesday. These results will tell me what my chances are, not expecting much sleep tonight.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Great Weekend
Was going to ride to Warragul and have a race but pouring rain when I woke so decided to go to Melbourne with Selina. Took kids to aquarium and shopping while Selina went to a show with a friend. Had a great day, kids were great. They were just as happy in a $2.00 shop as they were in toyworld. They really dont deserve what they are going to have to go through. Have a slight nawing feeling in stomach that wont go away, hope its not beginning of the end. Raced at Casey fields on Sunday with SVCC, rode B grade, got away after 10 mins and spent the next 45 mins off the front with 1 other. Got caught with 2 laps to go but still ran second in sprint, cant believe someone can feel this strong and not alive in 6-9 months. Selina and kids met me at country show at Pakenham race course later and had a great day with kids. Love my family so much.
Just working out this blog thing, hope to get some photos up soon. Started this to keep people up to date with processes i am going through but find it therapeutic to put my thoughts down, hope people who read this dont mind me sharing my thoughts and how im feeling.
Just working out this blog thing, hope to get some photos up soon. Started this to keep people up to date with processes i am going through but find it therapeutic to put my thoughts down, hope people who read this dont mind me sharing my thoughts and how im feeling.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Beginning 23/10/10
18 months ago I had a mole removed from my back, it happened to be Melanoma. At the time I under went surgery and had clearance around the melanoma. I was told I was all clear. Great time to get on with life.
4 weeks ago I found a lump under my arm about the size of half a ping pong ball, back to the doctors and off to the surgeons. Three weeks and many tests later the diagnosis I'd been dredding the Melanoa had spread to my lymph system. Ok that's pretty bad, but approximately 60% chance of survival, there's hope.
Booked for surgery to have the lymph nodes removed, however before I could get this done my wife managed to get me into one of the top Melanoma specialists. Off to see him yesterday, well he was really honest with us. It doesn't look good. The original CT showed some small spots on my abdomen, the surgeon thought they were nothing, the oncologist thins they are further spread of the disease.
What's this mean, well there's a few options:
4 weeks ago I found a lump under my arm about the size of half a ping pong ball, back to the doctors and off to the surgeons. Three weeks and many tests later the diagnosis I'd been dredding the Melanoa had spread to my lymph system. Ok that's pretty bad, but approximately 60% chance of survival, there's hope.
Booked for surgery to have the lymph nodes removed, however before I could get this done my wife managed to get me into one of the top Melanoma specialists. Off to see him yesterday, well he was really honest with us. It doesn't look good. The original CT showed some small spots on my abdomen, the surgeon thought they were nothing, the oncologist thins they are further spread of the disease.
What's this mean, well there's a few options:
- It's spread to the abdomen, average life expectancy 6-9 months
- It's spread to the abdomen and I get accepted onto a research trial and get 2-3 years
- It hasn't spread to the abdomen and I have surgery to remove the lymph nodes and have 60-70% chance
- There is only one spot on the abdomen and I have two lots of surgery one to remove the lesion on the abdomen and one to remove the lymph nodes with hopefully good survival.
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