Greg
I know how you feel right now. Because I was you almost 7 years ago. I was healthy,hard working,and playing at the speed of light. Needed a physical to keep my racing license and then.... Bam!
I went from 53 years old and healthy as a horse to..... "What is going to become of my life?"
Within three month I had two TURBs and a radical castectomy.
The recovery period was quite long and took some getting used to the change in my life. I learned that cranberry juice was going to be my friend for life. My Dr. Helped me keep on track to normal. I excercised carefully at first, but stayed with it. I had my eye on the prize.
Sure there will be things that are different. Incontinence will be your everpresent adversary. But.... Believe me..... You will not let that stop you. You WILL survive this. You will need a team on your side. If you have a family..... Embrace them. They want to be there for you. Let them in. Tell them everything! You need them and they need you. Your life will be enriched if you all work together and beat this.
Oh! And one little piece of very important advice........ Make sure you have one very important thing in your quiver............ A SENSE OF HUMOR!
There are going to be many embarrassing moments, and if you can take them for what they are worth........ INSIGNIFICANT! Then you will be able to handle cancer. I was still sleeping in my living room one Sunday, when my wife had a few people stop by after church. It seems as though the number grew to be quite a few. Anyway.... As they were all in the livingroom....... I had to go, Go now! Really gotta Go. I had to go even before I could get out of bed! So... In front of my friends I ran (hobbled) from the room with the bedsheets to the bathroom. When I came back..... I laughed at the scene and after a second, my friends did too. Hey, it's gonna happen.
But, on April 6th, I will be 60 years old..... Cancer free..... Running an automobile dealership, skiing,playing golf and racing a sports car. My wife and I have never been closer, after having survived cancer. We are the team.
I wish you the best. Right now you need a good group of friends. I would like to be friend #1 of many.
And remember that humor thing.
George Kline
Topic Author