Fighting the battle for 7 years

Stephanie
WOW!!!
Your post was such a "Throwback" to 2008. That was my cancer year. Our cancer year.
My wife and I are, and were THE A TEAM of cancer fighting.
I have a neo and have now been almost 7 years c free. Audrey and I are in inseparable team, and this cancer thing has forged a lasting bond between us.

But your husbands reappearance of cancer has always been my hidden fear that I never expressed to my wife. In fact, It was my very first question I asked on this site!
Over the past few years, most people look at me as CURED! I am always careful to see my Dr regularly and I go through all the tests and checkups.
But.... This is my fear and I don't even express it to my wife. She does not need to know that I still have this fear. For all my family knows.... I am cured.

Thank you for finding this site and welcome. We are glad to hear stories of courage and teamwork. You as a caregiver are as much a victim of this disease as the patient. I never, ever, ever forget that my wife suffered through this disease as much, or even more, than I did.

All of us here are glad to read your story and we are happy to hear of your success! Keep those cards and letters coming!
And, as for our being here for you, Well..... "We will be in the Copa room all week, for your dining and dancing pleasure" Just a bit of humor here

George

My husband, John was diagnosed with high grade invasive Urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder on April 8, 2008. He was 45 years old. I'll never forget that day. Our world changed forever.

We have been through the physical and psychological fire of the decade. My husband went from stage 1 to stage 3 to stage 4 by 2011. He had a Neo-bladder made from his small intestine. It works beautifully by the grace of God and his wonderful surgeon at UAB Hospital.

Scans were clear for 3 full years and we were just starting to relax again. Then in May 2014, the nasty little demon poked her head out again, showing up in distant lymph nodes.

My husband and I have learned a lot in 8 years. We've learned how to love each other, care more for others, appreciate things others take for granted, live for Christ more than ever. We've also learned to fight for Mike to be cured and never give up. We are fighters, Warriors against cancer. We don't just go along with what the doctors say. We go beyond that. I am my husband's case manager. I take responsibility for his care, his treatment, his survival. I leave that to no one else. It is mine.

Mike now is N.E.D. That is a medical term that means No Evidence of Disease. It does not mean he is cured. It means after 6 rounds of chemo that ended in January, we live to fight another day. And when I say "we" anyone who is in a similar situation knows that it is WE, not just "he". So we are very proactive to take measures to prevent a recurrence. We are all into natural methods to increase the immune system and give his body as much ammunition as we can practically manage to fight off the disease. We see two oncologists, a naturopath, and an Osteopathic Doctor. I keep a notebook with me at every appointment and never hesitate to ask tons of questions. I inform each doctor of what the others say and do, so that our team of doctors are kept up to speed. I do not fool with doctors who don't have time to listen. They are useless.

I am hoping to find a place to share and learn and comfort others in this forum. I desperately want my husband to live but I am also learning that I cannot control everything.