Living with BC

Two months after my bladder cancer diagnosis and just after my first BCG treatment, I was "downsized" (fired) from my job. It put me in a spin as I had just received accolades about my great job performance four months prior to that. Looking back, I see that my concentration and dedication at my work diminished greatly that first two months and I was traumatized for several months after that. Actually, my "downsizing" was a favor as it released me from the tremendous pressure of the job so I could concentrate on myself for a change.
On change was to quit smoking. When I first quit smoking, I was trying to do Tai Chi and Yoga. I was unable to master the correct breathing technique. I was feeling anxious and desiring a cigarette so I put my two fingers up to my mouth and pretended like I was smoking a cigarette and viola, there was the breath. I believe the reason many smokers have such a tough time quitting is because they do not breathe properly unless they are smoking. I was able to confirm my suspicions when conducting a class for smoker withdrawal for the American Lung Assn. Most of the smokers did not breathe correctly when not smoking. They would pull the stomach in when taking a breath rather than filling the stomach with air. Most of them were very shallow breathers. For those who are just quitting smoking: Pretend you are smoking a cigarette and you will see how you can relax and take a proper cleansing breath but be free from all the chemicals in a cig. Humming also gives you the natural breath. Lou, thanks for the added instruction to consciously pull down the diaphram.

Thanks Lou,

I use deep beathing when I have pain, learned it from my wife while she was giving birth. It is also very cleansing I also used to cope with not smoking at first, not so much anymore but still from time to time.

Whit

Whit,

I think spreading the word about BC is a good idea, something that needs to be done.  For whatever reason there just isn't that much information about BC where the general public has access to it.  As far as I know there are only two books written (one quite recently) and also an article in Woman's Day Magazine this past June by a woman who is a survivor of BC, and that just isn't enough.  Many people aren't alarmed by blood in their urine and even some doctors chalk it up to a urinary tract infection, and some BC goes undiagnosed for a very long time because of it.  So not only does our sharing our stories with other people (whether on a large scale like you might be able to do or a smaller scale like within this forum or even one to one with others) inform them of this disease, I believe each time we share our story with others we help ourselves to heal a little bit more. 
There's something I've shared with others on this forum regarding deep breathing, and this technique is something I heard on Good Morning America last December.  I'll include their very specific instructions for this technique, and they are...
First you need to stand up, and then Dr. Mehmet Oz explains, "Now we take in a deep breath and the most important thing is to pull your diaphragm (the muscle beneath your lungs) down, and as you're pulling it down you see your abdomen push out, and then your chest expands as you continue to breathe in".  Dr. Oz said that there would be an aching sensation when the breath was completely inhaled, then as the breath goes out, the belly should come in and the chest goes down.  then Dr. Oz says, "That's a deep breath, and it's the key to almost all meditative processes.  It helps us meditate, and it cleanses our body's lymphatic (immune) system, which is the garbage disposal system of our body."  He then said people should breathe this way 10 times each day, and that it also helps to relieve stress.  I've shared this idea several times with others here at the web cafe but this is the first time I've included the specific instructions that were given by Dr. Oz.
Dr. Oz and Dr. Michael Roisen have written two books which are excellent (I believe), and their titles are...YOU --  THE SMART PATIENT, and the other is  YOU --  THE OWNER'S MANUAL.  I think they're well worth checking out, for any one but especially for people who have a major illness or ongoing health condition.  
Just continue doing what feels right to you, and you will probably do very well with all that is to come in the future.  Keep us all updated on your progress, we do care.

God Bless,

Lou

Thank you all,
I can't tell how much better your responses make me feel. When I was Dx it was devastating, not something that I wanted to hear. But there was my primary Dr. saying don't worry you are not going to die from BC and it is something that my uro says too. So coming from those educated sources I say it to myself all the time. I have 4 children , 20,19,13, and 6 and I want to see my grandchildren, I have the lovliest wife in the world with whom I love saying goodnight to and good morning to and we have plans for when the kids are out of the house. There is much that I have not done that I am supposed to do, for my family and for humanity. One thing I want to do, I think I have to do, is to use my abilities as a concert promoter to help make people more aware of BC and raise some money for research. Rosemary, you are right I do try to take charege, but in a good way. We do all need to keep on keepin' on and everyday is important. Stop and think about in the course of any given day how you touch other peoples lives. All of us have something positive to offer the world at large

Rosemary I know what you mean about staying at work. The day after I was dx I stayed home and was climbing the walls by 9:30 so I went in the next day. Everyone in my office knows all about what is going on with me, my wife thinks I should shut-up, but I want people to know

Lou thank you for the song, I'll check it out. BTW Cearburg is 25 miles north of Milwaukee, in the heart of Ozaukee County,

Thanks all of you for your input into this thread you've made things much more real for me and it all good.

Whit

Whit,
I am a hardware engineer and have undergone two major surgeries. A kidney transplant, and a nephroureterectomy , chemo treatments , cystoscopies and all the effects. So far, my quality of life has not reduced . I work 9-5 , do everything possible in this world ....ofcourse some limitations when lifting heavy weights (which anyway I dont 'coz of my small build
My motto..I think, therefore I am .

-Shoba.

Whit,
Very good question.

I get the feeling, Whit, that you are a real take charge kind of guy, I bet you are in control a lot in your work. You are probably very good at it...

I have no advice about this, but, the thing is, that we are not in control of cancer...and that is what kind of whoops our b**ts...so then one has to come to the conclusion (in my mind, anyway) that you just keep on keeping on. You have to get to a kind of Zen place, where you say...I'll do what I can to help myself , but I'm not in charge of this...I will fight, but I will also surrender...

After my dx, one day I just wanted to leave work and go home and lick my wounds...I'm a hard worker , too, always at work.....my mom heard about it from someone, and she called me and said, "Don't go home...stay at work...don't give up...don't do it" It was what I needed to hear.

I am to the point now, where every little pain or feeling of something different makes me scared....and I watch my pee like no tomorrow...I guess the girls at work get tired of me talking about urine...but they are real good and patient about it...

Sometimes when I look at a picture of my grandbaby, I cry...and I guess that's the worst of it...

Rosemary