Well it seems the calendar turned the page yet again, November…blah, right? Well really not so much yet. It’s kinda great I can still wear shorts all day so far. With the October we had, at least here in southern Ontario who can complain. The colours were awesome this year and once I was able to get out and walking after surgery it definitely lifted the spirits and I’ll go out on a limb and say it helped the healing process. One downer was that I really couldn’t wander far from home, so camping in this spectacular weather was out of the question. I’ll admit I was down a few days sitting in the yard wishing I was out in the canoe.
I was reminded a few times to be grateful for what I did have and could do. It was true I was focusing on the wrong thing. I can’t control everything that’s going to happen to me, but I can be happy in the moment, for what I have, what I have gained and plan for what I can accomplish in the future. Living in the past or the what if, won’t get us anywhere. I had fallen back into that old trap of pissed off of not be able to get out and make use of the plans I had made. Being reminded by an outside voice to make use of the time you have, brought me back onto the reality I want to have and the one I have repeatedly talked about. With a new perspective I remembered once again too just enjoy the journey and make the most of even the small, simple things in life. Like enjoying a book sitting outside in the beautiful sunshine, also being able to keep a tan into November.
Life is what you make of it, dah we’ve all heard that before. Hitting the speed bumps along the way can just make you appreciate those very special moments along the way. As I’ve said before it gives you a chance to reset. Improve oneself, rest and remember why we are here to figure out what drives us. To figure out what we love to do and how to incorporate that into our lives. Cause if your not doing what you love or working towards it, than what’s this all for? What drives you? What do you love to do? Leave me a comment, once you say it out loud or write it down it makes you more accountable to yourself. Cancer or not I will continue to find things I love to do and do them. Striving to do these to my best ability. Oh…I also threw my back out three days by starting back into jogging, enjoy the journey.
That Time of Year
To anyone new here I have stage IV Nueroendocrine Cancer. It used to be a rare type cancer, but since my diagnosis six and half years ago it has been taken off that list. No longer rare because of awareness and doctors abilities to pick up on symptoms quicker. The mascot for us is the zebra, simply because when doctors hear hoofbeats they are trained to think horses, we are all zebras. Almost everyone of us has a different story, different diagnosis, are stripes are all different, zebra. It would take sooo much time to go through the many subtypes, symptoms, treatments that goes into y type of cancer. Why am I telling you this? November is Net awareness month and specifically Nov. 10 is Net cancer day.
Over the the years I have done runs, made videos, etc to help raise awareness. This year I will simply stick to writing. My story isn’t unique in the Net cancer world. I was misdiagnosed with IBS or Food related allergies for about 8 months. Until a surgery changed all that and my life forever. An unknown growth became Net cancer staged IV, it moved from my bowels to liver, mesentery, lymph nodes, lung and bones. Do I think those 8 months would’ve made a difference for me? Probably not. But, some have been through that same story for years and yes a quicker diagnosis could save lives. You can read about my story going back in the archives here.
It’s hard to believe I’m coming up on my 7th Net day. Days and years fly by, sometimes it only seems like yesterday that I told you all what I have been diagnosed with. So much has changed over these years. Sometimes complacency sets in and even I take the days for granted and need to remember everyday I’m here it’s a blessing. That I can share my story with you. Going forward we will dig in a little more here and I will try and keep you informed as well as entertained. Writing ebbs and flows. Topics can be tough to come up with. I will be back in a week on the tenth to reflect a little more. I the meantime I ask you what you’d like to hear, discuss or any topics you think I could cover. This blog is not only my story, but a type of guide for not just anyone living with an illness or just trying to find some motivation. The key is to just not give up. Enjoy each day. Find help if you need it. I did!
- Embracing Life’s Moments: A Journey Through Cancer AwarenessThe key is to just not give up. Enjoy each day. Find help if you need it. I did!
- Life is Full of Chances to ResetI am just a regular man given an illness I’m not sure I’ll ever totally understand. It gave me a story and storyteller is what I’ve become. Join me along the way.
- It’s Been Some Time Since a Hospital Stay, SurgeryThis can’t be my cancer. I just had a CAT scan and everything appeared stable? “Fuck, what if it is I just started creating this new, great life.
