Wishing Everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year

Ringing in this New Year has a much different meaning for me.  In the past, although I did wish for Good Health and Happiness for everyone I know, this year I REALLY DO wish for Good Health and Happiness for everyone. Period.  People I know, those that I don’t…everyone.

Over the past three weeks, I’ve learned so much about a subject that was barely on my radar.  One common question that keeps getting asked is, “How can you be so advanced and not known it.”  The textbook answer is:  Lung cancer, like a few others, tends not to have very many associated symptoms. Therefore, about 40% of patients are already at stage 4 (spread to other organs) at the time of diagnosis.  In my experience, my 3 cm lung tumor isn’t giving me much trouble.  Most of my discomfort is from the mets to my liver and bones.  

My answer to the above question is:  I don’t know.  I have been in excellent general health my whole life.  Any aches or pains I had I attributed to the active lifestyle Wynn and I have always maintained.  In looking back the only thing Wynn recalls has to do with our love for road biking.  Whether out on a ride with just Wynn, with our biking buddies, Ann and Mike, or in a small group – it was always my nature to stay at or near the front.  I liked leading or chasing the leader. This past summer Wynn recalls that I was often lagging back or bringing up the rear.  I noticed it too, but blew it off to arthritic joints and age. 

I don’t know the exact message I’m trying to send, other than I’ve been happy to live my life, (some of it in the dark, obviously), doing things I love to do with people I love.  Do I wish I was diagnosed sooner so that I’d have a better fighting chance?  …ABSOLUTELY!  But I also feel very “japanesey” about it all – I didn’t ignore signs.  And now that I know, I plan to do my best to get back to the excellent health I’ve enjoyed my whole life. 

(I was going to blog about getting a wig, etc.  Maybe tomorrow.)