Skip to main content

When People Think You Are Dying

I received an interesting email from a friend this week.  It said he had heard I had relapsed and he wanted to get together and go to lunch.  I was really appreciative of the invitation but started to wonder why he thought I had relapsed.  I spoke with this friend who told me that he heard through someone else that I was "terminal" and that I only had a few months to live.  He also told me that this message had been received by many in an announcement made at a meeting.  I was a little shocked!  First that someone heard I was dying and second that I mattered enough to have it announced!  I assured my friend that I was doing just fine and that I was not "dying".  I told him that I had no new re-occurrence of melanoma and that my treatments were going just fine.  This made me start to think about life in general and how we communicate!

In regards to communication, I learned how this information was obtained.  It was taken out of context by another friend.  It is amazing how words can be interpreted by others and how messages sent are not always messages received.  I have learned that "cancer" has such a powerful connection with death and not with survival!  This connection assists people in interpreting "news" about people they know with cancer towards the "news" leading towards death instead of live and recovery.  I have seen many at HCI "living" with cancer.  Some are much more sick than myself.  Some may even die in the next few months from cancer but all are living at this moment!  I have "lived" with cancer for 7 years (almost 11 years now).  I have met several people who have "lived" with cancer for over 10 years.  Most of us have no idea when the disease may progress or if it will lead to our death.  I have learned that "karma" is real and not to mess with "karma"!  I don't deny the existence of my disease but I don't give the disease power over my life nor do I tempt "karma" by dwelling on the disease or denying the existence of the disease.  I have learned that life is about moments!  Lifes change in small moments each and every day.  One moment deemed bad by the individual can ruin the entire day (like time running out on the Cougars as they lose again!  This moment, for some, even threatens their eternal salvation!), or a moment deemed inspirational or good can change the whole outcome of an individuals day (like those inspirational emails we all get and are told to continue to pass on!)  Life is about moments, live each moment, learn from each moment, and love each moment - your response to these "moments" define your life!

Comments

  1. Hey Craig,
    I think it is that horrible thing that ewe call shock value. People love to tell a good story and the more shocking or sad the better.
    Sorry that you were the subject of such.
    Been a long time. So glad to hear that all is well. Terminal or not, cancer is a scary thing.
    I wish you health and happiness
    Shani

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Finished the Clinical Trial!!

So it is done!  I finished the clinical trial this month!!!  It has been three years and now it is complete!!  My scans were clear!!  Dr Grossman even said that he was surprised how clear my scans were and how well I have been doing!!!  We did talk about the future.  I will go back and see him in 3 months and get scans again in 6 months.  I will see him every 3 months for 2 years but will only get scans every 6 months. We talked about risk of re occurrence.  I take this for what it is, statistical, because of going 7 years before re occurring.  Statistically speaking, things look very good for me!!!  What  I do know is that melanoma is a monster and can come back at any time and disrupt life!!!  The good thing is I know now some of the things that create a greater risk than others and can mitigate those risks as much as possible. The good thing is that this bout has not slowed me down.  I play basketball twice a week a...

Still Clear and Loving Life!

As many who have had a bout with melanoma know, it is not something that is "cured".  As I have experienced with my 2 bouts is that is can come back at any time and without any warning.  One of my big reasons for doing the clinical trial was because I wanted the best chance to catch the "next" melanoma as soon as possible.  As part of the clinical trial, I have regular visits with my doctor and regular scans.  Though I have had a few scares, luckily I have had clear scans now for 4+ years.  As the doctor at Huntsman told me, I am currently the patient who has been in the trial the longest at Huntsman.  It is to the point now that I it has been recommended that I return to seeing a dermatologist and my visits to Huntsman will not be as frequent. Though the news is great I still have in the back of my mind the question of when the "next one" will surface. Because I have decided not to worry about what I can't control, I am moving on cautiously but not ...

This treatment I felt like a pin cushion!

It's been about a week since I completed my latest round of treatment. Of course I went up on Thursday for blood draws and CT scans. About three weeks ago, I was at UVRMC getting an MRI of my back. During the last three months, I have experienced pain in my hip especially if I sit down for more than about a half hour. The pain will radiate down my right leg. Nicole spoke with Dr. Reichman about it and he wanted the MRI. So, I tell this because I was given contrast during that MRI and had to have an IV started. When I went to HCI on Thursday, I went to the lab to get my blood draw. Normally, to prevent getting "stuck" multiple times, the lab will leave the IV in until I come back on Friday and get the infusion. After leaving the lab, I went to CT. In CT, I was told the IV I had would not work because it was in my hand and the test that was ordered required a larger needle and the IV to be above my elbow. Unfortunately, the tech missed the first IV, in my left ...