Here we go again!
Dec 15th 2009PostmasterCoping & Family
Just when I thought I could relax a bit and enjoy the Christmas season, I get more bad news. For every cancer patient, this can happen at the worst of times. But for a disease that seems to attack indiscriminately, there’s no reason to expect it to honor holidays.
This time it wasn’t a complete surprise as I have been experiencing new pain in my lower right back which has been getting steadily worse almost every day. Initial scans had shown nothing, but my PSA was up again so I knew something was happening. When I found out last week that it had quadrupled in 4 weeks, it confirmed that the cancer was actively spreading again (and growing tumours or lesions). It seems that once it starts up, it moves very fast. I can only try to slow it down with hormones, but I can’t use the same ones as before (which rendered me bed-ridden) so it will be “sub-optimal treatment” as my oncologist says.
So this Christmas will mix friends, family and fun with scans, doctors and meds. These kinds of choices are tough enough but they can certainly cast a pall over a happy season. So that’s my challenge – to deal with all of this without letting it ruin my holiday. We have a wonderful Christmas season planned with lots of family and friends and, while my situation will be on everyone’s minds (because they love and care for me), I’m not going to let it take away from their enjoyment or mine.
The pain and the side effects will be there like uninvited guests. They’re hard to ignore, but I will do my best to do just that.
So let’s just remember all of our friends and loved ones who have had to deal with this dreadful disease, especially the ones we have lost, and enjoy all of the life and happiness that this special time brings. We must always remember that we are making memories that will help to carry us through the rough times to come.
Posted by Doug
3 Comments »
Elli on 20 Dec 2009 at 1:23 am #
Sorry to hear this Doug. We are always thinking of you and send our love!
Ruth on 24 Dec 2009 at 10:51 am #
Sorry to hear the bad news at this time of year. Cancer has no manners! May the peace and love of the season give you the joy that you deserve.
Merry Christmas to you, Di, Cara and Sean
Luv, Ruth xxxxooooo
Russ on 31 Dec 2009 at 12:11 pm #
Very sorry to hear this news Doug. As Ruth says, Cancer has no manners and the worst sense of timing.
I know that the hormone treatment is taking its toll on you and pray often for the medical advances that will make relief from your physical pain possible – better still – an outright cure.
Thank you for sharing your story in “The Wolf at my Door”. Through the physical and mental anquish that you relate, you still convey a great sense of dignity, hope, appreciation and understanding. It is amazing to me the legacy that you have created through your book, and continue to create via the web, providing an important information source for both those striken with cancer and those who love and support them.
And how you manage to smile each time I see you, I’ll never know.
Happy New Year to you and your family. I hope 2010 brings you wonderful things – we all hope this for you and Dianne.