Thread: Checking in

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“…..i'm 12 years out on lung cancer…..”

Shine the first time a read that earlier in this thread I was surprised. I’ve watched your projects and the collecting of cars/parts for future projects and have always been impressed. Maybe I just missed the cancer thing if you had posted it earlier, but it did catch me by surprise.

I think in a lot of cases when people get the diagnosis they just give up on life. You and others (I would like to include me in that) tend to make the most of the time and keep going as long as their able. I suspect that’s what you did when you got the news. I’ll admit I’ve slowed down considerably but I think that’s more due to old age and the arthritis. I think keeping going actually lets you go longer.

Keeping the stress low is also a big factor. There’s no such thing as a stress free life so we’re at least used to a certain level of it. After getting the news though, it can be pretty overwhelming worrying about what will happen to the ones we’re leaving. Honestly I went through that panic too. Fortunately, having watched what mom went through and being the executer of her estate I knew what to expect and in reality we had been preparing for this for several years. A couple of the “we’ll get to it someday projects” (preplanning/prepaying funeral, getting VA POCs for Donna, going over the wills ect) got moved to the front burner. The property had been put in a trust to protect it for the Grandkids (and we had passed the 5 year “look back” time). I was able to sell a couple of the cars for what they were worth and between that and the insurance Donna will do OK. Missy and the Grandkids live next door now which I’m sure will make it easier for her. I’m at peace that the family will be OK and that is a big relief.

The only thing I really don’t care for is the weekly visit by the hospice nurse. Don’t get me wrong I like the nurse and she’s very competent, it’s just the weekly reminder of the situation I don’t like…..but hell maybe I need that too. The one bit of advice that both the hospice nurse and my primary care provider at VA gave me that I did disregard was the “at this point you really don’t need to worry about what you eat or how active you are ”. I’ve been on medication for cholesterol and high blood pressure for several years. That I disregarded and still eat “sensibly” and so far my blood work still looks good and I feel reasonably good most of the time.

Anyway I’ve rambled enough enjoy the holiday everyone.


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