slmjim - T-cell lymphoma - we're guardedly optimistic

hardrockminer wrote:

...  Maybe I should consider ear radiation?




 

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

wrote:

ThatGPzGuy post=922149 userid=11653It seems there are a lot of people we know who are going through this. I don't know if it is a life-stage thing or something else is happening. 
Praying for a full recovery and a return to riding. 

I don't know but my suspicion is (not that anyone will admit it) that there are environmental factors at play - My wife is from an old "mining" town in Germany and there seems to be a disproportionate number of people suffering from this disease who reside near or have worked in the mine ????

The oncologist asked if I ever worked with metal shavings or in the chemical industry.

No, but in the early '70's, in my late teens / early 20's, I worked in a six-bay auto shop doing brake jobs, among other things.

  Drum brakes were the majority.  When we'd remove the brake drums, we'd use compressed air to blow the brakes 'clean enough' to work on.  Clouds of brake dust would permeate the whole shop. The asbestos in brake lining dust wasn't a known thing to be concerned with back then.  I have to suspect that the asbestos in the clouds of brake dust may have contributed to my and perhaps others' cancers.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

I hope your remission stays. I've been fighting stage 4 prostate cancer since September 2015. I've had so much radiation I should be able to run a nuclear power plant. Tomorrow I start on the final treatment option before a chest port and chemotherapy. 
I've been able to keep riding the whole time but last season I only got in two long distance rides due the Pluvicto radioactive infusion treatments last year. The new treatment is in pill form so we're planning to do as many rides as possible this season. The radiation based treatments really take the energy out of you. I fight back by trying to spend as much time as possible working on stuff in the shop. Even if I can only work for 20 minutes I still go out there. The best thing you can do is never give up, I have watched the people at the cancer clinic come and go. Some of them I can see the defeat in their eyes, its sad. I get some strange looks when I show up for treatment in my riding gear. My oncologist said that she wished all of her patients had my attitude about never giving up. I'm 67yo now and my son is only 17yo. I want to last long enough to go on some long distance rides with him before I can't ride anymore.

slmjim+Z1BEBE wrote:

wrote:

ThatGPzGuy post=922149 userid=11653It seems there are a lot of people we know who are going through this. I don't know if it is a life-stage thing or something else is happening. 
Praying for a full recovery and a return to riding. 

I don't know but my suspicion is (not that anyone will admit it) that there are environmental factors at play - My wife is from an old "mining" town in Germany and there seems to be a disproportionate number of people suffering from this disease who reside near or have worked in the mine ????

The oncologist asked if I ever worked with metal shavings or in the chemical industry.

No, but in the early '70's, in my late teens / early 20's, I worked in a six-bay auto shop doing brake jobs, among other things.

  Drum brakes were the majority.  When we'd remove the brake drums, we'd use compressed air to blow the brakes 'clean enough' to work on.  Clouds of brake dust would permeate the whole shop. The asbestos in brake lining dust wasn't a known thing to be concerned with back then.  I have to suspect that the asbestos in the clouds of brake dust may have contributed to my and perhaps others' cancers.

Good Ridin'
slmjim & Z1BEBE

A very good point Jim, same as the number of mechanics that had testicular cancer from "oily rags" in their overall pocket. It was early 80's before it became common knowledge that "used" engine oil full of carbon deposits was carcinogenic - hopefully the younger generation had enough warning and took notice 
Also many automotive rubber products are carcinogenic if burnt. Think off all those kids in years gone by playing in the burnt out wrecks of stolen cars on council estates etc 

 

Good to hear your doing well. Keep up the positive attitude.

Just spotted this thread
So  Jim is now a card carrying member of the Kaw Cancer Brotherhood.
I've told my story here before so let's just say  I Fell Your Pain Brother
AS said by others  Never Give up and keep positive  You have proven Hard to Kill
We are both lucky men to have great wives  to stand with us thru this  terrible time of suffering 
My Prayers are with you Jim 
Dave