CANCER
 

Every one knows this word of course but it will never happen to us!

But it can happen as I can attest because it has happened to me.

Because I fell in my drive way one day, I was taken to the hospital. They did x-rays and blood tests as usual. They sent the results to my hoke Doctor which took a big change in my life!
My Doctor informed me my PHA resutls were high. I asked what does that mean?

He stated normal is @ 1 and mine was 5 + which was not good at all.

He sent me to a urologist (Happened to ge a Brother from Un. Mo) andthen an Oncologist who knew some of my Brothers from Pittsburg State, Ks. and even dated one), LOL! Felt in good hands.
Did many tests and found cancer in my Prostate whcih led to 43 days of radiation to clear it. Next they found a blur on my scapula which led to a Bone Cancer Surgeon. This then led to surgery to cut it out. Took out a ping pong ball size mass.
Supposedly both problems are gone but still have to go back for follow ups. It will take a while to make sure everyting is okay, I hope!

So I am not asking for sympathy, but to tell everyone, "Please go to your Doctor and have a blood test"!!

It will never happen to us, but it does. Just do it soon and find out if it is a Yea or a Nay.

Trying to just pass along a word of wisdom amdthank to all of my fine Brothers and Friends who gave me prayers and good thoughts I will get through this!

Keeping you in prayers, Tom, and also praying that you will continue to heal and enjoy life. Prayers for the doctors and nurses and all who are taking care of you as well.

Tom, I hope you are in good health and in good spirits. Thank you for this thread.

I'm so sorry to hear it Tom. Cancer has touched my life in many ways. My dad had prostate cancer, and has made a full recovery, with no other occurrences. I hope the same happens for you! I will be praying for you.

Tom, in a very strange way it might have been a blessing in disguise to fall in your driveway and that leading to having a battery of tests in which your cancer diagnosis was discovered. I wish you good health and healing.

Thank you for letting us know. This is difficult to go through. Prayers are with you.

Yes it was but maybe a blessing all the same. If I had not, I would be fat dumb and sassy of course, LOL!

That is why I want and hope others will take my Asdvice Male/Female to go just to have a blood test! They can now find out so much today through blood tests.
Today, medice is so much ahead of what it used to be is fantastic. Thank goodness for that!

Todays medicine will be outdated with tomarrows new inovations.:)

You took the words out of my mouth. My dad was having a bunch of tests done for another medical issue and they actually accidentally ran the test that discovered his prostate cancer. We might have never known otherwise.

Holding a good thought for you, Tom. I hope you kick stupid cancer's stupid ass.

Tom, thank you for your message. I pray that you will continue to heal and make a full recovery.

I'm glad for you it was caught while it was treatable. Keep up the good fight!

Ditto, Tom!

I'm so sorry. I'm glad the doctors caught it early, and I hope all the cancerous cells are indeed gone. Take care.

Well said, as is Tom's statement. We are given so many warnings, and tend to suffer from overkill, but cancer is cancer. PLEASE, especially if there's a genetic predisposition to any sort of cancer, take as many precautions as necessary, and get yourself checked regularly!

Glad to hear that you're doing well, Tom!

Hope you get better soon Tom

Thanks for reminding me to have a through check up soon.

I'm so sorry to hear of what you went through, but glad you are on the mend.

Tom,

As you know, I have the Jesuits offering their Masses for your recovery. GF, Dad, and I are calling in markers on your behalf from the RC side of the house and a brother from my undergrad chapter who is an Anglican padre has had his congregation add you to their prayer list.

Here's hoping you will stay cancer free for many years to come!

Your friend,

Peter

My prayers are with you Tom for a speedy recovery. Stay Strong!!!!

ZBT:"BROTHERHOOD & BEYOND"

Great thread. Tom, take that cancer and kick its ass.

That is all.

Tom, I'm glad you're beating cancer!

My father-in-law's lung cancer was also accidentally discovered while some other part of his body was being X-rayed, thank God.

Wishing you the best of health and quality of life! :)

Hang in there Tom. I'm wishing you all the best and for a full recovery.

I'm sending positive thoughts your way, Tom. Your advice to be checked regularly is spot on.

Best wishes for a full recovery, Tom.

Glad you had successful treatment, Tom. It's a PSA not PHA (Prostate Specific Antigen). The recommendations have changed regarding who should receive the PSA test as it has many false positives for things like BPH (a benign, enlarged prostate), but men should discuss this test with their physicians and have a prostate exam as part of a well visit. It's just like women need regular gyn and breast exams to assure good health. Blood tests and X-rays are only part of the story.

Heck can never remember the dif!! They talk doctorese, and I ask them, please speak english DAR!:D

I also love when they say ask questions! If I had any idea of what was going on I would, LOL!

Thanks so very much for the well wishes!:)

Now I hope what has happened to me will spur others to go get a blood test.

It is easy to do and can find out alot about ones body.

I am praying for you and wishing you a speedy recovery. Thanks for reminding all of us that we need to visit the doctor regularly and even have those "irritating'" blood tests that the doctors always seem to want.

Stay SASSY my friend! :)

Show cancer who the boss is!!!!

Brother Tom, sorry I haven't called you lately but I've had other things going on, as you know.

You are my brother in Lambda Chi Alpha and we stand together in Zeta Alpha Chi.

You take care of yourself now, ya hear?

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Sir. (HA! I called you Sir on the internet and now it's here FOREVER!! LOL ) (side note: long time running joke between me and Tom)

You funny Brother Roy, but do appreciate the thought and call when you can!!!

In ZAX, Brother!!!!

Wishing you a full recovery Tom. Good message too as a friend of mine from HS was just diagnosed with testicular cancer at only 30 years old.

Hope they found it in early stages as some cancers are very hard to cure. Mine thank goodness were luckly found early and steps taken. I had no chemo but radiation and the other by surgery.
I did find out that there was only one (1) Bone Cancer Surgeon in the whole K C Metro area, but, he is top notch!!

With your friends cancer, I am sure he will have to chemo until something better is found!

Sending prayers out to him fell Greek!

Sad to learn you had to go through this but am very glad that treatment was successful. Tom, you have my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cancer Screening
 

Cancer Screening is SO important. I'm alive and enjoying life because I had the dreaded colonoscopy. Believe me, it isn't the colonoscopy that's a problem, you are anesthetized, it's the prep. But even the prep isn't bad compared to the doc telling you that there is a tumor. I was blessed, my tumor was 5 cm, but only Stage 0. Quick day surgery and I'm cancer free 3 years later. If I had my colonoscopy at age 50, it would have been a very small polyp that would have been benign and would have been removed during the colonoscopy. No, I waited until it was big, cancerous and I needed major surgery at 56.

Get screened!