I have cancer.

At Bill Cahill's suggestion, I am repeating my "announcement" here.

I have been reluctant to talk about this with anyone save for family members and close friends, but I decided it would be best to let you folks here know about it, too. I've been told that it helps to talk about it with more people...and I believe that advice to be true.

It is Stage 1 which means it has not advanced very much, and (hopefully) can be fully cured. No guarantees, of course, but then again none of us are guaranteed our next breath.

The details:

This is something I have known about for a few months now, since the colonoscopy a few months back found the polyp with cancer cells in the stem.

At this point, I should tell you exactly what kind of cancer I have, and what steps I will be taking to fight it. No, it is not prostate cancer; it is rectal cancer. As I said, a colonoscopy revealed a very large polyp which was removed. A pathology report revealed cancer cells in the stem of the polyp. The surgeon who performed the colonoscopy recommended I have a local excision to remove the area of tissue where the polyp had been, but said he did not have the tools or the ability to perform this surgery locally. Therefore, he sent me to a specialist in Louisville - Dr. Susan Galandiuk, who specializes in colorectal cancer and has worked at the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic before becoming professor of surgery at the University of Louisville. She actively participates in cancer research. She has impressed me with her competency and professionalism.

She ordered a second pathology report which indicated the cancer was more agressive than originally indicated. Because of this, she gave me two choices: one, the local excision as originally discussed with the surgeon who sent me to her, and two, a resection which is a more major surgery in which part of the rectum is removed and the end of the lower intestine is attached to the remianing rectum.

Debbie did a lot of research online on this subject, after which I did some research of my own. Looking over all of the facts and figures, I have decided to have the local excision followed by radiation and chemotherapy.

Both the surgeon in Jasper and Dr. Galandiuk say my cancer is Stage 1, which means it has not penetrated the rectal wall. Dr. Galandiuk says there is a slight chance it may have gone into the lymph nodes, even though a blood test came back normal and an ultrasound did not show any signs of lymph node invasion. This is why she was leaning more toward resection, since local excision cannot reveal whether any lymph nodes were affected.

However, our research indicates the success rate for each type of surgery is nearly equal. There is a much greater chance of infections later on with the resection as opposed to the local excision. Yes, the local excision is a gamble. I have decided that I am willing to take this risk based on the good blood test, the good ultrasound test, and the fact that the local excision will not have a great impact on my "quality of life." The excision is outpatient surgery; the resection would involve a week's stay in the hospital and the attachment of a temporary ileostomy (a bag to catch the you-know-what) which would be reversed and removed after eight weeks.

I just wanted you, my friends, to be aware of this.

Your thoughts and prayers would be very much appreciated.

And if you do not take anything else away from this thread, just remember this: Pay attention to your body! And if something changes, see a doctor right away. And have a colonoscopy on a regular basis to help avoid something such as this from happening to you.

Thank you.

Will Pray for you . Best medicine for afflictions or any other
problems. When i was young i had to have a kidney taken
out. Said i would not live long lots of prayers and many years later still here. Eat healthy for awhile a good cleaning out helps much.

Our prayers are with you, Ron. Git well real soon ! ..... Gregg

Hi Ron,

I'm very saddened and shocked at this news. Heck, you're a young fella. You are uppermost in my thoughts and prayers, friend.

Mike

My friends,

I made it through the surgery OK. I am still in the hospital, but hopefully I will get to go home tomorrow.

The prognosis is very good - will know more Wednesday.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU once again for all of the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. Thanks also to those who sent me PMs, emails or called me.

Again I say, God bless you all.

Ron

Thats great news Ron hope everything goes well in your recovery! Will keep you im my prayers...Sprman : )

You will be in my prayers and may you have a speedy recovery.
Vant

Hi Ron, glad to hear the surgery went well and my family and I will have you in our thoughts and prayers. A little encouragement, My mom had that surgery when she was in her late 60's and lived to be 84 with no complications from the surgery.

Best of luck, for a speedy recovery!
Bruce (MaynardB)

I apologize...I see I never did report back to you folks.

The surgery on August 13 went well, though I had to stay two nights instead of one. No cancer cells were found in the tissue that was removed! A follow-up visit to the doctor called for a blood test; this, too, came back negative (no cancer cells). I have to have blood work done every three months and a checkup every six months for the next two years to make sure nothing reappears.

But otherwise, I am doing very well. I'm back to my college studies and repairing radios when I have time.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes! I sincerely appreciate it.

Congrats on your success!
You've been in my prayers.... I'm very happy to hear the good news!
Bill Cahill

Just remember that God uses hard times to mould us into the Character HE can use. We don't understand all the time. This will be a starting point for you to search out Gods plan for your life. You can now minister to others going through the same trials.

Remember God is faithful to those who follow Him and answers (in ways that we cannot comprehend, because we look through a glass darkly) before we ask.

Our continuing prayers for you Ron!

Good to hear things are looking up Ron.

Great to hear things are going well for you.

With all the sad news we've been reading about here lately, it's such a pleasure to hear some positive news for a change. Keep us updated please as well.

Bob

Thats wonderful news Ron.