Beating The Odds

[Buenchico]

When I was given my cancer diagnosis, that nice Mr Google (plus some reliable websites, such as that of the Mayo Clinic) suggested that my chances of still being alive 5 years afterwards were only one in three.

 

I was given my diagnosis 5 years ago today.

 

I still seem to have a pulse! 😊

 

I'm happy 🙂

 

Statement ends.

[barry1010]

Yay!  keep on breathing, Buen

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Barry.  

I'll do my best!

😊

[maggiebee]

Aye, there's life in the old dog yet.  Remember, if you believe all you read/hear. you'll eat all you see!  

[rowanwitch]

It's only an average....  And it's pretty obvious you are not!

[Buenchico]

'Dog', Maggie?

In my house. I'm an honorary cat! 😺

(Thanks, anyway!)

 

I might be 'mean', RW, but that doesn't make me 'average'!

😁

[sandyRoe]

I think all on AB would say they're happy that you're here helping us.

Wishing you many more happy years.

[MargoTester]

Excellent news xx

[Lie-in King]

To think you went & finished that bucket list, just in case.  Now you'll have to write another one - longer, this time!  Good news, Buen, well done 😊

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Sandy.

It was your own 'good news' post which inspired me to add my own here.  (We don't get enough good news!)

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Margo!

 

Although I've never consciously devised a bucket list, Lie-in King, I do seem to have been getting around to things over the last few years which I might not otherwise have done.  (e.g. getting into amateur radio, writing and performing poetry, running quiz nights for our local community centre, etc).  So it seems to be a case of "every cloud . . . ".

Thanks for your post!

[Arksided]

Pleased that you're still with us Chris, and wishing you many more years to come.

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Arky.

I hope to be annoying people for quite some time yet!

[Patsy33]

Prove them wrong, Buen! 

Your darling cats need you 😃 x

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Patsy.

The Feline Threesome do their best to pretend that I'm totally  unimportant to them but they occasionally seem to admit that I've got my uses after all 😺

[Patsy33]

I'm sure they love you very much, Buen. They just never admit it! 😆

[Bazile]

All the best Chris 

If you don't mind me asking .

Has there been any significant side effects from your treatment ?

[Buenchico]

Thanks, Baz.

When I started my chemotherapy, two nurses told me that it was impossible that I coul have more than 8 sessions, as in their 20 years of experience, nobody on the ultra-high dosage that I was on had ever been able to tolerate more than that.  I had 10 sessions though, so (unsurprisingly) I had some nasty side effects, such as double vision, memory problems, etc.  [I was also on a medical trial at the time, where I was using women's HRT patches (at 6 times the normal dosage) to suppress my body's production of testosterone.  The most obvious side effect was some impressive breasts!]

I had very few side effects from the 37 sessions of radiotherapy which followed my chemotherapy though.

Since that time I've been switched from the HRT patches to a combination of 12-weekly injections and daily tablets.  The main side effects (apart from a total loss of libido) are hot flushes and poor sleep quality.  [I can tire very easily too but it's hard to work out whether that's a symptom of the cancer, a side effect of the treatment or simply old age].

[ferlew]

Congratulations, long may you continue.

[Buenchico]

Thank you, Ferlew!

[wolf63]

You have to outlive the cats, if not don't die at home.  The cats see you as a provider of food!

🐈🐈🐈😵