Checking in

Good morning from LA. It's been a while since I last posted. I've been preoccupied with other medical concerns until recent cardiology visits. In December I was diagnosed with a couple of cancers. First, polycithemia vera, a rare blood cancer, and anal cancer, which is more rare then PV. The latter required urgent treatment. I went through 28 days of radiation and chemo therapy plus a couple of days of infusion. I ran everyday during treatment and I continue to run. This morning I did five slow miles along the beach. Because of some elevated scores on lab tests during treatment for cancer I decided to visit my cardiologist. He had me do an echo, and a chemical stress test (just what I needed, more radioactive material). It was sobering seeing a long list of maladies. Total heart block, pacemaker dependent, Afib required ablations, a few other heart items and the cancers listed... Sometimes when I stop to think about all of this and the meds... it's overwhelming. The best I can hope for is that one cancer gets cured from the treatment... the other is incurable... and my heart remains... strong (PM assisted). How much longer... with a heart disease and two cancers.. Oh, well.. I will just keep running and eating my vegan foods until I can't.

4 Comments

What a remarkable journey

by Gemita - 2024-04-12 17:43:49

Good evening from Kent, UK.  It is so nice to hear from you again Runpacer.   I cannot believe that you have been able to continue running throughout your cancer treatment and you are continuing to do so.  That is extremely brave, but where do you get all this strength from?   While I can understand that you want to keep pushing, I hope you will allow yourself time to heal a little too.  You have been through so much. 

I send you my best wishes and hope you will remain well.  You certainly deserve this.  Remember a cancer prognosis is only an estimate of what might happen and it is possible for it to be wrong.  All any of us can do is to live as well as we can today and to enjoy the moment.  No one knows what tomorrow may bring.  

Hugs

by Lavender - 2024-04-12 21:20:51

It's always even more heartbreaking when you consider how well you have eaten and kept active. You deserve better. I think of you dancing and of your love for your son. You are such an enduring survivor. May God send peace and healing. May you feel supportive love and encouragement on this difficult journey. 💞

don't give up

by Tracey_E - 2024-04-13 18:22:05

Many of us have been dependent on our pacers for many years. Mark that off your list of things to worry about, it's perfectly normal.  I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. Hang in there. 

You Are Strong

by SeenBetterDays - 2024-04-14 13:31:40

Hi RunPacer

You have been through a lot and not surprisingly are feeling pretty worn down by it all.  You are showing incredible strength and resilience, continuing with your running and eating healthily.  It's a bitter pill sometimes when you feel you are doing all the right things but you don't always get the payback you would hope for.  Unfortunately we all have to accept that there are some things which are out of our control and it often feels that some people do get dealt a very unlucky hand in dealing with multiple health challenges.  All we can do is keep on going, try not to give up hope and enjoy the little things we can when we can.  I know it's so difficult to stay positive sometimes.  I really feel for you and hope that you know you have a strong support network here whenever you need it.  Sending you much love and I really hope that your recent treatment sees positive results.  Running five miles when you are going through what you are at the moment sounds pretty superhuman to me! You can do this x

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

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My pacemaker is intact and working great.