If I'm lucky, all my hunting will be done with a handgun this year.
While somewhat off topic, this is a breif (?) explanation as to why.
Some of you my know this already, but in late June I had a medical issue of which was thought to be an infection of the prostrate. Well, after 40 days of treatment and no improvement, I was refered to an Urologist. It turns out his CT scan showed what looked to be a tumor on the bladder. A biospy was scheduled, and indeed it was a cancerous tumor. Due to his schedule another 2 weeks had passed before we could have surgery on the 9th to remove it. I was going to post this last week prior to the surgery, but for whaever reason, elected not to.
Well,,,I got home Thursday, which feels good, but with mixed emotions.
As the surgery went with complications, not all as expected.
Turns out this is a fast growing type, or faster than expected. Most bladder cancers are contained within the bladder, mine had gotten into the muscle wall. This we knew from the first CT scan. But by the time surgery could be scheduled 2 weeks later, it had grown it's way down, attached itself to the pelvic, and wrapped around the renal artery. When the Doc got to this, he quit, not wanting to risk any possible damage to the artery. But he did get the illium conduit in place,,,,,that atleast allows me some uninterupted sleep.
So the plan is now to hit it with chemo and radiation, to shrink it away from the artery so it can be removed safely. Hope is, that it don't have time to spread much further in the 3 weeks it takes to heal this surgery some before starting the chemo. That is the scary part, as time seems to be critical, as fast as this grows.
Then too we had some disagreement between my Urologist/Surgeon and the Oncologist, with a treatment plan. Mostly in regards to the radiation part and surgery afterwards.
The wife and I had tendency to agree with the Oncologist. We had a discussion with the Urologist, and having worked with him some years ago, the wife suspected he was uncomfortable with the second surgery. Basically, she /we said, we understood, but he better get another surgeon on board that has seen this before. Get him/her involved Now, as to have some say in threatment proceedure. So she brought the Mayo Clinic up, and turns out my Urologist knows one of the leading Urologist/Oncologist there. I found out he is on board as of yesterday morning, and so far his outlook is positive. We still have another week to go before treatments can begin, and this time still has me plenty worried. But we can't turn back the clock, and have to go with what is, hopefully the time is sufficient.
Somtimes I find the wife's tenacious bullheadedness very annoying. But if it wasn't for her, this first surgery would have been 10 days later and the Mayo would have not been contacted. If it is God's Will that I survive, I owe it to Him and then her!! Otherwise, someone with less knowledge of the situation,,,,, well, I don't think I would have seen Christmas! There is still some scary woods ahead, and we still really don't know the outcome.
As I said, this Mayo Doc, has a positive outlook,,,,but I'm still very much in God's hands!
I have a few more test this comming week before we can start treatment. And then it will likely be 4-5 weeks of treatments before we really have an idea. I'm praying that we still have this in time and the bladder removed (likely at the Mayo), with some final radiation treatments to "clean-up" any reminents of the cancer. I certainly hope that I'm home and cancer free for Thanksgiving Dinner.
As for myself wishing to live longer,,,, I have no fear of dying. But I have yet, much to teach my youngest 12 yr. old son. For that reason alone, I have a selfish want, to supercede God's Will. Knowing that is not possible, I pray he gives me more time for Andrew's sake. Andy, is my only reason for bringing this forward. And if any are interested in following my progress, as I won't post all that often here, our D-I-L set this this up,,,
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidjansen
And feel free to do the guestbook thingy if you so wish!
Anyhow, back to the title,,,,,,I had a portacath, put in my left shoulder to facilitate the chemo. I shoot long guns lefthanded and would have had it in the right, but at the time I had an IV in my right carotid artery, of which the Dr. wanted to stay away from. And so, I told him I had anything and everything on this continent covered with a handgun,,,even pheasants, which shocked him. So much so he asked if he could invite himself to a pheasant hunt with my son and I. Hunting pheasants with a 12" Encore in the 45-410 over a pointer is a blast! I just have to put all my rifle testing and hunting I had planned, on hold for now. So no more playing with the Marlin .45-70 and Encore .375JDJ and cast boolits this year.
Dave
While somewhat off topic, this is a breif (?) explanation as to why.
Some of you my know this already, but in late June I had a medical issue of which was thought to be an infection of the prostrate. Well, after 40 days of treatment and no improvement, I was refered to an Urologist. It turns out his CT scan showed what looked to be a tumor on the bladder. A biospy was scheduled, and indeed it was a cancerous tumor. Due to his schedule another 2 weeks had passed before we could have surgery on the 9th to remove it. I was going to post this last week prior to the surgery, but for whaever reason, elected not to.
Well,,,I got home Thursday, which feels good, but with mixed emotions.
As the surgery went with complications, not all as expected.
Turns out this is a fast growing type, or faster than expected. Most bladder cancers are contained within the bladder, mine had gotten into the muscle wall. This we knew from the first CT scan. But by the time surgery could be scheduled 2 weeks later, it had grown it's way down, attached itself to the pelvic, and wrapped around the renal artery. When the Doc got to this, he quit, not wanting to risk any possible damage to the artery. But he did get the illium conduit in place,,,,,that atleast allows me some uninterupted sleep.
So the plan is now to hit it with chemo and radiation, to shrink it away from the artery so it can be removed safely. Hope is, that it don't have time to spread much further in the 3 weeks it takes to heal this surgery some before starting the chemo. That is the scary part, as time seems to be critical, as fast as this grows.
Then too we had some disagreement between my Urologist/Surgeon and the Oncologist, with a treatment plan. Mostly in regards to the radiation part and surgery afterwards.
The wife and I had tendency to agree with the Oncologist. We had a discussion with the Urologist, and having worked with him some years ago, the wife suspected he was uncomfortable with the second surgery. Basically, she /we said, we understood, but he better get another surgeon on board that has seen this before. Get him/her involved Now, as to have some say in threatment proceedure. So she brought the Mayo Clinic up, and turns out my Urologist knows one of the leading Urologist/Oncologist there. I found out he is on board as of yesterday morning, and so far his outlook is positive. We still have another week to go before treatments can begin, and this time still has me plenty worried. But we can't turn back the clock, and have to go with what is, hopefully the time is sufficient.
Somtimes I find the wife's tenacious bullheadedness very annoying. But if it wasn't for her, this first surgery would have been 10 days later and the Mayo would have not been contacted. If it is God's Will that I survive, I owe it to Him and then her!! Otherwise, someone with less knowledge of the situation,,,,, well, I don't think I would have seen Christmas! There is still some scary woods ahead, and we still really don't know the outcome.
As I said, this Mayo Doc, has a positive outlook,,,,but I'm still very much in God's hands!
I have a few more test this comming week before we can start treatment. And then it will likely be 4-5 weeks of treatments before we really have an idea. I'm praying that we still have this in time and the bladder removed (likely at the Mayo), with some final radiation treatments to "clean-up" any reminents of the cancer. I certainly hope that I'm home and cancer free for Thanksgiving Dinner.
As for myself wishing to live longer,,,, I have no fear of dying. But I have yet, much to teach my youngest 12 yr. old son. For that reason alone, I have a selfish want, to supercede God's Will. Knowing that is not possible, I pray he gives me more time for Andrew's sake. Andy, is my only reason for bringing this forward. And if any are interested in following my progress, as I won't post all that often here, our D-I-L set this this up,,,
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidjansen
And feel free to do the guestbook thingy if you so wish!
Anyhow, back to the title,,,,,,I had a portacath, put in my left shoulder to facilitate the chemo. I shoot long guns lefthanded and would have had it in the right, but at the time I had an IV in my right carotid artery, of which the Dr. wanted to stay away from. And so, I told him I had anything and everything on this continent covered with a handgun,,,even pheasants, which shocked him. So much so he asked if he could invite himself to a pheasant hunt with my son and I. Hunting pheasants with a 12" Encore in the 45-410 over a pointer is a blast! I just have to put all my rifle testing and hunting I had planned, on hold for now. So no more playing with the Marlin .45-70 and Encore .375JDJ and cast boolits this year.
Dave
