Diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - the long winding road it has become

[Blackheart]

I've been chatting to Cois privately and I just wanted to share this.

 

It's always tricky and I'm often reluctant because I don't want to come across as preachy, or as having any answers, or claiming to know some secret....

 

But if this helps anyone out there who is struggling with any kind of issue, not just a horrible diagnosis, but could be any number of trials which get thrown our way as human beings in a less than perfect world.

 

Today - 29th October marks the 20th anniversary of my initial diagnosis, where I was told bluntly that I had 2 weeks left.

 

I was/am one of the lucky ones for sure. I have done so much in the past 20 years. I have tasted and experienced life to its absolute fullest. That includes more tough times as well, no mistake, but I feel fortunate to have been able to experience those too.

 

I have no message, no "this is how you do it" sermon.

All I have to offer is that there is hope, but no guarantee. A future, but no time scale.

If I was lucky, maybe anyone can be too.

 

I apologise if this upsets anyone who has lost, or is experiencing tragedy, or truly has no hope.

It's so difficult to try to be inspirational in an often cruel world.

I just wanted to relate my own journey (so far).

[Cois]

I've been chatting to Cois privately and I just wanted to share this.

 

It's always tricky and I'm often reluctant because I don't want to come across as preachy, or as having any answers, or claiming to know some secret....

 

But if this helps anyone out there who is struggling with any kind of issue, not just a horrible diagnosis, but could be any number of trials which get thrown our way as human beings in a less than perfect world.

 

Today - 29th October marks the 20th anniversary of my initial diagnosis, where I was told bluntly that I had 2 weeks left.

 

I was/am one of the lucky ones for sure. I have done so much in the past 20 years. I have tasted and experienced life to its absolute fullest. That includes more tough times as well, no mistake, but I feel fortunate to have been able to experience those too.

 

I have no message, no "this is how you do it" sermon.

All I have to offer is that there is hope, but no guarantee. A future, but no time scale.

If I was lucky, maybe anyone can be too.

 

I apologise if this upsets anyone who has lost, or is experiencing tragedy, or truly has no hope.

It's so difficult to try to be inspirational in an often cruel world.

I just wanted to relate my own journey (so far).

hug brother!

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

I've been chatting to Cois privately and I just wanted to share this.

 

It's always tricky and I'm often reluctant because I don't want to come across as preachy, or as having any answers, or claiming to know some secret....

 

But if this helps anyone out there who is struggling with any kind of issue, not just a horrible diagnosis, but could be any number of trials which get thrown our way as human beings in a less than perfect world.

 

Today - 29th October marks the 20th anniversary of my initial diagnosis, where I was told bluntly that I had 2 weeks left.

 

I was/am one of the lucky ones for sure. I have done so much in the past 20 years. I have tasted and experienced life to its absolute fullest. That includes more tough times as well, no mistake, but I feel fortunate to have been able to experience those too.

 

I have no message, no "this is how you do it" sermon.

All I have to offer is that there is hope, but no guarantee. A future, but no time scale.

If I was lucky, maybe anyone can be too.

 

I apologise if this upsets anyone who has lost, or is experiencing tragedy, or truly has no hope.

It's so difficult to try to be inspirational in an often cruel world.

I just wanted to relate my own journey (so far).

 

I do believe it is luck of the draw unfortunately, but you have less chance if you do not fight.

Like any unfortunate event in life that might hit you, it's about your attitude and the effort you are willing to put into it to fight it or make it right.

 

Cois, you are showing an amazing fight back.

We are all behind you 100%.

[Blackheart]

I do believe it is luck of the draw unfortunately, but you have less chance if you do not fight.

Like any unfortunate event in life that might hit you, it's about your attitude and the effort you are willing to put into it to fight it or make it right.

 

Cois, you are showing an amazing fight back.

We are all behind you 100%.

I've mentioned it before. My specialist told me he could make only one promise if I chose to fight. He said "I cannot promise that if you fight, you live. But I can promise that if you don't fight, you die".

[RobertWhitehead]

WE ARE RULED BY WHAT WE BELIEVE WHETHER IT IS TRUE OR NOT.

 

Print this slogan, laminate it and put it on the fridge or somewhere  . I constantly have to battle my own mind and life is tough, but, if it is not your time to go and you still have some unfinished business then what the doc says does not add much value  . 

 

What "BlackHeart" has said just proves my point! 

Edited October 30, 2019 by RobertWhitehead

[ChrisF]

Mine was not a life or death fight.  But may I add this here in support of what Blackheart has said.

 

- diagnosed with aggressive arthritis at the age of 30 ... could no longer cycle or any of other stuff we used to do.

 

- next 10 years saw some highs and some lows.  Ended on "biological meds", experimental in the 90's ....  It gave me a new lease on life !

 

- Life has its funny twists and turns .... at the age of 40 I was content that my arthritis was under control, but still had limited mobility, at least that is what I thought.  Then met an 18 year old girl with the same arthritis, but diagnosed too late.  She was effectively wheel chair bound, and had to have multiple joint replacements just to get out of the wheel chair and truly minimal movement.  

 

- today I am back on bicycles, enjoying the outdoors.  Granted, back of the pack, and at best catching up to the mid-pack in events ... on the shorter routes     Thanks to that 18 year old girl I realise just how priveledged I am !!

 

 

 

Life is short, and health is precious.  Live life to the FULLEST.

 

 

 

Cois our prayers are that you may win this fight, and have many years of remishin.

[Cois]

Just saw this on Reddit:

 

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cancer/comments/dpdrq7/whats_it_like_to_have_cancer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

 

I can only thank my Hubber Family for your help through this mountain I am riding up at this stage! I have one hill that I rode (think it is 8% gradient or something) and this is my mountain at this stage.

 

I did not post this, but I almost lost my penis 3 weeks ago. I drank my pills (I touched my chemo pills with my hands) and had an emergency wee after drinking 700 ml of water with the pills and did not have time to wash my hands.

It caused the most severe pain that I have ever had. When I had to go pee, I cried. Doctor gave me three pills and problem was gone a week later.

Now I do not even touch those bloody pills...

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

Just saw this on Reddit:

 

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/cancer/comments/dpdrq7/whats_it_like_to_have_cancer/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

 

I can only thank my Hubber Family for your help through this mountain I am riding up at this stage! I have one hill that I rode (think it is 8% gradient or something) and this is my mountain at this stage.

 

I did not post this, but I almost lost my penis 3 weeks ago. I drank my pills (I touched my chemo pills with my hands) and had an emergency wee after drinking 700 ml of water with the pills and did not have time to wash my hands.

It caused the most severe pain that I have ever had. When I had to go pee, I cried. Doctor gave me three pills and problem was gone a week later.

Now I do not even touch those bloody pills...

 

When my wife was receiving chemo, the most frightening thing was when the doctor told me not to use the same toilet immediately after her.

Just tells you what the body goes through on that treatment........

[Cois]

When my wife was receiving chemo, the most frightening thing was when the doctor told me not to use the same toilet immediately after her.

Just tells you what the body goes through on that treatment........

I have to flush twice after every use.

Something cool though, my nails glows green under a black light (UV Light that I use to clean the bathroom)

[gogo@]

Hello Cois, just keep on keeping on! Where your head goes is where the rest of your body goes, definitely!!

[Cois]

[emoji22] had a phone call on Friday from a rather large ISP doing IoT. As soon as the lady heard I had cancer, she shut down. No communication nothing. Even asked if I knew someone that could fill the position.

 

Had a call this morning from another recruitment company. The company has no problem with me having cancer, as long as I can do the work. It is a far drive everyday to get there, but hope for the best. I need a job!

[Edition 507]

[emoji22] had a phone call on Friday from a rather large ISP doing IoT. As soon as the lady heard I had cancer, she shut down. No communication nothing. Even asked if I knew someone that could fill the position.

 

Had a call this morning from another recruitment company. The company has no problem with me having cancer, as long as I can do the work. It is a far drive everyday to get there, but hope for the best. I need a job!

Absolutely hoping for the best!

[BigDL]

[emoji22] had a phone call on Friday from a rather large ISP doing IoT. As soon as the lady heard I had cancer, she shut down. No communication nothing. Even asked if I knew someone that could fill the position.

 

Had a call this morning from another recruitment company. The company has no problem with me having cancer, as long as I can do the work. It is a far drive everyday to get there, but hope for the best. I need a job!

Not to sound pitying, but that is terrible behaviour from the recruitment team.

[Steven Knoetze (sk27)]

[emoji22] had a phone call on Friday from a rather large ISP doing IoT. As soon as the lady heard I had cancer, she shut down. No communication nothing. Even asked if I knew someone that could fill the position.

 

Had a call this morning from another recruitment company. The company has no problem with me having cancer, as long as I can do the work. It is a far drive everyday to get there, but hope for the best. I need a job!

 

Out of interest, have you disclosed your condition and how it would affect work in the recruitment applications/resume?

[Cois]

Out of interest, have you disclosed your condition and how it would affect work in the recruitment applications/resume?

Yes it is disclosed on my CV. Doctor said I should take it off my CV and sue the companies that has problems with it, because some discrimination mambo jumbo

[Blackheart]

Yes it is disclosed on my CV. Doctor said I should take it off my CV and sue the companies that has problems with it, because some discrimination mambo jumbo

You have no legal obligation to reveal your medical status, current or historic. The prospective employer has no legal right to ask either. The only pertinent questions allowed are whether you are capable of carrying out the tasks required to fulfil your job description.

There are only 3 things which you must disclose: Past transgressions which would affect your potential employment relationship; Alcoholism; Past dismissal for gross negligence.

There is more info here, hope it helps.

 

https://www.cancersa.org.au/information/a-z-index/employment-and-cancer#I%20am%20applying%20for%20a%20new%20job