Six years later, I'm still cancer free. My doctors, family, and I threw the book at this thing, doing everything we could to try and secure my future. Nobody really knows what put it over the edge, but we do know that I'm still cancer free. It's an enormous blessing to still be here. Back when I was diagnosed, less than 10% of folks like me made it to 5 years, and a majority of those who did, still had cancer. Only time will tell if I really am Cured, but we keep getting closer and closer to that true reality. As I go along here, I'm shedding all sorts of doctors, which is a wonderful thing. My surgeons both kicked me to the curb, and my oncologist only brings me in once every 6 months now (we do CEA's every 3, but I just go to a labs place for them). Come March, I'll have my last CT scan, and drop to yearly appointments with my oncologist. Scope intervals keep getting longer too.
Most days, I don't even know that I had cancer, and have settled into daily life and the concerns of a young father. God has decided that I need to stick around for a bit, cause I have to take care of my two wonderful girls.
So if you're that scared kid like I was, I hope this can serve as some hope for you, or even offer some comfort. Few of us make it this far, but some do. I'm blessed every day to be one of those and hope others can do the same.
With thoughts, prayers and swinging chickens,
Fletch
