So, I have a tumor

[Dinner]

Well, I just got news from pathology. It's not good news. To cut it short, people with this kind of a tumor have it back with symptoms in 5 years, and in general live 10-17 years. It is not curable and cannot be operated as such. There's medicine to keep the symptoms in check in order to live a normal life for as long as possible, but so far there's nothing for it. So, right now I'm looking at those figures and hoping that science advances, which in "I had a death sentence"-retrospect is likely. At least I hope so.

But I thought I was 100 % cured and was going through this formality in this process so I'm a bit stunned at the moment. I'll fight it though, regardless.

That's harsh but it does give you a decade or two so there is a long time during which the science might advance plus if you got married now even if the worst happened 17 years from now your kids would be almost entirely grown up so they'd have gotten to know their dad and all that. Hell, you have more time even in a worst case scenario then lots of people who will die this week so feel lucky for that.

[BlackCat]

Sorry to hear, but life sucks from time to time. Enjoy a good wife/woman and your child and hope for a future cure - besides that, live your life wether it's short or long - you only have one chance to do it good.

[Pekka]

Sorry to hear, but life sucks from time to time. Enjoy a good wife/woman and your child and hope for a future cure - besides that, live your life wether it's short or long - you only have one chance to do it good.

Yes. I'm not counting on a cure, but I am hopeful about even better drugs that give longer lifespans. This I find to be very realistic in the next 10 years. Furthermore, if it reappears in the same location which was the best possible spot, it can be operated again. It's mostly a question of what kind of form it takes and this you can not know. Also, from the types I have, mine is the "best one". Other variables are also in my favor in this one such as my age, condition, the fact that it was removed succesfully etc. With the right medication, the years given are those on average wiht today's data, meaning that it's actually longer by the time I get there. And even if not, there's always a chance for a new operation. The most important thing is that I get to be scanned regularly in order to see if things are working or not. So, things aren't hopeless. They just can't assure me a cure, or that I will outlive this forever but that it's likely to come back at some point. Then again, this isn't very dramatic or newsworthy. I don't consider it a death sentence anymore. I consider it a sign to live life happily, to really think about things and evaluate decisions with the values of life I have, to not wait but to do. A child on the way, I'm not planning on getting out of here anytime soon. Actually, with my condition, it would be yet another statistical anomaly to fall under this truck sooner. So hells yeah I'm fortunate even still.

But now I don't want to talk about this anymore for a while. I'm doing OK and maybe participate in the polyton baby cutefest (bet you didn't see that one coming!), and had a succesful surgery. I'm not in pain, meds work well and I found a new passion subject.

[Pekka]

Also, thanks for your supporting comments and the ability to refrain from stupid comments. It's the internets, so it's a small miracle in itself. Be talking to you all later.

[Theben]

Cya around.

[MOBIUS]

All the best Pekka!

[Az]

Just read this whole thread - Keep fighting it, man! We have a similar situation in our family, but spirits are high - the same here, you and your loved ones, will triumph.

[SpencerH]

Best of luck Pekka. Keep in mind too that estimates of life expectancy after tumor treatment tend to be conservative.

[kittenOFchaos]

Harsh new Pekka,

Do you have any sort of life insurance? Would really sort your family out if you did die before your time.

Or blame nokia mobile phones for the tumour and make $$$.


Good luck and congratulations on having a child on the way.

[chequita guevara]

Did they put the tumor in a jar for you to keep?

[SlowwHand]

He answered that question. Of course, you would have to be interested enough to read before jumping in to post.

I was thinking about the tumor-in-the-jar-thing as well. I half-seriously thought it would be cool to beat it first and then to have it in a jar in the bookshelf. Not like (or unlike) the whole fetuses in the jars thing. Not in a horror movie type of a way, but more like a science/important part of me/victory/etc sign. I bet it doesn't even look that gross to begin with. And it would remind me every day how lucky I have been when I feel unlucky or whine about something.

I was under the impression that I might be able to get it should I want to, the surgeon first of all is a really service oriented and likes me, plus he said that they videotaped it and asking my permission for it, so I know I could get that, I don't see any reason why I couldn't get the tumor, or part of it, should I want it. Maybe it would be a question of "well you need to have someone put it in the jar for you". But that's just arrangements.

[EPW]

If you consume the tumor, it will make you stronger.

[Theben]

Actually I think he just gains its powers.

[Pekka]

Best of luck Pekka. Keep in mind too that estimates of life expectancy after tumor treatment tend to be conservative.

Yeah, this time they are more careful. What really sucks is that first you're told it was success and you're cured, as in cured cured. Then, few weeks later, we've got some bad news for you. That's what bugs me.

But I'm getting optimistic, naturally I still swing downwards quite fast thinking I've got two years to live etc. but then I get back up again thinking I'll go for few more decades for sure, and now I have to because we came back from the ultrasound(?), and we've got a picture of this small new family member of ours Man it was an experience to hear that intensive heart go fast!! Easily the best experience in my life so far, amazing.

So there's always hope even with this tumor, you never know, and it was still not cancerous so you know this isn't the worst possible news. It just means that I have to be somewhat careful and go to these scans regularly and probably sweat it out waiting for the results every now and then and eat pills for the rest of my life, but other than that, I guess I'm in a situation that many others are as in as well and almost everyone knows someone else who is. Just taking it day at a time, waiting for a new family member to show up and refusing to succumb to anymore bad cells.

[SlowwHand]

Consider yourself very fortunate that it was discovered at a point when it could still be treated. That's a big plus. Go live life, dude.