Today was one of the days I count as the start of my cancer. It was the day that I opened a report which said that further tests were needed, but it looked like I may have had cancer. It took another scan, then a biopsy, before it was officially cancer. But there was never the actual devastating moment that you see on TV. It was more a series of paper cuts. Though when I woke up after the biopsy and was told I needed to find a surgeon immediately, it was a pretty clear hint before the official biopsy results came in.
For the most part I have not have had a break from treatments during the 9 years. There was a respite between the late fall of 2016 through the end of the summer of 2017 where I thought perhaps I was “cured,” but by October 2017 I was told my cancer was in all likelihood inoperable and incurable. A couple months later there was no doubt, and I started triathlon training.
Since my initial diagnosis, I have taken thousands of photos, saved at least one life, participated in numerous triathlons and running races, wrote many songs, had a chance to hang out with my family and basically have done pretty well overall. That being said, it is far from easy. The back surgery in 2022, and basically being told I was not going to make it through the end of 2022, pushed me to my limits both physically and mentally. But here I am, a year and half out from the back surgery, and continuing to train.
I try to do something on each significant anniversary that comes up that is related to my cancer. Last year I could not “celebrate” December 23 due to the painful side effects from radiation treatments. But I am back at it this year. 4 miles on the treadmill and starting to build up again, after about three weeks off due to traveling to see family and hanging out in California. Looking forward to doing 5 miles on December 23, 2024.
#iTRI4aCure #cancer #triathlon #triathlontraining
