FIFTEEN YEARS

Hello everyone, today is the end of summer, beginning of fall, and my cancer anniversary, twelve years past diagnosis of Hilar cholangiocarcinoma and P.S.C. and have just completed another year of cancer free life. The elderly woman I have helped for four plus years passed away July 3rd. after 96 years of life, and I witnessed what life is like in a worn out body, living forever isn’t a viable option as being human has it’s limitations. We all want a long full life yet the physical reality is many things can keep us from achieving it, Drugs, alchohol, disease, accidental injuries, contagious illnesses, wars, all shorten lives, and it would be nice if we could plan our lives like a vacation or a business, but we cannot, as there is the uncertain, unforeseen future. Therefor we must take what comes and do the best we can, seek the best help available, and hope. Live your daily life, and somewhere in there in your busy day, no matter how tough it is, think about someone else. This little act seems to change your whole burden, and people deal with many difficulties everywhere everyday.With turmoil and chaos around the world, regimes attempting to threaten lives by the thousands and yes, there is even uncertainty for the healthy humans as well. I have gotten much in my life, and I learned the most valuable thing is not held or sold, it is your happiness. Enough about life, My story began 9/21/05 after an ultrasound revealed a small tumor inside my left hepatic duct just outside my liver. Next an ERCP to do brushing and biopsy (negative) yet my doctor that did the procedure suspected cc and recommended resection of my liver and bile ducts. I was operated on at the Cleveland clinic on 1/26/06 with negative lymph nodes and clear margins. Pathology indicated the tumor was a “papillary type” which is not common for cc. and the cancer was contained within the bile ducts and had not ‘gotten out’ as he put it. It was recommended that I forgo chemotherapy as it would not help. So my last real treatment was surgery. I have appetite issues which cannabis helps with, bilary restriction issues from the PSC which for now are helped with an anti-inflammitory drug called Meloxicam, one 15mg tablet a day. I eat healthy, walk my dog daily, pursue my hobbies and try to help someone, somehow, every day. Things have gone well for me and I hope in the future more of us can be in the ten year club, take care, Pat

Here it is, January 26th, it is even a thursday just as it was 11 years ago. How time has passed, even with the uncertainty of the next month or year. I am pleased to say there is no bad news here, just good, I have actually started addressing all the little things people without cancer do ( go to the dentist, the dermatologist, oral surgeon, all kinds of doctors, PCP) and nothing related to cc. Wow, imagine a whole year and no issues at all wit cholangiocarcinoma. It is wonderful to say to the world that sometimes it goes well, know that it CAN. I am getting older, and to some it might sound like a complaint, but here it is just a statement of the fact, a proclamation maybe, but not a complaint, I am Patrick, I had bile duct cancer in 06′ and I am here to show the world that this cancer can be surgically removed and a normal happy life can be had. It is getting hard to remember all that I went through. There is eleven years of living life between now and that surgery, The thing I struggle with most is patience, Living with uncertainty makes you always in a hurry to get things done. There is, it seems, an underlying rush at all times, and my mind goes into hurry up mode if I pay no attention. My advise, as a long term survivor is this….Slow down enough to read life’s roadsigns, as always being in a hurry equates as stress. So there you are, slow down, enjoy the life you have…it may be longer and better than you ever dreamed it could, god bless all of you, Pat