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Men, are you getting recommended cancer screenings?

I didn't. After a long, extremely healthy life, I went to the ER because of severe pain in the abdomen and back... thought it might have been kidney stones and it was, but they also found a suspicious tumor in my colon. Turns out it was a Stage III malignant tumor.

For the next (nearly) 3 years I went through radiation, chemo, three different surgeries, two horrible infections post surgery, more chemo, months and months of rehabilitation and am just now getting back to somewhere near well, cancer free and feeling normal again.

The worst part of it is that all of this was my fault - 100% my fault. Had I followed the recommended cancer screening guides, none of this would have happened.

I made this post for one reason, and one reason only. To tell you to get recommended cancer screenings, especially for prostate and colorectal cancer.

This crap hasn't been fun, but I could have, and you can, prevent it from happening to you.

I should add: Women, don't forgo your screenigns either. There are zero reasons to do so.

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foldedunfolding · 41-45, F

i had a full hysterectomy for endometrial cancer last year..im so glad you are doing better now, king. you are a wonderful person!!

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foldedunfolding · 41-45, F

@Ontheroad it was pretty scary, but i was so blessed to be at stage 1a when we found it, before it invaded bone. tysm!!

Ontheroad · M

@foldedunfolding That's the thing... early detection. Still, the big "C", even at stage 1 is scary!

foldedunfolding · 41-45, F

@Ontheroad yeah, i remember just curling up into a ball, in a daze, life flashing before my eyes, thinking God would be displeased with me for not completing what i was supposed to accomplish on earth

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

sorry to hear of you problem, but, did your physician alerted you for preventive testing? The best advice is to check with your physician about all health needs, and, of course, read the literature and be sure you are not missing something. There are risk:benefits to every screening test, that must be considered carefully, prior history, family history, community experience, all have impact on what and when to screen for, you physician should be equipped to help you with that decision.

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samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Ontheroad statistics do show that men are terrible about going to a physician. don't knock yourself too badly, and, the treatment for cancer has changed so much, that, depending on the particular tumor markers, some are very sensitive to therapy, even when caught late. I hope that is the case with you. Ask specifically about "tissue-agnostic" therapy.

Ontheroad · M

@samueltyler2 I fortunately had a very good team of docs, technicians, etc., and they got me through it all and I'm as cancer free now as anyone who has had cancer can be.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@Ontheroad Great to hear. Just keep that term somewhere safe. That form of therapy has managed to save people who were thought to be terminal.

2cool4school · 46-50, F

Thank goodness you’re still with us !! Very kind of you to post and try and make other people aware.
Edit: just had a mammogram this last summer and luckily nothing looked suspicious.

Ontheroad · M

@2cool4school Good to hear you are getting screened... I think women generally do better at looking after their health than men do. Society long thought women were the weaker sex, which proved to be false and the truth is, women are the smarter sex as well as the stronger sex.

2cool4school · 46-50, F

@Ontheroad Well I think generally women do but I can definitely be an exception to the rule. I’ve gone 5 years between dentist and other types of doctor visits. I’m 45 though and I have to start acting like it. Not fun but must be done. I’m not sure if my parents would agree with you on myself being part of the “smarter sex” and I’ve definitely had times where I tried to prove to myself that I was an example of the “stronger” with mixed results and plenty of broken body parts to show for my efforts. But that’s just me and I often enjoy being different from the pack.

PS
I love your user name btw the way it reminds me of Jack Kerouac. Dharma Bums and On The Road are some of the favorite books I had to read in high school.

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Lilymoon · F

Congrats on making it thru that long cancer journey. sounds like you're a fighter and that's probably what got you through it. You are an inspiration to others. ✌️

Ontheroad · M

@Lilymoon Thank you for the kind words, but all I did was let them irradiate me, feed me chemo that tried to kill every living cell in my body, allow them to slice and dice on me and let the cruel therapists torture me back to health. 😁

Honestly, it was my ex who literally held my hand through the whole mess - she, the docs, technicians, nurses and therapists are what got me through it all. Somehow their positiveness kept me from being scared and had me up and fighting it day in and day out. I consider myself to be one very lucky man.

Lilymoon · F

@Ontheroad And you're a survivor.... and that takes a good deal of strength. Congrats again... proof positive nice guys still win. ;)

Ontheroad · M

@Lilymoon Thank you Lily... your words are too kind, but nice to hear 😉.

LeopoldBloom · M

My last colonoscopy was hell, because they scheduled it for the afternoon, so I was awake for hours with severe dehydration. Still worth it and the next one will be scheduled first thing in the morning.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@LeopoldBloom why did you develop dehydration? someone must have really screwed up. If you were told not to drink anything for more than 6-8 hours then they should have put an IV into you!

SW-User

Just curious, when was this? When I was almost 30, my doctor recommended physicals, then my next appointment 37 (I think), I brought that up and said it was less necessary than thought. He was a young physician, so likely trying to keep up on current advice, not sure what advice you were given, and there is age gaps at play here, but it's possible screening practices changed and don't fault yourself.

Are you better? The only man I know with cancer was stage 4, he passed in months and longer than given hope by doctors - so I really do hope for you. ( I catch you are now)

Ontheroad · M

@SW-User Sorry it took so long to respond - missed your comment.

I am better and actually have been on the mend and now cancer free. Mien was a Stage III, but it was handled well by the team who cared for me and minus the infection complications (common with bowel surgeries) and resulting rehab times, all went smoothly. It's now a year since I was cleared and cancer free.

carpediem · 61-69, M

Thanks for this note and I’m happy to hear you’re in the road to recovery. Thank God you caught it at stage 3. My wife went through stage 3 colorectal cancer and it was awful. She was 53 and too young when it happened. She survived but other complications popped up. So please allow me to give you some additional advice.

Make sure your B12 levels are adequate. Start taking fish oil supplements. If you’re having gastrointestinal distress, keep delving in and uncover the issue. New things can pop up. That leads to you not absorbing the appropriate nutrients.

Good luck. 👍

DeeBee · M

Phew,how bloody scary is that?C'mon guys don't be too proud or take this subject lighyly this is a real eye opener for all of us,Thankfully had my prostate checked and nothing abnormal,bowel cancer screening done 3 times in 6 years,so far so good.Thanks so much for shedding light on a serious condition which could strike any of us at anytime.

HootyTheNightOwl

Now is the perfect time for another timely reminder of this, given that King Charles has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

Hopefully, between what he is going through and what you went through, it might prompt more people (particularly men) to get themselves screened.

Ontheroad · M

@HootyTheNightOwl Thank you... I thought about my own journey when I read about King Charles and @SW-User, and yes, it is a timely reminder for all of us, men and women alike, to get our screenings done.

Early detection is key.

Torsten · 36-40, M

sorry you going through that mate.

I dont go to doctors really ever. Probably should due to cancer running in my family but I guess one downside of believing our fates are all set in stone is I dont really feel the need to go. What happens, happens

Wishing you good health though

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

I'm so sorry to read this. Cancer fucking sucks. It took my grandfather and now my uncle is fighting it.

I'm glad you're feeling somewhat normal again and I hope this is long gone from you. 🙏

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@Ontheroad -- Update (since we seem to be new friends now) -- My uncle is still fighting his prostate cancer. It's taken a huge toll on him over the last few years. And like you, he's out there on a mission to get guys to do their screenings and to know their prostate blood test numbers.

I hope you are still in remission and remaining healthy. Cancer sucks.

Ontheroad · M

@sarabee1995 I'm in my fourth year now being clear, so I think I feel pretty positive about having beat it. It does, as you noted about your uncle, take a toll on you.

Prior to discovering the cancer I was an active retired man who had just finished a several year long DIY renovation of a hundred year old home.

Today, because I was completely unable to maintain a large yard and huge house during my battle, I'm renting a small 2 bedroom house and just now able to physically get out and do things again.

I'm not complaining about how it took me from a healthy retired fun loving guy, and broke me down to a near invalid, but it does change your life.

On the positive side, I stayed mentally and emotionally strong... guess I'm just too stubborn and onery to give in😁

So yeah, cancer sucks, but in a strange way, going through it all made me a stronger, more positive person.

Confined · 56-60, M

I have had 2 colonoscopies so far. Precancer was found on the second one. So glad I did it.
LPN at my doctors office told me all met get prostate canceer everntually, so keeping an eye out for that.

helenS · 36-40, F

Thank you for the reminder. Most people don't do the screenings because they are too f*cking lazy.

Ontheroad · M

@helenS Which, if I distilled it all down, is the reason I didn't. Stupid, just plain stupid.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Ontheroad Good luck to you!!
🌷 <== for you

BarbossasHusband · 36-40, M

Glad you're cancer free now, and thanks for the reminder to take onness health seriously

Ontheroad · M

@BarbossasHusband Thank you and yes, your health is nothing to play with.

Coralmist · 41-45, F

What a tough time, wow. So glad you are doing much better🍀. Thanks for sharing this and advocating screenings.

SW-User

Very good advice. Glad you got through it and are well now ❤️

Ontheroad · M

@SW-User Thanks and it's a lesson learned, one I wish no other to have to learn.

OliRos · 22-25, F

A very important message for everyone, regardless of age or gender.

I hope you are well now.

OogieBoogie · F

You came back from stage three cancer?!

Holy shit .

Dayum...not many can make that claim .

So Jesus ....how does it feel to be indestructible?😅

Seriously though ....that's pretty damn amazing .

Ontheroad · M

@OogieBoogie Damn, you really are bored... resorting to reading year-old posts on profiles is a sign of desperation 🤣

Seriously though, I was a bit amazed myself. In reality, I never got the chance to be worried about it.

I was diagnosed with cancer only because I was in the emergency room due to a kidney stone that I, after nearly 40 hours of excruciating pain, went in for.

They ran an MRI on me and found the stone, but when the ER Doc spoke to me, he said "We found the stone and we found something else...cancer, and it looks fairly advanced."

I found out just like that, no preamble, no symptoms, no nothing to prepare me.

An hour or so later, with me high and feeling no pain (morphine), an oncology surgeon came in and told me his plan,

A week later I was starting radiation and chemo.

OogieBoogie · F

@Ontheroad You're right though about people getting checks .
A guy at work ....who was always grumpy, finally collapsed at home one night .
Went it to hospital .
They did a scan .
And he was RIDDLED with cancer .

So bad ....he died 4 days later .

We think now he was prolly grumpy coz he was maybe in pain or discomfort all the time - and he just attributed it to old age .
He ignored it.
Prolly coz his doctor ingnored it .
(Although he was a stubborn old shit )

He never got to retire . He was never happy .

Imagine how long he had cancer for, for it to be all through his entire body .

And thanks for the laugh .😂
It's this flipping feed .🙄

Personally I dont generally like responding to old posts.
But this is kinda exceptional .

Sounds you got lucky with your doctor's .

Ontheroad · M

@OogieBoogie I 100% was lucky with all my doctors, chemo, and radiation techs, and the amazing nurses... just the whole crew who got me through the ordeal.

I never once believed I wasn't going to make it, and I put that down to those who took care of me. Well, there was a moment when, after the first surgery, I ended up with a drug-resistant infection, and I thought I wasn't going to make it, but that wasn't the cancer.

I had several surgeries, long rehabs, and some miserable times, but the support I got from those at the hospital kept me positive all the way through.

OogieBoogie · F

Reminder noted .🙏

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

I am so sorry you went through all of this Such a scary journey. I am so glad you are cancer free now,

Thank you for the reminder 💖

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iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Ontheroad that’s not even all of it.

Every time something new pops up they just blame it on auto immune arthritis and then I have to push them to do something about it.

What’s it like to be healthy? Can I live vicariously through you lol.

Ontheroad · M

@iamonfire696 Deal! See, I told you I thought you were strong. I can't imagine having to deal with something so open ended... it amazes me you are even semi normal🤣😂🤣😂

iamonfire696 · 41-45, F

@Ontheroad if you only knew what I went through in my childhood you would be shocked at how normal I actually am.

I should be way more messed up than I am.

Thank you for the kind words 💖

SW-User

I'm sorry for all you've been through and glad you're doing better.

I don't have much faith in doctors anymore and would pass on radiation and chemo anyway.

Ontheroad · M

@SW-User I might have had I not had the support and encouragement I got. Nobody ever did or said anything that left me without almost a 100% sure feeling that I could beat it.

SW-User

@Ontheroad I have health issues that doctors already say they can't figure out and they just wanted to push medication at me.... and I said "no" since they don't have a clue what my issues are.
I've also done a lot of research on cancer... had a couple of friends die because of cancer...both went through treatment.
What I have learned and know..... I'd rather not go through all of the "treatments" doctors usually offer.

I'm glad you're doing well now. :)

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

I need to start. As one of the 1% of breast cancer survivors who are men, I'm prone to other kinds of cancers, and I really should start checking.

Ontheroad · M

@LordShadowfire yep, don't, as I did, put it off. As you are no doubt aware, early detection is key!

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Ontheroad · M

@Stereoguy Thanks! Just keep up those screenings - prostate and colorectal cancers are slow growing, so if you get your annual screenings done, you are good to go.

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Ontheroad · M

@bleach I am American and yes, I had and have excellent medical insurance. My total out of pocket expenses to date (3 years of treatment and rehab) have been something like $500 and change. The screenings would have cost me nothing.

I had zero excuses for not getting the screenings - none. Just didn't take the time to get them done as recommended. I was and had always been extremely healthy... I sort of felt invincible. I wasn't.

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