36 Years In Remission Of Cancer
Nowhere near my next age milestone of 40 years, but I realize being in remission for cancer for 36 years is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, advice that I often give to new patients and survivors, in dealing with remission and survivorship with all the anxieties and concerns of relapses, is to take it, yes I know this will be cliche, one day at a time. And quick math, my 36 years comes to 13,140 days, and that is a long time. When I say it gets easier as time goes on, I mean it. I remember every day of my cancer journey as if it just happened. While at the same time, these 36 years seem to have flown by.
In the 36 years of my remission, the diagnostics used to diagnose Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, no longer used. The methods used to stage Hodgkin’s, such as the laparotomy and the lymphangiogram, are no longer used. The high dose, “scattered field” approach of using radiation therapy to treat Hodgkin’s, is no longer used. And the treatment used before the current standard of chemotherapy, a hybrid, MOPP-ABV (now used ABV-D), is no longer used. I have been in remission long enough to witness all of this progress.
Over these 36 years, I have been discriminated against for employment before the Americans With Disabilities Act was passed making that practice illegal. I struggled to get health insurance due to my pre-existing condition of cancer until the Affordable Care Act was passed requiring that acceptance.
I got married twice, and also divorced twice. I am blessed with two wonderful daughters, now in their twenties, over half of my survivorship, one on the verge of graduating college. I bought a house with a fence, just not white picket, which allowed the dog I always wanted, a golden retriever, to be able to run and play safely in the yard. I had a nice career working in of all occupations, medical research, even handling one of the chemo drugs I had been given. I participated in two school board campaigns as a candidate, the only time I have ever run for a public office. I have travelled to all four corners of the country, and around the world.
I have written and published many stories and publications, and two years ago, published my first book, “Paul’s Heart – Life As A Dad And A 35 Year Cancer Survivor” available on Amazon. I have had one of my stories acted out professionally by actors. And I still have many works in the process.
Music was always a huge part of my cancer journey, but also my survivorship. Whether I was disc jockeying (which I did for 40 years), or performing live vocals, it was the one time I could forget that I had cancer, or at least not think about it. I picked up the guitar and keyboards again, the first time since high school. And of course, I have a huge catalogue of music of all genres to listen and disappear to.
These 36 years have not been easy, or without price. Because medicine never studied what could happen if cancer survivors lived long term, more than the five years we are always quoted, and because we do, for many cancers now, late side effects from the treatments appear in some, not all, cancer survivors. The problem was, there was no plan for this and if it happened. And for those who did develope these issues, decades ago, could not find the care to help with these odd issues, or even how to treat them. But with the coming of social media and the internet, it would be other survivors, and eventually doctors catching on, now finally getting the attention to survivors, that we all should be followed up after five years, not necessarily by the oncologist, but at least by a primary care physician, to watch for something to develop if it does. Again, this is not guaranteed to happen, but if it does, it is important to be dealt with sooner than later. My health history on this page is filled with details of issues I have faced.
And one of the coolest experiences, was getting to reunite with my oncology nurse, my counselor, and my radiation tech, decades later, so that they could see the great thing they did. I know that not all of their stories had happy endings, but for a brief moment, I gave them one memory to remember they saved a life.
And then finally, and as important as my survivorship experiences, are the hundreds of patients and survivors who have crossed paths with me, either through peer to peer counseling, social media, or even happen chance meetings. Each and every person I have met or talked to, is a part of my success of 36 years. There is one downside, I have had to say goodbye to some of my fellow survivors, many way too soon, their bodies no longer able to handle the lifetime of trauma from their experience. Everyone, living and those gone, are all so important to me in my survivorship.
I am hoping, and according to my counter on my main page, that I will have another four years in me, to reach the 40 year milestone of survivorship, after which I will reset my counter to 50 years. I am still hoping to experience so much more. At least that is my plan. I know there is so much more for me to experience.
I cannot donate blood or organs because of my treatment history. I will not discover any cures or treatments, and financially I am not able to give back. So this is why I do “Paul’s Heart.” This is my way of giving back, sharing my private experiences, one reader or follower at a time, hopefully giving the inspiration that I looked for decades ago, and could not find, forcing me to take my fight against cancer on my own. And I hope my story does make a difference.
Stick around, there is going to be a lot more to come.
Paul's Heart 