It is NOT over yet.

It all started last November, or maybe before that, I am not really sure. A simple procedure to make sure things were good and OK, that turned my thought process around forever. Both of my parents died from different forms of cancer, but I never thought I would have cancer too. Eventho my cancer was not as bad as many people thought, it was still cancer. And cancer is a thing, I believe, never really goes away. In my case,  it may be because of my own neglect that the doctor found cancer. Maybe if I had not been stubborn and had my normally scheduled colonoscopy, I may not have to go through a colon/bladder surgery and the following chemo treatments. But history can not be reversed or turned around. Maybe it was meant to be as a message to pay attention to your body and treat it well by get things checked when the doctors tell you. Who knows.

Now, after a few months going through the chemo infusions and the sleepless night in my recliner, I still feel I escaped the worse cancer had instore for me if I had not acted quickly, and did not get some great medical caregivers.

Thursday evening at a 'Boy's Night' gathering of retired firefighters, I sat next to a firefighter who went through pure hell with his cancer ordeal. His was related to the job and had to fight to get it recognized as a Workman's Comp case. Then, several surgeries, radiation and chemo treatments, more surgeries and excruciating pain, along with many months in the hospital. As the night ended and our discussions ended, I felt I had been blessed to not even come close to what he endured. As I have said many times, "There is always someone who has it worse than you". And he definitely did.

My side-effect inconveniences I experienced were exactly that, inconveniences. But as the title reads, 'It is NOT over yet'. I still have blood tests and Cat-Scans to go through to make sure nothing was missed and the cancer cells did not move somewhere else to do their dirty work. And if they did, well, we'll deal with that like I did before. There is not 'quitting' when dealing with cancer. You just find another way to defeat it, or slow it down, or remove it.

Until the tests are completed, I do what I always did, enjoy my family, travel and restore vintage cars. And even if the tests are not what I wanted to hear, I will continue to do what I like in life as long as possible.

Next week, Nancy and I along with our youngest grandson are going camping for a week in a cooler place in Arizona. We will be gone over the 4th of July for the tall pines of northeastern Arizona at nearly 8,000 feet, so I will not be posting a blog next Sunday, but relaxing and hanging out with friends and family.

So until the next blog, take care, stay safe and don't be crazy with fireworks. HAPPY 4th everyone!