Imabmwnut

Hey folks. My name is Layton and I've been watching and doing a little posting on here for a bit now. Last October I had a Leiomayosarcoma removed from my colon. This type of cancer is very rare and very aggressive. I also had a small spot on the upper lobe of my left lung. I was referred to MD Anderson in Houston. 3 weeks ago we did a lung biopsy and it and the 5 lymph nodes were positive for Adenocarcinoma. Lung Cancer. The "Good news" it isn't the Leiomayosarcoma. We will return to Houston on the 8th of July to see a radiologist and an oncologist. I'm 22 days from being eligible to retire. I'm pretty close to having my house paid for. During all of the testing I found out that other than the tumor I'm in good health. So that is a plus as far as the chemo and radiation goes. My wife and I rode the Katy trail in May and we just bought new mountain bikes. I'm not looking for sympathy. Just a little good vibes,prayers,and support. I'm kinda lost and don't quite know what to do with myself. Thank you if you took the time to read this. Layton.

GerryinHouston

One day at a time, one step at a time. Get rid of these tumors. Retire. Look around. Ride your bike. Look around some more. Things will start falling into place.

Get well first!

PS: I live in Houston. Drop me a PM if you'd like a change of scenery, even to go out for a cup of coffee. You need 50 posts to send PMs but you are nearly there.

BluesDawg

Cancer sucks. I know this all too well. I thought of the treatments as being like climbing a hill. Just keep plugging away and eventually you're over the top and enjoying the downhill.

JanMM

A few good vibes heading your way from the Midwest. Hang in there. Ride when you can.

GeneO 

Good Luck! Know thst well crap feeling too well. I had cancer 12 years ago and afterwards got back into biking after a long hiatus. I only had surgery and radiation but the latter was tough because it was in my throat. But now I am commuting over 30 mi round trip and doing longer weekend rides. Hope you have equal success and a quick recovery.

Best wishes

h2oxtc

Best wishes for an effective treatment!

jimincalif

Thoughts, prayers, vibes coming your way.

freedomrider1

Prayers and i am sure no one on fifty plus will mind anytime you want to post about your illness and just vent.

sevenmag

Everyone at the Mag Outpost is sending you all the good vibes and well wishes we have for successful treatment, and an a long and enjoyable retirement.

If it helps to know, my dad and his next door neighbor went through a very similar situation to yours. They both fished together for years after retirement. It was almost comical for a long time. I'd call home and ask where Dad was, the answer was almost always the same.

RonH

I'm sure it all sounds scary but keep a positive attitude, do what the docs tell you, and ride your bike.
When you're feeling down, read my signature.

Altair 4

Keep a positive attitude. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way. We're dealing with a cancer situation in our immediate family as well. Hope things go well for you.

jppe

Hang in there Layton. It sounds like you have a great medical staff on your team so that's great. Just keep focusing on the future.

Steve B.

Pulling for you Layton.

I dealt with early onset Chronic Leukemia spring of 2015, but the illness and treatments played with my head for 2 years. I got some riding done, but way off my usual yearly. Modern medicine is just that and there are better treatments for most everything now, and getting better. Find and believe in your doctors and know that you can survive.

I'm back at swimming these past 8 mos. as well as riding this year better then the past 10 and it's all my attitude that I'm in a sort of remission and need to make use of the time. And feeling great. It can happen.

One thing I learned while undergoing my monthly treatments was that EVERYTHING takes a back seat to that. Work and riding. I was trying to stay "normal" and get in some mt. and road riding and with one stupid fall, cracked a kneecap 2 days before treatment#3 of 6. My Doc kind of yelled at me and said "you end up in the hospital and you get to reset the clock and start all over again, you want that ." It put things in perspective.

zonatandem

Souse and I are both cancer survivors.
She's had breast cancer, carcinoma on the face, leg and back.
I had prostate cancer.
At ages 83/81 we still ride tandem several times a week, plus I get out another several days a week on my single bike.
Hang in there . . . grown' old is not for sissies!

BluesDawg

Kind of depends on the particular type of cancer and the treatment plan. I told my doctors during my treatments that I intended to ride my age in miles on my 53rd birthday which came after my intensive chemotherapy and a few weeks into my radiation treatments for my throat cancer. A few weeks later the pain was so intense and I was so weak from weight loss that I probably couldn't have done the ride, but with my Dr.'s concerned blessings, collaboration with my nutritionist, support from my family and friends and hard headed determination on my part, I rode a moderately hilly 54 miles (one to grow on).

SammyJ 

Prays and good vibes headed your way!

Biker395 

I've not had cancer (yet), but my wife did. I did all the research, planning, and support.

A great resource for information and support for virtually all kinds of cancer:

www.acor.org

Check it out and join an email list.

SA_Brak

That sucks, here's to a speedy recovery! Best wishes.

icyclist 

Best of luck to you, Layton. That's a tough diagnosis.

Look into the drug Tarceva. It works for some people who have a particular genetic make-up, known as the EGFR mutation, of their lung cancer. Non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR is a genetically distinct form of lung cancer. It's usually found when tested for in patients who have never smoked, patients with adenocarcinoma, people of Asian origin and females - but not always. That was the case with my wife, who had three of the four attributes.

In fact, make sure you're tested for your specific type of cancer. There are new drugs and treatments all the time. When you know all about your cancer, research (and ask about) what treatments are available. In other words, be prepared to be an advocate for yourself.

One more thing. Always ask your wife or a friend to accompany you to each and every meeting with your doctors. Ask them to take notes or to record the session. A friend would be best. Why? You and perhaps your wife are not going to hear what your doctor tells you the same way someone else will. Your thinking is going to possibly be clouded for a while and you may not remember exactly what a doctor tells you. It's best to have someone else to also make note of what's said by the people guiding your treatment.

VNA

Imabmwnut: Wishing you the very best--stay positive!
Health is everything!

Steve B.

Really, really good advice.

Its easy to get wrapped up in the emotional aspect of the disease and diagnosis and not comprehend what the doctor is telling you. I know this well. Having somebody who can listen with less emotional involvement is really helpful as you can ask afterwards, questions you wish you had asked when you were sitting there in the doctors office.

As well, do not trust some of what you read on the internet. It's often times dated material and you have no way to verify the accuracy. Once you find a good and trusting doctor ask then where to find additional information. They will know (or should know) whats current and applicable.

And thoughts are with you.

doctor j

Layton, we will offer up prayers for you. Prior to my retirement, I rode quite a few road miles in NWA. It's a beautiful place. My wife is a cancer survivor for a little over 5 years, no problems. I just met a new cycling friend who goes to MD Anderson once every three weeks for chemo. We've ridden together three times so far. He's a good cyclist and is doing well.

Imabmwnut

Thank you all for your warm replies. I was having some anxiety problems Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday and today were better.gonna skydive and ride the bicycles this weekend. Thanks again.

Cougrrcj

'Positive Waves', Baby!



Yeah, what can I say -- I'm an oddball...

Oh, and a cancer survivor!!



.

GeneO 

That's the ticket!