That scary word, Cancer...

[Brandy]

I have said before that one of my younger brothers always had painful kidney stones. he finally stopped swilling down Pepsi and they disappeared. great to hear that you got ahead of it KD. Be well.

 

[Glenwood]

Good to hear you were proactive and caught it early. Finding the right Dr is a bigger challenge sometimes. We have a pretty good health care system as far as our high taxes pay for it, but the doc's are overwhelmed and often do not accept new patients. Finding a doc that cares enough to get more deeply involved or is knowledgeable enough to point you to the right specialist is difficult here. It seems the better doc's go south where they can make more money. I had a good doc that once and then he retired. It's been a roller-coaster ever since, so I kind of just gave up on it.

We had a friend that passed away from cancer at 41. She was seemingly healthy, a cop, a runner, did not smoke and drank conservatively even though she was Irish. She tended to take on a lot of stress mostly from family issues though. One day, she started having digestive problems and a terrible pain in her back. For two years, it progressed that she could barely eat and could only drink hot lemon water without vomiting. She saw many doctors and had many tests but found nothing until she had a MRI. It was too late by then. She had a rare form of stomach cancer that usually only affect Japanese men. So sad.

Like Kern says, if you don't feel right, get checked out and keep pushing until you're satisfied with the diagnosis.

 

[747mopar]

Glad to hear this KernDog! I hope you are with us for a long time to come! Prayers sent your way for a full recovery!

I have been seeing my doc for a non-descript vague discomfort in my right side gut. I've seen him twice and twice he said don’t worry. I still worry though. The doc is probably following guidelines of the health insurance industry for when to send me for an MRI, but I wished that he sent me anyway. It's been going on for almost a year now.

I'd find someone who will get it done now!! I fought with back problems for years, wasn't until I went to a specialist and insisted on an MRI that I finally had my answer. Been better ever since just because I know exactly what's wrong and how to deal with it.

 

[Bladecutter]

I don't want to hijack anyones threads here on this subject but I felt compelled to start one myself.
As men, we often play tough and ignore signs that something is wrong with us. We sometimes just deal with pain and chalk it up to "getting older".
I'm sure that many of you have heard that early detection gives us the best chance of survival.
Maybe some of you guys are living with a condition that you would rather not discuss on a worldwide forum. I understand that as I rarely post personal stuff online.
I've had family members get sick and die and I have never posted a single word about it. Not because I didn't care....it was because I just didn't feel right to burden others with my own personal problems.
In April of this year I had a persistent knot in my stomach that had me worried. I was off work longer than usual due to the wet winter and I had anxiety about being off of work so long. I went to the doctor and was examined. Nothing obvious was found but the Doc ordered a Cat scan. The scan showed nothing in my stomach but they did find a cyst in a kidney. I had several treatment options and explored them all. I researched my condition and have found that most kidney issues like mine are found by accident. I've been told that once actual symptoms show themselves, it is often too late to save the kidney.
Also, research shows that MOST men over 50 have kidney cysts and most are fatty, non cancerous types.
I do not smoke or use illegal drugs. I rarely drink booze. I am in decent shape and get plenty of exercise from working in construction. My family all smoked, some drank, others used drugs. I am by far the one living the healthiest life.
I took this early warning as a gift from God. Without it, things could have gotten worse without any warning.
I had surgery on Monday and was home yesterday before noon. They used a 6 arm surgical robot and a team of assistants. The Doc didn't even touch me, the robot arms did it all. 4 small holes for the surgery, one for drainage. Within 6 hours of surgery, I was walking around the hospital. Within 24 I was home. I have abdominal soreness comparable to what you get from a heavy workout or a few punches to the gut. THis is nothing compared to pain I've had when the nerves in my back flare up.
The procedure involved removal of the mass and closing up the gap. I got results today: The cyst was 2.7 X 2.7 CM and was cancerous but the margians are clear/negative. They try to cut beyond the ugly to healthy tissue to be sure they get all the cyst out, the healthy area is called the "margian".
In short, my point is THIS:
If you feel something odd, if something seems different, get it checked! I was scared as all hell until waking up in the recovery room. Since early May I've had a roller coaster of scary thoughts about my future. Mine was a slow growth so I was not in any immediate danger but this isn't always the case.
Do not think that ignoring potentially serious health problems is a wise move.
Because of early detection, my chances of a long life are good. Yours can be too.

Glad You're OK Man!

 

[Kern Dog]

WOW Greg! I am happy to hear all is well. You HAVE to give up the Big Gulps now Bro. I was making kidney stones on a regular basis until I stopped drinking sodas of any kind. The stones stopped when I stopped drinking that nasty ****. Rest well my friend.

I had wondered for years if the soda input had any chance of health problems. The Doctors that I asked could not confirm what caused this. I asked about soda and they did say that while it is not good for you, it is also not likely to be the cause. Regardless, I have dramatically reduced my consumption. I used to get one every morning and every afternoon on the way home from work. Now it is maybe 2 a week total. I increased my water, juice and gatorade intake to fill the gap. Lucky for me, I have never had a kidney stone. All my bloodwork shows my readings in the middle of the acceptable range. I have been fortunate.

 

[coloradodave]

Greg,
You might want to cut out the Gatorade. Tons of sugar, which is an attraction for cancer cells. If you need additional electrolytes, try a packet of "Emergen-C" electrolyte powder mixed into water. Glad you got taken care of...

 

[Cranky]

I too quit drinking sodas many years ago but will have one from time to time. A 12 pack of Barq's will last me nearly 2 months. Stress is a big factor in one's health but man, that's so hard to eliminate. Bad enough being single and alone but imo, marriage can cause even more then throw in kids (step kids too) then the job, traffic etc and it can really pile on. Ask me how I know....well, please don't. I'm trying to get past it all. Man, I'm glad you caught this stuff early and wish you all the best!

 

[Sonny Black]

glad you are ok!
Prayers,

Sonny

 

[ws23jrt]

Great to hear you found a problem and got it attended to as soon as you did.

I'm in that age group (over 50) that really needs to pay attention to the changes we constantly hear are coming with age.---This or that hurts --and all old folks talk about it.
Two things I felt some years back were.

1- Fear about what a pain can be about. (is it important/real?) This can cause anxiety that just aggravates one's wellbeing. (an independent sort like me tends to self-diagnose.)
2- Fear of maybe being a silly pest (hypochondriac) in the doctor's office.

I got past those two questions 10 years ago when I accepted that the process of aging is not all about cancers and most other diseases that bring us down early. It is more so about giving in to the reality of fixable maladies that can --and will- take us early if we ignore/let them.

The main reason we tend to live longer these days is that we learned how to fix things that can kill us early. Living strong and sound into the nineties is what our genetics laid out for us.

 

[Kern Dog]

My Mother had a recurring stomach problem that was around most of her life. I don't know if it was am acid reflux issue or whatever. She never told me the specifics. When I went to the Doc in mid April about my stomach, I thought I could have an ulcer or something. After getting back to work, the stomach trouble disappeared. Looking back, I was just nervous about being off work too long.
I just feel very fortunate that this one thing was enough for the Doctor to order the CT scan. Without it, even at a slow growth, this could have been much worse.
All of this because of an unrelated issue. I find that amazing.

 

[Dibbons]

I just read a story about finding the largest T-Rex ever in South Dakota, just because the anthropologist got bored waiting around because of a flat tire in the middle of nowhere. Funny how unrelated things make connections.

 

[ws23jrt]

My dad worked as a med.tec. in a hospital. He told me once to never go to a doctor if nothing is wrong. I now know that he was wrong. Screening today is leaps ahead of years ago.

 

[Riverdawg]

Yeah I quit the soda too probably 10-12 years ago. I had quit fountain soda's years before that even, they seems to do a number on my stomach. I drank Mountain Dew and Coke mostly and Mellow Yellow for a long time. It's very rare when I have any know, sometimes at the casino about an hour before I leave for some caffeine before driving home early in the morning lol.

 

[Kern Dog]

I was born in 1965, Dad was a beer drinker but I never went that way. I recall Gatorade gaining in popularity in the 70s as I grew up. I had my first Mountain Dew in the late 70s and LOVED it!
When 7-11 stores limited their fountain drink size to 32 ounces, I recall thinking..."This is HUGE". I'd often buy one and share it with a friend. Over time it grew to 44 oz then 64 oz....A few years back they scaled them back a bit, maybe due to Gov't involvement?
I always filled my cups to the top with ice. The colder the drink, the better. I also figured that it meant getting LESS of the soda since I was buying a 44 or 64 ounce cup.
Working construction, I was active enough to avoid packing on any serious weight. I rarely got over 200 unless I was off work for a few months. I recall starting a thread years ago asking "How long can I get away with eating this way?" I have read about others that nearing 50 years old, they had to cut out salt or sugars, take medication for cholesterol or some other thing. Maybe I justified my poor diet with the fact that I didn't smoke or use drugs.

 

[kowalski]

I work in a bottling plant. The sodas are mostly very acidic. Colas generally have phosphoric acid as a main ingred (rust remover!). They leach the calcium from your teeth, etc. That's where the stones come from. You should see how quick it eats up our concrete floors (coated or not..it eats up the coatings too). I won't touch the stuff beyond QC taste sensorys, followed by an immediate water rinse....my 2 cents.

 

[steve from staten island]

There was a time when you ordered a coke you got a smaller glass or bottle. Now you can get enough for two people and my opinion its no accident that this is being pushed on the public. If i ever drank one of these super sizes id be pissing all day LOL. Spill some on your car and see what it does to the paint.

 

[Budnicks]

Your body is a temple, your temple, don't abuse it,
with drugs or soda or tobacco etc., some people always use excuses
BUT: it's only you & you alone, you have to watch what you put in it,
anything in moderation, usually doesn't have the bad effects...

Some people are more compulsive that others & overdo everything
or even just one thing, sooner or later it'll kill you or try to...

Glad you caught it early...

I hope for a full & speedy recovery...
Good luck

 

[1967coronet]

kern, glad to hear you got checked out & had a good out come.

 

[Kern Dog]

One of the hardest things now is trying to limit myself. Docs say to lift no more than 15 lbs for another 3 weeks. Holy smokes...Imagine driving a fun car in commute traffic when all you want to do is haul ***!
It was first said that I'd have to have CT scans every six months to track progress but the Surgeon was confident enough to move that to once annually for 3 years.
Wooooooo !!!!

 

[Kern Dog]

So......
Last night at a car club meeting, a guy was there that had not heard that I had surgery. After I told him he went on talking about how his Dad had a kidney removed and died a short time later from cancer related stuff, an uncle had similar problems and died relatively young. I'm glad I ran into this guy NOW instead of before the surgery. I was scared enough without hearing bad stories like that!