Not long for this world

[Pigpen]

I ordered my outer banks in February 22. I received it in August of the same year. Shortly after, I developed severe back pain due to old injuries (cracked vertebrae ) spinal stenosis, and arthritis. (I’m 67 y.o.) So I got out of the house less and less, eventually becoming homebound and having to sleep in a recliner. I was and am taking 140 10 mg. Oxycodone a month, and can still only walk about twenty feet before I have to sit. Due to the drug use, I couldn’t drive my new Bronco Sport. So now, almost a year later, it has less than a thousand miles.

In late June, after a severe bout of coughing, I began to cough up blood. Took an ambulance to the E.R. The diagnosis was pneumonia, and after a round of antibiotics and a couple of cat scans and x-rays, I was discharged. A few days later, I was informed that there was something going on in my right lung. A biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma, Cancer. It was also in my lymph nodes. Inoperable. I haven’t seen an oncologist yet, so I don’t yet know how long I have. Chemo and or radiation will probably be suggested. But I’ve heard the horror stories about people that go through these procedures. My girlfriend’s father took the treatments, and after a couple of years of misery, died anyway. My brother in law’s sister had the same miserable experience.

So I think I’ll just forego any treatment, and when it gets bad, either go into hospice or check myself out. So my Bronco Sport is the last car I’ll ever own. I regret that I never got to drive it more and appreciate it for the fine vehicle it is. I smoked 1-2 packs a day from the age of sixteen until about four years ago. I quit by using Chantix. I was a hard core smoker. If I quit, anyone can. So this message is a warning, and an encouragement to all of my fellow Bronco Sport owners to quit. If you haven’t started, don’t. Encourage your friends and loved ones to quit. I thought I was invulnerable, and would live to be an old man, like my recently deceased father. I was wrong.

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[Mark S.]

Two brothers and my Dad suffered the same fate. Smoking is indeed a killer. I hope you can find the peace, grace, and energy to enjoy the time you have left. Good luck, brother, see you on the far bank of the river.

 

[IdahoDirtFarmer]

I'm sorry you're going through that. Your decisions are your own to make obviously, but if I may, I'd just like to offer one piece of advice.

Don't give up so soon. I've been full time caretaker for three family members till they passed. My Grandma battled ovarian cancer for eight years. Chemo never made her sick, just a little tired. She said the same things you have when she was first diagnosed. Her Brother in law went through chemo and was sicker than a dog so she was hesitant to even try. I got eight more years to spend with my Grandma before the chemo stopped working and she went quickly in hospice. I am incredibly thankful for those years that she got that would not have happened had she decided against treatment. Every person is different when it comes to chemo effects. Don't give up just yet. Try a round of chemo. See how it effects you, then make an informed decision at that point. You can always quit after you try, but it's damn hard to take back that decision to refuse treatment after the fact.

I feel for ya going through this. I lost my mom to lung cancer September of '22. She smoked for 54 years and passed just after her 68th birthday. She had an adverse allergic reaction sedatives in the chemo and passed quickly in a couple days. I wish it would've worked as well as my Grandma and I could have kept her around for a few more years.

My point is, the treatment may work, and it may not, but the outcome of giving up is already known. Fight it. Don't let some bullshit thing as small as a damn cell inside you whip your ass that easy.

If you ever want to talk or just need some advice, feel free to message me and I'll give ya my number.

 

[Bamsi]

I ordered my outer banks in February 22. I received it in August of the same year. Shortly after, I developed severe back pain due to old injuries (cracked vertebrae ) spinal stenosis, and arthritis. (I’m 67 y.o.) So I got out of the house less and less, eventually becoming homebound and having to sleep in a recliner. I was and am taking 140 10 mg. Oxycodone a month, and can still only walk about twenty feet before I have to sit. Due to the drug use, I couldn’t drive my new Bronco Sport. So now, almost a year later, it has less than a thousand miles.
In late June, after a severe bout of coughing, I began to cough up blood. Took an ambulance to the E.R. The diagnosis was pneumonia, and after a round of antibiotics and a couple of cat scans and x-rays, I was discharged. A few days later, I was informed that there was something going on in my right lung. A biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma, Cancer. It was also in my lymph nodes. Inoperable. I haven’t seen an oncologist yet, so I don’t yet know how long I have. Chemo and or radiation will probably be suggested. But I’ve heard the horror stories about people that go through these procedures. My girlfriend’s father took the treatments, and after a couple of years of misery, died anyway. My brother in law’s sister had the same miserable experience.
So I think I’ll just forego any treatment, and when it gets bad, either go into hospice or check myself out. So my Bronco Sport is the last car I’ll ever own. I regret that I never got to drive it more and appreciate it for the fine vehicle it is. I smoked 1-2 packs a day from the age of sixteen until about four years ago. I quit by using Chantix. I was a hard core smoker. If I quit, anyone can. So this message is a warning, and an encouragement to all of my fellow Bronco Sport owners to quit. If you haven’t started, don’t. Encourage your friends and loved ones to quit. I thought I was invulnerable, and would live to be an old man, like my recently deceased father. I was wrong.

It is hard for me as a physician, to read your story. Every day I tell at least 3 persons to quit smoking. The most common answered I get: "at the end something will kill me anyways!". People does not understand what people with cancer have to go through, until too late. I hope your history make at least one of the members of this forum to quit smoking! Take care Pigpen.

 

[PugDad]

Peace and love to you. Stay strong .

 

[Bill G]

sorry to hear your news; lost my mom to it some years back (can hit any one, she didn’t smoke). I can’t put myself in your shoes or meaningful advice but, as Shane said, give treatment a shot and see what happens before giving up.
Don’t know your beliefs, Pigpen, but will keep you in my thoughts/prayers and wish you peace and grace on this road.

 

[Pigpen]

sorry to hear your news; lost my mom to it some years back (can hit any one, she didn’t smoke). I can’t put myself in your shoes or meaningful advice but, as Shane said, give treatment a shot and see what happens before giving up.
Don’t know your beliefs, Pigpen, but will keep you in my thoughts/prayers and wish you peace and grace on this road.

Thank you for your prayers. Much appreciated. Thanks to all. It’s a tough nut to crack.

 

[Pigpen]

It is hard for me as a physician, to read your story. Every day I tell at least 3 persons to quit smoking. The most common answered I get: "at the end something will kill me anyways!". People does not understand what people with cancer have to go through, until too late. I hope your history make at least one of the members of this forum to quit smoking! Take care Pigpen.

I said similar things in my younger days. I remember saying, “You have to die from something.” But there are easier ways to go than this. My words have come back to haunt me..

 

[BourbonRunner]

Pigpen-

I recently had a big scare with the big C as well. And I have similar thoughts about chemo and other treatments. I decided that if I was positive I was going full bore into alternatives instead of chemo/radiation/surgery.

If medical cannabis is available where you are, Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) has some incredible success with cancer.

No matter what decision you make and what direction you head, Godspeed.

 

[JAD67428]

I quit smoking some 5 or 6 years ago, I have back problems also on Fentanyl Patch and Oxycodone tabs. No cancer or anything like that so far but we can’t read into the future, but you can bet that if I get it I’m fighting it like hell, don’t give up so soon pigpen try medical marijuana if necessary.
Take care and god speed pigpen.

 

[Pigpen]

I'm sorry you're going through that. Your decisions are your own to make obviously, but if I may, I'd just like to offer one piece of advice.

Don't give up so soon. I've been full time caretaker for three family members till they passed. My Grandma battled ovarian cancer for eight years. Chemo never made her sick, just a little tired. She said the same things you have when she was first diagnosed. Her Brother in law went through chemo and was sicker than a dog so she was hesitant to even try. I got eight more years to spend with my Grandma before the chemo stopped working and she went quickly in hospice. I am incredibly thankful for those years that she got that would not have happened had she decided against treatment. Every person is different when it comes to chemo effects. Don't give up just yet. Try a round of chemo. See how it effects you, then make an informed decision at that point. You can always quit after you try, but it's damn hard to take back that decision to refuse treatment after the fact.

I feel for ya going through this. I lost my mom to lung cancer September of '22. She smoked for 54 years and passed just after her 68th birthday. She had an adverse allergic reaction sedatives in the chemo and passed quickly in a couple days. I wish it would've worked as well as my Grandma and I could have kept her around for a few more years.

My point is, the treatment may work, and it may not, but the outcome of giving up is already known. Fight it. Don't let some bullshit thing as small as a damn cell inside you whip your ass that easy.

If you ever want to talk or just need some advice, feel free to message me and I'll give ya my number.

Thanks. If you’re a religious person, prayers are appreciated.

 

[IdahoDirtFarmer]

Thanks. If you’re a religious person, prayers are appreciated.

You got 'em. Keep me in mind if you ever just want to chat, vent, or want some advice from someone who's seen what your dealing with firsthand. My phone is always on. I'm a firm believer that a lot of fighting this crap is state of mind. Once people decide to quit, it's a downhill race. It is entirely possible to beat it. Never give up until there's absolutely nothing anyone can do. It's not fun dying from this shit. Fight it until something better takes ya down the road. The longer you can hold it off, the better chance ya got of something quicker taking you. Go down swinging.

 

[MJE]

I absolutely wish you all the best no matter how this progresses for you.

 

[PaulOinMA]

Sorry to read this. My thoughts and prayers.

Lost SIL in January 2022. Think it was metastasized cancer of unknown primary based on description. Went quickly. Only 57.

Doctors said they were stopping treatment. It wasn't working. Nothing worked. Cancer was everywhere. She has two to four weeks.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

@Pigpen , I am so sorry to hear this. I know we’ve only been on the road together for a short time but I’ve enjoyed the journey. My mother past away from breast cancer over 30 years ago at the young age of 72 as well. Prior to that, my father had a quintuple by bass but ended up living into his 90’s enjoying life. They both smoked for many years as most of those that age did. I still have many memories of that but never any hard feelings. It’s just the way it was. People complain about the smoke from Canada. Obviously, they never drove on a cross country trip with my parents. Kind of reminds you of a Cheach and Chong movie! It’s an awful thing, but it is what it is.

You take care my friend and Godspeed.

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