Posted 11/23/2016 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Snowboat,
Welcome to our "Band Of Brothers" gathered here ---
Our collective purpose --- to support one another --- to encourage one another --- to share first-hand treatment experiences --- to share a bit of insight or advice, when needed --- to walk as comrades through treatments --- and to share stories of hope, along the way.
I have also sought treatment at Mayo Clinic --- in my case, the one located in Rochester, Minnesota.
Your outreach idea for your work colleagues is excellent --- when I'm at a sporting event or eating at a restaurant or in a large public place, I sometimes look around and realize that there are BOUND TO BE other fellows who have prostate cancer, right at that very moment, and they don't yet know it.
In those large crowds of people, I sometimes think to myself, "Which fellow here in this crowd is NEXT in line to be diagnosed, out of the blue?"
I used to be one of those "fellows in the crowd" ... undiagnosed, and now I'm on the other side ... diagnosed. What were the signs? Why didn't I know?
I was diagnosed in my 40s --- I'm a school teacher --- it was the beginning of a brand new school year --- the news was unforeseen, after a lifetime of perfect health ... it seems like my story matches so many others ... I often hear the words ... "It was so unexpected ... I had been healthy my entire life!"
There were 800 students and staff in my school building, gathered together that year ... out of all of them, I was THE NEXT ONE IN LINE.
There had been others diagnosed with cancer BEFORE me at my school ... there have been others diagnosed with cancer AFTER me at my school.
In some regard, in all of these events, I took my place in line ... I am no longer the random "fellow in the crowd" anymore ...
My diagnosis was sudden ... advanced prostate cancer that had already infiltrated both of my lungs, by the time I was diagnosed. My treatments began immediately, as revealed by my treatment history shown below, and have continued ever since then ...
I've had some meaningful treatment successes along the way, for which I give thanks ... family, friends, and faith have been my greatest allies along the way.
Since my diagnosis, several of my close friends have also been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer --- friends I've known for decades --- friends from my hometown, one of my old college roommates, friends from my place of work, church friends, & friends from the community where I teach ... they're MY age ... they're MY friends ...
It's ironic that I have so many friends who now share in my diagnosis. I have a tight bond of friendship and BROTHERHOOD with each one of them now.
We support each other in incredible ways ... that's the power of friendship. As well, you'll find those bonds of friendship and support right here, each and every day, on this forum ...
My father is also a prostate cancer patient, right alongside me. Ironically, my father and I now have the same doctors who treat BOTH of us. My father, my health buddies, and I are all doing what we can to have those "one brother to another brother" conversations with others about the importance of being vigilant about their health.
One by one, as opportunities present themselves ... we have conversations with old high school classmates, old college roommates, work colleagues, male relatives, neighbors, community members ... these conversations happen at class reunions, sporting events, barber shops, coffee shops, community events, the grocery store, the post office ... wherever the opportunity presents itself.
We find ourselves where we are today ... we feel a brotherly obligation to share our stories ... in the hope that others will be helped in their own health goals by hearing our story.
It takes a while to summon the courage and then the conviction ... but somewhere along the way, it's important to "find your voice" and speak the words that could help someone else ...
From your post, Snowboat, I can tell that you are, indeed, finding YOUR voice ... your story will be heard ... your story will matter ... your story WILL make a difference ... to someone. Your post already impacted ME when I read it today ... I heard your words in a powerful way ... you found YOUR voice.
One of my best friends, a minister in the community where I teach, checked on me often after I was diagnosed. He finally asked me, "As your friend, what can I honestly DO for you?" I finally said, "Make sure you take care of YOUR health ... and get a physical."
Believe it or not ... a few months later ... my friend, the minister, received the same diagnosis that I did. His church is located right across the school from where I teach. For all the times he visited me in my classroom, the tables turned, and I now began visiting HIM at the church. Friends for decades ... we are now BATTLE BROTHERS, as well.
Together, we have taken our health diagnosis and shared it along the way with others ... and the minister and I have also formed bonds with all the STUDENTS in the school where I teach, who have a cancer diagnosis.
As my friend, the minister has asked permission to use pieces of my "story" in terms of treatments, continuing to teach each day, and continuing to "face forward" with people in the community who just received a cancer diagnosis.
In his role as a minister, he often counsels people facing critical illness ... I gave my blessing for him to use pieces of my "story" in the interest of reaching out to others ... and now HIS own medical "story" has been added to the mix in his outreach efforts.
The talks we've had together about life and faith and family and friends and "facing forward" and living life each day have turned into sermon topics for him over time. We're all in this together, you see ... and my friend has found HIS VOICE, just as you are finding yours, Snowboat.
Somewhere, in all of these friendships, and in the context of all these connections and conversations ... there is OUTREACH. I saw the message of OUTREACH in your post, Snowboat ...
You will find the impact of outreach right here on this website, each and every day ... members from every "corner of this country" ... members from all over the globe ... reaching out, sharing their story ... and new members joining in, often writing these words, "I've been reading your stories here for months ... I've been so thankful to read all of your stories ... I finally decided to join in and share my OWN story with all of you."
It doesn't happen overnight ... it's a process ... it takes time ... but we all have a voice inside of us that wants to help "another brother somewhere along the way" ...
As comrades united in this battle, the sharing of our stories continues ... your story has ALREADY reached many readers, Snowboat !
Your idea about sharing your story at your place of work is EXACTLY THAT ... outreach.
To be honest, among those 1,500 work colleagues of yours ... some of them likely have prostate cancer right now. Haunting to think about, isn't it ?
It's hard to imagine ... it's sobering to fathom ... it's fellows that you KNOW ... it's people that you CARE about ... comrades of YOURS at the workplace ... and ONE OF THEM might need to hear your story right now ...
I want to wish you the best, looking ahead, Snowboat ...
Keep shining the light, keep reaching out, keep sharing your story ...
"Cyclone Team Fan" ~ Iowa State University