How has PCa journey changed you?

Pca has made me younger...healthier...wiser...as I age....I have zero regrets on the diagnosis...treatment choices and all the rest of the woes me toes...I am in all ways the "luckiest man alive"...good topic...I trust my post may kill the thread in its tracks...I have that propensity...as y'all know...not to worry...spells are made to be broken...not corrected with another spell dressed as...well...dressed as another spell...

PC turned me into a poet and as Fiddle noted, made me more aware of being in the moment.

GoBucks,

From my perspective, you absolutely nailed it! The only thing I would add is that, for me at least, my relationship with my wife is better than ever. It is a real joy to spend time with her.

Been almost a year since I last posted. Have my yearly checkup on Wednesday so started thinking about it again and checked back here and saw this thread.

I have been very lucky so far, but cancer has definitely changed me in one area. It definitely has relaxed my grip on my wallet. If there is money left when I die, it is poor planning on my part.

If I had to describe what’s changed in me in one sentence, I’d say “I really don’t give a crap.”

I no longer stress about stuff that won’t matter in a week, or a month, or a year.
I care way less about how much money I spend.
Basically I just don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t agonize over anything I can’t control.

I also would never have retired had I not had PCa, or another serious illness. I’d have been not only working, but with my foot all the way down on the gas.

But no more. I just want to relax and enjoy myself.

InTheShop said...
PC turned me into a poet and as Fiddle noted, made me more aware of being in the moment.

you've always been a poet. PC just helped you know it

Initially it made me way more anxious about my health. I kept waiting for the next cancer or a recurrence which is no way to live. I am now (nearly 3 years post surgery) gaining some insight that worry about my health is probably the biggest threat to my health. I still worry but there seems to be a switch happening in which I am worrying less (I hope). I try to keep good care of myself and that is really all that I have control of.

I agree that work is less important. But I still do enjoy my work. Miss my wife a lot, having lost her to cancer, but I'm lucky to have great kids and a wonderful girlfriend.

Going from an obviously scary G10 (5+5) biopsy to a comfortable place of smooth sailing (at least for now) has taught me that the biggest gun in the arsenal in the war on PCa is early detection. And no doubt this is true for many other diseases. Next biggest gun: good docs.

Perhaps our outlook/philosophy is tied to our personalities, but I refuse to worry about what may happen. Worry (not to be confused with vigilance) serves no good purpose. In retirement I have time to pursue my interests (which include playing chamber music with friends and learning more about PCa), and try to help newbies get over their diagnosis shock.

Djin

Money, same here. I'd never been to an NBA or NFL game, but now I've been to several. Hadn't seen my college team play since I was in college, but I went to see them too.

From a daughters point of view - Dad's PCA has changed me in many ways - earlier life for me was monday to friday evening was for meant for work, friday night and saturday was meant for my "me time" - usually spent on binge watching various tv shows on netflix or reading a book or by drinking wine and watching chick flicks till wee hours of the morning - saturday day time was spent sleeping or lazying around - night was reserved for spending time with the husband/friends. Sunday evenings was meant for family - split between husband's family and my family. Now, focus on work has lowered and focus on eating healthy/going to the gym/for a walk has become a part of my weekly routine. Weekends have also become different - i tend to sleep in early on friday nights - instead of binge watching seasons i tend to watch two hour movies - have shifted from griping, thought provoking, cant keep them down novels to light, predictable, easy to let go off books- now i make it a point to visit my parents every saturday and spend time with husbands family every sunday. Instead of lone trips with hubby or friends i try to plan more trips with family. Also turn towards GOD more than earlier. I am spending less on materialistic things clothes/makeup/shoes etc and more on travel with family and also saving up more in case of need for future treatments. It has made me focus on things which are truly important to me (health, family time and wealth management) rather than running a rat race.

DJBearGuy said...
Money, same here. I'd never been to an NBA or NFL game, but now I've been to several. Hadn't seen my college team play since I was in college, but I went to see them too.

went to my first stones concert for my 60th birthday