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2008.8.15
12 years later
 For the first time in her life, Eva could choose what car she wanted to have. Before our choices were always, what car do we need and what is most economic and what car I did not needed anymore and she got to drive. Since we live now in a place with maximal 10 days of rain per year and sunshine year round, I think she picked the perfect car.
(even if it is 10 years old and I am a full time mechanic for her now...)
Joe |
To the day, 12 years ago, I was wheeled into surgery. By that time no one was sure about the type of cancer I was facing as previous biopsy had not shed any light on that.
Since I'm writing this text now, it's safe to assume, that I was very lucky this particular day.
For once I found dedicated surgeons, physicians and oncologists as well as that tiny bit of luck who need to have in order that everything goes as well as possible.
Although I have been diagnosed with thymoma, stage 4A, which indicates already an advanced stage of the disease I have been very lucky so far, that the cancer never returned.
The combination of surgery and radiation had been successful in removing the cancer from my body and I hope it stays that way for a long, long time.
One year ago, after moving back to Europe and adjusting to the life on a small spanish island, I noticed that I had more and more problems walking stairs in the evening. Although I was well rested and it wasn't hot anymore it seemed that these stairs at a local mall and entertainment center were very exhausting for me. I would have to pause a couple times on my way up, while other people passed by.
I took this as a sign to go ahead and do something about my physical fitness.
I have never ever been a person interested in sports, other than maybe a bit of swimming and biking in the summer time and doing some gardening. As a young adult I was afflicted by asthma and that alone kept me from running to much.
So one year ago I started going to the local fitnesscenter a couple times a week. I tried spinning, as well as working with weights and of course biking as well as the treadmill, crosstrainer ..........
Over the time I found out what works for me and what helps me to improve my level of fitness.
I feel stronger now and especially good about myself after a workout session.
Of course there were times when I had to encourage myself and overcome my own laziness but most of the time I managed just fine.
Meanwhile I'm so used to go to the studio, that I get cranky when I miss out on the training for a prolonged time.
The other day I managed to walk on the treadmill for about 30 minutes and a little more than 2 miles, followed by 10 minutes of biking and a bit of stretching etc.
Now, if you're still wondering why I write at lenghts about this stuff, let me tell you I want to encourage each and everyone of you to go out and improve a little bit your physical fitness.
Set aside the usual excuses for not doing anything and just try it for a couple of months. See if it makes a difference in your life and the way you feel about yourself.
Don't be embarrassed or intimitated by people who seem to be more athletic than you. They all had to start somewhere.
I wish you all a very happy, healthy and successfull time. Drop me once in a while a line and let me as well as others know how you're doing. It's always great to receive some feedback from fellow survivors.
eVa
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2007.8.15
11 years later
11 years to the day, I had my surgery and I'm happy to let you know,
that I'm still fine.
One month ago, I received an e-mail from Brigitte, a fellow thymoma survivor,
from Germany.
I was shocked, when I read her message.
During one of her annual screens another cancer had been detected.
She had been diagnosed with lung cancer, Adenocarcinoma stage 3A. Her
oncologists told her, that this
cancer is a result of her previous radiation therapy, which she received
in order to cure the thymoma.
Brigitte received her radiation therapy during the same time I received
mine and it was for both of us
a time, when the doctors in Germany didn't have a lot of knowledge nor
first hand experinece with this
type of cancer.
Back in 1996 was also a time when the internet, in Germany, wasn't widespread.
I still remember that I received a small booklet with very little information;
basically it sounded
like a walk in the park after the invasive surgery.
Did I know, what I was geting myself into it? I have to say NO. Of course
not. The given information
was sparse and there was no discussion of any longterm side effects, risks
etc.
With no advanced preparation I had no idea what to expect. We were both
surprised by the side effects
during the treatment (read here: http://thymoma.de/more.htm ) and thereafter.
Nevertheless, today, 11 years later I'm still alive and "kicking"
and I'm thankful for the treatment,
medication and last but not least the support I received.
When I received my radiation treatment, I wasn't worried, that I might
be at risk to develop a second
cancer due to the cancer treatment.
Today, things have changed. The information, accessable through the internet,
has patients made aware
of the risks they are taking by following the standard cancer treatment.
You have a chance, that Brigitte and I and numerous other people, who
received their treatments a
decade ago, never had.
Get informed BEFORE you agree to any treatment. After all it's your life
and you have to live with the
consequences.
Everything in life comes with a price tag. Your survival of cancer or
the prolonging of your life with
certain agressive treatments does the same. It's a gift with strings attached
to it.
Although Brigitte is in a very tough situation right now, I'm sure she
appreciates the 11 years she
had after her first cancer had been treated. She had the chance to see
her kids grow up and with the
progress the medicine has made during these last decade she will have
a chance to be a survivor once
more.
Please keep your fingers crossed for her speedy recovery.
Have a nice day and appreciate life.
eVa
2007.3.10
My 10th birthday
Over ten years ago I have been diagnosed with an invasive thymoma, stage
4A. I'm very happy to tell you that I'm cured since 5 years and that I
never had to face a recurrence.
I think I'm especially lucky because this is not the rule. Maybe it
was the mixture of a skilled surgeon, an exceptionally caring husband,
good nutritions, supplements and minerals, 10 weeks in a health care facility
where I received extraordinary good care like detoxication, visualisation,
mistel therapy for several years as well as saying good-bye to bad friendships
and living a quiet life with less stress.
These days, I'm in my mid-fourties now, I deal wih everything in my life
on a day to day basis. My main problem is that I get nervous very fast
and can't think straight therefor.
Sometimes I lose track of time and have no idea what had been going on
in the meantime. My ability to concentrate or to perform simple tasks
are on some days very low so that I just sit tight and do nothing challenging
at all BUT on other days I'm on top of everything. I feel great, have
energy and if there is a problem I know that I will find a way to deal
with it.
I don't know which aspects of my little problems would have occured no
matter what BUT I do know that prior to the cancer I had very strong nerves,
I was physically fit and I had a very demanding and challenging job which
required mental fitness. So I know that I had all the abilities and on
good days I enjoy them tremendously. Then it's like "watch out, here
I come". eVa . . . see 10_years_thymoma_de
2006.1.9
I'm battling a strange cough since over 3 weeks and during the
holidays it has been really bad. I had to throw up and no cough
medication would help. We have thought a lot of going to the emergency
room and asking for help but we didn't go.
We had been back to germany for 2 weeks in September/October ( the
first time after 2 years) and while Joe spend his time at the dentists
office and got his teeth fixed I went from one doctor to another and
got checked out. I was worried that something major was wrong as I
had similar symptoms during the time the cancer was detected.
Thank god it turned out everything was okay. The doctors said my pain
was realted to the damage from the radiation. Well, I have heard this
explanation for a lot of different symptoms but what's the heck as
long as it is not cancer........
Since nearly all my x-rays and especially the CT pictures have been
LOST in my german hospital I felt not up to endless explanation and
talk to an american doctor. I bet they would have put me through a lot
of tests with strange results. I tell you I have experience with this
situation and here in the US the doctors have to be extra careful
because they don't want to get sued. Here goes everyone really fast to
a lawyer if something seems to be wrong.
Anyway, we think we found the reason for my cough. We detected some
mold in our camper and when we started looking around we found even
more in hidden places. So since mold is a health hazard it might have
caused my problems.
Since we got ride of this stuff I'm making progress every day and we
hope that it continues this way.
 Because
of the surgery and the following radiation she has only a 1/3 of the normal
lungh capacity left. Also one vocal cord got paralized during the procedure
and the remaining one locks up some times what makes it very hard for
her to get air. The problem with that cough was, that the remaining vocal
cord gots overstresed with the repeated cough, so it locked up and choked
her. The lack of air results in a very flat hyperventilation and an "out
of air" panic attack. It took us several weeks of absoulute rest
and a diet of outmeal and herbal tea to get her back on track. Today,
January 9 she is much better but still verry weak. This was the worst
case since the operation 9 1/2 years ago.
Since these symptoms are hard to describe to a doctor, we made a video
clip to show to the emergency room doctor to get them an idea what we
were delaing with. Luckily we did not needed it so far, but I put it here
on the thymoma site just in case we ever need it. It is here
(2.7MB) and here 8.4MB. If your computer can
not playback these DIVX AVI files, you find the best decoder for all AVI
files here.
2004.4.10
The last several months had been good for me.
I was able to improve my physical strength by doing some moderate exercise.
I discovered the hula hoop for me and also , just recently, the jumping
rope. My most favorite by far is dancing away the night. I surprised myself
how much my stamina could increase when I'm having fun.
Being able to enjoy myself and having fun and therefor positive energy
has increased my sence of well being tremendously.
With Joe's help I achieved a very important thing for myself.
I learned to smile like I never did before in my life. I show my teeth,
laugh out loud until tears come to my eyes and I dazzle people with my
mesmerizing smile. It makes me look and feel like a very young and happy
person.
Being able to dance away the night is such a great feeling especially
since it took me years after the cancer to reach this level of physical
fitness.
I think because of all the bad times I went through I'm so happy and proud
that I'm able to be the dancing queen of the night. I don't take it for
granted because I worked to hard to get there.
This winter was the FIRST winter after several years when I didn't catch
a cold. I avoided big crowds, took an additional load of vitamin C and
zinc whenever I felt something come on to me, kept myself warm and away
from people with a cold.
For me that was such a victory. A couple years ago I battled with an ordinary
cold for 8 weeks straight and I was such a sick puppy and this year people
around me would get sick and I stayed healthy.
What a tremendous improvement!
I still have times when I get tired easily and if I don't eat quite often
I can't concentrate and I get really sluggish.
If it gets worse I'm totally exhausted and need hours to recover my strength
again.
Unfortunately after all these years there are days full of energy and
strength whereas the next day might be the total opposite.
I learned to compensate over the time and since I know that after a bad
day a good day will follow I can except some limitations.
I'm thankful that my depression is gone and that I just have to deal
with the blues once in a while like everybody else.
Being away from the topic cancer and concentrating on my life with Joe
has certainly improved not only our relationship but also my feeling of
being healthy again.
Right now I'm in the process of taking over our affairs and giving Joe
a well deserved break from his role as a caregiver so that he might have
the chance to recover from this stressful times.
Happy easter holidays to you'll .
Eva
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