Statistical survival times for cancer
I’ve beaten the odds twice already, I’m looking to do it a third time
The photo above represents me going through radiation treatment. Yes, I have to wear a mask which is bolted to the platform that goes into a machine that provides the targeted radiation. The reason they bolt me down — to make sure that I can’t move as they are trying to be very precise in targeting my tumors.
Prior to treatment, they had to do an MRI to pinpoint exactly where my tumors were. I had two. One was large as a lemon and surgically removed. The other was tiny — about 6 mm. They used one long session to get rid of the tiny tumor and I am currently finishing the last of 3 short sessions to make sure no cancerous cells remain at the surgical site.
Unfortunately, I get claustrophobic. During the MRI, I panicked and had to get out of the chamber. So now they sedate me.
I hate taking drugs but it’s the only way to get through the treatment.
Unfortunately, even with the radiation, the statistics don’t look great. According to the Mayo Clinic, my overall survival time from diagnosis with the radiation treatment is only 16.5 months. That is a statistical average, however. Some people don’t live that long. Others live longer.
I am guessing I will live much longer, based on my past experience.
You see, I was diagnosed with a type III cancer back in 2004. It was inflammatory breast disease. I was given 6 months to live.
I basically opted out of treatment for 6 months, figuring, if I only had 6 months to live, I would rather enjoy my life than spend it in a hospital. I used my time doing a variety of holistic therapies and enjoying whatever I could given how easily I got tired. Cancer does wear out your body.
After 6 months, I went ahead and did chemo and radiation and I lived another 13 years before the cancer came back. I had a mastectomy to remove a grapefruit sized tumor. Again, the doctors told me I’d die very quickly, because I refused to do any more chemo.
Then another 4 years… and now I’ve got a metastasis in my brain and in my lungs. I’ve agreed to do targeted radiation to zap the tumors from my brain. I’ve refused chemo but will take a targeted drug for my lungs that will hopefully not hurt my healthy tissue the way chemo would.
Am I making the right decisions? I don’t know, but they are my decisions, and that is empowering.
I am hoping to surprise my doctors one more time. I am hoping to be around for years, not months. Let’s see what happens. I’ve done it twice before, so I’m betting I’ll do it again.
