From a conversation I had at work today.

[gridlore]

All of you probably know I'm a cancer survivor. I was amazed to find out how little most people know about this family of diseases and the effects on both patients and those around them.

So, ask me anything. Seriously. Medical, emotional, nasty details about diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, recovery.. whatever. I'll answer as completely and accurately as possible.

For the record I had Stage IV-B Hodgkin's Disease. My early treatment and diagnosis is discussed in this article. (A few errors in the details, but it is amusing to see myself described as a "thin, pleasant, well-developed man."

Comments

[collie13.livejournal.com]

My mom just completed radiation treatment for breast cancer two months ago, and we think she's clean -- much to our relief. I have a slightly greater appreciation now for what this disease entails, and congratulations to you for doing so well. I do have two questions, if I may, though. One, what's a tonic-clonic seizure? And two: a fifteen-year history of headaches?! Holy cow, guy! Did you not realize this wasn't normal?

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

tonic-clonic is the technical term for a grand mal seizure: Doug fall down, go twitch.

I thought I just had migraines. They didn't happen often, and only lasted for a few hours. Add in two facotrs, and you can see why I ignored all the warning signs that something was wrong. First of all, I've always been ridiculously healthy. Never severely ill, no broken bones. The worst I ever went through was having a Plantar Wart removed from my foot. So I wasn't conditioned to think of going to the doctor. Add to that my family's second motto is "leave it alone, it will go away." I was used to toughing out illnesses.

[collie13.livejournal.com]

Oh! Okay, I get it now -- I thought they were talking about you having headaches almost constantly. Yes, I understand that mentality -- been there, pretty much live that. Yes, that is present tense. ;)