The icy hand of cancer touches us all in some way or another

[RIDE-RED 250r]

So, my best friend, my younger brother is diagnosed today with stage 3 colon cancer. He is a 14 year veteran and still currently serving in the Air Force, 32 years old with a wife and 2 boys of 9 and 7.

This news has rocked us all and nobody even remotely expected it, even the doctors.

Our family has been through alot since 2006. In oct of 06 our Dad at 52 years old had emergency 4-way bypass surgery. (never smoked once in his life). The following spring he gets prostate cancer and beats that, thank God. Then several months after that, Dad is diagnosed with an incurable lung disease and has to have a transplant.

Fast forward to June of 2010, my family loses a beloved grandfather unexpectedly. But things swing back to good, and just before Thanksgiving that same year, my Dad gets a lung transplant, and not a minute too soon as his condition had deteriorated quite a bit at that point.

Now things had been going well, Dad is recovered to the point you would hardly know all he had been through in the last few years.

It seems our family has finally proven ourselves.

On Halloween day, my brother goes in to have his gall bladder removed due to gall stones. Things seem good the first couple days until his symptoms return. A week in the hospital of trying to get a supposed blockage to pass, they open him up for exploratory surgery to find and remedy the blockage.

Then it happens, the surgeons find a large tumor in his colon and remove it along with 2 or 3 lymph nodes. Since that day, it seems like a bad dream. We had been holding on to hope that the pathology would reveal a benign tumor. Today, we get the news that it in fact was malignant. I still feel like this is a bad dream. I cannot believe I am looking at my little brother dealing with a problem he doesn't deserve, much less his wife and kids.

I have wished to trade places with my father at many points along his oh so bumpy roads these last few years. But never has that feeling been so strong as when I see my little brother laying in that bed, still himself coming to grips with the fact that the C-word has laid it's icy hand on him and his family. If I could trade places with him right now, I would happily do it. Even though he would be mad at me if I told him that.

My brother is a member here, but I don't think he has ever posted. I hope he doesn't see this, and frankly I'm not sure why I am posting this. I just feel the need to put this down in words to let it out I guess. I know none of this concerns you all personally, but I know many of you have suffered due to this aweful, soulless thing that is cancer. I guess it helps to get it out...

I find myself sometimes trying to get my mind off it by losing myself in the day to day routines of life. But in a way, that seems selfish to me...

Sorry for the long post...

[Mr. Clean]

I know none of this concerns you all personally,

Quite the contrary, I care and I am not happy to hear this AT ALL. I am sure there are others here that care.

My thoughts and prayers go out to your family, I want to hear that your brother will be riding a trike come spring time.

[yaegerb]

Holy crap Joe, sorry to hear about all this. My prayers and best wishes to your brother and your family. Don't apologize for the post. We all deal in different ways. I too have found out the past year how precious life can be. There are many members here that are in your corner and wish you nothing but the best. If you wanna chat sometime about it send me a PM.

[Liquid-Darkness]

I am very sorry about your brother. My dad had a tumor removed from his stomach a few years ago from pancretitus. Doctor said it was the size of a medium pizza!! I hope for the best for your brother and your family.

[atc007]

I am so sorry to hear this Joe. You have a great,strong family. Lean on each other and bull through this trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro. My prayers are with you and yours. Burying yourself in work is perfectly natural. Take care of yourself.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Quite the contrary, I care and I am not happy to hear this AT ALL. I am sure there are others here that care.

My thoughts and prayers go out to your family, I want to hear that your brother will be riding a trike come spring time.

I made a poor choice of words there and did not mean to come across that way... I think what I meant was that it didn't involve you guys personally.

I very much appreciate the kind words from you all and appreciate your allowing me to vent a bit.

The good news we got is that the experts feel it is pretty treatable. I am hanging on to that for dear life! But it is proving difficult to remain optimistic all the time.

Both of my brothers really are my best friends, and I just can't stand the thought of the worst case scenario.....Been having trouble sleeping well since we got the initial news on sunday.

[Mickey Dunlap]

****************

[El Camexican]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't even remember all the names of those I know who have had, or do have cancer, but it's taken my best friend's Dad, my cousin, an aunt, yet another aun't has had it, my Mom just finished treatment a few months ago (looking real good for her) and now a young lady in our office has been told she's all be doomed.

I guess it's just part of modern life, so try to enjoy your time with everyone you care for and leave the rest in the hands of God and the doctors. Peace Bro.

[slashfan7964]

Man that's rough news. My mom is currently battling 6 types of cancer, has very aggressive chemo, had 28 surgeries (29 is this Friday) and still manages to be a mom and go to work everyday. No idea how she does it.

All you can do is pray man. I know the feeling, it's not fun. I hope it works out for the better. Just goes to show how vulnerable we all really are.

[Dave Little]

RR, You may want to watch the movie "Forks over Knives"- it is more than worth your while.

[Motorgidd]

Sorry to hear of your troubles RIDE-RED. You and your family are in our prayers!

Definitely try and stay positive. I know that sounds tough to do... especially with all the trouble you and your family have seen in the past years. You should talk about it… it definitely helps with trying to cope when a loved one is ill. As for you, it is not selfish to try and get your mind off of it. As a matter of fact it’s good to clear your head of the problems going on in your life. Mentally and physically it takes a toll on you walking around every day with that numb feeling. Cancer is a B****, no doubt about it! Take care Brother.

[Dirtcrasher]

So sorry you have go through all this!

We always ask "WHY"!!!!

[Buck Snort]

Sorry to hear about your brother. Try to stay positive and I think venting to friends including this site is a good thing. Both of my wife 's parents have survived cancer. My Dad passed away 9 years ago with lung cancer. He fought it hard for 2 years and in those two short years we did so much living. 2 years after my Dad passed my best friend passed away from a stroke, he was 40 years old. Right now my Mother has just finished up chemo and seems to be doing good. But this summer she was so sick and then my wife ended up in the hospital for a month with a infection. I am telling you all this because you said you are not sleeping and some of the things you are saying sound very familiar. This summer I finally crashed. Was not sleeping and trying to help my Mom and Wife. People would ask how I was doing and I would always say good. Well I wasn't. I guess the stress got the best of me. Going to work and even doing things I loved seemed too much. So I went to the doctor and was told to take 5 weeks off. The guys at work said it was about time. In that 5 weeks I ended talking to a lot to different family members and friends. It sure helped! So again talk to friends and if the poor sleep continues go see a doc. Best wishes to you and your family.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Thanks for the thoughts, prayers and kind words guys. I really do consider you a sort of extended family here.

Mickey: I'm sorry to hear of your situation in particular. I cannot imagine how much more difficult it is coping with problems like this in your set of circumstances. Prayers for you and your family as well...

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Well, Josh was discharged from the hospital yesterday after being there for 12 days. He is in very good spirits, has a "screw you cancer" attitude, and is extremely happy to be home. We all went to his house for a sort of welcome home visit. A bunch of us brought a mess of ice cream as he is slowly working back into a normal diet. There has to be about 8 half gallon boxes of ice cream in his freezer right now, LOL! I went straight to his house when I got home fro work yesterday, hence the reason I never got on here last night.

I went out deer hunting this morning and am feeling better than I have been. But I still can't help but worry about little brother and doing anything I can to help him and his family through this....

[tanks350x]

Sorry to hear about your brother... I know all too well about cancer. My father died of lung cancer back in 97, and my mom died of the same thing back in 2010. I didn't see what my father went through, with his treatments. But I was there through the whole process with my mom. It only took 6 months from being diagnosed to passing away. This disease is the worst thing anyone can go through, be it having it, or watching a loved one succumb to it.. Again, sorry to hear that you and you're family is going through this...TANK

[whyzee]

Dam ride red, I just saw this post. So sorry about your brother. We know life isn't fair but sometimes you can't help but ask why. This is one of those times. Hard to read. Man I hope he is doing well. Take care and God bless you guys .

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Thanks for all of the kind words my friends.

And since this thread is back up, I'll give a little update.

He has begun his chemotherapy and last week had his second treatment. He has to have treatment every 2 weeks for 6 months. He is very upbeat, optimistic and raring to kick this thing in the rear, as we all are. His side effects haven't been too bad, but the neuropathy in the hands and feet are a bit annoying to him..as I'm sure it would be to anyone.

We have been having some fun, buying handguns, reloading supplies, making ammo, and doing some shooting. I recently gave him a small loan to cover the cost of a S&W 500 with a red dot scope so I have my handgun hunting buddy. It was like pulling teeth to convince him to take the loan, that's the kind of guy he is.... The gun was used, but was a really good price. So now we are anxiously awaiting the tooling and supplies so we can start handloading my 460 and his 500.

All in all, things aren't all that different. You wouldn't be able to tell what he is going through by looking at him or talking to him. We are looking forward to closing this chapter and getting on with life...MANY MANY years of it! :)

I just hope he doesn't swing in here and see this thread I started, he is the kind of guy that doesn't want a "fuss" made over him. He is a member, but barely ever plays around in here. But now with the time he has on his hands you never know..

[jays375]

Good news.One thing to watch with the 460.If you use the Hornady XTP bullets,get the XTP Mag.Other wise you could do some damage to your gun.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

Good news.One thing to watch with the 460.If you use the Hornady XTP bullets,get the XTP Mag.Other wise you could do some damage to your gun.

You bet. Already beginning to get stocked with 240 and 300gr XTP Mags. :)

The regular XTP's don't hold up to the extreme pressure the 460 generates when pushing full power. You can use them, just keep the speed under about 1600fps...but where is the fun in that??!! ;)

[SHIFLITE]

May God be with your brother , his family and you...You all are in all of our prayers...

[jays375]

Another thing is to stay away from Lil Gun powder.If you do a little searching on Google you will see.They are awesome pieces for sure.

[JasonB]

Really sorry to hear this man, my thoughts and prayers are with your family

[RIDE-RED 250r]

It's been over a year since I last updated this.

Josh is doing great! All of his post-chemo blood testing has been good! These tests indicate he is cured, but they are still keeping a close eye on him having bloodwork done regularly and he will also have to undergo colonoscopies more frequently than most people his age.

Since all of this, my brother bought my grandmother's house last summer.. It is just 4 doors down the road from my house. We can ride to each others houses on wheelers through the woods. :D

Our families hang together alot... Josh and I share morning coffees together at my place or his frequently.

It has been terrific having my best friend back in the saddle and so much closer by. Life is good. :)

[plastikosmd]

Great friggin news

[bkm]

Totally cool Joe. I was going to ask you a few weeks ago how he's been doing.

[Dirtcrasher]

So glad to hear Joe, your family is GOOD PEOPLE! They deserve a fighting chance!!

:D

[thcowboy]

Yeah my grandpa got lung cancer and battled it for almost five years. He smoked. Died in his late sixties. I also got my three wheeler from him. So i probably woudlnt be on this site without him i guess. Good luck to your brother