Chicago PanCan Walk May 3 Touches my Life Again
One of the tenants or truths of life is that history repeats itself. I again experienced my truth over the past 2 weeks when a chest X-ray revealed a possible nodule on my right lung. I have had a 3 month long cough which coincided with a respiratory virus that has been going around Chicago. As so often in the past, I ignored wisdom and chose to medicate myself including the ordering of the chest X-ray. I was not prepared for the abnormal finding, nor for its emotional impact on my life. Kerstin and I will be relaxing in Europe next week and I did not want a work-up to interfere with our trip. So I enlisted a Northwestern radiologist as my colleague and we did a number of variations of my chest X-ray and all showed the same findings. My radiologist honestly believed I did NOT have cancer and suggested repeating the X-ray in 3 weeks to be followed by a CAT scan if necessary. The irony, not lost on me, was that I was disquieted by any decision I would make. The delay in diagnosis brought anxiety and self-reproachment to me. Why didn’t I spend more time with my lovely wife Kerstin? Why didn’t I remember to thank God each day for my gift of life? Why didn’t I keep daily events in perspective and give too much weight to insignificant problems? On the other hand I had anxiety about initiating my work-up and losing my vacation and missing more time with Kerstin.
As you who know me and read my blog know, I am an incredibly blessed man. My dear partner John Rachel and my oncologist, Mary Mulcahy prevailed upon me that nothing irrevocable would happen if I proceeded with an evaluation, and much anxiety could be averted. I am most pleased to tell you that a thorough exam of my body revealed that I do not again have cancer. The nodule on my lung is part of a shadow of scar tissue from my prior treatment. And I am once again amongst the company of the cancer survivors.
To say that I am relieved and grateful is an understatement. Yet this was my wake-up call. This is my reality-time to remember who I am and the blessings from all of you with whom I share parts of my life. Perhaps 5 years of freedom is too long to remember the lessons of priorities. Once again I have learned them. Once again I will actively reach out to those who need support or just someone to listen (a task for someone who talks as much as I do). And once again I will walk, this time on May 3, with PanCan, feeling proud to contribute to the effort to find early detection and treatment for pancreatic cancer: still the 4th leading cancer killer in the United States. If any of you reading this blog have the time and inclination I would like to invite you to join us for the walk. The 5K walk will start and end in Grant Park, just west of Shedd Aquarium near the Field Museum. We will gather at 9:30 and the walk will start at 10AM. After the walk, participants will enjoy entertainment and the chance to win some great prizes in our opportunity drawing. For those of you who would like to donate in any amount please make checks out to PanCan and either send them to me at 2350 Ravine Way, Suite 400, Glenview, IL 60025 or send them directly to PanCan. If you wish you can mention Team Lack and regardless we will carry you in our hearts as we commune with each other and celebrate our lives. To you, my lovely cohorts in life, I wish health and happiness and the richness of sharing with one another.
As you who know me and read my blog know, I am an incredibly blessed man. My dear partner John Rachel and my oncologist, Mary Mulcahy prevailed upon me that nothing irrevocable would happen if I proceeded with an evaluation, and much anxiety could be averted. I am most pleased to tell you that a thorough exam of my body revealed that I do not again have cancer. The nodule on my lung is part of a shadow of scar tissue from my prior treatment. And I am once again amongst the company of the cancer survivors.
To say that I am relieved and grateful is an understatement. Yet this was my wake-up call. This is my reality-time to remember who I am and the blessings from all of you with whom I share parts of my life. Perhaps 5 years of freedom is too long to remember the lessons of priorities. Once again I have learned them. Once again I will actively reach out to those who need support or just someone to listen (a task for someone who talks as much as I do). And once again I will walk, this time on May 3, with PanCan, feeling proud to contribute to the effort to find early detection and treatment for pancreatic cancer: still the 4th leading cancer killer in the United States. If any of you reading this blog have the time and inclination I would like to invite you to join us for the walk. The 5K walk will start and end in Grant Park, just west of Shedd Aquarium near the Field Museum. We will gather at 9:30 and the walk will start at 10AM. After the walk, participants will enjoy entertainment and the chance to win some great prizes in our opportunity drawing. For those of you who would like to donate in any amount please make checks out to PanCan and either send them to me at 2350 Ravine Way, Suite 400, Glenview, IL 60025 or send them directly to PanCan. If you wish you can mention Team Lack and regardless we will carry you in our hearts as we commune with each other and celebrate our lives. To you, my lovely cohorts in life, I wish health and happiness and the richness of sharing with one another.
posted by Edward Lack MD at 6:24 PM
2 Comments:
I have enjoyed reading your blogs and getting to know more about you. You refer to blessing and God. May I ask if you are a Christian? I know the scare of cancer as well. My mother has had breast cancer 3 different times. She had and still has amazing faith and I believe Jesus makes all the difference. Thanks for sharing.
Janna
Dr. Lack,
Congratulations on your good health check up. As a Dr. I know you know the importance of early detection I guess it's like the shoemaker's kids go without shoes I guess the dr. ignores taking care of his health.
Please take care of yourself do your best not to make your wife a widow ~smiles~
Last year my Mom had her Lung removed Praise God she is Cancer free today and doing great. She had ignored her syptoms for months thank God she ate that Peanut Butter that was recalled she did not have ecolli instead they discovered Lung Cancer. She lives in a small town and the country dr. had been treating for a respiratory infection when she ate the contaimanted peanut butter the small town dr. was not equipped to test for ecolli he sent her to the big town clinic where they did have the equipment to test for ecoli they also realized Mom had more than a respiratory infection she had stage 111B lung cancer 1 week after the discovery she had her lung removed went through intensive Chemo & Radiation treatments I was upset with the small town dr. but it all worked out. Mom is a cancer free as of today.The power of prayer & the correct diagnoise.
Stay healthy,
Susan
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