Lets take a peak into my mental state post diagnosis.. Are you scared? It’s ok me too we will get through this together.

Since my diagnosis I’ve gotten many well wishers and people are often asking how I am “taking the news”. It’s a fair question, the day the Doctor drops the C word on you is a bit of a sucker punch. At first is was surreal, I am in the hospital and the Doctor my wife calls “Handsome Doctor Doom” just lays it out.

Well, he doesn’t really. He says it’s Cancer but also says it could be something else but then ends strong with yeah it’s most likely Cancer. My brother looked like Handsome Doctor Doom just told him that he will be removing his testicles with a rusty knife. I went ahead and just figured I’ld end up with that other thing, that’s super rare and doesn’t start with a C. Best not worry about something until you know.

One week later and it turns out it’s not the other thing. It is Cancer. Between the time Doctor Doom spoke to me and they verified my condition the Oncologist walked me through some things. Specifically, that it is treatable. Which brings us around to my mental state.

So right off lets be clear about something. Cancer Sucks.

This isn’t how I was planning on spending this last month. The internet says 32 thousand people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma a year in the US. That’s 32k out of 327 million. So…. JACKPOT. That’s a .009%.

Things can look bleak when you really drill down do the details which is where perspective comes in. Today, I am feeling pretty good. Got some friends coming by for dinner. While there is no “good” time to catch the cancer I’m in a pretty good place to handle it. My work has been amazingly supportive, walking me through what I need to do and encouragement. My family, is always there for me. Truth be told I think this is hitting their metal state more then mine.

This wonderful woman has been making sure I get all my meds and do every single thing the Doctors tell me to do. All in all, things aren’t that bad. I got me a plan to recovery and in the meantime I am taking it easy working on some projects I can do sitting down.

There are many people in much worst situations then I am. So in general, my mental state is good. Looking forward to touching my toes again, going kayaking with wife this summer. In order to get there I just got to get through the treatment and rehab the back. Right now they don’t have a “cure” for Multiple Myeloma but they appear to be getting closer every year. I plan on being around when they finally figure it out. In the meantime I am going to look at this as a sabbatical to hang out with my wife, dogs, and catch up on some sit down projects. If I ever do start feeling bad for myself I can just look down and see this.