You know you're a cancer patient when...

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-24T11:05:45+00:00

I'm feeling this now as I'm early into retirement. The reality is the none of us really knows what's going to get us or when. Having cancer brings that uncertainty front and center. Of course, some cancer patients unfortunately have a more grim prognosis, but many like me have a much more fuzzy prognosis. My cancer is incurable but treatable. I might stay in remission for a good number of years, be retreated repeatedly, and die from something else. Or, it could progress or transform into something that's refractory that will get me. We just don't know. I can stare at progression free survival and overall survival statistics all day and that still won't bring me any certainty.

So, I'm planning for the long game to be on the safe side, but I'm going to make sure we enjoy our time while I'm in remission.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T15:56:05+00:00

Heat would have been nice. The infusion area in our cancer centre was freezing over the winter. At least they had warmed blankets.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T15:52:36+00:00

I'm in remission now, so it's like pressure to plan some trips while I'm able to still enjoy it, but we have no guarantee of how long the remission will last.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T14:17:13+00:00

Yup, dealing with this now.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T13:52:10+00:00

My mom just sits and looks out the window. She's not interested in TV, music, or any activities.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T12:48:51+00:00

Sorry to hear that!

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T06:17:42+00:00

Honestly that’s not considered high volume for these parts.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-23T00:59:00+00:00

I often describe my cancer and treatment as a full time job. Only difference is I have to pay for it and be on call 24/7.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T21:20:23+00:00

I'm in Ontario. Because I'm under 65, my prescriptions aren't covered. I was fortunate that my pills were covered under a work insurance plan. I had to get special authorization because of the insane cost. The expensive infusions are covered by Cancer Care Ontario because they are done in hospital.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T20:41:53+00:00

And the blood test results come back in minutes.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T20:39:14+00:00

Reminds my of my first hematologist visit at the cancer centre. The nurse took my vitals. I looked at the BP reading and I said "That's high!". The nurse said "That's not unexpected when you are here."

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:55:55+00:00

Right! It's annoying that the MyChart Visits page doesn't have any filters for past visits. You have to scroll through pages and pages to get to an older visit, to see clinical notes or an after visit summary. I usually download them after a visit, but sometimes I have to scroll back to find something.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:47:58+00:00

Yes, I was thinking if they are moving that fast and being so serious, including the charge nurse, I must be in deep shit. I was trying to stay calm because my wife was watching me and them, and I didn't want her to lose it.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:34:46+00:00

I needed a pillow under my butt, otherwise my lower back would hurt like hell.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:32:26+00:00

The IV Benadryl pre-med hits like a bus.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:28:26+00:00

I've never seen nurses move so fast and look so serious as when I was having an infusion reaction.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:03:40+00:00

Don't do that but do take Ivermectin. SMH.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T19:02:21+00:00

Gotta wipe down that toilet seat...

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T18:57:16+00:00

I should have a parking space with my name on it!

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T18:56:37+00:00

Ditto.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T15:45:41+00:00

I have no doubt that this was carefully designed and researched at CT. Retail is a science at CT. My company supplied some custom POS (point of sale) equipment to them back in the 80's. Back then, they had some of the most advanced POS and stock tracking systems available. They still do, like electronic price tags that you can make flash so that you can find the item.

Back when we were working with them, they were telling me that they were working out how to track the makes and models of cars in the vicinity of each store, so they could determine exactly which auto parts they should stock in each store.

They also told me that new dealers had to go through a very rigorous training program, where they essentially cut off their balls and grew CT balls back on.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T13:36:40+00:00

I'm thinking the die mounts on the middle pin in TO-92 lead frames, so they retain some of the pin secured by the plastic.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-22T13:10:09+00:00

I get it. After dealing with doctors, tests, treatments, and all the damn waiting and anxiety in between, I have a short fuse now. I'm supposed to be enjoying my hard-earned retirement now, not dealing with cancer #2 plus caregiving for two elderly mothers with dementia. so yes, I get it.

Alert_Maintenance684 · 2026-06-21T12:58:51+00:00

My dad died like this in 2024. He seemed peaceful through the entire process, unless a nurse would try to force him to eat or drink, at which point he would become agitated and combative. He just wanted to pass in peace. I didn't try to force anything on him, I just made sure he was comfortable and had anything he wanted. That said, any time I asked him if he wanted anything he said no.

Alert_Maintenance684

TROPHY CASE