[nfb-talk] [Nfb-or] More bad news: Round 2

[T. Joseph Carter]

Thanks Lin, Ben, and everyone!

I’m made of some pretty tough stuff, as most of you know probably 
better than most.  If anyone can come out of this okay, it’d be me.

I’m just annoyed because I had some pretty good job prospects, and 
they would be completely incompatible with the probable daily 
radiation schedule I’ll begin just as soon as they know exactly what 
portion(s) of my anatomy they’d like to have glow in the dark.

(No, you don’t actually get to glow in the dark.)

While two of the three jobs I was looking at are likely to still have 
openings in March or April, I’d really prefer not to have another 
delay given that the greatest source of fatigue from radiation last 
time around was that caused by idleness as was still recovering from 
surgery.

It’s also true that I’m in pretty desperate shape financially right 
now.  I cancelled cable television months ago, and my phone will be 
next.  I don’t even have a bus pass anymore.  I just haven’t been 
able to pay the rising costs of EVERYTHING with all of this wonderful 
inflation our government promises us we’re not actually having.  Now 
I’ll have to pay for the bus pass and all sorts of other nickel and 
dime expenses associated with this.  I just don’t have it.  Even now 
the kitchen’s pretty bare and so are both my bank account and Oregon 
Trail card.

Ahh, the joys of trying to survive on government entitlements.  You 
don’t EVEN want to get me started on that topic right now!

Praying that I can find some contract work or something, because if I 
can’t, I’m going to have expenses about $130 higher than my income 
for the next two months, at least.  (Naturally, I’ve got no savings.)

So I’ve got lots of worries, and the cancer is kind of the least of 
them right this moment.

Joseph

On Fri, Jan 28, 2011 at 10:15:50AM -0800, linjaynes wrote:
>Joseph: God bless you we will continue putting your health & well Being in our prayers. Yes chemo is no Sunday picnic, but I no you are strong & can get through whatever give's you the chance to survive.
>So many care for you & want you to realize your full potential.
>Please keep us all informed how your progressing, Remember you are a part of all of us , we are an NFB Family forever.
> Lin Jaynes
>Former OR/State Board Member
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
>>Sent: Jan 28, 2011 7:14 AM
>>To: 'NFB Talk Mailing List' <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>, 'NFB of Oregon mailing list' <nfb-or at nfbnet.org>
>>Subject: Re: [Nfb-or] [nfb-talk] More bad news: Round 2
>>
>>Joseph,
>>
>>Wow!  That isn't good news.  But, hang in there.  We're all *with* ...  and behind, (to the extent that won't hurt of course, smile) you.  The next few weeks may be tough, but always know that the Federationists are confident you'll do well in this.  We are praying and pulling for you.
>>
>>
>>/s/
>>
>>Bennett Prows
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-or-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-or-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of T. Joseph Carter
>>Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 2:56 AM
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: [Nfb-or] [nfb-talk] More bad news: Round 2
>>
>>Hey everyone,
>>
>>Three weeks ago I felt some pain in my leg, the opposite side from
>>the tumor in my back/side.  A scan showed something very small, but
>>definitely solid.  The doctor removed it and did a biopsy, given my
>>history.  Preliminarily, it looked like another sarcoma, so they cut
>>some margin tissue out as well.  It was so small that a week later,
>>I've all but recovered from the surgery.
>>
>>I've waited to write to everyone until the pathology report came
>>back, and it did tonight.  It was a sarcoma, and the margins are
>>clear.  This will mean another round of radiation, and I suspect I'll
>>be told Tuesday that chemotherapy is not considered optional this
>>time around.
>>
>>The last time around, my whole life was put on hold for several
>>months.  That was mostly because I was still recovering from surgery
>>during the radiation.  I don't know how I'll react to chemotherapy,
>>but I'm told that generally it isn't going to be pleasant.
>>
>>Metastasized soft tissue sarcomas have a statistically high mortality
>>rate.  One study says 73% within six years.  They are considered to
>>be stage 4, but people can and do survive them.  My lungs were clear
>>in October; it's a good sign if they still are.  And though we cannot
>>prove the negative, it is possible that this new tumor resulted
>>either from metastasis of the original to this and only this
>>location, or that it is what they call a second primary tumor.
>>Either of those make the clear margins very important.
>>
>>We'll know more after Tuesday, hopefully.  I'm praying for the best,
>>and would welcome prayers from others as well.
>>
>>Thanks everyone,
>>
>>Joseph
>>
>>
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