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Paul's Story
On the morning of May 1, 1986 Paul discovered blood in his urine. While he briefly wondered what that could be about, he put it aside as he readied himself and his two oldest children for the day. Later that morning while at work he again passed blood in his urine. At this point he started to feel concerned and this concern was evidently outwardly apparent, as an employee inquired about what was bothering him. He shared with her what had been happening that morning and she insisted he see her husband’s urologist that day. In fact, her husband had an appointment that day and they were able to secure an appointment with Doctor John Wade.
That afternoon Paul went to the urologist where they took a urine sample (blood was still present) and an ultrasound was also done. Following the ultrasound Dr. Wade informed Paul he had cancer - specifically a tumor on his right kidney. Upon making this discovery a chest x-ray was done to ensure the cancer had not spread. As Paul sat waiting for the chest x-ray, he took the cigarettes he had been craving moments ago, out of his pocket and threw them away. He has never touched one since. He remembers after throwing the cigarettes away, praying that God would let him see his kids grow up.
The chest x-ray showed that the cancer had not metastasized (this type of cancer often spreads quickly to the lungs and brain). A few days later an Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) was performed and the Friday following his diagnosis he had surgery to remove the diseased kidney.
Following the surgery, Paul recalls the doctor standing at the end of the bed telling him he was “95% sure he had gotten it all,” and that the tumor was indeed malignant. Given that they believed they had gotten everything Paul did not have to follow up with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. However, for the first 18-months following his surgery, he had chest x-rays done every 3 months, then every 6 months, and then once a year.
Following his diagnosis, indeed even to this day, Paul noted he lived in constant fear that not only would it come back, but that it would spread. He was and is hyper-aware of how his body feels. He commented that the next day there was no blood in his urine, so had he put off going to the doctor that first day, he probably would have passed it off as a fluke. He questioned how long his diagnosis would have been delayed had his employee and friend not insisted he see a urologist that day. Going to the doctor that day most likely saved his life. Early detection is incredibly important in combating this disease. This experience leaves Paul encouraging everyone who reads this to pay attention to their bodies; to trust your instincts where your health is concerned.
What does Relay for Life mean to you?
Paul noted Relay for Life is a bit of an oddity to him, as having cancer is not a glorious thing. Though when asked about beating it being a ‘glorious thing,’ he stated, “You never really beat it…It’s always there in the back of your mind…It can always come back.”
For him, Relay for Life is about the people who are gone and remembering them. He noted how unbelievable it is the number of people who have had cancer (especially considering that those people participating in the Survivors lap don’t even begin to cover the number of people who have had and currently have cancer). Having cancer has a linking affect. An individual Paul has known many years told him last year, “I didn’t know we had something in common Paul.” Being a survivor is a pretty powerful thing and Paul knows it comes one day at a time.
That afternoon Paul went to the urologist where they took a urine sample (blood was still present) and an ultrasound was also done. Following the ultrasound Dr. Wade informed Paul he had cancer - specifically a tumor on his right kidney. Upon making this discovery a chest x-ray was done to ensure the cancer had not spread. As Paul sat waiting for the chest x-ray, he took the cigarettes he had been craving moments ago, out of his pocket and threw them away. He has never touched one since. He remembers after throwing the cigarettes away, praying that God would let him see his kids grow up.
The chest x-ray showed that the cancer had not metastasized (this type of cancer often spreads quickly to the lungs and brain). A few days later an Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) was performed and the Friday following his diagnosis he had surgery to remove the diseased kidney.
Following the surgery, Paul recalls the doctor standing at the end of the bed telling him he was “95% sure he had gotten it all,” and that the tumor was indeed malignant. Given that they believed they had gotten everything Paul did not have to follow up with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. However, for the first 18-months following his surgery, he had chest x-rays done every 3 months, then every 6 months, and then once a year.
Following his diagnosis, indeed even to this day, Paul noted he lived in constant fear that not only would it come back, but that it would spread. He was and is hyper-aware of how his body feels. He commented that the next day there was no blood in his urine, so had he put off going to the doctor that first day, he probably would have passed it off as a fluke. He questioned how long his diagnosis would have been delayed had his employee and friend not insisted he see a urologist that day. Going to the doctor that day most likely saved his life. Early detection is incredibly important in combating this disease. This experience leaves Paul encouraging everyone who reads this to pay attention to their bodies; to trust your instincts where your health is concerned.
What does Relay for Life mean to you?
Paul noted Relay for Life is a bit of an oddity to him, as having cancer is not a glorious thing. Though when asked about beating it being a ‘glorious thing,’ he stated, “You never really beat it…It’s always there in the back of your mind…It can always come back.”
For him, Relay for Life is about the people who are gone and remembering them. He noted how unbelievable it is the number of people who have had cancer (especially considering that those people participating in the Survivors lap don’t even begin to cover the number of people who have had and currently have cancer). Having cancer has a linking affect. An individual Paul has known many years told him last year, “I didn’t know we had something in common Paul.” Being a survivor is a pretty powerful thing and Paul knows it comes one day at a time.