mesothelioma survivor John Owens still remembers himself driving to the hospital in the dark before dawn to surgery lifestyle change that removed his left lung, a large part of his diaphragm and other parts of the body matched.
He left his family at home. That was his only fight.
It was the same for chemotherapy before surgery, postoperative radiotherapy and several follow-up visits. While Owens is a friendly guy personable with a loving family, he insisted his fight against cancer is mostly a one-on-one affair.
"You can call it selfish ?? and ?? may be crazy but I do not want someone with me. Of course, it was a scary time, but I did not like the idea of people seeing me my most vulnerable, "said Owens at his home near Ann Arbor, Michigan." It was me against mesothelioma. And we will see who will win. "
He won ?? and is still the champion.
Owens remains standing today, seven years after extrapleural pneumonectomy a (PPE), which is the most aggressive as possible surgery. his latest analyzes show no signs of the incurable disease.
"My oncologist today calls me his monster," said Owens proudly. "They usually do not get to talk to people who live that long as me. I like to think I'm cured. I do not know exactly why, but I just had a great team of doctors who provided incredible care. the stars aligned perfectly for me. "
care Great Cancer close to Home
Vita Dr. McCabe performed the complex operation and directed his care near St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. Owens denied the opportunity to go to a specialty center mesothelioma most well known in a big city, thinking he could find the same great care close to home.
He did it his way.
Owens was only 47 when diagnosed, much younger and healthier than most mesothelioma patients. His illness was discovered after an unusual and repeated struggle for breath while playing ice hockey.
"At first I thought, ?? I must stop smoking ??. But many other players were smokers, too, and they were not having any problems," he said. "That was my first indication that something is wrong. When the doctor listened to my lungs, he told me that something was just not right. Eventually, it led to a diagnosis. I had no idea what mesothelioma was at first. and then I just figured, I'll die.??"[1945002??]
Owens believes that mesothelioma may have resulted from employment during his adolescence. He had worked summers at the heating and cooling business of his grandfather. One of its functions was tearing old furnaces covered with asbestos.
He also spent his years of work in the area of road construction, the use of heavy equipment around steam asphalt.
never lost his enthusiasm for Living
Owens was forced into early retirement by the cancer that changed his life, but he never obscured her enthusiasm for life a positive attitude or inclination to do things his way.
he loved his family, but he did not want the sympathy of everyone.
"I'm not the type to back down from a challenge, and I did not want to start with this cancer," he said. "Of course, I was afraid of death, but I do not want people to know it. Support is good to have, and I got it for sure. My family was wonderful, but it was my battle all the way, head on, with a LET'S-see-what-happens attitude. "
life after surgery and subsequent treatment was difficult, but Owens embraced the fight. He went from a robust 170 pounds to a lean 140 pounds more.
long months of radiation treatments were difficult. He said he felt as if his insides were cooking. Although he believes that they helped prevent a recurrence of the tumor future, they also damaged his heart, as the radiologist predicted they could.
He needed a pacemaker implanted two years ago.
"It is strange when your mind goes. I asked the doctor who put in the pacemaker, ?? What happens if I am hit by a bus when I go out of your office? I will obviously be dead, but the pacemaker still make my heart beat. will they continue to work on me ??? "Owens recalled. "He said that no one had ever asked that question before."
Swimming in Circles
Owens jokes about her lifestyle now, which has slowed considerably but still surprisingly busy. Ice hockey is over, but it still cuts his own grass and tends to the garden. He likes boating, and spends the winters in Florida with his wife, Colleen. She makes fun of how he swims.
"Because of the surgery, I can not lift my left arm very high, so I always end up swimming in circles," he said. "When I work in my yard, my sweats on the right. My left side, where they took everything out, remains dry. Pretty amazing! "
He believes his age and attitude, played a big role in his return after surgery. Owens remained in intensive care for nearly two weeks. His parents, wife, children and grandchildren children helped through the recovery process, despite his reluctance to time. Moving was not easy to start with chest cavity rebuilt.
"Surgeons used a lot of Gore-Tex hold everything in place, the diaphragm and rebuild, "he said." I kind of wonder now if I ever shot, the ball would just bounce off me? it ?? s something to think about. "
her oncologist told her there was no tumor recurrence sign. The CT scans have increased from once every three months, every six months, and now every 12 months.
He has no regular checks again until next August He believes that his survival of seven years will be 17 years and beyond. There are days he does not feel well, but he rarely complained. That's not his style.
"The doctor told me that I am cancer free, and I'll never have to worry about mesothelioma again," he said. "I feel lucky, but I do not feel like a miracle. I will reserve miracles for things bigger and better than me. I'm just a guy who thinks today grateful each day I wake up is a gift. "
