Hi all,

I have something to tell you and I really need your support, a lot. I’ve been very quiet here for a long time and it’s because I haven’t been feeling well for what seems like a very long time. I got so sick once that I was put in the hospital for 2 days. My doctor was at a loss as to what was causing my problem. We did many tests, but they didn’t reveal anything. Finally, we decided to send me to a local medical center to have a battery of tests run, they tested me for everything over a three day period. It wasn’t fun.

I got the result back from my tests yesterday, and one of the problems they revealed was that I have a bleeding ulcer. It’s a minor one, and can be treated with a healthy diet and medication. They also did a colonoscopy. They discovered a polyp. This along with some other tests, and the symptoms I’ve been having have lead them to diagnose that I have Colorectal Cancer. They want me to return to have an exploratory of the polyp done to see if there are any detectable cancer cells. But they are pretty certain of the diagnosis. I can’t have the surgery done until close to Thanksgiving. My family is in very bad shape financially, and we need to wait until then to be able to afford to do this. The good thing about this cancer is that if detected early, it’s 90-95% treatable with a full recovery. The bad thing is, if it’s too far along, the party’s over. It’s the second most fatal type of cancer.

That’s the story gang. I really need your support. I’m scared beyond rational thought, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want any sympathy, just some hands to hold, a hug here and there, and some wishes that they turn out to be wrong and this is nothing. Christ, I’ve told my wife and kids about the ulcer, but not about the cancer. I don’t know how…They’ll be devastated.

I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all what was going on sooner, I didn’t want to worry you with my problems. I hope you’ll forgive me for that. A few people here knew, but not many. Thanks to them for keeping me sane.

So, that being said, can I have some hugs? Please?

Love,
Greg