The surgeon at the Mayo Clinic called today (while I was on the golf course - of course) -- to tell me "whatever you had is completely gone" -- there is ZERO signs of cancer -- and when comparing the 3 MRI's -- they say it's "a miracle". The comparison between the first / second and now this third MRI are "amazing".

Okay -- I'm still stuck with the stents --- but they're now saying that all the "tissue" looks so good - and my liver looks so good - that instead of having to come down to Scottsdale every 3 months for an ERCP (scope procedure to clean out the stent)... I only need come every 6 months....

And.... wait for it.... They were concerned enough early on that they were talking liver transplant --- NOW they say I'll "never need one".

Doctor was so excited and he shared that he was "showing all his colleagues" my results. LOL

Go figure.


Got this the other day playing a different course -- but thought it appropriate for this post! LOL



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/IMG_0603.jpg

That's great news, congratulations! I can't imagine the feeling...

You know what....that doesn't suck!

Good to be lucky AND smart! Your decision to go this route is probably the second...maybe third best thing you've done in your life! Happy for you and the family, buddy.

Xoxo
:woot:

THANK YOU!

The news - for me personally - is rather anti-climatic..... because I've been feeling better and better.... So I KNEW the cancer (if I ever had it - we'll never know now because they can't find it now) was gone.







ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS better lucky than smart. Thanks buddy! It's been one hell of a road to travel for sure!

Mate that is such amazing news.

Congrats on the hole in one. How many have you had?

Thanks Roger!!


I've had exactly ONE..... and that will probably be the one and only.

Awesome news GW...you're Batman!

Congratualtions on your recovery, you have always been in our prayers to beat this crap. I had cancer in the late 80's when I was in my early 30's and was one of the lucky ones. The news you received had to lift a huge burden off of your shoulders. Enjoy life one minute at a time because we never know how long we have on this planet. I am going to keep all this info on your post and hopefully I will never need to use it but if I do I will look into it. Greg, thank you for posting all the info and sharing this part of your life, now get out there and work on another hole in one.

Kevin Feiock

so glad for you!

I still tell people your story and the looks and attitudes are polar opposite

Okay I am back to being happy again.

Great news brother.

Glad to hear the good news, Greg. Go ahead and feel the climax. :headspin:

Greg, it's 2017...your not supposed to be here, according to the doctors.
Super stoked for you and your family! Now go start buying those tools back, and build something!!!!

Awesome news Greg
 

the number of people pulling for you is quite remarkable, a testament by it self.

Congratulations.

:hail: :thumbsup:

Thanks to ALL for your support and kindness and good wishes..... this has been the proverbial -- "I've been to hell and back". It's nice to be back!

Everything looks different these days. I was always one that truly appreciated life and alls its gifts.... but those are just words until that day that someone tells you "you're time is up". Only then will you truly know how fragile life is.

congrats bro!! this place wouldn't be the same without you...

has your diet changed permanently? if so, how so? i mean the type of meats/fats? nuts? sugars?

Cheers bud. once again, congrats. love to hear/read this sh$t

It better have :smiley_smack: :lmao:

Great news but still some work to do :cheers:

Greg - Awesome news. Its cool that you took on the huge challenge and did something truly amazing. Really an inspirational story.

:flag2: :flag2: :flag2:

Sugars are down to about zero..... Cut red meat by about 70%... eat raw veggies for snacks... rather than the usual grab some high fat high carb "snack". Yes -- I'm definitely watching what I eat.









Always a work in progress - like a few projects around your place.... LOL











Thanks Stuart! When it's life and death -- and you're in the battle for that most precious of gifts (sounds candyass but it is fact)... you can either fight and do everything in your power -- or you can give up and let it go. I'm way too good looking to just give up. LOL

:D That is the BEST news I have ever had! Really glad you are sticking around. Love ya buddy.

Some CRAZY A** S*** huh!!


Go figure -- dead in the ground - reborn -- good as new -- in less than a year.... thanks to GOD'S NATURAL SOURCE!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And a guy that hasn't had a drink in 30+ years.... WHAT A TRIP! LOL

Love you both!

So true. That's when **** gets real. It got real for you, your family & all your friends.

This is so rewarding & a relief. Love ya buddy.

We've had some fun and we're going to have some more!!

Love you too buddy! You've brought so much to my "game" and I truly value your friendship.

Makes me so happy to read Greg. Congrats, and even more props for sharing the whole thing on here. I tell people your story and they believe it but they're just floored. If you're still in Scottsdale, and have time, I'd like to buy you dinner before you leave.

Dang it Erik! We arrived home today.

We WILL be back --- sadly --- for medical procedures at The Mayo there.....

THEN we'll get together!

Great news Greg. Been thinking about how you were doing and saw this, made my day a whole lot better.

Yeah Mitch! Nothing quite like a Hole-in-one!!! LOL


Thanks buddy -- and yes -- it's a great feeling to know that while I'll have lifetime medical issues..... at least I might have a life!

None of know when we're going to die or how --- but when they tell you when and how..... that is something none of is prepared to deal with. My life -- which is a model of how great life can be -- retired early - enough dough to enjoy whatever - great family...... footloose and fancy free.... was turned upside-down and destroyed with "you have cancer and you have perhaps 6 months to live". The end. WOW! Nobody is prepared for that.

Thanks Wayne!! I'm doing pretty dang well..... not 100% - not even close - but not dead next week or next month either. Now, at least, I can plan a little bit in to the future and I can prepare for "life after death" (LOL).

My energy level is coming back day by day. Things that used to absolutely exhaust me - now are not such a big deal. Just driving to Scottsdale took me a week to recover from -- basically fatigued to the point of being mostly not functional. Since the MAYO cleaned the stent out -- BAM! Better by the day as the blood gets filtered better. Drove most all the way home --- and unpacked and put (we took a truckload of crap for the 2 months) everything away -- then went downstairs and worked on rearranging the gun safe - and ammo - and cleaned and moved stuff. 100% difference in just a few weeks! Happy dance.


I've been a "doer" my whole life -- get up early - do fun stuff all day -- repeat. This last 10 months has been more like if I can manage to get off the sofa and get another cup of coffee - or call Gwen and have her bring it to me. NOT the way we live at all. But..... that is in the past for now.

"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
Bob Marley

I saw this not only in you but your family and some of your friends....to quote another old hippie "what a long strange trip it's been"
Xoxo

An understatement for sure.... and fits perfectly!

Glad to hear the good news, Greg! Best wishes from here on out.

Thanks Trey!!! It's not clear sailing for certain due to the "junk left behind" but I'll take every day I can get!

I hope no news is Good news. Keep us in the loop buddy!

Thought I had posted - but perhaps not.


A few weeks ago the Mayo Clinic declared me 100% cancer free...

Now I only have to deal with the "space junk" left behind (the stents that should have been removed but now can not be). I'll have to have a "surgical procedure" to clean them out every 3 to 6 months for the rest of my life. No a bad thing given what I was dealing with (certain death). But when you do the math -- that is 20 to 40 invasive surgical procedures if I live 10 years. Ordinarily - a person my age (63) might only have 1 or 2 in that same period of time. But...... Oh well!

Is there Scar Tissue that prevents the Stents from being removed?

How about some AN Fittings or Shrader Valves so you can do it yourself?

I like where this is headed...

The type of stent used - and the one that is furthest inside my liver bile duct is is not a removable type. It's even less so now that it's inhabited that space for 11 months....

While the two stents saved my life at the time and I'm forever grateful to the surgeon..... they are used to temporarily keep that duct open. Given that the type of cancer I had is terminal - nobody cares how temporary they are... they won't be needed in a very few short months.

IF the duct/stent gets plugged and can't be cleared (just simple cleaning is a delicate act in itself) then it's an "oh well". Thus I live every day - not in fear - but in joy of living.

A guy could attempt to get himself placed on the liver transplant list -- but that list is long - and the sickest go to the top. I am neither sick nor is my life in jeopardy. Nor would I choose to have that surgery.

Great news Greg. :thumbsup:

I was hoping the only reason we hadn't heard from you about this was that you might have had a slight computer issue...

https://s20.postimg.org/gszrroe59/IMG_1835.jpgupload photocertificity.com

[QUOTE=Cosmo mentis;657801]Great news Greg. :thumbsup:

I was hoping the only reason we hadn't heard from you about this was that you might have had a slight computer issue...


Or you were somewhere having more fun...

Fantastic news Greg! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. That, in itself, is not an easy thing to do. Your story sends a strong message to everyone fighting this disease (and also to those touched by it) to never, ever, give up.