10 Years Cancer-Free!!

I just realized this today (though I had a general awareness of it). I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in Fall 1999, had surgery and radiation treatment in Winter 1999/2000. I had my last radiation treatment some time in January or February 2000.

Since then I’ve had various pokes (ouch), prods (errr), and scans (breath in…. hold it…. hold it…. exhale), but nothing really since 2005 (the five year mark).

So today at my regular diabetes check up (Yes, I am a diabetic and cancer survivor. No I don’t recommend it.) I asked my doctor if there was anything I needed to do. He didn’t seem to think so but said he’d consult with their oncologist. So, assuming they don’t say anything (which I don’t think they will), since it is March 2010…

I declare myself to be cancer-free for 10 years! Woo woo!

Living With Diabetes

… is hard.

For those of you who don’t know, I am a Type 1 Diabetic. Typically, people with Type 1 diabetes develop it while they are children (hence it sometimes being called “Juvenile Diabetes”); however, I developed it in 2004 when I was 26 years old.

Diabetes is a disease where the body either:

• (for Type 1 diabetics) does not produce insulin; or,
• (for Type 2 diabetics) does not respond to insulin.

As a Type 1, I do not produce insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and facilitates the absorption of glucose into the body’s cells. At some point in 2004 my pancreas stopped working, probably because my immune system got confused and sent my white blood cells to attack it. Stupid immune system. (more…)...