We keep a big whiteboard calendar in the kitchen that pretty much runs our household. Everything goes on it – Suzanne’s work schedule, my travel schedule, Annie’s school schedule, social stuff – everything.
Today has been highlighted on that calendar for quite a while, but the significance of it hadn’t really hit me until this morning. It’s the anniversary of the day I was deemed cancer-free. And while that passes without a lot of fanfare annually, this year is a big one. I’m five years cancer-free.
Cancer survival odds are generally expressed as the percentage of people who survive five years or longer. While that methodology has flaws with certain cancers, it’s still a milestone – you’ve beaten the odds. (Technically, by surviving, you’ve become part of the odds, but let’s not delve into the mathematics.) And with the type of cancer I had (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma), recurrence in patients after five years is extremely rare. So it’s kind of a big deal.
It didn’t really hit me until yesterday when I looked at Annie, and realized that the little girl I told that Daddy was really sick has grown up. Then it all came flooding back. We didn’t live in this house. We didn’t have Seamus, because he hadn’t been born. I’ve gone through three cars and two motorcycles since then. Suzanne was a brunette.
Hell, it was a long time ago. Thanks to some luck, the team at Atlanta Cancer Care, and the support of my friends and family, I got to stick around to experience all of it. It looks like I may be around a good bit longer.
Thanks y’all. Looking forward to annoying all of you for years to come.