Members of my Multiple Myeloma support group are well aware that I get hung up on the survival statisticsfor my cancer. I have an almost morbid fascination with these stats. I'm not quite sure why. I guess that they give me a frame of reference. Part of it is that I am such a competitive guy. If my oncologist says that the average patient with my cancer lives 43 months, then I will strive to live longer. But funny thing about these stats. Since I was first diagnosed in April, 2007, the life expectancy of a Myeloma patient of my stage and age has gone from 43 months to over 7 years! That is almost double! New drugs and drug combinations are working! They keep moving the goal line back! How great is that! In his book, Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do, Greg Anderson writes "There is no type of cancer that does not have some rate of survival. This is a significant fact, and it is cause for reasonable hope. The question now becomes, 'What can I do to maximize my chances of getting on the right side of these statistics?' So true! Be realistic, but hopeful. Beat the statistics! Help change the numbers. LIVE!
Feel good and keep smiling! Pat
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