r/cancer • u/willywozy • Jul 16 '25
Patient It’s official, I am a Coffin Dodger
Greeting friends. 8 months ago I was diagnosed with Late Stage 4 high risk prostate cancer. Well after 15 radiation seeds planted in my groin then popped, and 23 high dose rate radiation treatments, I wear my new shirt proudly. It wasn’t nearly as tough as what some of you have been through, but for me, it was enough. Live Long and Enjoy Life. Cheers
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u/Meowie_Undertoe Jul 16 '25
Yay!!! Congratulations!!! Thrilled for you and your loved ones. Be well!
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u/inkrml Jul 16 '25
I’m a current cancer patient with stage 4 colon……but what this made me think of was my grandfather beating a late stage prostate cancer when I was a kid. Same kind of treatment you had….even though it was 30+ years ago, I remember the seeds. He lived like 23 more years, well into his 80’s. He never stopped being proud of it. He was more proud beating cancer than he was his military contributions, successful career, or anything else. Every year I made sure to walk the local relay for life survivors lap with him. There was typically a parade where the survivors wore their time survived and such on sashes or their shirt. It was the biggest deal to him. After having cancer myself, I get it now. We go through the unimaginable both physical and mentally. Give yourself some grace and don’t downplay your accomplishment. You handled it exactly the way you should have to comfort yourself, let your body relax and heal, and to get through it all mentally. Be proud of yourself 🙂
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u/willywozy Jul 16 '25
Thank you for the kind and encouraging words, they are not lost on me. You also have the same fighting strength that your gramps had, it’s bred into us. Take care my friend, you’ve got this.
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u/Edith_Keelers_Shoes Jul 16 '25
Never heard it called that, but I'll take it! I call myself a metavivor. I also like the medical term for statistical outliers like us: "exceptional responder". I'm also a stage 4 survivor (triple-negative breast cancer - a real doozy) - beat out 89% mortality odds and am now cancer free 5 years after diagnosis!
I celebrate life with you, my friend.
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u/Street_Air_9970 Jul 18 '25
Oh wow, that’s amazing - I’m genuinely so happy for you.
What kind of treatment did you go through? And how long was the whole process?
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u/Edith_Keelers_Shoes Jul 18 '25
Thank you! I was on chemo for the first two years (3 months of A/C, followed by Abraxene), and then (because I have the BRCA gene that qualifies me for this treatment) switched to PARP inhibitors (which are taken orally, and preclude the need to physically go in for infusions). I've been on PARPs for just over 3 years, and have only had one recurrence while one them - a bone met that resolved itself without any additional treatment.
I'm also given Xgeva to strengthen my bones, which seems to have thwarted bone mets. And I see a Tibetan doctor for herbs to support my organ health and energy. There are very few Tibetan doctors practicing in the US, but a traditional Chinese or Ayurvedic doctor can do something very similar. So the whole process has been 5 years and two months. Passing the 5 year mark was a big moment medically, because having outlived the 5 year window, I am now medically categorized as an "exceptional responder", and even my pessimistic doctor now says she doesn't think this cancer is going to take me out.
And I decided very early on that no doctor, no prognosis, and no statistics were going to deter me from being doggedly determined and relentlessly hopeful.
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u/DismalDistribution61 Jul 16 '25
I work for a prostate cancer charity. This is the stuff we live for! Long may it continue ❤️
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u/Tall-Combination-597 Jul 16 '25
Congats! where can i get a shirt like that, i have a "F*ck Cancer" party next week.
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u/willywozy Jul 16 '25
Bettclothing.com but feel free to use the saying, I borrowed it from the TV show Shameless UK
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u/zippyboy Jul 17 '25
Did they give you that shirt? I want that shirt when i'm done with my treatment!
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u/willywozy Jul 17 '25
I had it made from a local girl bettclothing.com But feel free to make your own, I borrowed the phrase from the UK tv show Shameless
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u/ProfessionalBeach372 Jul 17 '25
I also have cancer just pancreatic, lung and now kidney! I just want to have you send it to me since you don’t need it anymore. I’ll send it bank whe I’m done. I’m in Connecticut thanks!
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u/willywozy Jul 17 '25
I will never be done wearing this shirt, this is my most prized possession. But feel free to have one made up. Good luck in your journey
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u/Kimmus2008 NSCLC adenocarcinoma stage 3b NED as of 3-7-2025 Jul 16 '25
This is great!! Congratulations!!!
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u/Lovie17AZ Jul 16 '25
Love the shirt and your sense of humor! Congratulations and wishing you nothing but happy days ahead!!
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u/Serpentar69 B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Jul 16 '25
Hell yeah! I've never heard of this saying but I am so utilizing that! 🥳!
So happy for you! Edit: And I absolutely love your shirt lol
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u/willywozy Jul 16 '25
I borrowed the saying from the tv show Shameless UK, it was used a derogatory term for old folk, but this fits better.
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u/ThatOldDuderino Jul 17 '25
Congratulations! Many future blessings!
Where did you get that killer shirt?
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u/V1k1ngbl00d 15d ago
Was it matasticized ? My brother in law is stage 4 prostate cancer but it’s matasticized so I don’t think his outlook is very good, I’m curious to know.
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u/willywozy 15d ago
No I was fortunate they found it early. You need to be positive, they have made amazing progress, just be positive and be there for him. 🫂
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u/V1k1ngbl00d 15d ago
Ya that’s my plan, he’s matastizised to his spine and skull tho, prognosis is bad. He’s optimistic tho
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u/madturtle62 Jul 16 '25
May your scans remain unremarkable.