cancer is literally one of those conditions where improvements in treatment are happening at a rapid pace.
I'm not giving up just yet.
Hitech you really need to lighten up and allow posters 1 post per year in which a prohibited expletive is allowed.
&%@#!!! :furious
I found out last week that I have pancreatic cancer. For those that aren't aware there is no cure. One year survival is only 20%. It appears mine has spread to the liver as well so I'm not expecting to make it a year. I knew the neck cancer had me limited to probably a few more years at best but this new development has really cut into my social and gaming schedule!!
I started "this" in '92 or '93 playing Air Warrior on Genie @ $6/hour (heroin addicts think they have an expensive habit) then it was Mac Air Warrior on AOL until that folded up. Once I upgraded the computer it was Warbirds for many years until it deteriorated and I moved to Aces High. It has been an awesome time filled with awesome people. <S>
I won't be online much, if at all. I'll be busy trying to move my wife closer to family if this *&^$#$@ (okay Dale, maybe we'll need to use two expletives) disease gives me enough time.
Big picture, quit worrying about being hoed, runners, blah blah blah. It's a game, just have fun. Enjoy life, you never know when it will be cut short.
Dale "Columbo" Falk
I'm sorry to hear of your diagnosis but don't think of it as the beginning of the end. As difficult as it may be to think differently that's a defeatist attitude.
When I went through cancer treatment on my vocal cord a few years ago the cancer center had an experimental treatments program which was optional. Not sure if you have anything similar but it may be worth consideration or at the every least a conversation with your doctors. I'm lucky in that my hospital is consistently ranked in the top 100 in the country and has among the best cancer and heart and vascular centers (both of which I've needed).
Now stop making final arrangements. Chin up. Put up the good fight an just say no to cancer. We'll revisit this thread in a few years.
Best of luck in your treatment, remember you from Warbirds days, never quit the fight.
Guys don't misunderstand, I haven't quit, just read the bottom line of my sig.
Guys don't misunderstand, I haven't quit, just read the bottom line of my sig.
Exactly. Never give up. From an instructor in the FFDO Training Course, “Fight til the lights go out.” Applies to any life battle. You’re the one to take it on Colombo. :salute
You're from Bella Vista? I graduated from Springdale High, what family I have left is still in Springdale and West Fork and my mother in law is over east in Cherokee Village. The plan is to be in that area in a couple of months. If I could ask a favor, can you keep the heat down a bit until I acclimate? :)Wilco sir, unfortunately supposed to be hottest summer in last 5 yrs. Good news is Macadoodles has great supply of scotch.
I saw one the other day that said "fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to the Ark and it's starting to rain".
I saw one the other day that said "fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to the Ark and it's starting to rain".
Stay warm, well fed, and well rested.:salute ONCE again,when I seem to be getting too weary to keep fighting...someone in this community punches me IN THE GUT(in a good way). How CAN I,going through NOTHING as compared to you Columbo, read your post AND NOT CONTINUE SWINGING? It seems I am not as weary as I believed, just 10 minutes ago. Thank you, for your COURAGE and inspiration. :pray
I guess this is me transferring what I need to do myself but I feel it does allow you to be at your strongest against any foe.
Good luck Columbo. This will be the toughest battle of your life. Smart move getting the family moved.
Here is a series of studies that show how fasting prior to chemotherapy treatment (~72 of non-feeding prior to the treatment) protected healthy cells, caused cancer cells to become more vulnerable to chemotheraphy, and even better, reduced the awful side effects of chemo. At the very least it might make treatment more tolerable.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2815756/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289501/
Chemotherapy before surgery could extend pancreatic cancer patients' lives
A clinical trial has found those given chemoradiotherapy 10 weeks before surgery for deadly disease lived months longer
The one thing I haven't seen mentioned, is go to NOW to the "pros from Dover" </Mash movie quote> and get a second opinion. MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the like. These are the most experienced docs, nurses and facilities in dealing with your problem. They do this everyday, they know what they are doing. They are are the bleeding edge of clinical trials of new treatments.
Good buddy of mine is a 6yr survivor of Pancreatic Cancer. You're going to help him raise that survival rate. That's how I see it.
I realized my wife now considers me old.
Blew coffee right out my nose on that one... :D and all over my computer screen and keyboard.... :uhoh
Be glad your youth lasted so long. My spouse has told people, for decades, that I had my mid-life crisis when I was four.
- oldman
Sorry to hear this. Peace and Strength to you Columbo. Be in that 20%.
Hitech you really need to lighten up and allow posters 1 post per year in which a prohibited expletive is allowed.
&%@#!!! :furious
I found out last week that I have pancreatic cancer. For those that aren't aware there is no cure. One year survival is only 20%. It appears mine has spread to the liver as well so I'm not expecting to make it a year. I knew the neck cancer had me limited to probably a few more years at best but this new development has really cut into my social and gaming schedule!!
I started "this" in '92 or '93 playing Air Warrior on Genie @ $6/hour (heroin addicts think they have an expensive habit) then it was Mac Air Warrior on AOL until that folded up. Once I upgraded the computer it was Warbirds for many years until it deteriorated and I moved to Aces High. It has been an awesome time filled with awesome people. <S>
I won't be online much, if at all. I'll be busy trying to move my wife closer to family if this *&^$#$@ (okay Dale, maybe we'll need to use two expletives) disease gives me enough time.
Big picture, quit worrying about being hoed, runners, blah blah blah. It's a game, just have fun. Enjoy life, you never know when it will be cut short.
Dale "Columbo" Falk
So I'm guessing u should be allowed amurder as well?
:devil
I should put a sign on my truck "I'm old, grumpy and terminal. Are you positive you want to cut me off in traffic?" :devil
I should put a sign on my truck "I'm old, grumpy and terminal. Are you positive you want to cut me off in traffic?" :devil
But then again Puma it might be time to accept it.
We had a quick CT "just to make sure nothing had popped up." Stupid diddlying idea....40 plus small lesions in the brain, started radiation yesterday and will get 10 days of treatments. This is the first time my Doc hasn't been positive, he even suggested considering hospice.
The Docs say "you can put thing in storage and fly home and come back later". Yeah, when I'm dead and Bobbi is deadly with it on on own and still bearing the expense. The doc is saying I shouldn't drive which really crimps our plans. I thought I was planning ahead, stupid me. :)
We love Columbo, what else can we say?
He's been a great asset to this game and I am glad for him.
Dang that sucks Colmbo, I 'm wishing for you the best outcome possible. I'm kinda in the same boat, I've got emphysema and a 20% lung function. Now they've discovered kidney cancer, still waiting on how their gonna deal with that.
Been out of the game for awhile so I decided I'd come back and spend some time with old friends...problem is from what I read all the crap is still there, no new maps, insane ballistics, bizzare flight characteristics. Man I was hoping a lot of that stuff had been dealt with by now. Oh well, I still may give it a try, I've made so many good friends over the years. If I don't see none of ya well :salute :cheers: It was the best money I spent for a lot of years and I'll never forget the excitement of WBs 1.11 and found out I really could fly a jug online.
Has anyone heard from Colmbo lately? It's been a few weeks...just hoping he's still ok.
I'm still here so far. For the most part it seems that treatment options have ended. And in fact my doctor has now given me a timeline.....a few weeks to maybe 18 months. The future now is easy for me, my lovely wife Bobbi has the hard part now.
I'm still here so far. For the most part it seems that treatment options have ended. And in fact my doctor has now given me a timeline.....a few weeks to maybe 18 months. The future now is easy for me, my lovely wife Bobbi has the hard part now.
I'm still here so far. For the most part it seems that treatment options have ended. And in fact my doctor has now given me a timeline.....a few weeks to maybe 18 months. The future now is easy for me, my lovely wife Bobbi has the hard part now.
I'm still here so far. For the most part it seems that treatment options have ended. And in fact my doctor has now given me a timeline.....a few weeks to maybe 18 months. The future now is easy for me, my lovely wife Bobbi has the hard part now.
It's hard for both of you, we know that. I'm watching my parents go through something similar.
Easy enough to say be strong and so on, until it happens to you. We're with you, dude, and this is a good place to vent and get what comfort we can give.
- oldman
I really don't know what to say. So I think I will just say that I love you, and that goes for the lot of you all. You all have given me great memories and laughs. I thank you for that colmbo. :pray <3
I really don't know what to say. So I think I will just say that I love you, and that goes for the lot of you all. You all have given me great memories and laughs. I thank you for that colmbo. :pray <3
https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-mirror-oct-10-2001-p-1/
Columbo on his B-24?
A word that gentlemen usually do not use amongst themselves in reference to other gentlemen, but we know we mean it.
https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-mirror-oct-10-2001-p-1/
Columbo on his B-24?
That's right around the time I took my type ride.
Any reputable hospital, today, does not have just one doctor reviewing a cancer patients case. It is done by committee. The goal to have as many eyes on it as possible to see if anyone has any suggested paths for dealing with it.That's exactly the scenario my wife went through a decade ago. Things weren't happening fast locally in Roanoke, and we found our insurance allowed us to go to UVA. After our fist visit, they developed a scheduled treatment plan that stretched out nearly two months
My Wife went through it a couple of years ago. The committee was impressive and kept in the background so she only had to deal with one doctor. His task was to offer up all the solutions and talk about pros and cons of each.
The communications between doctors today is rather impressive and it certainly paid off for my Wife. She is clear today due to one of the research centers just going into clinical trails and qualifying her without us having to do a thing. It was the committee approach. It worked for her.
Whatever happens colmbo, I hope it takes the best path possible for the given condition.
That's right around the time I took my type ride.I was working at a job site in NC (a jail) and while chatting with the old fella who was operating the controls, the subject of video games, warbirds and restorations came up. I mentioned at some point this guy on AH that got to fly the B24 for the CAF (or whatever they call it now) Turns out he volunteers on some of these projects, and
I was working at a job site in NC (a jail) and while chatting with the old fella who was operating the controls, the subject of video games, warbirds and restorations came up. I mentioned at some point this guy on AH that got to fly the B24 for the CAF (or whatever they call it now) Turns out he volunteers on some of these projects, and
he knows you (or at least who you are)
Small world. I'll keep you in my prayers
Hitech you really need to lighten up and allow posters 1 post per year in which a prohibited expletive is allowed.
&%@#!!! :furious
I found out last week that I have pancreatic cancer. For those that aren't aware there is no cure. One year survival is only 20%. It appears mine has spread to the liver as well so I'm not expecting to make it a year. I knew the neck cancer had me limited to probably a few more years at best but this new development has really cut into my social and gaming schedule!!
I started "this" in '92 or '93 playing Air Warrior on Genie @ $6/hour (heroin addicts think they have an expensive habit) then it was Mac Air Warrior on AOL until that folded up. Once I upgraded the computer it was Warbirds for many years until it deteriorated and I moved to Aces High. It has been an awesome time filled with awesome people. <S>
I won't be online much, if at all. I'll be busy trying to move my wife closer to family if this *&^$#$@ (okay Dale, maybe we'll need to use two expletives) disease gives me enough time.
Big picture, quit worrying about being hoed, runners, blah blah blah. It's a game, just have fun. Enjoy life, you never know when it will be cut short.
Dale "Columbo" Falk
Your outlook is amazing, my friend.
Never seen anything even close.
We're with you, dude.
- oldman
Columbo, the example you display walking thru this is truly inspirational. :saluteDitto. :salute
Columbo, the example you display walking thru this is truly inspirational. :salute
I was a paratrooper so the "never quit" attitude was built in which does help as well as 20 years as a street cop needing a will to survive.
You know guys I don't feel inspirational. I feel mostly confused. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to act. I was a paratrooper so the "never quit" attitude was built in which does help as well as 20 years as a street cop needing a will to survive. But that was all just potential threats, this is right here, right now. Just yesterday the Doc found another lymph node tumor (most likely not treatable by radiation since I've already been zapped almost everywhere) and I might have a mass on the right mastoid -- bone cancer is know to be painful. I did start a new round of chemo therapy yesterday but even the Doc has little hope that it will be effective. I have this niggling feeling that I'm getting close to the end...I hope my 6th sense sucks. :D On a plus side it seems as if some of the cognitive issues I was having has eased so perhaps some of the radiation brain damage has eased.
So what I'm doing is getting things tied up to minimize work for Bobbi. We spend all our time together. We meet with friends as much as possible, just have fun while we can. Today it's the Alaska State Fair...home of the mini-donut (I am a retired cop :police:), elephant ear and funnel cake!!
I have to admit there is some curiosity about what "death" is like. Will I sense it? Feel it? Depending on what the brain cancer does I might not be aware of anything. If at all possible I'll try to post here. :devil
If you get sick keep and close eye on your medical team. Never assume they are keeping an eye on your condition, labs, images, etc. I suggest marrying a nurse with 40+ years of experience. Very handy having her knowledge and experience available...and she is a hot nurse....I'm sure you've all seen those videos. :x
You know guys I don't feel inspirational. I feel mostly confused. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to act.
Dude. Really. You have earned the right to act any way you want to. Your hot wife, your friends here...we all get that. Time to relax. Just keep us posted, it matters a lot to the rest of us.
- oldman
Enjoy every moment, stay positive.
The Medallion Corporation is an aviation safety group here in Alaska, and perhaps lower 48 as well, that operates simulators and promote safe operating practices, etc. I've always wanted to try one of the sims so since they are demoing at the Alaska State Fair I popped in to fly the Super Cub, full motion sim. :) If you ever flew Microsoft Flight sim back in the early 90s you'll remember how crappy the control response was. I was appalled at how poorly this thing flew....I actually crashed on the first take off!!! The control delay was huge, the 2nd go I pinned by stick arm to my leg and used only the finger tips, same with the rudder. Got it into the air, absolutely no feel for flaps or speed changes, and started working around the pattern. The young cutie girl running the sim warned me off of the "only 750' strip" and when I wasn't too worried, I used to work the 182 out of 300' she asked if it had a tailwheel. :0 Managed to get around the pattern and back on the ground and stopped. I really have to wonder how much effective training they can do in a sim that models flight that poorly ---- Air Warrior, Warbirds or Aces High does a far better better job.
Dale,
Tomorrow, my CT Scan will determine the extent of my condition
Dan "patches" Bruce
A sue sign the end is near. I spent about 10 minutes looking around the house tonight looking for my reading glasses. I asked my wife if she had seen them, she said no. A few minutes later the frustration of dealing with the dain barrage and trying to figure out where I had set my classes caused e to pause and rub my face...yep the glasses were on my face the whole time. I really got get the Rx checked on those things!!
I was in one of the original paratroop units in Alaska. There were 3 Infantry battalions in Alaska -- the 1/60th and 4/23 battalions of the 172nd Infantry Brigade posted at Ft. Richardson near Anchorage and the 4/9th battalion of the 171st Infantry based at Ft. Wainright near Fairbanks. The "Charlie" company of each of those battalions was an airborne company equipped with a weapons platoon of 81mm mortars (I was 11C). Company O Rangers had been here in Alaska but was dissolved and the cadre used to start up the three airborne companies. IIRC that change occurred around Sep or Oct of 72. I got to Ft. Richardson on Mar 16, 1973. Very shortly after my arrival they disbanded the 171st and brought the 4/9 Inf and other associated units into the 172nd.
It was a silly command structure. In order to get a "mass" jump we had to work with 3 battalions just to get 3 companies onto the drop zone. :) For us individual airborne companies it was a blast. On virtually every big field problem (2 per year that were Brigage wide with units from lower 48 and foreign nations) the airborne companies acted as aggressors so many time multiple jumps per FX, operating as guerrillas, etc. Not as much fun for the leg units when we would go to the range with "battalion mortars". Legs and airborne troops don't think the same sometimes. Legs went out one morning to fire danger close with their 81s....the army reg 200 meters. When we went out that after noon our FDC brain computed off the top of the gun chart (and got it approved by our Platoon Leader Lt) and our two gun section put a single round each of HE on delay (to limit frag). The round from my gun impacted 42 paces in from of my gun, considered the bunny boots and6 inches of snow that was estimated at 37 meters, book min range for the 81 was 72 meters. Now everything would have been great except Spec. Wight decided to stand up behind my gun 20 meters or so and watch the flight of the round. (easy to do at charge zero) To give him credit he did take some precaution and just before the round impacted he bent over and stuck his fingers in his ears. (The rest of us were pulling the buttons of our shirts to get lower (Willie and Joe quote). A matchhead size piece of frag passed just under his chin and hit him on the right wrist bone and stuck there sizzling. The squeal as he thrashed around on the ground was somewhat satisfying. What wasn't quite as fun was the conversation with my 4 tour Vietnam veteran Platoon Sgt (Sgt Wilson had a combat patch for every day of the week and was a great boss). Luckily I had covered my bellybutton with my instructions so all I got was a never again trust your platoon Lt. The conversation with the West Point platoon Lt was much more detailed according to rumor, being a good NCO the rest of the world was not privy to that conversation. I just wish I had a GoPro in those days, the video would have been awesome!!
Sometime after I discharge in Aug 76 they switched to true Airborne Battalions of the 506th and 501st at Ft Richardson and those guys have done several deployments to the Mid East.
I apologize if that was more answer that you were looking for but usually takes and bit of explaining for folks used to the usual "82 Airborne" answer....and you opened the memory gate. :)
Were you a paratrooper?
Airborne!!
A sue sign the end is near. I spent about 10 minutes looking around the house tonight looking for my reading glasses. I asked my wife if she had seen them, she said no. A few minutes later the frustration of dealing with the dain barrage and trying to figure out where I had set my classes caused e to pause and rub my face...yep the glasses were on my face the whole time. I really got get the Rx checked on those things!!
A sue sign the end is near. I spent about 10 minutes looking around the house tonight looking for my reading glasses. I asked my wife if she had seen them, she said no. A few minutes later the frustration of dealing with the dain barrage and trying to figure out where I had set my classes caused e to pause and rub my face...yep the glasses were on my face the whole time. I really got get the Rx checked on those things!!
I apologize if that was more answer that you were looking for but usually takes and bit of explaining for folks used to the usual "82 Airborne" answer....and you opened the memory gate. :)
Were you a paratrooper?
Airborne!!
Yes, I was a paratrooper, served with 1-325AIR-82ndABN DIV, and 1st, 5th, and 10th Special Forces Groups.
<S>
Colmbo.
Sorry to hear man. Hope the time you have in this world is filled with love and family.
Good news is the CT they did checking for lung clots shows the pancreas tumor appears to have been shrunk by the radiation so I might have gained a bit of time.
Well that was a close one. My combo of radiation and chemo treatment pushed me over the edge into pneumonitis...inflammation of the lung tissues which prevents the lungs from working. Ended up admitted to the hospital, couldn't make it to the toilet without having a bailout bottle with me!! FYI, gasping for air is very alarming.
I was able to escape and come home yesterday but after some frank conversations with the oncology doc there is no further treatment so I've gone down the Do Not Rescusitate/Comfort One route. I had this spiffy home O2 setup so while I'm able we can do things, toward the end they ease the discomforte.
I have recovered fairly well so not the end today. As soon as we recover from the stress of being in the hospital we'll get out a bit.
Great stories Puma, keep em coming.
Well that was a close one. My combo of radiation and chemo treatment pushed me over the edge into pneumonitis...inflammation of the lung tissues which prevents the lungs from working. Ended up admitted to the hospital, couldn't make it to the toilet without having a bailout bottle with me!! FYI, gasping for air is very alarming.
I was able to escape and come home yesterday but after some frank conversations with the oncology doc there is no further treatment so I've gone down the Do Not Rescusitate/Comfort One route. I had this spiffy home O2 setup so while I'm able we can do things, toward the end they ease the discomforte.
I have recovered fairly well so not the end today. As soon as we recover from the stress of being in the hospital we'll get out a bit.
Great stories Puma, keep em coming.
Well that was a close one. My combo of radiation and chemo treatment pushed me over the edge into pneumonitis...inflammation of the lung tissues which prevents the lungs from working. Ended up admitted to the hospital, couldn't make it to the toilet without having a bailout bottle with me!! FYI, gasping for air is very alarming.
I was able to escape and come home yesterday but after some frank conversations with the oncology doc there is no further treatment so I've gone down the Do Not Rescusitate/Comfort One route. I had this spiffy home O2 setup so while I'm able we can do things, toward the end they ease the discomforte.
I have recovered fairly well so not the end today. As soon as we recover from the stress of being in the hospital we'll get out a bit.
Great stories Puma, keep em coming.