Connect
ROSEMARY: What brought you to Mayo Clinic Connect?
@jc76: I do not remember specifically how it occurred. I have been a patient at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville since 2006. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2023, I think Mayo Clinic Jacksonville reached out to me about attending a seminar on prostate cancer. At that seminar I believe Mayo Clinic Connect came up.
ROSEMARY: What motivates you to take part in the community?
@jc76: When I joined Mayo Clinic Connect, I immediately found others from all over the U.S. and Canada with the same questions and concerns about medical conditions.
Mayo Clinic Connect offered a vast amount of experience and knowledge from others. As I progressed through my diagnosis, treatment and recovery, I found I could add to the discussions.
ROSEMARY: What about Mayo Clinic Connect makes you feel comfortable to share and to be open with the community?
@jc76: I am an introvert. I was in law enforcement for 32 years. I ended my career as a FEMA Special Agent/Security Specialist deputized as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal. My career required me to be extremely careful when speaking to ensure I stayed within protocols of law enforcement, rules and policies. With an introverted personality, this added to my tendency to remain silent.
Being an introvert, it has never been easy for me to be open and speak with others about sensitive things. Speaking with high school alumni later in life, I heard many say they saw me as "stuck up.” That kind of hurt as I was far from it but realized it was that introverted personality that they saw not my being stuck up.
On Mayo Clinic Connect I was able to ask questions, make suggestions, give personal information that I would never be able to do without the online community.
ROSEMARY: What support groups do you participate in?
@jc76: I started in the Prostate Cancer support, but also participate in:
- Prostate Cancer
- Asthma & Allergy
- Bariatric Surgery & Weight Loss
- Bones, Joints & Muscles
- Cancer
- Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
- Heart & Blood Health
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- MAC & Bronchiectasis
- Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19
- Proton Beam Therapy
- Skin Health
- Visiting Mayo Clinic
Wow, that makes me seem like I am an extremely sick guy.
ROSEMARY: Tell us about a meaningful moment on Mayo Clinic Connect.
@jc76: There are so many! Over a year ago a member had the same prostate cancer diagnosis. He was struggling with what to do and where to go just like I had. He lived close to Mayo Jacksonville and University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute (UFHPTI). I was able to pass on information about each of the programs as I was familiar with both. He posted many times thanking me for helping and getting back to him.
I had already gone through the tests, diagnoses and procedures like SpaceOAR and fiducial markers used for prostate cancer radiation treatment as well as managing 30 rounds of radiation treatments.
Sometimes I use private messages to answer some questions. But one member asked if I could put my replies in the open forum so many could benefit from my experience. That felt good and it does help to have many people sharing and everyone learning.
One of the recurring themes I see on the forum is people sharing about their stress and anxiety as they deal with their medical condition. Mayo Clinic specialists emphasize the impact stress, anxiety and depression have on a physical medical condition. I suggest (emphasizing to check with medical providers) to consider starting an exercise or hobby that they enjoy. Exercise and hobbies can help your mental health which has a major influence on your physical health.
ROSEMARY: What surprised you the most about Mayo Clinic Connect?
@jc76: The vast number of individuals on Mayo Clinic Connect. All the different topics and groups you can join and the tremendous amount of knowledge and experience out there that people share to help guide others. The moderators and mentors add so much to the discussions.
ROSEMARY: What energizes you, or how do you find balance in your life?
@jc76: This question really hits a point with me. If you read my posts, you will see I believe in taking care of your mental health and finding something that you enjoy to balance out your life. What I have learned is to try and do something every day that I enjoy both physically and mentally.
ROSEMARY: Tell us about your favorite pastime or activity.
@jc76: Before I got my implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker, I was an avid tennis player. I played in the United States Tennis Association (USTA) leagues. After I got my pacemaker the aggressive nature of tennis created problems with the wires and I had to quit. I was also an avid scuba diver which likewise had to end.
Not being able to do those activities left me in a depressed mood for quite a while. One day talking to a Mayo cardiologist who did triathlons he mentioned Sprint Triathlons. They are shorter distances. I trained for one and WOW did I feel exhilarated crossing the finish line and having a medal placed around my neck. I was 71 the first time I crossed the finish line, thinking here I am with heart failure and a pacemaker finishing a sprint triathlon. I have done over 50 of them now since 2017.
I find water aerobics so enjoyable and I became an addict. I do them Monday to Friday. My introverted personality is not present at water aerobics. I sing and openly participate with others. Exercising to music makes it so much fun. I know most think “What?”, but water aerobics can be easy or hard. It depends on how much you put into it.
ROSEMARY: Do you have a favorite quote, life motto or personal mantra?
@jc76: When JFK gave his inaugural speech and said, “...ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country,” I was only 14 years old. It had a dramatic influence on me then and for the rest of my life. For the next six decades I have tried to emulate that statement toward family, friends, career, community and country.
ROSEMARY: What do you appreciate the most in your friends?
@jc76: Respect, courtesy, caring.
ROSEMARY: Puppies or kittens?
@jc76: I've had both and loved them all, hoping it was reciprocal.
Member Spotlights feature interviews with fellow Connect members. Learn more about members you’ve connected with and some you haven’t met yet. Nominate a member you think should share the spotlight.
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Hi @jc76,
Thank you for sharing your story. With all the groups you've joined, you've really delved into patient advocacy! I agree with you that maintaining a positive attitude is the best thing we can do, and, like you, I try to share that feeling with others. I was also inspired by JFK's speech when I was a youngin' and have always tried to give back to my community.
I'm having some physical challenges myself and like the idea of water aerobics. Inspired by your story, I found a program nearby, and I'll sign up for an assessment later this morning. I can relate to missing former activity as I was a wilderness search and rescue canine handler. Now, I'm having trouble walking smoothly on level ground.
As a Systems Engineer supporting NASA, I also relate to being an introvert. Like you, my lung cancer patient advocacy has helped me talk about things I wouldn't otherwise.
All the best to you and your continued success at living with cancer, as more of us are all the time. In an interview I saw yesterday, a doctor said the research community is working to make living with cancer as standard and as comfortable as living with high blood pressure or diabetes.
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3 ReactionsHello Matthew K
Wow a wilderness search and rescue canine handler. Thank you for your service! I worked at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station from 1976-1990. As you know the CCAFS side is under the Air Force and the KSC side is under NASA, but we worked closely with each other. I was with law enforcement and security as a Shift Commander.
I just did 2 classes yesterday and two today. Only got one tomorrow but it is a killer. We all leave really tired, so one is enough for the level class.
You will find that your balance is so much improved in the water.
I hope your instructors go over the right depth of water with you. The best depth is water at chest level. This allows you to get full benefit of water resistance doing exercises and not too shallow that your weight is not compensated by the water (exercises like running and jumping) nor too deep that you can't control your feet.
I agree on the research being done showing such promising treatments for all types of cancer.
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1 ReactionWow! Sure is nice meeting you!
I especially love how you push through being an introvert through getting involved in community. It made me smile to read about your joy in the Sprint Triathalon and water exercises with music!
Seems like nothing will hold you back! Awrsome!
And thank you.
CindyC
CHrcc
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2 ReactionsThank you! I just joined and you give me hope that I will be able to participate in a meaningful way, as you just demonstrated. 😊
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7 ReactionsWelcome aboard @lynzio! We have lots of room on Connect with many different member initiated discussions. If you haven't checked out the search function, it is really helpful when you are looking to connect with other members for specific conditions or symptoms to learn what has helped them. Just click the search field or icon at the top of any Connect page and type a condition, phrase, symptom or even a question to find other members that have the same condition or questions.
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2 Reactions@lynzio
Your welcome. MCC is a great forum to hear the experiences of others.
The introvert seems to go silent on MCC. I find I have already developed a bad habit of really long posts.
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1 Reaction@jc76
I was looking up anxiety related to ablations for my wife and a friend and came across this post/interview. I am glad Mayo did this post for you and others to learn. I appreciate many of the posts that you have provided and think they have been helpful to many people, especially in the prostate area. Keep it up and I look forward to seeing more of them.
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1 Reaction@bens1
Are you talking about the highlight?
I try bens1! For me when was having so many health issues did not know about MCC. I was invited to a Mayo Jacksonville Prostate meeting and learned about it there. Then I started me journey and saw others just coming in with the same fears, anxiety, stress, lack of information, questions and I started posting my experience with the subject and trying where I could to provide inspiration.
I am on a lot of the MCC groups other than PC. I have heart failure so on that group. Have PTSD anxiety/panic disorder so on that group. Serious and chronic sinus issues and on that group. I have had a ICD/Pacemaker for almost 26 years. I think anything that could go wrong and right witht the devices and saw many with questions. So again was able to post my direct experience with it.
Thank you for your kind words.
@jc76
I was talking about your highlight. I had never seen that before on mayo connect.
You certainly have no shortage of issues and I guess on the positive side, you get to try the latest and greatest from Mayo technology wise.
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1 Reaction@bens1
That was some time ago they did the highlight. Those two individuals on my profile picture are my best friends in life.
I think they do a highlight every couple of months. I think they like when I mentioned in one post about being an introvert and MCC allowing me to speak up and talk with comfort.
I think I mentioned all the forums I was on and saying "Boy I really sound sick." I just joined the diabetes forum. I don't have it but my wife does. I thought I could learn from others experiences that could help my wife with her disease. She is not a person that goes on forums like this. I asked her and promoted MCC saying I found a tremendous amount of information with others posting the same things you talk about and have questions if others have had that problem or issue.
When I first went to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville they had one building and no hospital. That was 20 years ago. Since then looks nothing like that with dozens and dozens of specialty buildings and treatments. The only negative now is finding a parking space. Oh well maybe they want you to walk more.
Take care bens1