My NETs was found during an episode of jaundice, where a bile duct was blocked by gallbladder stones. During that hospital visit a spot was found on the lung in an X-ray. A PET scan was performed and cancer was diagnosed. A biopsy was completed a week later and NETs was confirmed. No other symptoms have been experienced.

It’s been a whirlwind of activity sense the diagnosis over the last 3 weeks where doctors and procedures are have been assembling to complete a treatment plan. Next week an MRI has been added to an already full schedule.

As I take in an overwhelming amount of information from doctors and staff, whose names I can barely remember, along with the appointments I have come to the conclusion that this team is somewhat fractured. Or maybe siloed is a better term.

Instead of getting calls and appointments from the different disciplines involved there seems to be a need for a single point of contact or traffic manager to keep it all sorted.

I understand this is all a precursor to formulating a treatment plan but it seems somewhat disjointed. Or maybe it’s just me and my coping skills. Anyway the treatment plan will be communicated 5 weeks after the initial finding so I’m a little less than 2 more weeks of living in moment.

As a side note prior to the jaundice I was and am a healthy living senior who leads an active lifestyle and consider fit for my age as my daily routines included regular workouts, cardio, perfect blood pressures, and not on any medications.

I will hate to see all my efforts to stay fit be devastated by the cancer or the treatments. Yet as a flip side I am strong in stature to take on the disease. (For now)

My mind is such that I consider this a battle for my life, as someone that lives a schedule and structured life, I’m struggling with the unknowns that I am not able to quantify or control.

Add to all of that is the human factor, of family and friends. Who to share this information with and when. It’s really a dark subject that when shared makes people question their morality and test their faith.

I have come to the conclusion that getting old sucks. I also feel the need to weight out my treatment options as ultimately I am my best advocate.

I suspect that there are many people facing life altering illnesses that are going through the same processes.

I think I’ll have a tee-shirt printed with the Dylan Thomas poem on it.. “Do not go gentle into that good night”. It seems appropriate for me.