Hi Mitchell, believe me, I’ve been where you are with the disappointment that my body let me down! I did everything I could all of my adult life to avoid cancer…but a blood cancer never, ever entered my mind! I seriously had no time to think about it because I was rushed to the hospital and started treatment ASAP. If I’d had time to look up the meds, I’d sure I’d have been backpedaling as fast as I could. 😅 But there was no option…treatment or the final curtain bow.

To answer your question, my cancer journey is over. My hematologist/oncologist and transplant doctors feel it is. I have a new immune system from an anonymous donor because mine was defective, not from treatment but from the cancer itself. I am 4 years in deep remission, no sign of cancer cells or relapse. 5 years clean is generally the benchmark for ‘cured’. But we’re pretty confident that this is success story.
At this point, except for Covid lurking out there, my life is 99% normal. I’m 69 but have the energy of a 20 year old. I walk extensively daily, exercise, travel, garden (with a mask) and really feel as though nothing happened. However, my immune system will never be as robust as the factory installed model so I still do wear a mask in stores or gatherings, I don’t eat in restaurants and focus on extra sanitation measures. But other than that, I’m on no medications and living life to the fullest.
Have to admit, at the time though, going through the treatments there were days when I couldn’t imagine a body enduring that treatment and coming out whole! But, as we joke in our house, “better living through chemistry”… Big pharma gets a bad rap. All the research and science behind these medications is incredible and they work!

A friend of mine had kidney cancer. It metastasized to her lungs and brain. Her defective kidney was removed, brain lesions zapped with gamma knife radiation, and her lung cancer treated with the biologic, Opdivo. That was 8 years ago! Opdivo didn’t destroy her immune system. It ramped it up to attack the cancer cells in her lungs. It all worked!
8 years later, that friend, who just turned 70, bikes 20 miles daily, cross country skis, kayaks, hikes with me, does all her own yard work, drives/flies solo trips all over the US, etc.

When diagnosed, her local oncologist told her to get her affairs in order because ‘this will take you out.’ She didn’t take that answer and sought a second opinion. The new doctor felt he could take this on with a better outcome. These aggressive drugs and treatments worked with no ill longterm side effects.

She and I were both willing to take the chance with these meds. Can there be consequences down the road? Maybe? But she and I took the risks and are now enjoying the heck out of the second opportunity to live our lives. There’s something very empowering about overcoming the formidable adversary of cancer.

If you do require treatment, it can be a bit of a setback in your immediate plans to travel but always look to the future! This will be a little detour along the route but there’s a lifetime of journeys and adventures ahead of you. (Yes, I am always this perky).