My Dan

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Our bodies—filled with mystery, steeped in misunderstanding—are often all we have. Sometimes our bodies are through with us in a very short time, sometimes it seems we stick around longer than Gandalf’s beard. If we have the opportunity to reach our middle years, we discover our bodies in very new ways. We learn they creak and groan and click most annoyingly.

Sometimes our bodies must be taken apart and reassembled with less jigsaw pieces than we started with.

That’s where we are right now.

Slightly over two weeks ago, My Dan had some simple tests to see if there might be a connection between his ridiculously high blood pressure and his kidney arteries. Everything is well on that front. However, incidental to the testing, a 2.8 cm lung mass was discovered.

We sure know how to stir things up around the old Bloggybirdery.

My Dan was immediately referred for specific testing and was soon diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. I need to repeat that: Lung Cancer! His specific type of lung cancer is called adenocarcinoma. We’re both non-smokers, so the news was immediately stunning. Once the word cancer is introduced, nothing else matters. Creaking and groaning and clicking cease to be bothersome. There is a cancer…in the body of My Dan and I want it out!

We’re lucky it was caught incidental to a test for something else. He has NO symptoms—we wouldn’t have known otherwise, until it was too late. So very lucky.

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, outpacing breast, prostate and colon cancers combined. It’s a big deal. If you want to learn more about lung cancer, go here. They’ll tell you the truth.

My Dan is on the fast track. He sees a cardiothoracic surgeon on Thursday and will have surgery within the next several days. They don’t seem to mess around with lung cancer. Nevertheless, we’re encouraged that this was caught early and have every reason to believe that My Dan will be on the plus side of possible outcomes.

In the meantime, we’re going to learn to embrace our groaning, creaking, clicking bodies.

Thank you all for your support. We’re not proud—we’ll take whatever you’re able to give. Prayers. Good thoughts. Soup. Just know you are very loved by us and we thank you for your understanding as we maneuver through the ins-and-outs of the surprise of lung cancer.

Yes, our bodies are …..

6 thoughts on “My Dan”

  1. Oh Auburn, we love you both so dearly. Please know we are on our knees for you and should you need anything at all, I am here, there, wherever you need me. Hug him tight for us and big slips from Wislon in our stead.

  2. Auburn, as I tweeted you a few days ago, you are surrounded by people who care and love you both; people you know well and those whose lives are touched by you through cyberspace. We all care and have you in our hearts and prayers.
    Right now, hold yourself dear. Do all you can for your own body, mind and spirit. As caregivers, it is hard to remember to care for ourselves. How many times have I been told that we must put our own oxygen masks on first? Breathe deeply, laugh when you can, love.

    • Mary Margaret, thank you so much for your kind and beautiful words. My hubby and I feel so embraced by the warmth of all the love we are receiving from so very many people. Dan is a beloved person and we WILL get through this time. A huge cyber hug right back at you! 🙂

  3. Dear Auburn: I am so sorry to hear that Dan has lung cancer. What a terrible surprise, but as you said, the good news is it was found early and will be treatable.

    Sending you good thoughts, prayers, and some virtual soup,
    Cecilia