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Taking it on the chin.

islandmonkey

Well Known Member
A few weeks ago I was feeling pretty unwell but still struggling into work. I thought I was coming down with a bad dose of flu untill the guys at work literally forced me to go to the doctors. Anyway a week later I was in hospital for a stay of two or three days that eventually lasted for nine days, doing a fair impression of a pin cushion. Turns out I have cancer that is in a pretty advanced state and I had my first chemo last Wedneday. I am not going to go into any more details on this. I have my RV-4 wings sitting at Vans ready for shipment and do you know what, I am going to take shipment and not cancel. I am going to use the incentive of building these wings to try and beat this thing.

I am being positive about this and I am not afraid of the future. Family have been marvelous. Work friends and colleagues have also rallyed to my side. It is wonderfull the pick me up you get when you get a visitor if your in hospital.
I am going to use the incentive and the positive influence that building gives you to get as far on with this project as I can.

The major downside I have found is that after your gone life goes on and loved ones are left behind. Telling a close family member the news is so far the worst thing I have experienced in my life. My son and daughter are here in Switzerland with me this weekend and it is great. There will be tears on Sunday when they have to leave to go back to England.
 
WoW

Anthony, -------- what to say??

Will be praying for you.

I like your attitude, I like it a lot.

Take care..................
 
Keep the good attitude..

In November 2007 my wife was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic melanoma, and given less than a year.

She said BS!! She has had seven surgeries and has been on chemo the last year fighting the beast. Prayers, friends and a positive attitude have sustained her.

Keep up the fight, my wife and I and the rest of the VAF family are behind you all the way!!
 
Wish you the absolute best. Stay positive the mind can be a very powerful tool, sometime more powerful than any science.
 
Mike

I'm like Mike.....what is there to say?

Carrots, sweet potatos and any other form of beta carrotene......lots of it too.

Keep your positive attitude. You never know what the Almighty has in store for you. I'll be praying for you.
 
Courageous

I applaud your courage and tenacity to keep building and not give up on life due to the 'C' word. Fight hard!
 
"NUTS." --General Anthony C. McAuliffe, 101st Airborne Division, United States Army, at Bastogne, Belgium, December, 1944.

Anthony, you share not only Gen. McAuliffe's first name, but every bit of his fighting spirit. Never surrender!

Here at VAF, we are: Right. There. With. You.

I have been bolstered by this community through a life-changing trial of my own, and I adopted its best advice: BUILD ON!

Thank you for your inspiritation. What can we do for you?

Stephen
 
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Our cancer fight

Wife Deb's multiple Myeloma battle

blog at debdarley.blogspot.com

Start at the beginning
 
thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing your fight.
Nothing like hearing the "C" word to put life in perspective.
It always amazes me how important my family / friends becomes as I get older. Sounds like it is the same for you as well. Your positive outlook will go far to help fight the fight. I will be praying for your recovery!
 
Hang in there, the RV-4 is worth living for.

Hang in there, finish the wings and the rest of the aircraft. You won't be disappointed in the finished project.

I have nearly 2000 hours in RV-4s and still enjoy mine.

My best wishes for completion of the -4 and remission of your cancer.
 
Anthony

One Brit RV4 builder to another......... good luck.

I know its a shock but your taking the right attitude, I know lots of people who have pulled through this recently including my ex wife. Apart from hair loss you would never have known she as on chemo.

Also to flying friends who had prostrate both ok now!

Get them wings built!!!

Steve Arnold
 
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Anthony,

Words escape me, my friend. I just don't know what to say other than that you are in my prayers every single day and I'm pushing as much positive energy your way as I possibly can.

You'll beat this thing.
 
Anthony,

As a cancer survivor for over 20 years now, I believe that a positive attitude is one of the most important things for beating this and you seem to have it.
I think you will be joining our ranks.

The road is a little rough but the Rewards are great.

Good Luck to you my friend.

Nikolaos Napoli
Building RV10
 
Anthony Johnston

You are in my prayers and will remain so until I hear you are cured/in remission. As a cancer survivor I understand what you are feeling.
God bless you.
Don
 
Beat the beast Anthony

Anthony I know you WILL recover. Get the wings and start building them it will help tremendously. Do NOT surrender!
 
We're your outlet...

Anthony - keep those high spirits and stay in the fight for flight !

We're all here for you to help in the low spots to help you gain that "altitude".

Build on RV brother!
 
Anthony,

Just like building your RV, one little thing at a time and soon it will be behind you!

Keep us up todate on your progress!
 
Keep the faith

Your courage is amazing and an inspiration to us all. Start building those wings and don't let anything keep you from your dreams. We will be pulling for you and keep you in our prayers!!:)
 
Anthony

I am a surgeon and we see patients who do amazingly better than any prediction.

Keep positive, do the therapy, and keep building, and loving and laughing and enjoy each day as we all should.

Best wishes and give the disease a **** of a time

John
Melbourne
Australia

PS You'll need to stay fit for the next Ashes Tour - it pains me to say, but you Poms may have a half decent chance of beating us!
 
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Anthony,
You DA MAN!! Positive mindset and educate yourself about your condition and all possible options. You know how builders can spend hours analyzing just exactly how to rivet two parts together...tackle this the same way...spend time educating yourself on how to beat this thing.
Read Lance Armstrongs book; "It's not about the Bike."
You are in my prayers, fight it with all you got!
 
A story that could save your life Anthony....

Anthony,

This post may go on for a while but I feel a duty to communicate this to you.

When I was in 3rd year at the Royal Melbourne Intitue of Technology, studying Chemo Drugs, as one of my App BSc Degree subjects.

One of my Favourite lectures told us a story about a Chemo drug he was once a part of creating. He was one of my favourite professors becasue for one he had published like 100 papers and was humble about his achievements and basically did what he did because it gave people life.

He told us about a Chemo drug they were testing with two Lab rat sets. The first set was getting the Chemo drug and the second set was getting injected with sailine. Water really.

You see Rates get cancer easily, thats why they are used for tests so then they can tests for a lower than average amount of cancer than they normally get.

So they ran the test and what they found was that the first group, the one getting the test drug was getting standard levels of cancer in rats. The second group didn't. Pretty normal results for a drug that desn't work. They ran it again.

The second run got the same result which was a normal statistical level of cancer in the first group and the second group got none. Again this was a little more odd because the second group didn't have any cases but thats not unheard of, just natural variation. like rolling a "6" twice in a row.

They ran the test again. They got the same result. EXACTLY the same result. Now this was not usual. That makes it 3 "6"s that had been rolled in a row. Something was odd.

They tested everying in the second group, all the feed, the water, the bedding material, the cages, the air quality, everything. It was all the same as the first group there wasn't anything chemical that the control group were getting that the test group weren't. They were just surviving for some unknown reason.

So they they tried it one more time to see what would happen. Again the test group, normal levels of cancer, the control group no cancer at all.

So now they got closer and they looked for ANY variations and they found that the only variation was that by chance the first group was getting fed just as the lab attendants changed shifts and one guy fed the first group before he left and the next guy fed the second group just as he came on. They checked changes in the feed and it all came out of the same bucket.

They asked the Lab techs, is there ANYTHING your doing differently, or anything you can notice is different about the rats.

The guy in charge in the afternoon said "no nothing, the only time I touch them is when I feed the second group but I have noticed that when Looey comes to the front of his cage, he is much faster than Max and...."

"What did you say? What did you call them?!" The test team questioned.

The Rats only had numbers on the front of the cages, They never had names.

So sheepishly the second attendant admitted that he felt sorry for the little guys in the cages so when he fed them he would take them out of the cages and feed them by hand and he gave them names and said good bye to them as he changed shifts.


My Professor told us "he wasn't giving them anything, just a bit of love. On that day I realised that everything I had ever studied about anti-cancer drugs, the decades I had spent trying to beat this disease was out performed by the affection of a well meaning human being. I learnt that when you give an animal, human or not, a boost to its spirit, you are giving it what it needs to survive."

My professor stood infront of our class and said "it invalidated all of my lifes work in one foul blow and for some reason I couldn't have been happier with the result."




So Anthony, you build that -4 and post everything you do to this site because we will be watching brother, from all over the world we will be watching.

Life ain't over till you say its over and there won't be a man or woman on this site that isn't willing you to live.

Gods speed mate.

Lookin forward to your next post..... ;-)
 
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Thanks

Thanks very much for all the positive messages of encouragement Guys. It is great that Doug has this site that has established a worldwide community of people from all walks of life with a common interest to give support and encouragement on various issues. These issues vary right across the board from technical, flying technique, "What do think of my panel", to actually getting your mindset correct in embarking on a difficult stage of construction and as such there should be a new department created within the United Nations call the United Nations of RV Flyers. Your messages of encouragement are a great inspiration, thanks from the bottom of my heart.

Today I got up without assistance, played with the thee dogs a bit, had a chat with my son Paul, Claire, his girlfriend and my daughter Louisa. Chrissie my better half took all three for a walk up the hill to see the dogs (greyhounds and lurchers) run.

The fact that my close family are here and maybe the three beers last night and posting this thread have made this the best day I have had since getting out of hospital. Chemo continues next Wednesday. The fact that I am in the best place in Western Europe for medical treatment is a big bonus.
 
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Great attitude Anthony. You are setting a high standard for your family, friends, and coworkers, and giving them comfort knowing you are in a good place mentally for any eventuality.

Hang in there mate! Stiff upper lip and all that. :D


Your VAF family is proud also. ;)
 
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You can do this

Anthony, so sorry to hear the news, you can do it, you can build the wings and fight the "C"", this will give you a great incentive, and dont forget, your a Brit and we're stubborn buggers who don't like anything to get in our way so your going to finish that plane!

Good luck

Marti
 
Attitude +++

Anthony,

I'm blown away by your positive attitude. Whatever the outcome, your attitude will see you through. I'm inspired by you.
 
Anthony, so sorry to hear the news, you can do it, you can build the wings and fight the "C"", this will give you a great incentive, and dont forget, your a Brit and we're stubborn buggers who don't like anything to get in our way so your going to finish that plane!

Good luck

Marti

I am the definitive "Stubborn Bugger". Thanks mate for the encouragement.
 
Anthony,
Your attitude will be a source of strength for the days ahead. My Mother fought the C battle and the one thing I learned from her battle is every single day of life is precious. Yes, there were bad days, but there were good days, too. Also, your prayers as well as those of others, will give you strength. Build those wings!
 
Yep

It can definitely be beaten!

I have a close friend in Tennessee who had pancreatic cancer 14 years ago and his wife had called and asked me if I'd be available as a pallbearer! I said yes and then my whole family and theirs, started praying in earnest, as did his wife and the whole family.

Today, he sends me a picture of his two grandkids, 6 and 4, on his lap:)

As you probably know, very few survive pancreatic cancer.

Best,

ps...my pink shirt goes back on!

Pinkshirt.jpg
 
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Attitude!

Anthony,
Great attitude! Keep it up, prayers coming your way! My sister is in remission from Stage 4, coming up on 6 years in May..... the power of pray is Great!

Rebecca
 
Attitude is half the battle, the other half is faith!!

Hey Anthony my first post was only yesterday and I am yet to start building my RV9A but I thought that you need to know that support comes from all around the world. I recently had a 'minor' scare with a melanoma that seemed to get everybody into panic mode and all of a sudden I was involved with oncologists and specialist surgeons and lymph node biopsies and CT scans and blood tests and plastic surgeons and and and!!! Anyway, prior to all this drama I was just about to go for my flying medical which I then had to put on hold for a while, however, there is nothing like the "C" word to get your attention and sharpen your focus. Fortunately for me, everything has [so far] worked out fine and I am now more determined than ever to fulfill my lifelong dream of building and flying my own plane and plan to start the RV9A in the new year. So, to get to the point, firstly there is no doubt that if you give up on life it will give up on you and you've already got that one beat, you have a purpose and an ultimate goal, to finish your RV. Secondly, your mind is going to fully occupied with your project (those plans are a little daunting!!:confused:), so you won't have time to even think about whether you feel lousy or not - which is another plus. Thirdly you must have the faith that you can beat this thing and with the Lords help, and all the prayers that are with you, you will discover the strength to overcome the cancer and lastly, but not least, you have the support of this amazing RV community to lean on. As they say in Africa, the only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time, so if at times it seems that things are getting a bit tough, don't give up - just take smaller bites for a while and then carry on! Take care, know our thoughts are with you and continue to fight the good fight.
Kevin Walker
 
Very sad to hear your news. Remember that cancer is just another disease. It has this strange power only if we give it.

Focus on what you can do today to make tomorrow better and don't worry about the rest. And keep going. Always keep going.

TODR
 
Update

Just a short update.

In early December, I was put on a combination of morphine and cortisone which dramatically reduced the pain I was having. After this, I was put on a treatment of chemo which then had to be halted in December for me to go on a radiation therapy regime of 10 treatments. My condition during the radiation therapy improved dramatically and the pain I was experiencing in my back and sides stopped almost altogether. However the effects of the radiation therapy came on about a week after the treatment finished and these effects are really debilitating. I am slowly recovering from these effects now but it has been a struggle. I now know first hand what disabled people go through and it has been an eye opener. I start a new regime of chemo tomorrow (Valentines Day) with a new drug. I have had a portable catheter inserted surgically in my chest just under my collar bone where one of the drugs can be introduced over a period of two days. This regime of treatment is set to last until July. I am looking forward to further improvement in my condition which is very very slowly happening. Then I can get to the garage and resume building slowly at first.

I have had great support from my family and friends all around the world and that is very inspiring. The best though is Chrissie my angel of a girlfriend, who has been a rock and an anchor in helping me keep a positive attitude throughout the last three months. I would not have known what to do without her. Despite her own worries about me she has pushed and cajoled me to keep on going, to exercise, to eat and to think positive.

From time to time also, I open this post and look through all the messages from The VAF Community and it gives me a real boost to carry on with the skirmish and to Hang Tough.

I am determined to beat this thing. My attitude is very truly positive, with a few small minor dents that are banged out by the love and support I have from close family and the support and inspiration I receive from friends and The VAF Community.

I thank you all deeply from the bottom of my heart.
 
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Anthony,
My wife is an oncology nurse and definitely says, as Paintman pointed out, a positive attitude is always the most powerful medicine. Celebrate each day and everyone in your life. Thanks for reaching out to this group of caring, concerned family so we can hold you up spiritually!
 
Then I can get to the garage and resume building slowly at first.

Soldier on, Anthony. I think about you often. May I humbly suggest you are still building--never stopped building, in fact--because you are building from the inside out: the pilot that will someday fly those plane parts in your garage, and also you are building from the outside in: all the rest of us who are inspired by your story to not take our own challenges too seriously.

Best wishes, sir.

--
Stephen
 
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From time to time also, I open this post and look through all the messages from the VAF community and it gives me a real boost to carry on with the fight and to Hang Tough.

So then it is time for another round of VAF medicine.

Internet I.V sorta stuff:D

Sounds like you are making progress, which is fantastic news.

Carry on, our prayers are with you.
 
Hang tough!

Hang in there!

As it was said, keep it positive and visualize yourself finishing and flying your RV - best medicine there is.

We're all pulling for you!
 
Hang Tough

Anthony,

About 2 years ago, I was told I had a one in three chance of survival from the Cancer I had, and a 1 in 10 of the process.

These folks in this group were almost the only support I had and they got me through it. We are all family in this group and we all hurt when one of of hurts.

I now have cleared my first 4 CT scans that show no return of the cancer.

6 More to go over the next 3 years but now the Doctors feel I will survive the Cancer and they now expect me to survive the process.

Hang tough Anthony!! You with your attitude you will win!!
 
Anthony I Had No Idea What You are Going Through

I never read your post back in mid November because I just didn't spend as much time on the internet then. When My wife Jeanine died in January you came to our support never mentioning your own problems with cancer. I am bitter, heart broken and helpless because she is gone. I know we never gave up hope and as things developed to keep us from doing what we would normally do, we enjoyed doing what we could do. People that have not experienced such things don't fully understand the importance of a teammate like your Chrissie and the lengths you have to go together to stay alive and give the treatment a chance while you live in a personal environment modified as necessary to function. God bless you my friend - one day at a time.

Bob Axsom
 
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I reread your post from earlier today

Your Catheter sounds like the port they implanted in Jeanine it was a great thing to have for test (except when the needed arterial blood) and all of the IV fluids, chemo treatments and blood transfusions. We never had a chemo treatment that lasted more than 6 hours. What is the new drug? Tell me how it works out.

How far have you gotten on the RV-4?

Bob Axsom
 
My RV7 definitely helped

After cancer surgery while recovering still with a Foley catheter and a bag strapped to my leg, I went to the Arlington air show and saw Vans RV7 for the first time. I told my wife that I really would have liked to build one but the doc only gave me three years and I still had radiation to go through. She told me to buy it anyway which I did! I started building while recovering. I think looking forward to finishing it was a very positive thing for me. This all took place 11 years ago, now my Doc says I am cured and I am happily flying my RV7. I have always felt the airplane project was part of my successful treatment! Anthony, keep the positive attitude and the RV4 project going, you can win the fight!
 
Where's the "LIKE" button? (I've been on Facebook too long!) Lots of good thoughts here. Sharing and encouraging is good therapy...for the patients as well as for the caregivers.

My brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor 5 days before Christmas Day. (Glioblastoma...a very difficult form of cancer, because it can re-occur elsewhere so quickly.) He is now undergoing Radiation and Chemo. He lives alone; no children, no wife...BUT he has several friends who are assisting him. I'm trying to be positive with him, encouraging him to take just one day at a time. It's a difficult road.
 
BEST WISHES

Sorry to hear that you have such a challenge, and heartened to hear that you are facing it with courage and determination, and much support from family and friends.

I have enjoyed reading your posts, and look forward to many more.

I wish you well from the far south.

Bob
 
Hey Antony..

Great on the attitude matey!..Hang in there and rememebr the old stiff upper lip!

From one ex pat to the other!

Beat this thing!

Frank
 
We're all sending our positive vibes over so that we get to see you do your first flight on your RV and beat that horrible disease.

You have Blighty blood in your veins! You can do it!
 
Go Anthony!

Anthony,
I am glad you have family and friend support. The personal support is a huge positive. Point is: you have around 35,000, mostly lurkers, on this site, pulling for you with support. This is thanks to Doug for maintaining this site.
My Mom has level 4 "C." She said the port in her shoulder has been wonderful, 3 years now.

My Mom also said, the most important things that have helped her were, personal support, a positive attitude and something to focus on. You have all these more than my Mom and she is still doing great! So will you. Build those wings.

Lastly, I want to personally tell you how I have appreciated your posts on VAF. You are also an excellent inspiration for all 35,000 of us here on VAF.
You are in my prayers.
Thank you.
 
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