My CG buddy has throat cancer...
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At my seasonal camp site, the guy across the trail kept complaining his throat was sore, its hard to swallow and sometimes, he would weeze while breathing. And, his voice changed over a 1 year time period as well. This went "on and on" and he didn't visit a doctor. And, he continued to smoke - as if nothing was wrong with his body. To make a long story short, he couldn't breath one night, was rushed into the hospital via 911 call and a few hours later, he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Its late stage 4 and he only has a 30% of surviing the 1st year. Even with radiation and chemo, he has a 10% chance of surving 2 more years. And, he has 5% chance of surviving 3 years. With his type of cancer and its size, no one had made it past year 5. If wondering, the cancer is up/down his inner throat, around his voice box and latched onto his vertical swallowing tube. It's so large, it cannot be surgically removed. Intense radiation and chemo is his only hope. Today, he's upset with himself. re: Should have visited a doctor instead of doing the "typical guy" thing. The typical guy of "I'll see a doctor later" attitude. If wondering, he's now a ex-smoker (quit the night he couldn't breath anymore) but his wife and kid still smoke. And, they smoke around him - which I don't understand....
And the really sad part... He's one heck of a nice guy. Always down to earth, doesn't have an ego and always willing to help others. I don't know why "the good one's" have bad luck as well. I don't understand this either...
Guys (and gals). If you have a pain or sinus congestion or sore throat that won't go away after 9-12 days, go see a doctor. Get it investigated before it's too late - like my camp ground buddy.... Lesson learned the hard way....
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