Erik

Hey all...this is a serious post from me. I wanted to share some not so good news with you all. It's about my bro. Last week, he was diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer. It's news none of us ever want to hear, but at least he has a fairly decent outlook on it...all things considered. I will let him share any further details of it if he wishes, but I did get approval to post this. He doesn't like to draw attention to himself and have people make a fuss, but at least you know why our main moderator may not be as active in the coming weeks/months as he goes through surgery, and following treatments...

All my thoughts to you, Erik. If you need anything, drop me a line and I'll be there.

Hang tough, Erik. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

Thoughts and prayers to you and your family Erik.

Wishing you the best possible outcome Erik... if anyone can run such a 'Marathon,' you can

Erik, I have no doubt you'll beat this thing. Know that I am thinking of you and wishing you the best. As a previous moderator of this forum, please don't hesitate to call on me if you need any assistance.

Warm regards and well wishes,
David

Best wishes and our thoughts are with your family......

Erik,
My (our) thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Cancer is a very scary thing and one needs all the help and support they can get.

God speed to you.

Thanks folks,
I appreciate it. My tumor is pretty large but my CT scan looked pretty good except for a small lesion on my liver. Dr. thinks it may be benign but to make sure I'm having more imaging diagnostics to determin the stage. Stage II-III is probably where I'm at. If you have any bleeding, change of bowel habits, don't hesitate to tell your Dr. and have a colonoscopy. It could save your life. I've had these symptoms for quite a while and just thought they were something else. If I had the colonoscopy 5 years ago, they would have just snared the polyp during the colonoscopy. hopefully next year I'll do my 11th marathon and 12th hood to coast.

Please listen to what Erik is saying. I had those symptoms at 45 years of age, followed the advice he is giving and had I not, well who knows...

Erik, I expect to see you out there running #11 and #12 next year.

Erik,

I have never met you guy in person, but since :1) I am moving to the Portland are as soon as my house sells and 2) the PNWNP is ( this is not meant to be gratuitous) the BEST forum on NPN, I read and contribute from time to time.

I kind of feel like I know you guys just by the posts and the limited interaction I've had.

Having said that, Erik---go KICK this things ass!!!. I am 54 and since I've not had the colonoscopy done, I AM calling the Dr tomorrow.

I am conunting on meeting you , healthy, soon.

My thoughts & prayers are with you.

Jack

I am so sorry to hear this - if there is anything I can do I will do it - I our hopes and prayers are with you

Hi Erik, Nancy & I send you buckets of love my friend. Let us know how we can help and we'll be there for you.

Having done a colonoscopy I will say the prep is MUCH worse than the actual event. So for those of us with grey hair in various places please DO go ahead and DO this. It WILL save your life!!!

I wish you the best Erik. That is unfortunate. I had a colonoscopy done two years ago right before I turned 25 because I had bleeding. It was the scariest thing in my life. It's never too early to do one. Luckily for me they found out it was just hemorroids. The best news I've ever received.

Erik..

Best wishes to you...although I still havent met you, I am proud of your braveness to face this challenge. You can overcome it. We're all with you and your family.

Kit

Thanks again everyone. Richard, I thought thats what my problem was. My personal Dr. said he was %95 sure that's what it was. My Dr. said three quarters of the population mistaken my symptoms for hemorroids. That's why it's such a problem. get this, I went throught the preperation on Jan 15 for a Jan 16th colonoscopy. The prep really isn't very pleasant. Two hours before I was going to leave for the procedure, the office called and cancelled it because of the snowstorm we had. I almost said forget it, I'm not going to do that again. Three weeks later Is when I had it rescheduled and went through the whole process again. WHEW!

My doc said what yours did. That at my age it was probably just hemorroids but strongly recommended taking precautionary measure anyway. That did nothing to ease my fear. (I went to the ER to be checked out.)

That is a very brave thing you did by going back in. The day before is not something that anybody would ever look forward to doing twice. Thanks for sharing your story, it might help all of us knowing that for the future.

That's a tough one, Erik; I'm sorry to hear the news. I wish for you the best possible outcome. I join everyone else in saying that I'll be thinking of you.

Hang tough and you'll get through it. Wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery!

Erik: I'm a PA in my day job and I can tell you men generally don't seek health care. 80% of my patients are female in my family practice. Many of the men who come state: "my wife (or girlfriend) made me come". Sometimes it turns out to be a good thing. Now that you are getting treatment I encourage you to learn everything you can about your condition. Continue to maintain a positive outlook!!! And most of all ASK questions. If you don't like what you hear, get a second opinion. There are many different treatment modalities out there and some may be better for you than others. Be sure to know the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Health care providers are human and biased. They are not gods. Be sure you can work with and trust yours. And of course good luck.

Hang tough Erik and kick this things ass! We're all pulling for you.

Erik,
Just want to add my best wishes for the best possible outcome, a speedy and full recovery.
Harald

Wow, that is a real lesson for those of us at around the same age, Erik! (I'm right up there and I need to get off my tail and get examined too!). Keep your positive attitude and it will help immensely in beating this, Erik. My well wishes and prayers are with you as you move ahead in your treatment.

Hang tough Erik, you'll be in my families prayers.

-Brett

Hey Erik,

My husband went thru this 1 1/2 years ago. There were difficult days for him during the treatment/surgery, but he is now healthy. My prayers that you will come out in good shape also - it can be beaten. I wish you well. Have good courage.

Janet

Thanks evryone again,
I'm touched and overwhelmed by the support and good wishes you folks are giving. I found out today that chemo and radiation is in order for the next six weeks. Then a four to six week recovery from chemo and then surgery. I'm definatly going to get a few photoshoots in and some golf in during the coming weeks. Thanks again. It really means alot to me.

Erik,

That's a tough road, but you'll be back in the saddle just in time for the greenery to get going. I hope you see you out there in the field when we finally get moved into the PDX area.

I think its OK to say that we all are pulling for you.

God Bless.

Jack

Hi Erik,

Just thought I'd add on that if there's any med questions you may have, I can research it for you (I have access to med lit). Of course, too, any drug questions (I have a Pharm.D.).

We wish you all the best, stage II-III is still early enough to eradicate quickly. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS!

Kevin

Hey sorry to hear about this, but good luck and come out healthy soon.

- pradeep

My heart and prayers go out to you and your family Erik, your possitive attitude will make all the difference I'm sure. Best of luck, and hope to see you out enjoying life soon.

Erik, hang in there. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Erik - I wish you all the best. I lost a very close friend last year to cancer, it is never good to go through. The good news is the progress in the research has been amazing over the last ten years. I have had seven close friends and family go through cancer, four of them were terminal. Most of those were quite some time ago, and they all outlived their doctors projections. Three are in remission and doing very very well. Keep up the positive outlook and you can get very far. I send a big hug to you and Rick, I know how difficult it is on the family. If you need any contacts in the area of others who have dealt with cancer let me know, there are some amazing success stories out there.