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Journey into the unknown  Journey into the unknown How my life changed forever My name is Michel Bilodeau and I'm a Pancreatic Cancer Survivor. Being of a generation that provided, I was always the last to benefit of good health and/or stringent diet. Note that I'm also a smoker. So life would have it that I was the perfect candidate to have pancreatic cancer. Life would then change forever. Back in September 10, 2007, I had a Pancreatectomy & Spleenatectomy. (removal of 90% of my pancreas and 100% of my spleen). It was devastating knowing that my life would never be the same affecting my immediate surrounding; choices, family, work... etc. I then created my "bucket list" catered to me as a center piece. Because of this, I became diabetic, got blood disease (TTP), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), high blood pressure (HBP), kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and the list goes on. I take approx 20 different pills, 2 breathing pumps, insulin just to go through a day. (each and every day). Being a positive person by nature, I felt ashamed and isolated from the world at times. I bounced back getting involved by being a poster child for a fundraiser, got my workplace to donate to the Pancreatic Cancer Canada, donating a small % of my (now reduced) income to Pancreatic Cancer Canada every year, created a website to enable the norm to a reality check with various videos of actual operations & locating over 100 long term survivors, created a blog "journey into the unknown" which depicted my regular daily fight of this ugly cancer. I became a silent advocate helping whomever would listen to my story... I have always been blessed with the power of gab. I then realized that we all come from different worlds and I figured out that because of my motorcycle love, I would go for rides and talk openly to others sharing the same love. (I even got a tattoo depicting my story). As for my personal life, I've changed my outlook and became closer to my loved ones (my wife Sylvie is my rock), changed some habits mostly just by being a better listener. The prognostic gives me and others a 5/year 5% survival rate and I count the days instead of years which is more positive. I was quite fortunate to receive a personal email rooting for me from Randy Paucsh and today I'm very fortunate to know Betty Aldridge of Pancreatic Cancer Canada and count her as a friend. She does so much more than anyone advocating to this cause. Now some 4-1/2 years later, I realized that others facing this wall are devastated just as I was. My only advice is that you have to look into your situation and make the best you can. It's true that some of us feel degraded and ashamed that we have not taken good care of oneself but you have to understand that we are not always in control of our destiny. Please ensure you have your physical each and every years and help to minimize the ramifications of this ugly cancer. My motto is "if life tends you a lemon try to make lemonade, if not use it for the zest of your life. |
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