CANCER IS NOT MY THING!
I already have a THING. It's been passed down through the generations on both sides of my family... It's heart disease. Doctors have been inside my heart 7 times since my heart attack in 2000. You look inside my arteries and I'll bet they are signed by Dr. Bokhari, the cardiologist I am fortunate to have as my guide through this advanced heart disease journey that I face head on everyday.

Heart Disease is my THING... everybody knows that , oh, and CLUMSINESS, surviving the motorcycle crash, tripping on the steps and making my face look like I went ten rounds with Rocky Balboa. Then along comes a high possibility that I'll have this other thing.. in my throat, on the right lobe of my thyroid, currently crowding out my larynx, and taking away my voice. The very thing that I have made my living with for 42 years.

DO I HAVE CANCER TOO?

MAYBE... MAYBE NOT... I HOPE NOT!

But, the possibility is there, and after seeing the surgeon today he had to lay out all the facts. My biopsy from last month was inconclusive. The type of mass that I have, has grown aggressively in the last 2 months. It was this big (xxx), now it's this big (XXXXX), Ya, almost double in size.
The probabilities are high that it could be cancer. Some numbers.. Surgeon said, instead of a 1 in 17,000 chance...it's a 1 in 500 chance.

SO, CUT IT OUT!

Yes, that's the next step. When I said MAYBE I have cancer, that's because we won't know for sure until surgery. When they get in there, they'll see the real condition. Dr. will take out the mass and the right thyroid lobe and IF they see any other cancer he will cut it all out. The mass then goes to be biopsied, If it has cancer then I go back in a week and they cut out the left lobe. On some people he has had to cut on, or very near the vocal chords altering their voice for good. I could be fine, I could be permanently hoarse, or I could be Steve Brown! ( guy with the deepest voice in the world, deeper than Barry White).

GOD HOLDS MY FUTURE!

I'm not afraid, I'll face this like I faced heart surgery, putting my trust in God, that he has a plan for me and has marked my days, It's high risk for me to be put under for the operation but all precautions are being planned. I meet with a voice specialist in two days, then on Dec. 1, I meet with the anesthesia team to prepare.

DECEMBER 9th, SURGERY DAY

I'm relieved, this has been a 9 month journey. We are almost there. As much as I don't like surgery, let's get this stuff out of me. Great! I already owe the hospital my first born son,,, but he's 25 so,,, too late! I'm not going to worry...There's a saying I remember after all these years since my Dad left us for heaven..."No one has ever added one day to his life by worrying".

I HAVE A JOB TO DO!

What's my job? Playing songs on the radio? That's part of it. God groomed me all these years for what I'm doing right now.. My job is to encourage people who are down, help people to see that they can make a difference in the lives of everyone around them and to spread HOPE. The HOPE found in Jesus! That's the key word...HOPE. I'm going into work tomorrow and everyday to do just that! Am I always this "rosy"... HA! NO! I'm irritated at the process, I'm bugged by the fact that I haven't been able to finish pursuing what I love to do, Voice Over jobs. But, that's just on hold a little while longer... I'll get over it and move forward.

MY OWN WORDS COMING BACK TO ME!

During our Celebration Of Hope on the air a few weeks ago, these words just came out of now where and out of my mouth on the air....

THERE ARE NO DEAD ENDS IN HOPE!

HOPE with me , will you?
 

Bryan is PD morning Co-host at KSGN Riverside... Contact Bryan at brgreen1@yahoo.com

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