Round 2 - the ugly word metastasized
There's no sugar coating it and really no getting around it, my oncologist believes the tumor I had on my heart has spread to my lungs. The SEF (Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma) was removed 6 years ago and I did two months of proton radiation treatments at Mass General. They told me then that SEF has a high recurrence at the same location, but it seems mine got in the blood stream and is going after the lungs (also a high occurrence with SEF). I don't have any pain or severe symptoms and there is still a good bit of unknown. The two nodules are in the lower right lung and are close enough they could cut them both out with a "wedge" surgery. They've been steadily growing at about 20% every 3 months for the last couple years but are still pretty small (largest is 6MM). They're too small to do a biopsy yet, so the plan is to re-scan in early Sept and eval then, but the oncologist (who I like a lot) is pretty sure of what we're dealing with and it's a matter of deciding between lung surgery and radiation.
I'm still pretty beat up from cancer round 1, but I'm also still standing and count my blessings every single day. Heck, the oncologist is pretty straight with me and told me 2 years ago he's surprised I'm still here... so my attitude is simple: I'm staying here! For the most part I'm just cruising along and do my best not to dwell on it much, but there are moments it bugs me and I do my best to deal with those times head on and then get back to work. The one that flashes the most is the last lesson we parents get to teach our kids is how to let us go. I'm not ready to teach that lesson anytime soon and I firmly believe it will be many years down the road as a grandfather that I do get to teach it.
Anyway, I still convinced I'll be ok and this is just another in my list of medical challenges. My biggest concerns are for my wife and kids and how much they have to carry me. So, I'll take all the prayers I can get for them.
Three things I tell myself every day:
- "If you're going through hell, keep going" - Winston Churchill
- I believe in the best path and I will fight for it
- I have cancer, cancer does not have me
Posted: 07/24/2026 at 09:55 AM ET
Thread Replies (29)
Round 2 - the ugly word metastasized
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-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 24, 2026 at 09:55 AM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/24/26 09:55 AM ET
Put your toe on the stripe and go kick ass.
-- HokieSean24
Jul 29, 2026 at 01:10 PM ET
HokieSean24
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07/29/26 01:10 PM ET
Sending up prayers for you and your family Jeffrey.
-- JCC_Hokie
Jul 27, 2026 at 10:01 PM ET
JCC_Hokie
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07/27/26 10:01 PM ET
Kick its arse. Prayers for you and your family (and yes cancer is a disease
-- Nortazhokie
Jul 26, 2026 at 06:46 PM ET
Nortazhokie
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07/26/26 06:46 PM ET
Positive attitude and positive outcome my friend!**
-- Hokie Flyer
Jul 24, 2026 at 10:07 PM ET
Hokie Flyer
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07/24/26 10:07 PM ET
Thanks Flyer! Hope EJ and I bump into you this year**
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 25, 2026 at 10:10 AM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/25/26 10:10 AM ET
Yes, that would be most welcome!**
-- Hokie Flyer
Jul 25, 2026 at 11:23 PM ET
Hokie Flyer
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07/25/26 11:23 PM ET
Prayers to you. Stay strong and live every day**
-- AirborneHokie96
Jul 24, 2026 at 08:06 PM ET
AirborneHokie96
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07/24/26 08:06 PM ET
My kids have seen me knocked down a lot..
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 25, 2026 at 10:09 AM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/25/26 10:09 AM ET
Praying for you!!! You got it!!**
-- Fstalker
Jul 26, 2026 at 12:31 AM ET
Fstalker
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07/26/26 12:31 AM ET
Prayers for you my brother**
-- Hokie-2x
Jul 24, 2026 at 06:21 PM ET
Hokie-2x
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07/24/26 06:21 PM ET
Prayers..keep up the fight!**
-- Razor4VT
Jul 24, 2026 at 04:52 PM ET
Razor4VT
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07/24/26 04:52 PM ET
Prayers 🙏🏻 ... and love the Churchill quote ✊🏻
-- Palmetto Hokie
Jul 24, 2026 at 03:27 PM ET
Palmetto Hokie
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07/24/26 03:27 PM ET
Thanks Palmetto! 1 of my fav quotes**
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 25, 2026 at 06:17 PM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/25/26 06:17 PM ET
Brother as long as I get to hear you hollar "same team"...
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 24, 2026 at 02:50 PM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/24/26 02:50 PM ET
You said what everyone was thinking**
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 25, 2026 at 10:11 AM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/25/26 10:11 AM ET
We will say prayers for you and your family. Keep fighting.
-- VPIGUY
Jul 24, 2026 at 02:02 PM ET
VPIGUY
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07/24/26 02:02 PM ET
Greatly appreciated and you have my prayers as well**
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 24, 2026 at 02:51 PM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/24/26 02:51 PM ET
I like your positive attitude. My wife is fighting Lymphoma. Prayers for...
-- hokie77
Jul 24, 2026 at 11:21 AM ET
hokie77
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07/24/26 11:21 AM ET
my attitude is all I can control
-- Jeffrey4VT
Jul 24, 2026 at 02:45 PM ET
Jeffrey4VT
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07/24/26 02:45 PM ET
Prayers for you and your family 🙏. **
-- VT Hokie in NC
Jul 24, 2026 at 10:46 AM ET
VT Hokie in NC
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07/24/26 10:46 AM ET
Praying for you and your family. **
-- Sonyesman
Jul 24, 2026 at 10:34 AM ET
Sonyesman
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07/24/26 10:34 AM ET