Hello GuysTheres alot we dont know about eachother so i'd like to share this with you.I have had a year from hell TBH, this time last year i was diagnosed with bowel cancer which at 33 y/o was a smack in the face to say the least.I had the symptons for a year but the DR's thought it was everything but because of my age. I was plodding along working 7.30am till 9pm to make ends meet with pains in my gut, i lost 4 stone in weightand even hobbled up to A+E only to be sent home. It came to the point where my bosses where sending me home because i was grey and looking thin and i still had no idea untill i had a blood test done.I got a call from a panicking DR reffering me for an Endoscopy (camera down the throat) and it was all clear so i had a Colonoscopy(camera where the sun dont shine!) 2 weeks later where they found the tuma in my bowel.Well that was it, i was taken straight in for a 3 pint transfusion, CT scan, xrays and booked in for the op on 18th April last year. I thank God every day it had not spread because of the length of time it went unoticed.Well i had the op where the surgeon removed around a foot and a half of bowel, and wow the pain for a month after that... So i went to see him for a check up and he told me it was aggressive and had spread to 50% of my glands in that area, i s*** my self not literally but almost, and he said i would need 6 months of cheemo, well...i dont know which was worse the op and suffering or the cheemo!I had the cheemo, in the meentime hit the bottle and went into depression as in this time my beloved fiance had an ectopic pregnancy and we lost the baby.I had another scan earlier this year and i got the all clear yesterday hence why im posting this here coz im so happy i can see a future again.In all that time of illness, depresion, and sadness, i still logged on to Avsim from time to time when i could to catcth up on the hobby i love and wasn't certain i'd be able to enjoy in the future and met some of thenicest people i could wish to meet from the noobs to the mods to the vetren posters to the dev's, some who i keep in contact with via email!In my hardest times some posts would make me laugh, educate me, and even some would help keep me focused on life and its amazing how things in life get taken for granted.Well ive been given a new lease of life, not out of the woods yet not for another 4 years but im so happy amongst other reasons that i can continue to come here to Avsim, enjoy my hobby and see what the future brings for us and still be a part of this amazing community with all you guys!I guess im one of the lucky ones to be able to be here typing this but you have to be possitive no matter how hard at times or the disease may see your vulnerable and destroy you.So BIG BIG respect to the Avsim staff for this amazing site, my health team, my fiance, my family, all you guys here (some of which are like family) that have kept me going with your comments and posts, our hobby, and to life itself, as without all these factors life at that time for me would have been a hell of alot more gloomy!Thanks again to everyone who knew for your support through this tough time and long live Avsim!Cheers

What is with the health care system in Britian, you should have had a colonoscopy or barium enema xray right away when you had symptoms. Anyway, glad you made it and are back to flying......kind of puts into perspective the cost of addons, delays in release of addons, timing of service pack and all of the other stuff many on this forum spend their time complaining about.

That's one hell of a story. My Father was rushed to hospital yesterday and scared the S*** out of us for a while. I have spent the past hours wondering why I get bogged down in the most trivial of things whilst ignoring the fact that my life is indeed sweet and privileged. Thank you for your post, it seems today is a day for grateful reflection.

What is with the health care system in Britian, you should have had a colonoscopy or barium enema xray right away when you had symptoms. Anyway, glad you made it and are back to flying......kind of puts into perspective the cost of addons, delays in release of addons, timing of service pack and all of the other stuff many on this forum spend their time complaining about.

Tell me about it, i got told its a hiatus hernia, IBS, smoking/drinking, diet, you name it they said everything but!

That's one hell of a story. My Father was rushed to hospital yesterday and scared the S*** out of us for a while. I have spent the past hours wondering why I get bogged down in the most trivial of things whilst ignoring the fact that my life is indeed sweet and privileged. Thank you for your post, it seems today is a day for grateful reflection.

Hope your Fathers ok and thankyou both for your kind words.

My mother is having an operation today. It is not me but anyway. At her age and her general state of health all that is high risk.Chris, I am sorry to hear about your suffering and fear. At the same time I am happy you have not lost your ability to think positive.In Poland we have a saying which tranlates more or less like 'What doesn't kill you, will make you stronger'.I am absolutely sure you will be very strong now and will outlive many.All the best to you and write more!

Thankyou so much Rafal for your kind words, it is nice to hear from you!My thoughts are with you and i wish your Mum a speedy recovery after her op.We also use that saying and my Mum used this one while i was i'll "God only does these things to those he knows can overcome them" Not much help at the time bless herbut i supose it makes sense now!

Hey Chris,It is great that you told us what happened. Real life is what happens regardless of our plans. Thank you for the trust you show those here that know you and care about you. Many think that social connections through the internet are always shallow. No necessarily. Bonds can run deep. Thanks for sharing.Kind regards,

Thankyou Stephen.

I will admit Chris, this hobby has been here for me in one form or another since I was 12 years old. Back in the begining it was SubLOGIC Flight Simulator 2.0 and Compuserve GO FSFORUM....today it is FSX and AVSIM. I am glad it has been here through good times and bad.Glad to hear you are in the clear now. All the best with the road you take in the next phase of your life. Remember, it is not the destination but the JourneyCheers Mate :(

Cheers Matthew :( and thankyou, i'll remember that saying.

Your avatar expresses my feelings precisely. I raise a frosted glass to you, and may you enjoy many more.And don't give up on that baby business, either. My wife and I were 43 when our little girl finally came along. That was 21 years ago, and our girl is in London on spring break right now.

Changed mine to a frosty glass too....I think I like that themeHere's to the good life........Cheers :(

That is awesome news. Had some hard times myself over the years (once after a particularly bad motorcyycle crash where I was in a really bad way), so it's great to hear of someone conquering a difficult period in their life and I'm really happy for you. :Peace:Al

Thank you for sharing Chris, one of the best post I have encountered so far.I once had my hard times dealing with my Anxiety Disorder 4 years ago, I was told to get treatments and medicines from experts but I did not. I couldn't imagine myself consuming Xanax or such,.. "I ain't crazy, I was just having excessive worries" that's what they said. It was really .... I dunno how to describe it but, I was really frightened and worried about everything. Until I slowly learned how to be grateful for what i have and learned the power to let go.I try to focus on my faith as accepting death is certain helps me, and now I can accept all the bad things happen to me, amazingly, when I got nothing to lose, my life is just getting better and better, body and soul... Now I have a daughter and a lovely wife, get a good job which allows me to travel by plane LOL... and now I'm spending my time to pray as I couldn't find a better therapy than that.One of the most important things I have learned is the lessons I got that, every hardship is always followed by ease. (Now my hands are not sweating and I can control my heartbeat whenever I'm on an airplane.... :().again, thanks for sharing, I wish you a good life and happiness.regards

get a good job which allows me to travel by plane

You lucky beggar! That is what most people here are dreaming about. :(