Stage III, inoperable. Median survival prognosis: One year after diagnosis.
Which is, as it turns out, the reason I haven’t been accomplishing much, including posting here and making progress on the sequel to Temporary Duty. The details are complicated, and I don’t have the energy to fully explain.
Medical insurance? Of course not. My doctor says it doesn’t matter much. Going full-bag on treatment, chemo and radiation and all that, for this particular cancer might, on average, add six months to the survival time at massive expense — and the quality of life for that additional half year would be miserable.
The only thing I could really ask for is an oxygen machine. I’m continually short of breath, and my blood oxygen hovers at the low end of the “satisfactory” scale, around 91 or 92. That means I don’t think or react as clearly or as quickly as I did, which makes it difficult to accomplish intellectual tasks like writing. There are also a couple of things on my “bucket list” that I’d really rather not do without, and one of them is one last visit to my brother’s grave — which is at 12,000 ft. MSL, more or less. At my current ability to breathe, that’s just plain out of the question.
The machine I think I want is the Sequal Eclipse, a relatively new model of portable that does both pulse delivery (for when the user is active during the daytime) and continuous delivery (for sleeping). List price is $4K or so; they’re available discounted and/or used for around half that. And because I’m a suspicious sort who was into servicing electronic and electromechanical equipment for a long time, I’d also like to have a home-type (non portable) machine — I think it highly likely that the portable would be lightly enough built that using the heavier-duty fixed one would be advisable when I’m not out and about. Good used ones of those can be had for $500 or less.
Money needed… because Temporary Duty sold so well, the IRS took a nice chunk (and wants another $1,555 before July 15th) and Social Security came along behind to inform me that they’re taking back $10K by simply not sending checks, starting in September. I have stuff around the place I can sell, not to mention the place itself, so I won’t starve, but there’s gonna be a lot fewer luxuries for a while.
The sequel to Temporary Duty (well, sorta; same world, different characters) is called Service Call, and it’s somewhere between half and two-thirds done. I can’t guarantee I’ll finish it; what I can guarantee is that at my current mental capacity, it won’t get finished. Think of it as a sort of Kickstarter. If I have enough tipjar hits to get the oxygen machine, it might get done.
116 comments
Comments feed for this article
26 June 2012 at 6:31 pm
Pablo (@Pablo4200)
That just sucks on ice, Ric. Been hitting tip jars a bit much lately. I’ll catch you later this week.
Peace be with you.
27 June 2012 at 1:36 am
Steve Rusk
I recently found out I’m in Stage Four of CKG (Chronic Kidney Disease). “It’s always something.”
26 June 2012 at 6:41 pm
Scott
I received the exact same diagnosis in August of last year. Radiation and chemo knocked it down a hell of a lot. It wasn’t fun, but it did some good. Still got a few months to get past that “median survival rate” business, but currently on the 90-day scan-and-wait plan. Google up the article, “The Median is not the Message” for some positivity.
May God be with you, sir. Feel free to email me, should you need to bend an ear.
26 June 2012 at 6:50 pm
Gary York
Not at all the news I’d hoped to hear; would like to see much more of your writing for years to come. Personally, I’m holding out for a miraculous recovery! G.
26 June 2012 at 6:57 pm
CGHill
I just hope you’re at least as ornery as my old man, who, after being told he had six months left, proceeded to hang around for six more years.
29 June 2012 at 2:42 pm
dracona357
Better yet, my father — told he had 2 weeks to live (second opinion, “Why are you still alive?”) checked out 21 years later.
26 June 2012 at 6:59 pm
Can't hark my cry
AMEN! to CGHill. I did /not/ want to hear this!
26 June 2012 at 7:00 pm
pablo4200
Not that you’re soliciting advice, but if I were you I’d be calling this guy to see if his clinical trial is running yet. This looks ridiculously promising and minimally invasive, and trials are free. Barring that, I don’t second guess your decision in the least.
26 June 2012 at 7:14 pm
Ric Locke
Already saw that, Pablo, and it’d be right up my alley — from what I’ve seen of how the system works, it exactly fits my prejudices of what cancer is all about. (“Prejudices” because I have no detailed medical knowledge.)
Unfortunately, once again I’m betwixt and between. If I were a year older, I could register for Medicare and get almost fully covered. If I can survive for three years, I might get on with Dr. Curley’s research. At the moment they’re restricted to “in vitro” lab tests, and don’t expect to start human trials ’til 2015 at the earliest.
O well.
26 June 2012 at 7:40 pm
pablo4200
I’ve got a bit more cancer knowledge that I’d like, and what I suspect are the same prejudices based on some medical knowledge. Let’s note that John Kanzius died from “complications related to cancer treatment” and not, well, cancer. God, i hope he nailed it, and I’ll be forever bummed that he didn’t nail it quick enough to benefit you.
I’d have to say that you’re hands down the smartest person I’ve come across on the ‘tubes and I thank you for years of sensible, factual reasoning over at pw. You’ve been deeply underrated and rewarded, but such is life, no?
Shit.
26 June 2012 at 7:02 pm
Danger
Ric,
Urgent AIRSUPREQ transmitted. I’ll be in Houston Aug 3-5 for a soccer tournament. So if you are anywhere nearby, break cover and send me your coordinates.
I feel like Obi Wan Kenobe did when Alderaan was destroyed.
26 June 2012 at 7:17 pm
JeffG
Sorry to hear this Ric. Stay as positive as possible. Email me if you have any special requests or needs that I might be able to help you out with.
26 June 2012 at 8:50 pm
McGehee
I’ll see that, and raise you my cat Taz — who was given weeks to live when diagnosed with liver cancer, and made it seven months. Convert that from cat years and it’s pretty good.
26 June 2012 at 9:04 pm
happyfeet
you’ve always been an outlier Mr. Ric there’s every reason to think this won’t break that trend
but I hate it and I look forward to news about new oxygen machines and bucket list check marks and your new book
what you need to do is get your ass on a school bus and look vulnerable
26 June 2012 at 9:28 pm
dicentra
Damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn damn
Doesn’t QUITE cover it, but you get the idea.
26 June 2012 at 10:58 pm
Danger
Ric,
P4 sent, check the echo-mike net.
27 June 2012 at 2:49 am
S. Weasel
[…] Check it out. Say something nice to him. Give him a money. Give him several […]
27 June 2012 at 9:26 am
wch
I’m not a well-spoken person, so where’s the tip jar?
27 June 2012 at 9:33 am
Dave X SixtyFour
I hit your “Donations (via PayPal)” link in the upper left (a.k.a. tip jar)…hope it helps you get your oxygen machine soon!
27 June 2012 at 10:49 am
Instapundit » Blog Archive » SOME AWFULLY BAD NEWS for blogger Ric Locke, who’s also the author of Temporary Duty. I hit his tip…
[…] AWFULLY BAD NEWS for blogger Ric Locke, who’s also the author of Temporary Duty. I hit his tip jar. You might want to as […]
27 June 2012 at 10:53 am
accordingtohoyt
Ric! DAMN IT. Ric!
27 June 2012 at 10:55 am
ncb
I enjoyed the book very much. Sending a donation. All the best.
27 June 2012 at 11:02 am
theebl
I am so sorry.
27 June 2012 at 11:08 am
theebl
I know it is a long shot, but I do hope and pray you recover. I am just a cow, but I had a friend hit the tip jar.
27 June 2012 at 11:11 am
thomasd66
Ric you did not mention a second opinion. I know it is a major expense, but assuming the new set of eyeballs can mainly look at what test results are already available it might be money well spent.
Twelve years ago my wife was diagnosed with melanoma, stage III (in the lymphatics), Clark level V (fully through the dermis.) By the numbers her five year survival rate was in the teens.
I know your situation is substantially different, but you still could be looking at years, plural, rather than singular, and it might be premature to reject aggressive treatment options. At this stage you are eligible for clinical trials that may not bring any added expense.
27 June 2012 at 11:13 am
HayZeus
Add me to the chorus of damns up there. Here’s hoping that enough of us come in through the Instalanche to get you that oxygen machine!
27 June 2012 at 11:13 am
NukemHill
Ric,
It’s probably no consolation, but I’ll offer it anyway. I have a dear friend who was diagnosed with inoperable prostate cancer and given 2 months to live. He made it almost two years.
He never gave up. He went with conventional and unconventional treatment. He was a bloody-minded Italian who would never take no for an answer.
He was a joy to be around, even to the end. His willingness to look death in the eye and say “not yet, damn you!” was, and is, an inspiration.
Don’t stop fighting. Look for options. Don’t be afraid to ask for help (which you’ve already done an admirable job of).
My prayers are with you. Tip on the way.
27 June 2012 at 11:16 am
Wyman Cooke
Aw Hell. This is terrible news. A while back, when Instapundit touted your novel, I was thinking that one of the good guys was making good. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
27 June 2012 at 11:19 am
briang123
I was diagnosed with lung cancer 15 months ago, and after a thoracic surgery and an amputation of my right lung the tumors are gone and I take a drug called sutent daily. The side effects suck but I am overall in good shape. I thought I was dead a year ago, now I feel like I am gonna be here a while. Please don’t give up or lose hope. I am sorry I cannot donate any money but I lost so much money being out of work for 6 months I barely make my bills now.
27 June 2012 at 11:19 am
Best of Luck to Blogger « Newsbeat1
[…] Ric Locke! […]
27 June 2012 at 11:19 am
John Paulson
My condolences, too. Fight hard. Sent donation.
27 June 2012 at 11:20 am
LBascom
That’s rough Ric, sorry as hell to hear it.
27 June 2012 at 11:22 am
Barb
You’ll never hear it from your cancer docs, but cancer requires plenty of “sugar” to grow (ever heard of complex carbs – your body breaks them down into sugar). You should be researching a ketogenic diet – it starves the cancer because it can only get small amounts of sugar and every part of your body can run on fat. It won’t cure your cancer, but it might certainly give you more time. Certainly more time than a “low-fat, high carb diet”. Google it – it’s just food – no medication required.
27 June 2012 at 11:23 am
Quilly Mammoth
Damn, Ric, My father made the decision to try and fight his Stage III, and yes he got six more months. That weren’t much fun for any of us.
27 June 2012 at 11:25 am
Rob
Ric,
Found you via Instapundit. I really appreciate the courage demonstated in your post.
Would you please update this post with the URL to your tip jar as a hypertext link within the actual post? Reason being, the PayPal link does not appear on the mobile version of your blog site. I’m on my iPhone and unable to pitch in from this state.
Be strong.
Rob
27 June 2012 at 11:34 am
theebl
I did a post too (not an Instalanche, but I hope it helps a little). http://evilbloggerlady.blogspot.com/2012/06/bad-news-for-blogger-ric-locke.html
27 June 2012 at 11:47 am
Cedar Sanderson (@cedarlili)
Ric, I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve always enjoyed reading your stuff, and Temporary Duty was excellent. Hold on if you can – you are loved and appreciated by many and we hate to lose you so soon.
27 June 2012 at 11:52 am
ppaulshoward
Sorry to hear about this. [Frown]
27 June 2012 at 11:57 am
Curlywolf
Goddammit old man! I’m getting tired of losing flies! I forbid you to die! You hear me! I forbid you to die! There, problem solved…
Seriously though childish tantrum aside Ric…..I hope it goes into remission, and vanishes overnight or something because I really am getting tired of losing flies
Wolfie.
27 June 2012 at 11:58 am
Walt Boyes
oh, crap, Ric. I am terribly sorry to hear this. Keep the faith. Go see a disability lawyer…you should be able to qualify for Medicare on disability but you can’t get it on your own…funny how that works. I’ll shine the light on you, my friend.
27 June 2012 at 12:10 pm
Moe Lane » Forget everything I just said: hit Ric Locke’s tip jar instead.
[…] He needs it a hell of a lot more than I do right now. […]
27 June 2012 at 12:13 pm
Moe Lane
Damn, Ric. Prayers and good wishes for you.
27 June 2012 at 12:25 pm
Ric Locke needs your help. | justbarkingmad.com
[…] It did so well he owes the IRS and now he gets hit with this: […]
27 June 2012 at 12:31 pm
DonM
A medical researcher visited a DDT plan to assess their cancer rate. The manager told him he could save him some time, they didn’t have a cancer rate. The researcher was skeptical. “You have over 900 people that work here!”(that was back when DDT was big business).
Manager: “Well, there is Bob, he came here with inoperable terminal lung cancer 25 years ago, and had 6 months to live. After 2 months he was in remission. He is getting old but is afraid to quit.”
Good luck. Predictions are hard, especially about the future.
27 June 2012 at 12:37 pm
Prayers and Petitions for Ric Locke
[…] An email from David O'Connell points us to this post at Ric's blog: […]
27 June 2012 at 12:38 pm
Christy
I lost my mother to lung cancer. It wasn’t fun. She wasn’t supposed to survive to leave the hospital when she was diagnosed, but she lived more than two more years. I think she’d say it was worth it, at least until the last month or so, even as unpleasant as the treatments were. They were interspersed with some good living.
Everyone is different. Fight however you need to. God is with you, as are my prayers.
27 June 2012 at 12:40 pm
Juliette Ochieng (@JulietteAkinyi)
You know Who I’ll be talking to on your behalf.
27 June 2012 at 12:41 pm
terrencemc
Sorry to hear this Ric, I’ll get something out as soon as I can.
27 June 2012 at 12:42 pm
Ruth Anne
If you’re looking for a decent and very portable oxygen concentrator, please consider this one: http://www.inogenone.com/ My mom has the Sequel and found it cumbersome so we bought this one for her for when she travels. Price it around. Buying it in NC saved us $700 over buying it in WI.
Sorry about your diagnosis. Prayers abound.
27 June 2012 at 12:59 pm
b
I hope this doesn’t sound pat or trite. Only people who are there know what it feels like:
I don’t know if you are religious, but God bless you. And aside from that, I echo others who have recommended clinical trials. There is so much new research out there, there is no reason to give up hope. The doctors, as good as they are, do not have a crystal ball, and the best they can do is give guesses and estimates. They don’t make infallible predictions, nor do they claim to.
I hope I will still be reading your blogposts 10 years from now. And with some luck, I will. Stay strong and ask for help when you need it.
27 June 2012 at 1:02 pm
Jenn
Well, crap. I’m waiting for the sequel, so y’all can’t croak until you finish, ya hear? I’ll hit the tipjar on payday.
I feel especially bad because yesterday I got some (finally) good news about my own fight with the beast, the first in five years. I wish you the same or better.
27 June 2012 at 1:06 pm
stevepoling (@stevepoling)
I had cancer. You can’t control the parts of you they cut out. You can’t control the poisons they pump into you. You can’t control the course of the disease. But you can control your attitude. A positive mental attitude is the single biggest thing within your control that is most strongly associated with survival. Keep the faith, man. I’ll be praying for you.
27 June 2012 at 1:10 pm
J
My sympathies. My Dad dies from a small cell carcinoma in his lungs, also inoperable. He managed to get three years but the last four moths were pretty bad.
I can’t do anything today but July 5 I’ll drop you something.
27 June 2012 at 1:31 pm
JM
I am so sorry to hear this. My mother had lung cancer. I have an inoperable brain tumor and thought it would kill me. 12 years ago it shrunk 40% and I am still here. The person who mentioned about sugar feeding the cancer is correct. I have been and still on that diet of no sugar and less than 50g of carbs per day. Good Luck and best wishes.
27 June 2012 at 1:36 pm
Herb
Ric,
I only know you through your novel, Temporary Duty, but it really impressed me. This is terrible news and I hope that things go better than they seem right now.
I’ve dropped a little bit in the tip jar. Wish it could be more but family finances don’t quite support that at the moment.
I’ll be adding you to the list in my prayers and asking the Lord to work His will through you. May your life be blessed in unexpected ways as things go forward.
Keep up the good fight.
Herb
27 June 2012 at 1:41 pm
Hunter
Ric, you’re probably getting unsolicited suggestions galore, but you’re highly prized and well worth it, so please forgive me in advance for adding to the pile. I don’t work for these people, nor gain any benefit from recommending them (other than just being pleased to be able to do so), but seriously – if you haven’t already then please check out the Mary Crowley Cancer Research Center in Dallas – they’re doing to incredible cutting-edge work (no awful pun intended):
http://www.marycrowley.org/
http://www.marycrowley.org/en/About%20Us/Our%20Team/Executive%20Team.aspx
David Shanahan was a friend of my father’s, and Dr. Neumanaitis helped my father treat/beat several kinds of cancer over many, many years before dad eventually died of something not cancer related (he was cancer free at his passing):
http://www.texasoncology.com/doctors/John_Nemunaitis/
You don’t know me, so my recommendation likely carries no weight, but nonetheless I admire and trust these men and their organization, and for good reason.
God bless you, and keep breathing!
27 June 2012 at 2:04 pm
» A friend in need - Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion
[…] blog, blogger, and commenter Rick Locke (warlocketx) has bad news on his blog (h/t Instapundit), It’s Lung Cancer: Stage III, inoperable. Median survival prognosis: One year after […]
27 June 2012 at 2:09 pm
JHoward
Just found this linked from insty, Ric. I see PW regulars have found it too.
I add my stunned sadness and very best wishes.
27 June 2012 at 2:39 pm
Matt
Just awful news, Ric. You have our very best wishes. I just re-read TD for the third time since I found it and if that’s the only book we get, know that it was much loved.
27 June 2012 at 2:50 pm
wtrclrppr
Made a donation.
Loved your book. It will become a SciFi classic.
27 June 2012 at 2:51 pm
wtrclrppr
BTW, I got here from Ace Of Spades Blog…which is also where I got the recommendation for your book.
27 June 2012 at 3:09 pm
steve nixon
Please double check the diagnosis, I had the same news from my doctor 14 years ago. He was wrong I had mediastinal lymphoma, a very treatable condition.Still I almost died because of the delay in starting chemo. I don’t want to give false hope but it should be checked out.
27 June 2012 at 3:17 pm
Cyber
Ric, I wish you the best of luck sir! You are quite a good writer and hope is all I have for you today. You probably don’t even know how many people you have touched and who care, people like me.
27 June 2012 at 3:24 pm
Suzanne
My I suggest looking into liquid oxygen as well as the Eclipse? My hubby, with nasty lung issues, off oxygen runs 84. With an eclipse, he gets to 90, but with liquid oxygen, he can reach 94 or 95, almost normal. Prayers.
27 June 2012 at 3:28 pm
ps
look into alternative treatments: fasting, juice fasting, etc. couldnt hurt.
27 June 2012 at 3:29 pm
Craig Allen
Ric, that’s just terrible news. It floored me when I heard it. I wish you all the best and I hope the doc is wrong.
27 June 2012 at 3:31 pm
research doc
Ric – – send me your ship-to address, have something that might help and won’t hurt…Richard
27 June 2012 at 3:54 pm
Please Help Ric Locke
[…] inoperable cancer, and he’s going to need help staying comfortable as things wind […]
27 June 2012 at 4:19 pm
denton bramwell
We picked up a good used oxygen machine for $350, to have on hand when our son comes to visit. My SIL got one cheaper than that. Now for the pep talk: We statisticians use “median” instead of “mean” when there are some really large outliers. May God grant that you’re a multi-year outlier.
27 June 2012 at 4:26 pm
Stepskipper
Wow, I’m really sorry to hear this news. I’ve been enjoying your comments on different blogs for years. Hang in there sir.
27 June 2012 at 4:30 pm
Jeff Pittman
Hey. I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but if Glenn R. referred you that’s good enough for a modest deposit in your tip jar as far as I’m concerned. Hope your docs are wrong and you go later rather than sooner, but we’re all headed for the same place (er, I think/hope). Some of us just have no hint about the timing. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but I think it’s some of each. Take care, stay comfortably numb, Godspeed.
27 June 2012 at 4:58 pm
Quilly Mammoth
He’s a good man I’ve known for a long time. Thank you.
27 June 2012 at 4:32 pm
It's Lung Cancer « Ric's Rulez | Mesothelioma Lawyer Finder
[…] View the original here: It's Lung Cancer « Ric's Rulez […]
27 June 2012 at 5:11 pm
Things Come in Threes | Aliens in This World
[…] Caroline John passed away, Ubu Roi had a stroke, and Ric Locke was diagnosed with lung cancer. […]
27 June 2012 at 5:55 pm
It's Lung Cancer « Ric's Rulez | I F O R E X X I . C O M
[…] more here: It's Lung Cancer « Ric's Rulez This entry was posted in Cancer and tagged been-accomplishing, here-and, iii, including-posting, […]
27 June 2012 at 6:41 pm
Harry
Just a short note to let you know I really enjoyed your book. I will be praying for your recovery.
27 June 2012 at 6:44 pm
I'll let you guess (@justehblogger)
I’m sorry. 😦 My best to you. If I had it to give, I would. 😦
27 June 2012 at 6:48 pm
BobtheRegisterredFool
Another barfly, of a sort, here.
All I can think of at the moment is a spiel I heard recently on the virtues of the proton type radiation therapy from people selling such. I forget some of the relevant details, so I have little idea if this would be a useful avenue for you to look at.
Best Wishes.
27 June 2012 at 6:48 pm
userjan1
Call Social Security and work out a payment agreement or ask for a waiver. For a payment agreement, they withhold an amount each month from your check, and usually try to get the debt recovered in 36 months, but will look at assets, expenses, and income to determine if you cannot afford the payments, and will, perhaps, lower them, and not take your entire check for months on end. Or, if you feel the overpayment was not your fault, and you cannot afford to pay it, you can ask for a waiver, and if approved, will not have to pay it back. Also, if you are under Full Retirement Age, which is 66 for most people now, you should apply for Disability, because your benefit will potentially be raised and you may get Medicare sooner.
27 June 2012 at 6:51 pm
Alicia
I am so sorry to read of your diagnosis. If you would like to consider alternative treatment rather than standard, you might look at the Burzynski Clinic, see whether they have anything effective for your type of cancer. This is a highly controversial suggestion, I realize, but maybe you could review the online video about Dr. Burzynski and perhaps call the clinic and see what they say. (All easy to find with internet searches.)
Best of luck to you. I hope the cancer goes into remission forever.
27 June 2012 at 7:02 pm
Walt Gilbert
I wish there were more that I could do at the moment other than offer my thoughts and prayers. I’ll pitch in as soon as I can, though, and hope you draw some strength from the encouragement offered by all the people who’ve taken the time to wish you well.
27 June 2012 at 7:02 pm
BravoRomeoDelta
Man, sorry to hear this. Best of luck, and I’ll hit the tip jar when I can. Wish there were more I could do. I guess I’ll hoist a pint in your honor, and follow it up with a prayer for you on Sunday. God bless.
27 June 2012 at 7:07 pm
userjan1
Sorry not to give my sympathy. I have never been to this blog before…..wish i had read it years ago, (or whenever you started it). I just kicked into work mode and tried to solve problems, like most people do when people have struggles, don’t have the struggles themselves, and don’t know what to say, so they try to solve the problem. Good luck to you with possible future treatment. I have had colleagues overcome many types of the Big C.
27 June 2012 at 7:16 pm
LaurieK
Dear Ric, I am so sorry for your troubles and your suffering. I have hit your tipjar, and will send some prayers up that you may find strength and peace of mind and spirit. I have not been fortunate enough to be familiar with your work and your blog until now, but any friend of Instapundit’s is a friend of mine. Bless you, sir.
27 June 2012 at 7:24 pm
Paulie Girl
Hi. As a doctor, I would encourage you to potentially apply for state Medicaid and/or disability. Your doctor should be able to refer you to the right place or places to apply or if not (seems unlikely), you could call the nearest hospital, ask to speak with their social worker and simply and to the point say that you’re not an admitted patient but was just diagnosed with advanced lung cancer and could you trouble them to point you in the right direction to apply for insurance assistance as you’re of limited financial means.
After all, insurance, including govt insurance programs like Medicaid and the like, can help cover costs besides chemo and radiation which it sounds like you’re intending on forgoing. These programs, if you qualify to their varying criteria, could help cover the costs of oxygen and other items that may help you to live comfortably for whatever time remains.
As others have said, excellent nutrition and attention to sleep can help and after the initial though somewhat abiding shock of your diagnosis and prognosis has dissipated, you may wish to reconsider the no-treatment decision and/or may wish to get a 2nd opinion….not necessarily to suggest the opinion – or your decision – will change, but it’s generally a wise proposition to revisit any decision made or conclusion drawn during the absolute height of stress.
Sorry that I’m not familiar with your personal history (just came to this site after curious on seeing a link on Instapundit), but IF you have any religious moorings, you might find some solace over time in drawing close to them (again after the initial shock and perhaps fury about the diagnosis eases) as belief in an afterlife and thus the sense that earthly death’s really not the end certainly “takes the edge off” a tough diagnosis for many.
Every good wish to you Sir.
27 June 2012 at 7:55 pm
Quilly Mammoth
Thanks, Doc. We need to help Ric every way we can. He’s a really special man.
27 June 2012 at 7:27 pm
Tom on the Rez.
Double sawbuck on the way j- would’a sent more, but we just lost sixty percent of our income. Hope it helps.
27 June 2012 at 7:32 pm
KG2V
Hi Ric,
Sorry to hear that news, I remember when Mom got the same news. I hit the donations, I hope it helps. Heck, your book was cheap enough for the amount of enjoyment I got out of it, and worth the $$ I donated to me. I just hope it help
27 June 2012 at 8:10 pm
Bill
I’m really saddened to hear this Mr. Locke. I thoroughly enjoyed your novel, Temporary Duty. Thanks for bringing smiles to others.
Hopefully others can return the favor.
All the best,
27 June 2012 at 9:38 pm
Cynthia Yockey (@conservativelez)
Paulie Girl’s recommendation to contact hospital social workers for help on getting health insurance is a good one. It’s one of the things they have to know how to do so the hospital gets paid. Also call the office of the health commissioner for your state, or whatever they call the office for regulating health insurance in your state. Someone there should be able to explain your options for getting health insurance (probably Medicare/Medicaid).
When your prognosis is six months to live, you will be eligible for hospice care. Hospice is a type of care, not a type of place, so you could stay in your home. Oxygen and oxygen equipment are covered by hospice care because being able to get enough oxygen is comfort care. If you can’t get coverage for any kind of acute care, you should be able to find a hospice that provides care for the uninsured who can’t afford care. If you start contacting them now, you’ll probably get some excellent recommendations for how to obtain care. Start with the hospice social worker and if he or she can\’t help you, ask to be referred to someone who can.
Good luck and may God protect, guide and prosper you.
27 June 2012 at 9:40 pm
JimG
I just was introduced to you by Instapundit and was able to add a little to your tip jar. Peace, prayers and good wishes for you. And remember to never give up Hope because we never know what tomorrow will bring….we never know what tomorrow will bring.
27 June 2012 at 10:58 pm
BT
Glad to help where i can
27 June 2012 at 11:02 pm
brian christopher
Ric: If the cure (or the preventive/prophylactic) for cancer had been discovered sixty years ago, would you know it? Why don’t bears in the wild get cancer, but bears in the zoo do? Why don’t Eskimos (who still live on their native diet) not get cancer? Google “World Without Cancer” and watch the 55 minute video that was produced by Ed Griffin, the same guy who wrote “The Creature From Jekyll Island.” Here’s a link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4312930190281243507#
For an estimated 15% in your condition, it’s not too late.
What have you got to lose?
My Mom died of cancer before I discovered Griffin’s video.
Good luck.
27 June 2012 at 11:12 pm
Catseye
Sorry to hear this news. I wish I could send something but we found out today my wife’s gonna need a retina transplant to save her sight. Trying to figure out the angles to pull that one off, so I’m up against it. Again, sorry i can’t help, but then praying for someone never hurt. Luck and prayers, you are loved!
27 June 2012 at 11:47 pm
brian goldsworthy
check the Modest Needs web site. it’s community-funded resources for one-time emergency needs.
28 June 2012 at 8:38 am
LG
My naturopathic doctor says cancer can only live in an acidic environment. Raise your body’s pH – foods you eat, pH drops for drinking water. Optimum should be around 6.6 to 6.8 for morning saliva and urine pH – testing strips available. Also, selenium is a good cancer fighter – Brazil nuts. God bless you and everyone facing this epidemic.
28 June 2012 at 11:20 am
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[…] Upholds ObamaCare and … It’s Moving DayPosted on | June 28, 2012 | No CommentsAlso, Rick Locke has Stage 3 lung cancer, as if we didn’t have enough wretched bummers to go around today, huh? Today’s […]
28 June 2012 at 4:03 pm
Karen Donovan
if its possible for you to consider chemo & radiation – i can tell you that while my recovery has been slow, its been well worth it and many more good days than bad altho’ it takes about a year for the chemo brain fog to go away. So ver sorry to hear your news. I was diagnosed 3b nonsmall cell adenocarcinoma – lung cancer 14 months ago & chose the chemo & radiation route, 6 weeks daily radiation and multiple rounds of chemo over 4 months that worked. It wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I expected and I am slowly getting strength back – my treatments took longer because I also had 2 types of thyroid cancer which required a different set of treatments after the lung cancer treatments and thyroid cancer treatments only wrapped up a couple of months ago. I had no insurance and hadn’t been working in over a year since i was so sick before finally getting diagnosed – the oncology & radiation oncology people treated me at no charge and medicaid and social security disability may be an option – your oncologists office might be able to help you via their social worker (or the hospital may have a social worker who knows how it all works – I rely heavily on our oncology practice people for this stuff). I will keep you in my prayers and hope very much you can get the treatments whichever ones you choose.
3 July 2012 at 9:11 am
DocEpador
This is a very reasonable comment. Ms Donovan says what I was looking to add. Finding a good oncologist is difficult – culling through the folks who are only interested in making the most $$, or promoting their own gimmicks to find a real doctor is the hardest.
Oxygen is important, and your needs will go up as the cancer grows. Shrinking it will also improve your SaO2’s dramatically so if increasing your oxygen levels is your goal, don’t rule out chemo or RT. If comfort is your goal, don’t ask for the latest and greatest drugs (which also tend to be the most expensive). Ask about a cheaper and more tolerable treatment regimen if that’s what you want. If the doctor listens and counsels with you about that approach, you’ve found a keeper.
28 June 2012 at 4:36 pm
The Pissed Off Tree Rat
Sent what i could Ric. My prayers to you and yours. – Doug
28 June 2012 at 4:48 pm
Charles Prael
So, to borrow from LASFS – “Death does not release you”. Once a barfly, always a barfly. Thought you should know we’re working on some stuff to try to help out. AND… guy I know out in SF (who, among other things, runs a 501c3), is interested in putting out a fundraising appeal.
You and I really need to chat, IOW. I emailed you. Get back to me when you get a chance, ok?
Charlie
28 June 2012 at 5:07 pm
Do you really want to make a difference? « The Pissed Off Tree Rat
[…] Freaks to skip the $5-$20 donation to a politician today and help a person who really needs it. Ric is a real human being who is in need in his fight with lung cancer. We’re trying to fund […]
28 June 2012 at 5:52 pm
davefreer
Will be reposting on my blog. Have hit tipjar. May you have the strength to finish the book and achieve your list.
30 June 2012 at 9:23 am
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Hit your tip jar
1 July 2012 at 10:10 am
Serr8d (@Serr8d)
Ahhhhh, so sorry to hear this, Ric. You’ve had troubles aplenty, and enough. I certainly hope you’ll get the comfort and peace you deserve whilst still amongst the living, and afterwards, the rewards for a life well lived.
26 July 2012 at 10:51 pm
Radagast
Instapundit has announced Ric’s passing. More on Ric’s Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/ric.locke.5?sk=wall
22 September 2012 at 4:34 pm
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18 December 2018 at 11:29 am
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[…] If you’ve been thinking about buying it, this would probably be a good time. Or you can go to his web site and hit the Donations link at the upper left. Ric has been diagnosed with Stage III, inoperable […]