Hello
Welcome to my blog/website. This is one of the ways I've decided to handle my illness - creating and sharing. Most people who follow this site will know me, but for those of you who have wandered in and honestly want to know, let me give you a light background. I am an assistant principal of art at a public arts high school. I'm in my 50's. I'm married with two children - both in higher learning. I like to write, paint, draw, read, exercise, and travel. I don't balance these hobbies/interests evenly, but that's life, I suppose. I found out I had cancer on May 28th, 2025, when I was forced to go to the hospital due to Diabetic Ketoacidosis (I also found out I had diabetes). I'm in treatment for both conditions. This blog is my way of coping and staying in touch with friends and family. I've spent most of my adult life grinding away at my job, forgoing many of my hobbies and my social life, to focus on success at work. Thanks to my diagnosis, this outlook had to change. We will see how well I can adjust to that new reality.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
What is a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor?
"A pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET), also known as an islet cell tumor, is a rare type of cancer that develops in the endocrine cells of the pancreas. These cells are responsible for producing hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including blood sugar levels. Unlike the more common pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which originates in the exocrine cells of the pancreas, NETs arise from the endocrine cells."
— Google AI
I have done some further research and spoken to my oncologist and members of the care team. There are some positive and challenging aspects to my diagnosis, which I won't go over here. Suffice to say, it's going to be something I'll be dealing with for the rest of my life. I try to avoid the web, as the information is either old or erroneous. Most importantly, I've been told that every treatment plan and its outcome are different, as no set of variables (also known as the patient) are the same. I learn what is necessary and move on from there. At the moment, it's the diabetes that's causing me more day-to-day troubles…
