Getting diagnosed with cancer can be devastating, but one local man living with cancer is determined to stay positive by posting a candid, online journal of his journey.
Scripps Ranch resident Craig Blower, 60, is the Chief Operating Officer at Balboa Park’s Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Two months ago Blower unexpectedly discovered he had lung cancer, and that the cancer had spread to his brain and spine.
Blower told NBC 7 he heard the news this past February after getting an X-ray that revealed a small mass in his chest. Right away, he could tell this was serious.
“My doctor didn’t have a nice smiley face like he usually does. He was pretty grim,” recalled Blower.
He’s never smoked a day in his life, but suddenly Blower had lung cancer.
He told his family, friends and co-workers.
To keep them updated – and keep himself positive – Blower decided to start an online blog to let everyone know how he was doing, in case they were afraid to ask.
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The blog, much like his personality, is filled with humor, as well as personal photographs, musings and information about the things he’s experiencing with cancer.
For instance, one post is titled “To Benign or Not to Benign: No Longer the Question,” while another is titled “Can a Mole Get a Sunburn?”
Blower says the blog is a way for him to put into words what he’s going through from week to week. He got the idea to blog from local TV personality Loren Nancarrow, who began writing about his own struggles with cancer after he was diagnosed in January.
“I’m not trying to be Mr. Inspirational, but people have told that’s how the blog comes across,” said Blower. “I infuse it with a lot of humor because that’s just who I am.”
He says he’s very fortunate to have a genetic marker allowing him to take a pill that seems to be holding the cancer back.
He's feeling better, playing golf and softball, and is still doing his job at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
“Physically I've been fine to be able to go to work on a full-time basis and I plan to do this as long as possible,” said Blower.
As for a prognosis and how long he may have to live or how many people with his condition die, Blower says he’s simply not interested in seeing those numbers.
Instead, he chooses to live his life to the fullest every day.
“I have two options: focus on the positive or the negative. The negative doesn’t do me or anybody else any good, so I’d rather stay on the positive side as much as possible and hope that’s forever,” said Blower.
To read about Blower’s experience, visit his blog here.
