Rusty:
I feel that I had to respond because your story relates so much to mine. About two years ago i was diagnosed with prostate cancer with all of the negative indicators. As you are experiencing, I was very scared because I did not know what to expect. Research proved to me that prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in men. The point about that is that today's doctors are very adept at treating this cancer and you can feel justified in expecting full recovery. My Urologist selected radiation as treatment. Three target seeds were implanted to guide the radiation upon. The was never any discomfort in treatment and I was fully cured in about four months. When I was notified that I had been fully cured, I cried in front of my son. I had never done that before, but it just indicated how traumatic the situation can be. You have our best in your recovery.
The second part of our stories is in reference to your questions to the guys about what to do with your model collection. Two weeks after I was notified about being cured from prostate cancer, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myaloma. This is an incurable bone cancer. The subsequent treatment for this cancer is continuing chemo. A side effect of this chemo has been the destruction of the nerves in the bottoms of my feet, making my balance questionable at best. I immediately became concerned about what to do with all of my modeling things because I just knew my flying days were over. I did not want to leave that load to my wife because I knew it would just hit the dumpster. I decided to give all of my stuff to my club (Chicagoland Circle Cutters) with the direction to use it however they wish. I am a scale builder, I kept all of my electric things.
Now the good part. A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from one of the guys who had won one of my scale ships in a club raffle. He had a lot of questions and we talked for quite a while. During our conversation, the fact came up that he had lost a leg due to amputation. This man was still flying! And I am giving up because my feet hurt? No more.
Lastly, I saw two things on television yesterday that seemed to be directed specifically to you and I. One was an article about a lady who had become paralyzed in an accident. This lady was unable to learn to walk again but she could walk with crutches. This lady has hiked the full length of the Appalachian Trail in our country's eastern mountains and did so also in a long trail in our western mountains. My feet hurt? I don't think so.
The second thing that I saw on television was Monday night's Dancing With The Stars. A young lady was there dancing with all of the others. She had been born with a problem that left her paralyzed. She, however, was able to learn how to walk through therapy. There was further explanation about her situation at the end of the show. Even though she can walk and dance, she cannot feel her body below the waist!! My feet hurt no more.
The real crux of all of this, Rusty, is don't give up. Keep your spirits up and don't make any early irrational decisions. I recommend that you think about what to do with your hobby but don't unload right away. You are going to get through this prostate cancer thing and at that time you are going to be happy that you did not act too quickly.
Jim fruit