Well... looks like I'm out of reloading...

[GoodOlBoy]

Yet another Dr has given me the long face and verified that I can't handle lead anymore due to the increased risks of the cancer returning. Even asking about handling j-words for reloading gets me "the look". So, between all of that. My hands being shaky, and my eyes goin' from bad to worse.... Yeah, I'm pretty well out of reloading. I can still hunt, long as I minimize lead exposure. Mostly looks like it's me back to the old single shot 20 gauge from now on. I started with the old 20, guess it's fittin' that the rest of my time is mostly with her. Guess I'll have to start sortin' and sellin' most of it. I looked in the reloading room and shook my head. Just too overwhelming to start on right now. Got three five gallon buckets of lead on my front porch that I can't lift for the hernias, and can't dig through for the lead. Dunno what I'm going to do there.... Some of it I can't bear to let go, I'll just pack that stuff away in the hopes that someday I'll be able to mess with it again. But the rest. Yeah I think we'll convert the reloading room back to a guest room and office. Heck I think I've still got two unopened jugs of Lars lube in there too.... plus powder.... primers, and I dunno what all...

A little advice for those just starting out reloading. When folks tell you it all starts to breed, and stuff just crawls in through the ducts and you dunno where it will have all come from.... We ain't kiddin'... And it is worth it. Good Lord help you if George starts droppin' stuff in the piles too! Safe reloading is one of the best times I've had in my life this side of a fishin' pole, or bowlin' alley.

So, hopefully before the end of the month I'll try to start posting bits here and there for sale in S&S. Heck if I can get enough out of it maybe I'll be able to buy me a case of them fancy RST paper shotgun shells for spring squirrel season in May. Such a pile to go through...

You know I knew this was comin'... I wanted to fight it... but if it's down to a choice between livin' or dyin' from something I can help prevent... Yeah I'll take the livin'...

Anyway just thought I would share.

God Bless.

GoodOlBoy

[Conditor22]

Sorry to hear about your health.

There are a lot of CB members in Texas, maybe some of them would help you.

[nagantguy]

So upright and taking nourishment and pondering hunting with a single
20 till the last day; a 20 of found memory. Not being cold or rude but I’ve heard worse news.
It stinks ; and it hurts I’m sure, if I was closer I’d help ya sort your stuff.
Wish the best to you and yours, and you weren’t kidding the stuff multiplies and shows up on it’s own; just went through a 30’cal ammo can full of primed match lake
City 06 brass. No idea how or where it came from.

[JBinMN]

Sorry to hear about your health.

There are a lot of CB members in Texas, maybe some of them would help you.

Yes, I agree!

Sad to hear of your decision, but in the end, I reckon you will be alright once ya figure out just what it is ya want to do. I hope you find that you still get the enjoyment out of doing what ya "can" do.
:)

M.D.s are sometimes "wrong", ya know.
;)

You are gonna be the one making the final decision(s)... I hope you keep on keepin' on & can still do what YOU like to do, until you absolutely can't anymore...

Best wishes! Regardless of what ya decide to do.
:)

[nicholst55]

My condolences, but the one thing that's certain in this life is that we'll never get out of it alive. Since you can't use your reloading gear any longer, do yourself and your family a favor, and send it down the road. That's my advice, anyway. When we moved my stuff from Maryland to Arizona, I realized how much **** I have accumulated over the years - mostly since I retired from active duty around 20 years earlier. I gave away a lot of stuff. I threw away a lot of stuff. Then we loaded it up and took it to Arizona. A few years later when we left Arizona to return to Korea, I sorted through it all again. I realized that my wife and kids will have to sort this lot out when I'm dead, so I resolved to decrease their workload significantly. I sold a good bit of stuff. I gave away a lot of stuff. I threw away a lot of stuff. Then I loaded the remainder into a U-Haul and drug it to Houston and left it in a friend's garage. That was before Hurricane Harvey. A gentleman on this forum volunteered to clean up my reloading gear after Harvey, so hopefully he was able to salvage some of it. I still haven't seen it, so I don't know. It was underwater for an unknown period of time, so I expect that much of it is a loss.

[smoked turkey]

GoodOlBoy I am so sorry to hear the fact that you need to stop doing something you love to do because of health reasons. I do understand that you have made a hard decision based on the educated advice from your doctor. I'll still pray that the Great Physician will intercede for you and give you your good health back. I would think that perhaps some of the solid copper bullets in a small caliber might just allow you some occasional target work. Punching paper is not all bad.

[BrassMagnet]

Dead Doctors Don't Lie!
That used to be the title of a paid radio advertising show, but it was true.
Additionally, Live Doctors fear malpractice lawsuits. Liberals decide what is normal and many fear they will be ruined if they don't toe the party line.

Do what you want to do. Enjoy life.

[Andy]

Could you just wear nitrile gloves during all stages of reloading and wipe off the loaded cases when you're done? That would certainly cut the lead issue 100% out of the equation, especially if using jacketed bullets. I do this out of convenience if I'm watching the baby and have to be able to stop and pick him up without wanting to get lead etc on him I can just take off the gloves quick instead of having to wash up.

Or perhaps the other issues you mentioned make it a done deal beyond the lead concern on it's own. Either way I wish you the best and hope you can retain as much as possible of firearms/hunting/reloading in your life.

[GhostHawk]

Ouch!

The one thing you can count on in life is change. It happens all along the whole route.

Roll with it best you can.

[sureYnot]

Sorry to hear all that. There may be options so you can keep playing. http://www.huntingwithnonlead.org/bullet_types.html
Take care.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

[Peregrine]

I'd get a second opinion on that, the effects of lead exposure are cumulative and have a long latency. Question is how much you'd really increase the amount of lead in your body compared to what you already have in there, and how much of an additional difference in relative cancer risk it would make. I'd say basically none.
I say keep loading, all we really have in this life is the people we love and the things we enjoy doing.

[MaryB]

J-words should be fine. Start with new brass to eliminate led hanging in it. Unless you have had elevated lead levels I think you ran into an anti gun doc!

[BigAlofPa.]

I hope things improve. My last lead check was 17 and change. I stopped snacking when loading and use exam gloves and a dust mask when working with tumbling. And added a hepa air purifier to the room.

[abunaitoo]

Anti-gun doctor?????
I can't see why reloading with condom bullets would be a problem.

[WarEagleEd]

I would think that perhaps some of the solid copper bullets in a small caliber might just allow you some occasional target work. Punching paper is not all bad.

This was my thought. Perhaps your doctor is not aware that there are bullets that contain no lead whatsoever. It's worth asking your physician about it.

Ed

[RogerDat]

Bummed to hear of your health issues. One often just has to roll with what is and not worry about what isn't to be.

Lead level of 17 isn't super high but it isn't good either. As I recall it is just short of where OSHA would require monthly blood test if the lead exposure was work related.

Primer dust when cleaning brass is a big source of lead, a little splash of mineral spirits in the dry media run for 5 minutes before adding brass all but eliminated dust. A small piece of dryer sheet in the media can also help. Indoor ranges without adequate ventilation can expose you to a lot of intake. Nitrile gloves each and every time handling lead or brass or anything reloading related helpes. When I have on leather gloves for casting or smelting there is a pair of nitrile gloves on inside those leather gloves just in case I take the leather gloves off for a bit to pick up something. I buy the bulk boxes of the gloves at harbor freight. It worked I went down by around 5 over the year between annual physicals with these changes, still reloading. I also change clothes to some really old jeans and shirt when doing really grungy work with lead like sorting WW's I then change clothes as soon as I'm done. I'm sub 5 now and the specialist said he wasn't worried at the peak which was just over 10 as I recall, his lack of concern was based on the source was known and the level was very moderate, and going down not up as I applied changes to my routine.

There are a lot of casters and reloaders in Texas and you may well find one or more that will volunteer to give you a hand to help keep you in ammo or take some of your supplies off your hands at fair prices.. Good hunting, good health and fair weather to you sir.

[mozeppa]

brass magnet said something that triggered a thought....

there are more really old bums, wino's and the like with a bushy full head of hair then there
are really old doctors with hair.

think about that one!:veryconfu

[Skunk1]

Sorry to hear about your situation. Be patient, things can change. Don’t do something out of haste that you will regret later. The buckets won’t go anywhere soon and may multiply.

[Petrol & Powder]

Sounds like an anti-gun doctor to me.

If the doctor didn't know you reloaded or had anything to do with firearms, I wonder what the diagnoses would be?

I've seen a lot of personal bias seep into the medical field.

[Smoke4320]

Something is rotten in Denmark. I would hold on to all the reloading equipment and load jacketed bullets.
Sell off the lead and be happy the rest of my days. The amount of lead you would ever be exposed to shooting jacketed bullets is negligible at best.
Sounds like an anti gun DR.
But that is a decision you have to make

[Petrol & Powder]

Ask that doctor what your lead levels are and don't accept, "High" or "above average". Get an actual number and get it in writing.

Get a second opinion from another doctor that doesn't know the first doctor and don't tell that second doctor that you have ANY connection to firearms. See what that second opinion is.

[owejia]

Lead is a naturally occurring in soil so lead gets into everything, including your food, epa says leads is 50 ppm or higher occurring in uncontaminated soil so you are consuming lead in small amounts all the time. Do your own research before you decide to give up a hobby that you enjoy.

[KMac]

GoodOlBoy,
If you need anything please let me know. Hate to see someone have to quit something they love just because of a doctors opinion. Where you located at in Deep East Texas? I grew up in Nacodgoches and then moved to North of Dallas after I graduated and I have been here 30 years now. I love East Texas and I really miss it. Spent all of my youth in the Piney Woods hunting in the Angelina River bottom slews or fishing on lake Sam Rayburn. You wouldn't have to twist my arm at all to come help with anything you may need.

[lightman]

Sorry to hear about your health problems. It warms my heart to hear the kind offers of help from our members in Texas!

If I really loved the hobby I would at least talk to another Doctor. Im just not seeing the dangers of handling reloading components and lead. Wearing rubber gloves when sorting and smelting wheel weights is probably a good idea but the other implied dangers just seem inflated to me. Yeah, I know you paid for this opinion but it sounds like the Doc is overly cautious. Maybe he just doesn't know anything about reloading?

As far as not getting out alive, I agree. When I retired I started thinning out my stuff. I started at my shop with my electrical inventory and then with some tools that I didn't expect to use. And camping gear and sporting equipment. Then I sold off my belt buckle and knife collections after giving my boys what they wanted. Then I started on the loading room. I got rid of unused or duplicated tools and equipment and tried to organize it better. I extended this organization to my ammo, brass and lead stash. We paid an attorney that specializes in estate planning to draw up a will, powers of attorney, ect ect. My guns and stuff are included in it.

Sorry for rambling and sorry to hear about your health issues. Good Luck to you.

[MT Gianni]

When I have looked at the side effects of lead poisoning cancer has never been mentioned. I would get a second opinion and ask around to see a DR that is a shooter.

[GoodOlBoy]

I appreciate it everybody, but this isn't the first and only doctor to tell me this, and this one I at least know hunts in his spare time.

Yeah I mean the news could be worse, it really could be. Just that exposure to, and handling of, lead puts me in the 87%+ range of cancer return. Exposure to external forms of testosterone (such as in treatments and supplements) puts me in the 98%+ range of return, so.... yeah... It could be a whole lot worse, it could be a guarantee it is going to come back no matter what. Thankfully that isn't the case.

I'm still going to be around the board, etc. I just have to make some changes, and once I can get myself to do it I'll get rid of what I can so nobody else is burdened with it, and we aren't stumbling over it. A few things I already know I am going to be gifting to some buddies, a very few I can't bear to let go of, and the rest will be sold off.

My Lee Loader sets for 45lc, 45-70 are examples of what is staying. They won't take up much space in storage, and if I ever get an all clear I will have them. If I don't it won't be a big burden for somebody to sell 'em 20-30 years down the road if I'm gone by then. Almost all the bullet molds are headed out of here ASAP. There's one I can think of offhand that isn't, but only because it's hanging around until a buddy can come pick it up. I want him to have it, so... Alot of brass, and I mean a whole lot of brass is probably going to the sell pile unless somebody local wants it. Stuff like that.

*sigh* It's just hard to do. I spent alot of time collecting stuff, workin' on loads, shootin'..... But in the end it will all work out I'm sure of it. Besides which 2/3 of it all are the memories which were really really good ones. Heck alot of the guns some of this stuff was for were sold off between mine and my wife's cancer bouts. Still a couple around I wouldn't mind sellin' someday maybe if the right hunter came along and wanted or needed one. I dunno.

Yeah goin' back to the old 20 isn't punishment at all. At least I've got that much.

God Bless, and One Love.

GoodOlBoy

[frkelly74]

When I have looked at the side effects of lead poisoning cancer has never been mentioned. I would get a second opinion and ask around to see a DR that is a shooter.


If you are in California you are in danger of getting cancer from anything having a trace of lead associated with it. The warning is on plumbing parts and the State of California knows it is a danger. They know it

[GregLaROCHE]

Sorry to hear about your situation. I’ve been having lead problems myself. If you do decide to continue and already have a bunch of cast boolits, maybe someone can powder coat them for you. Be careful about de-priming and keep out of indoor ranges. My philosophy has always been, “you regret more what you didn’t do, than what you did do”. But that’s just me.

[Preacher Jim]

Good ol boy unless you eating while you are loading you should not get lead. Washing hands with soap and water drying on paper towels. More than 58 years loading plus working on all sorts of machinery my lead level barely moves meter. Get a second opinion from a different doctor.

[Petrol & Powder]

Just EXACTLY what is the doctor saying?

Is he saying your lead levels are too high ? Or is he saying there's something wrong with you and he thinks reducing your lead exposure is a good idea?

Unless you're in your 30's with very high lead levels I think something else is going to kill you before the lead exposure from reloading is going to do you in.

[Reverend Al]

As a worst case scenario if you do decide not to handle your reloading components any longer, why not try to find an interested young shooter (maybe through your nearest gun club?) that could come over to your place and do the "grunt" reloading work for you in exchange for your mentoring and the use of your equipment. He (or she) could load you some ammunition plus load some for themselves and learn in the process. Just a thought ...

[slim1836]

As a worst case scenario if you do decide not to handle your reloading components any longer, why not try to find an interested young shooter (maybe through your nearest gun club?) that could come over to your place and do the "grunt" reloading work for you in exchange for your mentoring and the use of your equipment. He (or she) could load you some ammunition plus load some for themselves and learn in the process. Just a thought ...

This... BUT, I do get out towards Longview quite a bit and might just be able to take some of that off your hands if you're not too far away.

Slim

[MaryB]

Thing is pure lead is pretty non reactive... people carry bullets around in their bodies for life for example. It is lead oxides and organic lead that are the dangers...

[dverna]

J-words should be fine. Start with new brass to eliminate led hanging in it. Unless you have had elevated lead levels I think you ran into an anti gun doc!

Correct...your doctor is ignorant or anti-gun. If you want to reload and shoot get another opinion. If you want an excuse to quit, nothing wrong with hanging it up if that is what you want.

Not trying to be a jerk, but if you are serious about wanting to reload, do not give up.

I am very lucky that my primary care doctors is a competitive shooter and reloader. They are out there.

Whatever you do, I hope it works out for you.

[Dave18]

My condolences, on dealing with the C word,, lost so many family and friends to it, my best wishes for you on keeping it in remission,

had a chronic fatigue thing that never did get figured out, but while going through all the blood tests ect, my doc brought up heavy metals, since where I work uses a lot of cobalt chromium /zircon ect, they tested me for heavy metals/ect, but not lead, when everything came back neg, in the conversation with the nurse that fills out stuff now days, before the doc ever shows up, I mentioned what came out on the metals, she said nothing, actually low, and I said what about lead, she looked and nothing was covered, then all of a sudden she went on and on how dangerous lead was, sounded like a liberal idiot on how bad the stuff was, well, finally when doc came in , discussed about testing for lead, him being a shooter too, he was open to the possiblilty, so he ordered that blood test, 3wks later, go to see what came out, that nurse was just sure as hell, that , that had to be the problem, that lead is sooooo dangerous, well pulled up the lab result and the kids mouth hit the floor, and I ended up restarting the conversation, and said, so, what is it, it that bad or what, she kept going on and on there has to be a mistake, finally I said, what came back, lab said trace amounts, much lower than average for the area, (guess we have a lot of natural lead, since we have so much radon that comes up in the ground around here), so doc sees it, and goes interesting, want to try again and see if it stays low, so he orders the test again, and it came back the same, and he threw his hands up, saying you probably handle it everyday don't ya, well, yes, , and he came back about how he had a much higher number, in the teens, you have nothing, just a trace, not enough to get on the scale, so the lead issue became a non issue, at least for me,

[EDG]

The answer may be as simple as finding another doctor.
There is little chance of exposure if you wear nitrile rubber gloves like the Hardy gloves from Harbor Freight.

[shooterg]

Find out what the actual numbers are. Take all the precautions for 3 months and test again before giving up. Or do nothing for 3 months ans see if there is a change. Them boolits ain't the only lead out there !
Good luck on you either way, friend !

[Don Purcell]

This doctor "Gives you the look?" To most doctors a bullet is a bullet is a bullet. B.S. Just a blanket "look" on something he knows nothing about, ok, next patient. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis last spring by a "Specialist". When I told my doctor my workouts with weights he told me to stop the barbell deadlifts, so I did and cut way back on my weight training through the summer and my back still hurt. So I figured if my back was going to hurt anyway that I could choose to ache and be weak or ache and be strong. I chose strength and began my weight training again as before. After almost two months my back pain is nearly gone and I'm gaining strength almost back to my previous gains. In other words doctors don't know everything and sometimes use blanket recommendations when they don't know anything else. Get another opinion.

[KenT7021]

I don't know what you reload caliberwise but Sierra Match King bullets have no exposed lead at all.

[kevin c]

Nothing I learned in medical school or since identified lead as a cause of cancer. Toxic effects yes, carcinogenic effects no.

Now, I'm retired and don't keep up with the medical literature, and my patients when I was seeing them weren't expected to develop tumors from environmental exposures at their ages (pediatrics), so maybe I missed something. I'm curious what your MD was referring to specifically.

Anyway, wet tumbled brass, "green" primers without lead styphnate, TMJ/plated or sintered/solid copper projectiles and not shooting indoors would bring your lead exposure down tremendously. I don't know if that would be enough for you or your doc. Only you can decide what risk you want to take, but I would hope that you will have complete and accurate information to base that decision on.

[Winger Ed.]

Sure sorry to hear that news.
Something that might work:
A old friend told a story of the Doctor telling someone he knew they only had 6 months to live.
The guy said he refused to pay the Doctor in order to see if he'd give him another couple of years.

[RogerDat]

I'm not finding the connection between lead and cancer. However I can see where the body dealing with getting rid of lead might be a stressor the doctor wants you to avoid. No different than avoiding Advil in favor or Tylenol to reduce stress on kidneys post surgery. It isn't that Advil is "bad" it's just that it puts more load on certain organs and is a bit more of a blood thinner. Bottom line it is difficult to imagine advising someone to just ignore their oncologist. Getting a second opinion from a different doctor makes sense if the OP suspects bias. However only they are in a position to judge the doctors attitude.

Setting equipment aside and getting actual lead levels tested 6 months apart, and maybe again at a year down the road seems the wisest course. If during 6 months to a year of not casting and reloading your lead levels (actual number) drops a significant amount then you know there is something you should change with your casting and reloading process. If the lead levels remain constant you have a different point of exposure like old lead water pipes in home. Knowing this would be valuable.

Getting someone to take care of some buckets of WW's or even taking them off your hands is a minor step. Getting rid of molds and brass is a much bigger step. Just be sure that dealing with Cancer isn't messing with your perspective too much. Divesting oneself of personal property may make sense in light of health, or may be an emotional response. Won't hurt to take 6 months to assess lead levels and the brass or molds etc. will still have value then that they have now, maybe even more if another panic hits. Nothing to lose by waiting to dispose of gear. Unless you feel that there is possibility that if you don't do it yourself in a timely manner you risk the task of disposal being left to family and you know you will handle it better than they will.

In any event prayers and best wishes for your recovery and good health. Hoping you continue to get a chance to make good memories in the woods and fields.

[mold maker]

REALITY CHECK
Breathing air, drinking water, and eating stuff grown in or on the ground can/may cause cancer. It all depends on who you ask. Since there is no escape, how you live the rest of your life isn't a real choice. Selling off the tools and supplies of a life long hobby WILL NOT rid you of lead contact. First of all, it is a natural occurring element. Second, your home/reloading/casting area/tools/range, and everything is already contaminated. If you were to move, you would only take it with you, or move into more. No one can guarantee you wont be killed by a drunk driver on the way to see the Dr. No one can make your life decisions but you.
You ask folks here for wisdom and advice. Make sure your Dr medical advice has no political driven agenda. Be very involved in researching before making this choice. Pray for guidance, as will we.

[KenH]

J-words should be fine. Start with new brass to eliminate led hanging in it. Unless you have had elevated lead levels I think you ran into an anti gun doc!

That was my first thought - if your lead level is low, how can reloading affect your health just because there's lead hanging around? I'm NOT trying to be snide or argumentative, just trying to understand.

[Lead pot]

Just don't point that 20 gauge into the wind when you shoot. You will inhale more lead dust than casting bullets :)

I just wonder just how bad lead is for your system. As a kid I used to hold .22 rounds in my mouth shooting my single shot .22, been a Plumber for right on 40 years working with a lot of lead pipes, pouring lead joints with the lead in the pot glowing a deep cherry in dark crawl spaces, soldering with lead/tin solder eating my sandwiches with lead covered dirty hands and casting bullets in unventilated basements and I have had my lead count checked several times over the years and it has always been down where it should be.
I'm knocking on the door at 79 and I worry more about the two pills I take so I can pee and a mild aspirin then the lead I handle casting bullets.

[lefty o]

without a lead test, the doc can get bent. most of your lead absorbtion comes from gun cleaning, and dry tumbling. wear gloves when cleaning, and either wet tumble, or take measures to reduce dust from dry. other than that, and staying out of indoor ranges, lead absorbtion in the body form shooting is minimal.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Yet another Dr has given me the long face and verified that I can't handle lead anymore due to the increased risks of the cancer returning. Even asking about handling j-words for reloading gets me "the look". So, between all of that. My hands being shaky, and my eyes goin' from bad to worse.... Yeah, I'm pretty well out of reloading. I can still hunt, long as I minimize lead exposure. Mostly looks like it's me back to the old single shot 20 gauge from now on. I started with the old 20, guess it's fittin' that the rest of my time is mostly with her. Guess I'll have to start sortin' and sellin' most of it. I looked in the reloading room and shook my head. Just too overwhelming to start on right now. Got three five gallon buckets of lead on my front porch that I can't lift for the hernias, and can't dig through for the lead. Dunno what I'm going to do there.... Some of it I can't bear to let go, I'll just pack that stuff away in the hopes that someday I'll be able to mess with it again. But the rest. Yeah I think we'll convert the reloading room back to a guest room and office. Heck I think I've still got two unopened jugs of Lars lube in there too.... plus powder.... primers, and I dunno what all...

A little advice for those just starting out reloading. When folks tell you it all starts to breed, and stuff just crawls in through the ducts and you dunno where it will have all come from.... We ain't kiddin'... And it is worth it. Good Lord help you if George starts droppin' stuff in the piles too! Safe reloading is one of the best times I've had in my life this side of a fishin' pole, or bowlin' alley.

So, hopefully before the end of the month I'll try to start posting bits here and there for sale in S&S. Heck if I can get enough out of it maybe I'll be able to buy me a case of them fancy RST paper shotgun shells for spring squirrel season in May. Such a pile to go through...

You know I knew this was comin'... I wanted to fight it... but if it's down to a choice between livin' or dyin' from something I can help prevent... Yeah I'll take the livin'...

Anyway just thought I would share.

God Bless.

GoodOlBoy

My 2¢
I would do what you said, "I'll just pack that stuff away in the hopes that someday I'll be able to mess with it again ... Yeah I think we'll convert the reloading room back to a guest room and office."

I would recommend not selling anything, but in regards to these:
Got three five gallon buckets of lead on my front porch that I can't lift for the hernias, and can't dig through for the lead.
If you happen to have enough of a stash of ingots, I'd get rid of the buckets of porch lead, assuming it's unprocessed?
Let someone else deal with hauling it away.
Good Luck

[Chad5005]

sorry to hear about your health problems

[Lead pot]

You have to ingest lead like rubbing your eyes, picking your nose, stick your fingers in your mouth or inhale the dust shooting indoors to get it in your blood.

There is an option you can cast a no lead alloy. It will make a lighter bullet than a lead alloy bullet but it will do the same job.

[popper]

Vit C while chelate the lead but is hard on the gut. Lead damages nerves and gets into the bones. May interfere with treatment but IIRC not a 'carcinogen'.

[David2011]

Sounds like the Doc has an agenda beyond your health or is simply ignorant. I asked my Doc once about a lead test. We discussed my casting and shooting to evaluate my exposure and he said he saw no need to test me. No eating in the reloading room, not a smoker, wash my hands after handling lead, follow all the common knowledge safety practices. More than one doctor giving the same advice without backing it up with facts could just be a case of multiple doctors that don't know how much they don't know.


I feel like the greatest lead exposure is with the polishing media and decapping. I seldom handle spent primers though. There are many alternatives to bare lead if the docs can justify their stance against lead. There's Precision Bullets that are totally encapsulated in a polymer, many sources of powder coated boolits, Berry's completely copper plated bullets that have absolutely no lead exposed and most bullet makers have a fully enclosed FMJ now. There are also the polymer tipped bullets that have no exposed lead.


If the doc told me to avoid lead I would first insist that he justify it with something better than a personal opinion, something like proven science. After that let him explain how fully encapsulated bullets would be a risk. If he says anything about the primers then switch to lead free primers. That eliminates all possible exposures to lead. THEN let him justify his argument again!

Realistically, keeping a fine spirit in a leaded crystal decanter probably has greater risk than our activities.

Best of wishes in your fight against cancer! --David

[CLAYPOOL]

Without reading all the responses on 3 pages, HERE IS A IDEA. Help some neighbor or kid start reloading. DON'T let thta knowledge waste..... There is some body near that would help our sport and HUNTING in our time of NEED. Just a Thought...!

[osteodoc08]

Did they somehow link minuscule lead exposure to your health declining? Are your lead levels high? Are they interjecting their own beliefs into your care? I’d have to see some hard proof it was actually harming me.

Thant being said, I hope you’re able to maintain the health you do have and enjoy the 20 for years to come. Prayers sent this morning brother for peace and acceptance.

[Murphy]

I truly hate to hear this. Shooting, reloading & casting has been a part of me over 1/2 my life. I'll retire in the near future, and my reloading room is going to be one of my main sources of retreat. And you are correct about how things seem to find their way into your shop and you can't remember when, or how you came by them.

Hopefully, your health will improve and you can still enjoy a lot of the same things you do now. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers friend.

Murphy

[Tom W.]

I started melting lead when I was old enough to find out the it would melt. I've cast boolits since the early '70's with real molds. I'm 65 now and still cast and reload when I feel up to it. Within the last ten years I've had several heart attacks and was diagnosed with colon cancer I had two different surgeries and that left me with a very short digestive system and the problems that occur with it. But I still enjoy my hobby. I will suggest that you check into a Cancer Treatment Center of America and see what they have to say about the situation. The last local doctor here in Columbus said that there was no hope for me. I didn't buy that and went to the CTCA and I'm still kicking. They told me that if I didn't have any trace of lung cancer that they could do the surgery. The bioposy showed negative, so they had at it. They left a port in my shoulder for the chemo, and afterwards said it will be there. I DID have them put it in my LEFT shoulder so if I survived I could shoot my rifles.... And believe it or not, every time I had blood drawn they could find no traces of lead....So if you want to consider it, I'd recommend them!

[BigAlofPa.]

I managed to get my lead back to with in normal ranges. Oct 2018 it was 17. something. Just got my latest results. 9.4. And i been reloading more since the last test. I think my main issue was snacking while working in the loading room. I also wash my hands right after im done.

[GoodOlBoy]

I apologize for not responding sooner, I've been under the weather and haven't been doing much online. Until I am over whatever this bug I've caught is I won't be on much. I won't post anything for sale until I can be around to answer questions and be sure I get everything shipped in a timely manner.

Cancer and lead. I've also got hemochromatosis and non-alocholic fatty liver syndrome. Basically the Dr is concerned that with the testicular cancer, and the PTSD, and the blood disorder, and the liver, and the borderline diabetes, and the fibromyalgia, and the arthritis, etc etc that any heavy metal exposure will just add to the pile. He also told me don't wear gold jewelry, etc. At this point it boils down to numbers and percentages, and "studies" have shown that when you combine my whirlwind of ailments and lead (as one of about 30 things I should now avoid) you raise the numbers for an increased chance of return. Part of what has him, and the oncologist, and others spooked is that when I had the cancer I never had a single blood marker for it, and the tumor grew at rates that should put me right at the record books for tumor growth. Heck of a thing to have on the record books. I think I'd rather have the record for jumping the grand canyon on roller skates, but I have weak ankles and I don't do well with heights.

If I'm being completely honest. I'm scared. I'm tired. And I'm hurting. I don't trust my eyeballs, my shaky hands, and my sometimes foggy noodle to do it right anyway. So in the end it's just.... Heck I dunno it's just easier to sell off what I can, keep what little I can't stand to part with, and move forward hoping it's enough to help buy another month worth of meds, or electricity, or whatever.... I'm not going to buy shotgun shells, I don't know if I'll even ever be back up to hunting again. I do still have that old 20, and it would be what I would use if I ever went hunting again. My Social Security Disability case stalled again, my attorneys (who where supposed to be "the best") went bankrupt and didn't even have the decency to notify us other than to turn us over to a public advocacy group in Brooklyn who basically just sent the whole case file to social security and washed their hands of it.

In all honesty most days just getting out of bed is too much to handle. I can fight with the doctors over the lead, but I honestly don't think I could safely handle it anymore anyway. So what's the point. At this point I'm just trying to clean up my life, my house, and everything in it to try to get and stay healthier.

I'm still going to be on the board. I'll still live as vicariously as I can through everybody else, and try not to stir up a stink on my bad days (Yeah, sorry about that one), and hope someday I can get it all back together and headed in the right direction.

Edited to Add: And thank you all for all the supportive replies, and messages. I really do appreciate it! There's a heck of alot of good folks around here still.

God Bless, and One Love.

Richard

[lightman]

Wow, Sorry to hear about all of your health problems. Hope things smooth out for you soon. Good Luck with SS too!

[Smoke4320]

GoodOlboy prayers will be made for recovery and relief.
Keep up the good fight

[dverna]

Very sad to hear GOB. Hope things work out as best they can for you.

[JBinMN]

Stay strong! Prayers & Smoke sent, for you to feel better & improve!

[Wag]

Holy smokes, Richard. I really feel for ya, having all of these issues and having to deal with the doctors on top of it all.

My heart goes out to you and yours.

--Wag--

[RED BEAR]

Sorry to hear about your health problems but glad to hear you can still go out and hunt. Don't give up hope doctors don't know it all told me would be in bed with oxygen by 50 i am in my 60s and still going may be slow but still get where i want to go. Told my brother he had a year left that was 20 years ago. We will go when the good lord says its time not a minute before or after.

[BrutalAB]

Sorry to hear about the health issues.
Living through others can be a great thing, but don't forget to live through yourself as well.

You have gotten advice from a medical dr, take his expertise in context, that he specializes in physical wellbeing. If I were to guess, I would expect entirely different advice if you went to a dr that specialized in mental wellbeing.

Depression is a sneaky bastard and equally as deadly. I am of the opinion it is just as dangerous as any physical illness.
If you do decide that getting out of reloading and shooting in general is the path best for you, I sincerely hope you find a new hobby to participate in.
I don't know a nice way to say this: Ignoring your own needs/desires is the fast track to death, no matter how "healthy" the choices are.

I would also consider people with/had lung cancer that continue to smoke. Make judgement on them if you want, I would guess that the stress from quitting, fighting an addiction is just as bad to their body as the smoke itself. At least reloading is kinda productive.

I guess what I am saying is: it is still your choice, do what you need to do and don't take any one "expert" as 100% truth. You are the expert on you.

But I am a youngster on this board. And my life is a train wreck. So I can't really say I got things figured out.

[slim1836]

Thought and prayers to you Richard, it's a hard struggle you've got going. Keep up the sprits and never give up. There are a ton of friends here to help you along, just give them a shout.

Slim