Having my blood drawn from hand - ouch!
Good Days / Bad Days
Journal / diary of good and bad days of treatment / life / stability with cancer.
As of the fall of 2023 - I stopped all chemotherapy as it was so detrimental to my health and marriage. *Chemotherapy in my mind is literally poison. I was referred to Palliative care, my new palliative care team suggested I explore immunotherapy as it was discovered that I was HER2 positive. Often HER2 candidates are for breast cancer but why not give it a try - what did I have to lose? I was already at the doorstep to the otherside.
The last week of September 2024 has been rough - at times I just want to hide, crawl into bed with Rocco my 30 lb. cancer support dog. I've had trouble eating, drinking coffee, almost EVERY meal - snack. Every time I had to stop, cough and clear the mucus, it builds and fills the esophagus with guck - sticky film. This can be draining - makes me dizzy, warm - unable to have a conversation etc… One of the least favorite on a bad day is the constant reminder that I still have cancer. Every time I swallow, eat, drink etc I’m reminded about this metabolic disorder! I wish I could forget about cancer and just get on with life with my Love Debra.
Good Days - Yes there are many times during treatment and even now during maintenance that I have good days… I started a new job last week at Astrawatt Solar - that was a good day being able to work again after 4-8 years out of the work space… When I point someone in a direction they may not have thought about as it relates to their cancer - or that of a loved one… just the hint I may be helping / preventing someone avoiding Chemo and cancer treatment. Sometimes I think I’m healthier with Stage 4 cancer than I was before the cancer… I’ve lost 100 pounds of weight, I eat clean and healthy for the most part, when in “Ketosis” I feel 10 years younger - lots of energy… I haven’t been really hungry in 4+ years. I now know how to fast, when to fast - why to fast etc… All of this I would not have realized without the cancer diagnosis.
Good Days - Yes there are many times during treatment and even now during maintenance that I have good days… I started a new job last week at Astrawatt Solar - that was a good day being able to work again after 4-8 years out of the work space… When I point someone in a direction they may not have thought about as it relates to their cancer - or that of a loved one… just the hint I may be helping / preventing someone avoiding Chemo and cancer treatment. Sometimes I think I’m healthier with Stage 4 cancer than I was before the cancer… I’ve lost 100 pounds of weight, I eat clean and healthy for the most part, when in “Ketosis” I feel 10 years younger - lots of energy… I haven’t been really hungry in 4+ years. I now know how to fast, when to fast - why to fast etc… All of this I would not have realized without the cancer diagnosis.
December 2024 / January 2025 more uncomfortable days than good.
In the fall of 2024 my medical care team gave me an update on the forecasted time line for survival - now 3 to 6 months. Many days I did not think I would make it to 2025. Now, February 2025 I'm less than 1 month away from beating the 3 to 6 months odds yet again. The cold this year seemed worse than I can remember - maybe the neuropathy for my Type 2 diabetes? A family member is also have age related medical issues (not cancer) and has been assigned rehabilitation. My lovely wife is now having to deal with me, work and the pointal loss of a close family member. December 2024 I had two surgeries, my left eye for cataract and a feeding tube installation. Recovery was tough as I was dealing with the cold winter in Tx, not able to eat, swallow - adapting to the feeding tube...