@jakkalbessie @jakkalbessie
as a cancer survivor you know the potential hell I'm about to go through. Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky ones that isn't affected so badly by chemo and radiation therapy. I'm in great shape and quite healthy for my age (I'm 71), other than this set back, I plan to keep as active as possible through it all.

As a cancer survivor, I think you have a great attitude heading into your treatment. Glad you have a great team of doctors to work with. Like Use Few Syllables said, this is your main focus and I agree wholeheartedly! Take care of yourself and use that room you built to have some nice views to keep your spirits up.

@enhydra lutris
I had two options for chemo, I opted to go with the pill form that I can take at home, with 3 or 4 hour infusions at the hospital every two weeks. It's an hour drive to the hospital so this method was a no brainer, although I will still need to go to the hospital for radiation treatments, but they will only take about a half hour or so.

I will have a port installed in my chest for the infusions, which is better than in my arm. I'll still be able to practice my guitar which is my main mode of meditation and solace.

Oooooommmmmmm in open G tuning.

and having said that, I know that you will. Don't worry about the site.

I don't know about the specifics of your radiation and chemo treatment, but find a bunch of relaxing, non-stressful and entertaining things do do while sitting or lying down. I'm off for an infusion session today and I always take a chromebook loaded with reading matter, games and puzzles. I sit in a chair in the oncology department's infusion center which is loaded with mostly chemo patients and a lot of them just lie there staring at the ceiling, some for up to two hours at a time, and I suspect that whatever is going on in their minds cannot be all that good for them unless they all practice some form of meditation or something.

Do get well, but be patient. I can't tell you to enjoy chemo, but you still have to find a way to enjoy life, so ...

have a good one

@soryang
the Houston area is renowned for their quality hospitals and doctors. I'm lucky in that respect, and to have Medicare with a Part G Medigap plan that will pay for just about all of it.

C99 used to have a much larger active membership, but over the years it's dwindled down to a small group of what I consider very good friends, you included. We always come together for each other.

Thanks for the encouraging words, my friend.

I'm so glad to hear you have access to high quality healthcare, and a great team of doctors.

It's edifying to hear the support here in the community and learn of their similar challenges and perspectives.

All the best, JtC! Be strong! Be healthy!

@QMS
martial arts instilled the fighting spirit in me. I've always liked a challenge, this is the biggest one yet.

The world's not going to get rid of me that easily.

.
for bad news. Feel sorry for your colorectal.
Hope you come out in a fighting mood.
Submission is NFG IMO.

Good luck and thanks for the OT.

@Socialprogressive
for colorectal cancer have come a long way in the last few years. The chemo therapy isn't as debilitating as it used to be, although it's not a cake walk either.

I'm still too full of piss and vinegar to be done with this world yet.

Thanks, man.

That's a diagnosis nobody wants to get, but with good doctors and your positive attitude you'll have this beat before you know it.

@Snode
it's been a whirlwind since my diagnosis. Otc has my back, she goes with me to every appointment.

I hope for the best for your wife.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, brother.

My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at the new year, so been traveling along this path, too. My wife is the brainy one, and made sure she got hard copies of lab results, doctor notes....everything....into a binder and took it with us wherever we went. Helped a few times. So many visits, surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, so many labs and reports, sometimes we had info at hand that didn't show up where it was needed.

Also, If you can have someone with you at every meeting with the docs to listen and advocate for you. So many things come at you at once sometimes you can't focus on it all and may miss something.

Watch out for Covid. My wife got diagnosed, set up the surgery date, and caught Covid. That delayed the surgery 6 weeks. We wore a lot of masks since then.

We met so many other patients in chemo that underwent treatment for cancers that were untreatable when I was young, that rang that bell, got a round of applause and and put the big C in the rearview mirror. You'll be there too.

@lotlizard
that's a beautiful sentiment.

Rallying around one another is one of the benefits of our little lifeboat online community.

Mahalo.

May all of us whom this c99 lifeboat has helped stay sane down through the years, now rally around … pray for … send our aloha to … and support you … more than ever

@studentofearth
that video is hilarious!

Otc and I have practiced laughter as therapy for years. We both have glib personalities and the back-and-forth jesting is constant in our household. I've told her many times our relationship would make a great sitcom.

Thanks, my friend.

life and harder to share the individual challenges which always arise.

I can't help myself, have to provide some medical counseling, its been part of my life too long. As an adjunct therapy - laughter should not be overlooked. A daily dose of a smirk, chuckle or belly laugh.

Not sure if the humor is too rural, found it amusing.

McManus Comedies - PoorAgain...Dagnabbit - Show & Tell (17.49 min)

@Sima
thanks for the kind words, I'll try to live up to them.

It's going to be a long winter, but next spring, my favorite time of the year, will be a very special one as I look at this setback in the rear view mirror.

Rock on, sister!

You can beat this, I know you can. And like others here have said, once you beat it then we can have enjoyment in saying, 'Told you so!'. You are so awesome, so strong. Your work on the website and for and in this community is amazing. Your health should be your priority, and we are all supporting you in that. You rock!

@janis b
I'm surprised you remember that. I'll reiterate it for those that may be curious.

About 10 or 15 years ago I fractured my leg and messed up an ankle badly while walking my rottweiler on a cold and icy winter day. He was still a pup, albeit a large one, and chased a blowing leaf across an ice patch I was standing on. When the leash hit its maximum limit the thrust forward pull my feet right out from under me and my right leg bent in an unnatural way causing both injuries. It was obvious the leg was broken and the ankle badly sprained.

I went to the emergency room 30 miles away and the doctor put an old fashion cast on it up to just below my knee. Unbeknownst to me at the time he had put it on too tightly. I was able to live with it for the first couple of weeks but then it started to get really tight and I was getting neuropathy like burning and stinging sensation in the sole of my foot that was driving me up a wall.

Rather than go back to the hospital and have the cast removed and redone I took it upon myself to relive my anxiety. I used my small pocket knife to slowly break little chips off of the cast. It took a couple of nights to get it done but when finished I had cut a slot in the cast from the top right below my knee to the bottom a couple of inches from my toes. The slot was several inches wide, enough to pull my leg and foot from the cast to give me some relief. And man, did that feel good when I got it out. I must add that I was very careful not to move my ankle in any way when I removed it.

A couple two or three weeks after my makeshift cast removal I had to go back to the doctor for a check up. I hobbled there on crutches with my expose cast on my foot. When the doctor entered the exam room and took a look at the cast his eyes got really big and he looked at me with a "whoa" look in his eyes. He asked what happened and I told him about my little escapade. He told me I should have come in and he would have redone the cast. I then told him that if he puts another cast on it that I would cut that one off as well.

That's when he prescribed one of those plastic walking boots that I was able to open up and remove my foot whenever I wanted to. That worked great for me and I wondered why he didn't give me one of those from the get-go.

Later, after the doctor left the room the nurse told me that what I did was pretty common, to the point where some people used a saw to cut their cast off. I had thought of doing that but opted for the slow and steady process of chipping it off with my pen knife.

Thanks for reminding me of that, janis! It was a hoot!

I think I know how tough, and cheeky, you can be. I remember a story you related to me after I broke my ankle. From memory you had also had a broken bone in your leg at one time, and were in a cast. You hated the cast and tried sawing it off, against doctor's orders of course, but couldn’t complete the job without going back to the doctor. I have no doubt that part of you will serve you well through your treatment and ultimate recovery. Knowing what’s best for you is an asset.

I hope you can feel all the warm and loving vibes from this wonderful little community you created.

@Linda Wood
for the kind words, prayers and sentiment. That means a lot to me.

be well, know you are loved by everyone you've done so much for. You're in my prayers, with love.
- Linda

@Lookout
otc and I went for a consultation with my oncologist a couple of days ago and she walked in and said "are you ready to do this"? I held my fist up and said "let's do this"! It was a great start of our relationship for both of us. I wont let myself get down.

Thanks for the video and information. I was already aware of it. After extensive research on the subject I kept running across warnings about the possibility of ivermectin interfering with the chemo drugs that I'll be taking. So I think I may pass on using it while taking the chemo. Now, when I'm done with taking the pills that is a different story and I may opt for trying it. I've also read where ivermectin wont interfere with chemo drugs, but what does one do in that circumstance? Who do you trust? It's a tough decision.

I'll probably opt to doing the straight chemo and in between sessions and when I'm finished with the therapy I may opt for the ivermectin, as I am convinced it a safe drug to use, but I'm wary of the drug interference.

I look forward to a long life after this setback and visiting you more often there in your beautiful holler.

I love your pro-active attitude!

This might be of interest.

Ivermectin and cancer

(6 min)
Dr. William Makis MD. Radiologist, Oncologist, Cancer Researcher, Author of 100+ publications. Top Substack Author.

And one more...
The SURPISING Link Between IVERMECTIN & Cancer | Dr. A Explains

(8 min) This video explores the reasons behind the discussion of ivermectin in cancer treatment, despite being known as an antiparasitic drug. Dr. A explains how ivermectin may function as an immunomodulator and discusses its potential benefits and limitations in oncology. Discover the concept of drug repurposing and its application in cancer therapy.
00:00 Introduction
00:18 – Ivermectin as an Anti-Parasitic with Extra Benefits
00:34 – Repurposed Drugs: Anti-Parasitics in Cancer
00:47 – Immunomodulation and Cancer Treatment
01:19 – Common Questions About Ivermectin's Use in Cancer
01:32 – Slowing Cancer Growth and Metastasis
02:02 – Boosting Apoptosis: The Cell’s Self-Destruct Switch
02:36 – Modulating Immune Signaling in Cancer
03:41 – Targeting Tumor Stem Cells with Ivermectin
04:24 – Overcoming Cancer’s Multidrug Resistance
05:07 – Enhancing Drug Sensitivity with Ivermectin
05:19 – Ivermectin and the Tumor Microenvironment
06:04 – Preventing Angiogenesis and Cancer Spread
06:32 – Making the Tumor Environment More Treatable
07:16 – Has Ivermectin Been Used for Cancer Long-Term?
07:44 – A Long History of Ivermectin in Cancer Support

Not advice, but perhaps worth considering. There's bunches of videos and articles talking about ivermectin and other drugs...
https://www.onedaymd.com/2024/08/ivermectin-tested-against-28-types-of.html
In 2016, Joe Tippens was diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer with extensive metastatic disease. At the advice of a veterinarian friend, he took Fenbendazole* together with nanocurcumin, and three months after starting these drugs his PET scan was completely clear.

Below is a modified version of the Joe Tippens protocol, a synergistic combination of fenbendazole, ivermectin and nutraceuticals, as recommended by Canadian oncologist Dr. William Makis.

Fenbendazole* is commonly taken at 300 mg for six days a week, with doses increasing to up to 1 gram in cases of aggressive "turbo cancers."
Ivermectin (24 mg, 7 days a week) or in the case of severe turbo cancers up to 1mg/kg/day.
Bio-Available Curcumin (600mg per day, 7 days a week).
Vitamin D (62.5 mcg [2500 IU] seven days a week).
Enhanced absorption Berberine (500mg per day) if you are trying to starve your cancer of sugars.
Diet and Lifestyle: Eliminate sugar (BMJ 2023), adopt a whole-food diet, avoid ultra-processed foods (BMJ 2024), prioritize sleep, and manage stress.

Sending healthy vibes your way!

@orlbucfan
you're right, Houston has some exemplary hospitals. I'm in great hands and I have some really great doctors.

Sorry to hear about your dad, that had to be tough on you and your family.

Thanks for the well wishes and kind sentiments. Your right, I may be in for a rough ride but chemo and radiation therapy affect everyone differently, so I'm hoping I'm one of the lucky ones that wont be affected so adversely. Either way, I know when I come out on the other side it'll be worth the effort.

I plan to keep writing and practicing my guitar, I'm convinced that at my age learning a new instrument and new songs keeps my mind nimble which should really help in the coming months.

I will prevail.

This bad news is hitting a little too close to home for this old gal (72). I'm the daughter of a very beloved father who died waaaay too young of colorectal cancer. He died in 1969, and it was called stomach cancer back then. He was hospitalized at 17 with ulcerative colitis so his health was never 100%. I don't think you had that problem. You are correct in that, ironically enough, Texas has some of the best medical centers in the western world. Keep writing on here. Writing, painting, etc. is one of the best psychological therapies in existence. All competent psychologists/psychiatrists know it. I'll be keeping an eyeball out for your posts. You're tough, ornery, and very smart. You're also not ready to shed the mortal coil yet. All those are strengths and pluses. Plus, you are surrounded by love, prayers, and positive thoughts. And getting the best of care. It's gonna be a rough ride, but you know that. Get well soon, ya hear????!!!! Rec'd and How!