Soberbyker

prayers and best wishes to you and your family. Hang in there and stay positive!

We’re here for you.

My Cancer. If you follow my stuff I've mentioned some of my cancer plight. I got bored and wrote the whole thing down to date and thought I'd share it here today.

In Feb. 2019 I had a colonoscopy that found 13 polyps, some were precancerous. The Dr. wanted me back in a year for another colonoscopy to be sure he got everything. It appeared there were some more, but too small to get to.

2020. I had the date, the juice to clean me out and COVID19 hit and shut everything down for over a year and then appointments were a year or more out. I would try every now and then to get an appointment but get frustrated with how far away they were.

Near the end of 2022 I started having symptoms, blood in the toilet bowl and slight pains in my side. So once again in early January 2023 I tried to get an appointment for a colonoscopy, but since it was over 3 years since I had seen the Dr. I now had to have an office visit first, at the end of Feb. I contacted the Dr directly through my patient portal and explained my symptoms to him; he got me in to see him and an appt. for the colonoscopy by the end of Jan. when they found an large mass partially obstructing my colon that spread to nearby abdomen tissue and onto the liver as well. Stage 4 cancer.

I've only had four chemo treatments so far, with my 5th coming this week. It's a two day process. On Wednesday I spend 4 or so hours getting stuff dripping in via a port I now have in my chest. Then before I leave they hook up a softball sized ball of chemo to be pumped in over the next couple days with removal on Friday. Then I get a shot of white blood cells that make my bones ache. Also get some kind of shot to stimulate my marrow into making more red cells.

The 1st chemo treatment kicked my ass, the rest not too bad. The real problem was losing blood and needing transfusions (5 units), I was getting real weak and lightheaded. My hemoglobin was down to 6 at one point, supposed to be over 13. It has since gotten better, I'm not bleeding anymore. I have some good days, some bad days, and some horrible days, none are great though.

I never had covid but indirectly I believe I got this cancer because of it prolonging my ability to get a timely colonoscopy, if covid never happened I would have gotten the colonoscopy the next year and they might have caught this in the early stages.

I did get supposedly good news last week. My CEA numbers were 18.7 in February, last week that was down to 4.4. I should be getting another pet scan soon to compare and see if the chemo has shrunk the cancer enough for surgery.

I had planned to retire at the end of 2023, I'll be 65 in Nov. However the cancer had different plans I've been forced to retire. Can't collect my pension until the end of the year when I'm 65 and SSI is dragging its feet getting started, sucks all kinds of ways to be me right now, with no money coming in from me. Luckily the wife, a school teacher, is still working and has me on her insurance plan.
I've had a couple local cancer funds give me some help thanks to the Dr.s staff. Both small foundations and give direct help to the patient.

https://colecaresfoundation.org/
https://www.kevincain.org/

Both have upcoming fundraiser events. Please help if you can.

A friend's wife started a gofundme;

https://gofund.me/00928bee

F**k Cancer,
Bill Young

Thanks folks.

You are welcome. Im sort of skirting some of those things, but Covid hasn't gotten in my way.

All the best to you. I hope you can fight this off and walk away.

So sad to hear this soberbyker. I will be praying for you.

Giver hell, Bill. Best wishes, and may God heal.

Here's hoping the treatments will help so you cab get the surgery you need. Our prayers are with you.

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I was lucky that after the chemo and radiation I am cancer free after 3 years (knock on wood) but going in soon for my annual CT scan. Keep the faith that your doctors and you find a way to beat it.

2019 my husband was diagnosed with cancer. His liver, lungs, and every bone in his body. He was in a bad place but the cancer was a rare cancer. The Oncologist found him a trial for his cancer in Houston. At the time of the trial the doctor didn't think he would last 3 months.
We drove to Houston for two years and a half years every other month to do the trial.
Long story short, the trial stopped the progression of his cancer. His cancer is still in the lungs, bones, liver and liver duct. It is a lot smaller and it is livable and not spreading. He is alive 4 years later, and I am thankful for that.
The trial caused kidney failure but he is alive.
We have learn to live with no travel, no entertainment, no shopping unless I ware a mask and he sets in the car. The kids can visit as long as we wear our mask.
I am thankful for this.
Just wanted you to know there could be a light at the end of your journey. The medical departments can work wonders. Look for trials. I am a new believer of medical trials.
He still get the chemo shots and the blood shot to help his blood count and kidneys.
Don't give up. There is always hope.
Mary

Thanks to all who've shared and offered hope. I truly appreciate it.

….thanks to Vietnam and Agent Orange. My urologist told me that he was seeing more and more Vietnam vets with prostate cancer because of Agent Orange. I was lucky in that Ohio did not shutdown medical procedures during Covid. People were still getting treated for cancer and were able to get their preventive care. We had to wear masks but treatment was available. New treatments are being discovered all of the time so keep on fighting. Good luck to you sir!

strong, brother Bill!

Stay positive and find those things in your life that encourage it.

It sounds cliche but I came across a station on XM that does that for me, Thursdays at 5 PM. People call in and yesterday one guy was crying--more people called in and just generally understand, that's the key.

I was teary eyed based on the next caller and what he said. What I'm saying is it's just a little bit of positivity to get me home on Thursdays, and there have to be lots of these things out there for all of us.

You've been a great person here for years and I just think good things are bound to come your way.

Again, Thanks to all who've shared and offered hope. I truly appreciate it. My career was being a truck driver, so I'll just keep on trucking until I'm out of fuel.

May you win this battle, have a speedy recovery and heal up well.

Hoping for the best for you
Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing. My prayers go out to you.

There are some good resources on the internet to beat cancer. "Chris Beat Cancer" and "The Truth About Cancer" come to mind.

I had a CT scan on Monday that appears to back up the CEA numbers, the chemo is doing its job. I haven't talked to my oncologist yet, that'll be next Wednesday to see what it all means as to my treatment.

Chemo is a tough way to deal with anyrhing...

But if it's doing the job as your seeing your numbers go the right way for your body, then there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

The Ol' Boy upstairs has a plan for you, He's not giving up.

You're included in my daily prayers!

Blessings!

So sorry to hear this, Bill.

But as you know, colon cancer that has spread nearby, like yours, which used to have a poor outcome, has seen great strides in treatment in the past 20 or so years. I have a good friend who had metastatic colon cancer and went through resection and chemo and is at the six-year mark with no sign of it and apparent total remission. He has to get retested more frequently than most, of course, but his life has been good in recent years, and unpleasant as it was at the time, he's glad he got the care he got.

Fight On!

Here's an update for you kind folks who have helped in any way and for those who may have missed it the first time. For context please read the entire story, (3rd post in the thread). I had a CT Scan a couple weeks ago that suggests that the chemo is doing its job quite well. Although the scan is limited because of my body size and I couldn't hold my breath long enough during the scan my doctor believes things are going in the right direction. I just had my 5th chemo treatment and am due for a PET Scan this month which will give him a better idea of what's going on.

Also, one of the foundations I mentioned in the third post, the cole cares foundation, is having a fundraiser this month, a golf outing, if you're able please help them out, link at the bottom. I had breakfast with the founder a couple days ago, only my third time out of the house that wasn't a doctor visit since this started, and he is a real down to earth guy, Thank You Brian Cottone.

I got a new CEA cancer marker number this week, it's down to 2.0 now, great news. I had a CT scan a couple weeks ago that didn't see the same mass it had back in February, it's practically gone, at least to that limited scan. Nonetheless, I still have to have chemo treatments until at least August, the originally planned amount.

There is probably still cancer in microscopic form at a minimum. The CT scan was limited because of my body size and 'movement' which was probably me not being able to hold my breath long enough during the scan. Since there was nothing alarming the doc is holding off on the more detailed PET scan for now. Thanks for all of the great support I have had.

Here's hoping you will continue to be on the mend and get more good news. We'll keep thinking of you as you proceed with your treatments.

Wonderful news.

Sounds good ,We will continue to pray for you.

So good to hear..

Great news!
Thanks for sharing.

Glad to hear the good news. I am praying for your continued progress and healing.

News! We all need to hear about good things happening to great people!

Surely there will be more positive news to come!

Well, two more treatments until the PET scan to determine where we go from there, so that's good news.

We would love a cancer marker of 2.0
My husband's 1st tumor marker was in the 36,000s.
It is now just over 3800.
We are proud of the 3800, be proud of the 2.0.
His last PET scan showed maybe a little uptick but it still look great compared to the 1st PET scan in 2019.
Hopefully your PET scan will be good. Every little improvement is something to be thankful for.
Praying for all.
Mary

Sorry for what your husband is going through. Also sorry if I seem ungrateful for my progress, it's certainly not how I feel.

I didn't think you were ungrateful, I just was showing you it could be worse. Sorry if I made you feel that way, that was the last think I wanted to do. I wanted you to feel good.
Mary

No worries, thank you.

For both ( everyone ) in this situation

I just finished my 12th chemotherapy treatment this week. I am set to get a PET scan on Tuesday that will hopefully tell us that the bloodwork (CEA markers) is right and I can take a break for a while from chemo. I hate cancer and chemo but I'll miss the nurses that helped me keep a positive attitude throughout this past few months.

I want to give a huge shout out of thanks to all the nurses on the chemo ward of Bryn Mawr Medical Specialists Association. They made an otherwise horrible thing to deal with a lot easier, always with a smile and a hello, they were the best, made my chemo treatments bearable, Thank you very much.

https://gofund.me/6baab9c1

I feel for you SB since I'm right behind you Epithelioid malignant mesothelioma is on my agenda.

And to you too.

Had the PET Scan, showed the results to my primary and he said

"This looks like good news, no evidence of residual tumor. You definitely appear to be winning this battle. I suspect that Dr. Devlin will be very happy when he sees the report."

Dr. Devlin is the oncologist, I have an appt with him next week so I doubt he'll call, but it's looking good. From what I understand I'll never be fully cured from this, it could come back at any time, so I'll most likely be able to take a break for a bit but have to get blood work every few months to check my CEA levels.

Now I have to deal with all the bills catching up to me since a new deductible period just started July first.

https://gofund.me/6baab9c1

.

You latest news sounds very promising. Stay strong and keep up the good fight against this cancer my friend.

Get used to going to the Dr. every few months. That will be the new normal for the next few years. I am now seeing my urologist every 6 months whether I need to or not. My wife is on the same schedule with her surgeon since her bout with breast cancer. It’s now just part of life. Glad to hear that the PET scan showed improvement.

I hope that your condition continues to improve. Thanks for sharing the update.

Well, got great news I can take a month off from chemo treatments, between my CEA numbers the CT & PET scans the cancer is gone, for now, I may still have it in my body microscopically.

A person has to have 5 years straight with no signs of cancer to be considered cured.

So for now I get the chance to recoup some of my energy and hopefully build up my platelets which are very low from the chemo.

Next month I'll get some bloodwork and we'll go from there.

Now I get to try and pay some of the bills that are catching up to me.

Thanks to all for the encouragement, prayers and financial help if you were able, it all helps.

Thank you.

Great news for sure. We will continue to pray for you.

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C

I shake my head and laugh to keep from crying. The cancer is still in remission, for now, the cancer marker number went up a little but still on the low end of what's considered normal as of Sept. 1st.

Jump to Sept. 10th. I woke up gasping for air, rushed to the hospital and found that I had congestive heart failure. Apparently all the hydrating I had learned to do due to the chemo wasn't good when the chemo stopped and I ended up with too much fluid in my body. Spent 3 days in the hospital and am taken Lasix because I haven't drained the fluid completely.

I just can't get ahead, I'm broke and broken. Money is tight as ever, and my body just has too many issue to hold down even a part time job. I have to wonder why the powers that be give me the ability to get through the physical stuff but knocks me back down with the financial stuff.

Gotta love the crap life can throw at you.

Hope you get better soon.

I know about the ups and downs of life.
My husband is now on Hospice. We are thankful for the last 4 years that we didn't think we were going to get. Just hope he has more time now than they think. I have been with him 59 years and have loved every second of it.
Mary

So sorry for you. May Peace be with you both.

This Thanksgiving I am truly thankful for all those who kept me in their prayers, as well as those who were able to contribute to my ongoing plight.

Thank you very much.

Finally heard from my oncologist. My PET/CT scan this past Friday was pretty much the same as the October scans, nothing has changed and the cancer is still in remission.

Thanks to all for the prayers and well wishes.