5 years ago today I opened up a report for a scan that I had. Was expecting good news. December 23 is a day I always know due to a family member's birthday. The report showed possible cancer, but was inconclusive. But the report also indicated something else was seen over on a different part of my body and should be checked. The first shot had been fired. I figured over medicine and nothing would be found.
I was wrong. Within a month I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Turned out to be Stage IV since one met was already in my lung, just took a bit longer to identify. The 5 year survival rate for advanced Stage III (which was the best scenario for me based on my surgery a month later) was 10%. Today the 5 year relative survival rate is 14%.
The earliest I can count 5 years, to me, is today. I plan to make it to 5 years from the date of surgery, and I should, which is in February.
Two weeks ago I was informed that the chemotherapy stopped working. Cancer spread and the tumors that existed started growing again - namely the big ones. All the arrows show some of the tumors.
Time to look for immunotherapy trials - there may be one, will find out the beginning of the year if I qu
alify via a blood test - but otherwise the only other option seems to be a chemo that is not very effective and is rather harsh.
I had taken a bit of a break from training, but time to get back to it. It has been getting tougher the last few months with muscles aches/spasms from the chemo, which also probably helped lead to the plantar issues. Plus more difficulty breathing - more from the chemo than the cancer - so being off chemo should make me actually feel better for awhile. Just need to get my legs back and start improving. Not stopping going forward. All I need to do is hang on as much as possible until they get something in place to knock this out. So will do everything to stay as strong as I can.
I have a 70.3 to do in Galveston in April, and I plan to be there and finish
#iTRI4aCure
#EmbraceTheSlow
