This is a cancer update.  I’ll give updates on the treatments I’ve done recently, what’s planned next, and the status of the GiveSendGo a friend set up last month.

Radiation: As I noted in the last update, I had a tumor in a rib close to the spine.  The position was a concern, because it was just a few millimeters from my spinal cord.  Happily, I was able to get radiation treatment for the tumor, and x-ray exposure to my spinal cord was minimal.  So that tumor is going away now, and I expect I won’t have any more trouble from it.  This is a big relief and I’m already experiencing a little less back pain.

Chemotherapy:  I will likely start up chemotherapy again next week.  Unfortunately, we’ll have to kick up the aggressiveness of the chemo again a little bit.  Unlike previous rounds, I will actually lose my hair this time.  So the next time you see me, I may look like one of those weird hairless cats. 

We’ll probably start chemo in the next week or two. 

Be Resilient program:  As discussed in the last update, I entered a program called Be Resilient.  The program does not claim to “cure cancer”, but it does help to optimize your body’s terrain in a way that will help your immune system fight on its own.  They drew some blood and did some extensive testing on reactions to foods and various other common chemicals like supplements and medications.  Since I have celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, I have several food sensitivities divided into severe, moderate, and mild categories. The program recommends I avoid all foods in the severe category for at least 6 months, foods in the moderate category for 3 months, and eat foods in the mild category no more than once or twice a week.  Unfortunately, I have a lot of things in my moderate category!  Dairy, apples, cocoa, several fishes, and several fruits are on this list.  I also need to avoid sugars of course, since they feed cancer.  Breakfasts are a particular problem, since I shouldn’t eat a lot of carbs, and I need to avoid egg whites, so I’m literally not sure what I’m going to eat for breakfast yet.  Maybe I can find a protein shake, without chocolate, that’s not too terrible!

And yes, it really hurts that cocoa is on the list!

On the bright side, I was at a friend’s restaurant recently, Pelly’s in Carlsbad, and had to get creative.  Instead of a fish taco, which I can’t eat because it has cod in it, I had a shrimp taco that was incredible!  My new favorite menu item at Pelly’s!

The program is also having a supplement made just for me to address some nutrient deficiencies that I have.  It will include things like Vitamin K1, Amino acids Methionine, and Valine, and Carnitine, a molecule that helps with energy production and muscle building.

GiveSendGo: My friend Annely put together a GiveSendGo for me to help pay for the program and with other treatments like Hyperbaric Oxygen, which helps in wound healing and is particularly good for after radiation treatment.  I really want to thank those of you who contributed to this fund.  We really appreciate it, and my membership in the Be Resilient program is now fully funded.  Several friends chose to give to us personally, so the amount given on GiveSendGo is actually a little less than we’ve received in total.  Thank you so much!

We will have another PET scan in mid June, after a few rounds of chemo. I’ll check back in then and let you know how things are going.

Don’t fear, but be smart!
Erik

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You can read all of my cancer updates here.