Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Robert's Obituary in the Cape Cod Times

http://www.legacy.com/CapeCod/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=145364433

In Robert's memory please consider giving a donation to Robert's preferred health freedom organization, the Alliance for Natural Health. Visit http://tiny.cc/RobertCrayhon for details.

Monday, September 13, 2010

From Robert's mother Ann Randall,

The memorial service for Robert will take place at 3 P.M. on Saturday, October 16th at:

UUMH (Unitarian Universalist Meeting House)
819 Main St
Chatham MA 02633

http://www.uumh.net

There are directions on their website.
After the service, refreshments will be served in the gathering room of the church below.
There are many nice places to stay overnight here: Wayside Inn, Wequasset Inn (very posh), many B&B's.

Please RSVP to jonathan.lizotte@gmail.com

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Tentative Memorial Plans

Robert's family has tentatively decided to celebrate with friends and family Robert's life on Saturday October 16th (a change from the 9th posted earlier) nearby Robert's mother's home in Chatham Cape Cod. Details will follow. RSVPs are requested to be sent to jonathan.lizotte@gmail.com.

Please also consider giving a donation to Robert's preferred health freedom organization, the Alliance for Natural Health. Visit http://tiny.cc/RobertCrayhon for details.

Thank You All

Robert's body is gone now, but his spirit remains strong in all of us. We, his family and friends, thank you for making him part of your life.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Therapies Continue

Not much to say--therapies continue, and I may not know for a couple of months more if they are working. PET scans are apparently = 1,000 X-rays, so you don't want to do them too often. Resting much, eating well, taking my supps, hoping for the best.

Battling pain is big part of it--and I have stronger pain meds that I hope will work better.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Another Way to Help Me Cover Medical Expenses

I wrote a book called The Power of Two Weeks from Now which is on amazon. It is a lighthearted recounting of my spiritual (or lack thereof) journey over the past 10 years. I make $3 a copy if you buy one. It has gotten good reviews, and there are only about 20 copies left in print. If you do get it and read it, please leave a review and let me know what you think! It is also available through Kindle. Thank you so much.

Love,
Robert

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

They are Building More Houses in Las Vegas

It's got nothing to do with cancer or healing, but this story in the New York Times about how they are still building new houses in Las Vegas is the most amazing news story I have read this year. It is a sign of the times--wanting more boom when we need restraint, wanting to create a never never real estate land of magical and continual expansion instead of accepting the realities of the market.

And yet maybe it does have something to do with healing--how we deny our well-being as Americans until things reach a critical point, and then, continue to eat a health weakening diet that only digs our grave more quickly.

Are human beings (and I suppose ostriches) the only mammals on earth with this unique ability to live in denial?

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

What I Do Each Day

The most important thing I do each day is stay on top of my pain with the pain meds. If I don't take them in advance of the onset of the pain, the pain builds up and is hard to lessen. Bless them pain meds...how did folks/do folks live without them?
With pain under control, I sleep better, and am in a good mood. When the pain gets out of control, my how miserable one suddenly can be...and that's no good, especially not for healing.

Second most important job: eat healthy and stay on all my supps and meds. I have been doing well there, especially since Kristin has been preparing wonderful meals for me over the past 2 weeks. She left today after a heroic job taking care of me. Now, I have someone named Julie to stop by and help me with the cooking. Kristin loaded the fridge with bone marrow soups and other healing foods. Thank you so much, Kristin, for your help and support over the last 2 weeks.

Third most important job is...slowing down, resting and not working. I love to work, miss seeing clients, miss contributing to the world in some way. I have written a guide to nutritional supplements that is 60% done and would love to finish it. But I know now that rest and taking it easy is key. I love to watch educational videos and movies. I listen to CDs of lectures from the nutritional and herbal seminars I can't attend. I have been reading inspiring books such as The Ten Things to Do When Your Life Falls Apart by Daphne Kingma, among others. I listen to Thich Nhat Hanh's amazing CD series The Ultimate Dimension which you can get from Sounds True. I go to church on Sundays now that I found one nearby.

And, I feel the love of so many holding me on this journey. This is such a great gift, to know that, wherever we are, we friends are all connected in our love for each other. The discovery of the depth of this love that exists for me--and for all of us--is one that inspires me daily to do the best I can to be grateful for the healing path I am on and the growth and realizations that such a life challenge can offer.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

CRP of 49

Health professional friends--I have a C-reactive protein of 49 as of blood tests from 2 weeks ago. Gadzooks. Well, glad they looked for that. I am one inflamed guy. I hope that number is lower now. Taking Celebrex 100 mg BID, Curcuminoiids 8x a day, and other anti-inflammatory herbals from Donnie Yance/Natura.

Any recommendations about foods or nutrients to lower it? Fish oils, yes, and N-Acetyl Cysteine come to mind. Any other ideas?

Below, an interesting abstract forwarded to me by Cristiana Paul. Thanks, Cristiana.

Feeling good after 75 g of intravenous vitamin C today. Let's keep that a comin'.

Love,
Robert

Inflammation. 2009 Jun;32(3):169-75.
Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in cancer patients are linked with tumor burden and are reduced by anti-hypertensive medication.
Koukourakis MI, Kambouromiti G, Pitsiava D, Tsousou P, Tsiarkatsi M, Kartalis G.
Department of Radiotherapy/Oncology, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. targ@her.forthnet.gr

Abstract

High levels of CRP relate with advanced disease and poor prognosis of cancer patients. CRP serum levels were measured in 684 cancer patients who had undergone complete surgery or inoperable patients. Patients with inoperable tumors had significantly higher CRP levels (1.21 +/- 2.2 vs. 0.40 +/- 0.4 mg/dL; p < 0.0001). No association with gender, diabetes, autoimmune disease, thyroid disease or allergy was noted. Significantly higher CRP levels were noted in operated patients with hypertension (0.55 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.35 +/- 0.4; p = 0.001), coronary disease (0.73 +/- 0.8 vs. 0.39 +/- 0.4; p = 0.01) and obesity (0.51 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.37 +/- 0.4; p = 0.04). On the contrary, analysis in the group of inoperable patients showed that hypertensive patients had significantly lower CRP levels (0.64 +/- 1.0 vs. 1.36 +/- 2.4; p = 0.008). Although the tumor itself is the main factor defining increased CRP levels in cancer patients, hypertension, coronary disease and obesity are also linked with high CRP levels. Anti-hypertensive drugs appear as potent suppressors of the tumor-induced CRP production.

Resting and Doing My Therapies

Rested much over the Memorial Day weekend. Slept well, which has a lot to do with timing my pain meds effectively. I have my good friend Kristin Cook staying with me to help with cooking, cleaning, shopping, organizing my supplements. Kristin stays until a week from today...I am blessed. My friend is keeping on a nutrient-dense, junk-free diet, paleostyle plus tubers, basically. I am keeping up with my supplements, a long list, and also the intravenous therapies I am getting. Just bought a used Norwalk juicer, and will try to incorporate green juices more. I am watching the old Bob Newhart Show from the 70s on Hulu.com. If you've never been to Hulu.com, check it out, tons of TV shows there on demand.

I also bought a trumpet on eBay for $55 to play and keep my lungs strong. Used to play the trumpet, now it is not just fun but medicinal. I try not to watch the news, because the oil spill and other things just stress me out. Feeling stronger and more relaxed. I look forward in the coming months to have more detailed testing to see how all these interventions are affecting my tumor size. I am gradually feeling better and better, that's for sure.

For anyone wanting to help stem my boredom, I have a wish list on amazon.com with many inexpensive movies up there. Thank you in advance.

Love,
Robert

Monday, May 24, 2010

Cancer is Boring

If you are looking for something fun and exciting, don't pick cancer. It's boring. You're tired, you don't look your best, and have a paleness to you that people don't seem to like. You become obsessed with your diet and treatment plan. What's more, your stories aren't interesting.

I was at a small gathering the other night and started telling of some of the exciting developments in my life of late. "Yes, well, I JUST got a great juicer on eBay for good price. I mean, the bidding the last day went like this..." The eyes of my listener glazed over. Then some chap who had just gotten back from Alaska started telling interesting stories about how rugged things are up there and what work he was doing for some oil company. So much for my juicer buying adventure.

So, looking for fun? Travel. Join a book club. Take a cooking class. Learn to ski. But cancer? I can't recommend it. Not if you want fun stories to tell.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Angiogenesis and Foods That Prevent It

Here is William Li talking about foods that inhibit angiogenesis, the growth of blood vessels that is essential for cancer to spread.

Foods that appear to slow or stop angiogenesis, according to William Li, are Green Tea, Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Oranges, Grapefruit, Lemons, Apples, Pineapple, Cherries, Red Grapes, Red wine, Bok Choy, Kale, Soy Beans, Ginseng, Maitake Mushroom, Licorice, Turmeric, Nutmeg, Artichokes, Lavender, Pumpkin, Sea Cucumber, Tuna, Parsley, Garlic, Tomato, Olive Oil, Grape seed Oil, and Dark Chocolate.

Come to Prescott for a Visit! I have an extra room.

Come to Prescott! I have an extra room in the very nice house I am being lent while I am here, with your own private bathroom. Stay a few days, visit Sedona, take in the relaxing Arizona vibe. To each of my friends, please, come and stay with me for a weekend--I can even lend you a car to use while staying here. Fly to Phoenix, take the shuttle up to Prescott, and that's it! You'll enjoy this beautiful town and surrounding countryside. I will probably be here well into July at least. Yes, I have found my dream team of healers here. And I don't like being alone, and I love the company of my friends. (I get a bit lonely in the evenings, but won't admit it here. Not very "macho.") Email me at RCrayhon@gmail.com for more info, compadres.

Friday, May 21, 2010

In Prescott, AZ to work with Robert Zieve, MD

I am in Prescott, AZ to work with Robert Zieve, MD and Donnie Yance, MHCN and other experts for an indefinite period of time. I feel truly blessed to be working with this wonderful team of practitioners.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Excellent Resources for Colon Cancer Patients

Here is an excellent article by Life Extention Foundation on natural ways to prevent colon cancer. And here is an excellent discussion of how to approach colon cancer with nutritional and botanical therapies based on current research.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Low Dose Naltrexone with Intravenous Lipoic Acid

I am hearing from many practitioner friends about the benefits of taking low-dose naltrexone for cancer. Not just that they have seen good research, but that they have had patients respond well to it.

Here is Burton Berkson, MD, PhD, talking about the benefits of low dose naltrexone combined with intravenous lipoic acid for certain cancers, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Does anyone have any experience with low-dose naltrexone who can share their experience? Thank you.

Sylvia, in a comment below, rightly points out that naltrexone is not compatible with opiod pain relievers--you have to stop taking them when taking naltrexone. Not something everyone can do.

Love,
Robert

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Hyperthermia Clinic in the New York Metro Area?

Does anyone know of a hyperthermia clinic in the New York metro area? I am most eager to add it on to the chemo and nutritional support I am doing.

Chemo went fine yesterday. Dr. Linchitz says he sees me putting on some muscle and that we are going in the right direction. Tally ho! Let's hope so. A long way to go to get back to normal weight, but going in the right direction is the key of course.

Edema in legs nearly gone after 2 weeks. Nurses impressed. It is probably the intravenous albumin along with everything else that is doing it.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Biofocus Chemosentivity Testing

Biofocus is a laboratory in Germany that offers a chemosentivity test that allows you to know which chemotherapeutic agents will work most effectively against your particular cancer cells. My results are due back in 1-2 weeks, and I can't tell you how excited I am to soon have this knowledge as a resource in my cancer management plan. The traditional approach is to make the patient the petri dish, and see over time--sometimes 6 months per drug if not longer--if a chemotherapy drug works. The Biofocus kind of testing in a matter of 2-3 weeks accelerates the knowledge that might otherwise take years to discover if the patient continues to remain the petri dish. Let the lab technicians first do their testing to see what works, and then jump ahead of wasted months to years of ineffective therapies--and cancer patients most often do no have that kind of time.

We all talk about biochemical individuality, but cancer therapy does not incorporate it unless this kind of testing is done for each cancer patient. And, such a test would save money for the healthcare industry, because patients would arrive at the correct drugs faster. It boggles the mind how such testing is not a standard part of cancer care.

Think of this kind of testing as a kind of GPS for your cancer drugs. You will arrive at the place you want to be more directly and faster. There are other places that offer this kind of testing as well, and I cannot say which test is best. But some sort of testing for chemo drug efficacy should be done for all cancer patients if we truly want to call the medicine we practice in this country both compassionate and state-of-the-art.

Hydrazine Sulfate

Does anyone, patient or practitioner, have experience with hydrazine sulfate? The research is impressive, both for cancer and cachexia, the latter being an especially urgent concern of mine (I am 151 lbs, usually 190 or more):

Dr. Joseph Gold discusses hydrazine sulfate

The Syracuse Cancer Research Institute

I would appreciate any feedback. And where does one get it? A compounding pharmacist? Dosage?

Love,
Robert

Chemo Went Fine Today

I receive chemo twice a week in the IPT program for now, and it's Tuesdays and Thursdays. Today's session went fine. Got my blood sugar down to 39 before they began infusing the Folfari drugs intravenously.

Side effects: it seems that a day after the IPT, I am a bit dizzy, less sure on my feet, and that seems to be gone after 2 days. Also, they give me an anti-nausea drug that is a steriod before treatment, and it makes it hard to sleep the night after chemo sometimes. So, those are the only side effects I have noticed overall, and not much to complain about. No nausea or bodily aches. But again, that is because this is 10% the dose, not because I have a strong constitution.

And: does anyone know the best place to get organic liver? I need to eat a lot of it and it is hard to find around here. Thank you.

Love,
Robert

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

This Can't Be Chemo

Sung to "This Can't Be Love":

This can't be chemo 'cause I feel too good
No chills, no aches and no pains
This chemo doesn't torture like it could
I've thrown off medicine's reigns
I don't throw up
Or lose my hair
My doctors and nurses
Really seem to care
This can't be chemo 'cause I'm feeling fine
And hoping health will be mine

Second chemo treatment today, and it went well. They got my blood sugar down to 41 before they pushed in the Folfari chemo drugs, again at 10% the normal dose. No side effects, except from the momentarily induced hypoglycemia-dizzyness that goes away in 10 minutes (not a good time to learn new dance steps). But the question is, will this low dose targeted therapy work for me? Are the cancer cells gobbling it up, with their 16x greater number of insulin receptors than normal cells, after they gave me 5 units of insulin? I hope so. My chemo sensitivity tests come back from Germany in 2 weeks--more info to work with. For a book about this therapy, I am reading The Kinder, Gentler Cancer Treatment. Short, to the point, with a chapter written by Dr. Linchitz.

I do feel good--but then, after the chemo, I received 20 grams of vitamin C and 1 gram of glutathione intravenously, and 100,000 IUs of D because the latest test shows my vitamin D is 41--and Dr. Linchitz wants all his patients above 70, which is right on in my book. My D was in the 20s 3 years ago, and after taking 10,000 IU or more orally a week of D in olive oil, I am still low! Wow. Great to get more D. We know it is a risk factor for many cancers, insulin resistance diseases, and of course poor bone health. Have you checked your D lately?

So maybe it is all that C, D and Glutathione that has me feeling fine. I am a big fan of intravenous glutathione for yours truly--makes me feel so good. When I found out it was available, I asked it be added to the regime. They checked with the doctor, and "sure!" was the response. What else can you ask for in terms of patient care?

Last night sister Gigi, who is my main caretaker, brought over some DELICIOUS bone soup with a recipe from Donnie Yance made by a family friend, Archie. Archie is a caterer and who went all over Chinatown in NYC to get all the Chinese herbs for it. Thank you, Archie! I could live off this bone marrow rich, blood building soup.

Tomorrow Sherri and Sue visit. Time for rest. Today was a big day, and one filled with gratitude. Thank you, everyone. I feel more love now than I ever have in my life.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sanoviv

Anyone have experience with the Sanoviv Medical Institute in Mexico? I am getting strong recommendations from doctor friends to go for three weeks to bolster my system.

2 Days of Blood Infusions

My hemoglobin was 7 this past Friday due to bleeding tumor. Dr. Linchintz ordered me to the hospital to receive blood. Received 3 units of blood, and now my hemoglobin is above 9. Ready for chemo this week, and feeling better. Now in my White Plains apartment. I have left New Jersey to be closer to my friends and doctors, and because I can no longer afford the mortgage with the medical bills I have. A studio apartment is easier. Weight up a bit.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

On the Rails of Love

I remember a week or so ago, lying in my hospital bed at night, still absorbing everything from the day my mother, her husband, and my sister had all visited. I had also spoken to my brother in San Francisco on the phone. I thought of my father, in Dallas, slated for cancer surgery in the upcoming days. And I felt enveloped in love from and to them all. I felt, lying there in the dark with the machines beeping around me and the hospital noises from the hall occasionally breaking my train of of thought, that I was on a rail, much like like a train, but firmly on the rails of love. And thoughts of death, the end of life, seemed suddenly not so important to me or even real. "There is no birth, no death," the chemist Lavoisier said. "There is only love," a million Beatles songs add. And it is true. Enveloped in that love, feeling the guidance of the connection to those I love the most, there was no fear, no death, no anger, no regrets, none of the erroneous ideas our mind creates like a fun house when we are not in the folds of love. So may we always be there, and may we always experience its peace, its wholeness, and the joy of connection it can bring us. We all want love, and it's all we want I feel. I wish always to be in that place of connection, always. May you always be there as well.

First Day of IPT Chemo

The day went well, and so far, only feeling good after the chemo which ended four hours ago.

The goal with insulin potentiated chemo (IPT) is to first lower the blood sugar until I show signs of hypoglycemia--in my case, on the first day, that number was a glucose of 51. I began to sweat on my brow and have slight palpitations. They then gave 5FU as a push, which running the rest of the Folfari as a drip through my port. It was, well, really cool to be part of the procedure. I felt better after than I began. My vitals were strong at the beginning and end. They then gave me 25 g of albumin to help bring those levels up. I left the clinic feeling energized and hungry. I have eaten 2,000 calories in the intervening four hours, and will eat another 3,000, the desired amount for someone so thinned out by cancer as me, David Vaughn advises me. Something about the procedure really kicked up my appetite. That's extra special good news.

So, lets see in the next days whether there are any side effects. So far, none but feeling better and feeling hungry. Next treatment is on Tuesday, April 20th.

At the clinic, I met more refugees from traditional chemo who were happy to use this IPT chemo which only 10% the dose, and eliminates nearly all the side effects. One woman was proud to show me her hair was growing back, and that the bones in her legs, so debilitated during normal chemo she was in a wheelchair before begining IPT, were now better enough after 13 IPT treatments to allow her to use a walker instead. "Why would you want to do anything else?" she said, saying this is the way standard chemo drugs--which is what we are all taking--should be administered from now on.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

More on the Tumor

The tumor is a large, slow growing mass in the lower part of my abdomen, and is connected to my vena cava and other vital parts of my anatomy down there, so it could not be removed during the surgery of 3/31/10. The strategy suggested by my surgeon was to go after it with chemotherapy, and then it would shrink enough so it can be removed.

We know also that tumors love and live off sugar, and so the nutritional part of the approach will be to starve the tumor. That means no sugar in the diet (perhaps some fructose now and then--not more than say 10 grams per day), and lots of protein and even more fat to get my weight up, along with some low glycemic index carbs. The tumor can be starved out. We know this from research in other cancers:

Abstract #1
Traditionally, a ketogenic diet is given to drug-resistant children with epilepsy to improve seizure control. Inducing a ketogenic state in patients with cancer may be a useful adjunct to cancer treatment by affecting tumor glucose metabolism and growth while maintaining the patient's nutritional status. A ketogenic diet consisting of 60% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, 20% protein, 10% carbohydrate, and 10% other dietary fats was provided to a select group of pediatric patients with advanced-stage cancer to test the effects of dietary-induced ketosis on tumor glucose metabolism. Issues of tolerance and compliance for patients consuming an oral diet (consisting of normal table foods and daily MCT oil “shakes”) and for patients receiving an enteral formula are reviewed. Preliminary use of the MCT oil-based diet suggests a potential in pediatric patients with cancer. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995; 95:693-697.

Abstract #2
Effects of a ketogenic diet on tumor metabolism and nutritional status in pediatric oncology patients: two case reports

Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 14, Issue 2 202-208

OBJECTIVE: Establish dietary-induced ketosis in pediatric oncology patients to determine if a ketogenic state would decrease glucose availability to certain tumors, thereby potentially impairing tumor metabolism without adversely affecting the patient's overall nutritional status. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University Hospitals of Cleveland. SUBJECTS: Two female pediatric patients with advanced stage malignant Astrocytoma tumors. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were followed as outpatients for 8 weeks. Ketosis was maintained by consuming a 60% medium chain triglyceride oil-based diet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tumor glucose metabolism was assessed by Positron Emission Tomography (PET), comparing [Fluorine-18] 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) uptake at the tumor site before and following the trial period. RESULTS: Within 7 days of initiating the ketogenic diet, blood glucose levels declined to low-normal levels and blood ketones were elevated twenty to thirty fold. Results of PET scans indicated a 21.8% average decrease in glucose uptake at the tumor site in both subjects. One patient exhibited significant clinical improvements in mood and new skill development during the study. She continued the ketogenic diet for an additional twelve months, remaining free of disease progression. CONCLUSION: While this diet does not replace conventional antineoplastic treatments, these preliminary results suggest a potential for clinical application which merits further research.

So: no sugar and less carbs is not the whole story and is not a cancer cure. But I think it is a big part of the healing picture, particularly with people with solid tumors such as me.

What to do when wanting a treat? I have found high quality balsamic vinegar, aged at least five years and imported from Italy, put on veggies and other low carb foods, to be a worthy and delicious investment. Anyone else with fun and tasty low carb and no carb ideas?

Starting Low Dose Chemo Tomorrow

Tomorrow, April 15th, I will begin low dose Folfiri potentiated by insulin at Richard Linchitz, MD's office in Glen Cove. I had a 2 hour consult with him today. He is a caring, brilliant, and open-minded nutrition savvy physician, and knows his nutritional biochemistry quite well.

Thanks to Sue for driving me 2 hours each way to his office,

Love,
Robert

Monday, April 12, 2010

Is Insulin Potentiated Chemo More Effective?

This week I will be meeting with Richard Linchitz, MD to discuss insulin potentiated chemotherapy instead of the standard treatment, which I am thinking of putting on hold as it is so toxic and negates effect of so many standard therapies. By using insulin with chemo, Dr. Linchitz and others have found the tumors take up the chemo more, and you only need to use 10% of the dose to get the same if not better results--so I am told. I will go down and have a 2 hour visit with him this week. He seems really sharp nutritionally and overall.

Had 800,000 IU shot of vitamin D today and other intravenous nutrients through my port. I feel more energized because of it.

Now decompressing, and grateful to be outside all day driving around on such a beautiful April day. Thank you Jonathan for driving me around all day and being such a great friend.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Finding the Right Chemotherapy

Today, as I receive much advice from physician friends, many say hold off the chemo for this coming Wednesday, and wait until I do testing with Functional Tumor Cell Profiling from the Weisenthal Cancer Group and the Target Now testing to find out which chemo will work best against my particular cancer. Sounds reasonable, and even exciting, to think such kind of pinpointing is available. I found out about the Functional Tumor Cell Profiling a bit late, until after my exploratory surgery, and they need a fresh biopsy to be able to do their tests. I have to find out what getting such another biopsy would involve.

I am eager to get going with some chemo regimin, and don't know how long I can wait being 50 pounds underweight to begin a regimin that will begin to attack the disease process and help me put weight on.

I expect to begin the Folfiri on Wednesday, and follow up on what testing I can at the same time. Due to my underweight, now is not the time for waiting on more testing, but for action against the cancer, however imperfect it may be at the beginning. But I await the final recommendations of my doctor advisors on Tuesday before knowing for sure I will go ahead on Wednesday.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Today

I am a 48 year old single overworking male who had extreme fatigue which I attributed to various causes such as work and stress, but finally went into the hospital to be evaluated. My hemoglobin was 2.9, and basically they didn't know why I was still alive. Nine units of blood later, it was around 10, still low but much better. My weight was also down significantly.

Also, a CAT scan of the upper body, then a colonoscopy, revealed a diagnosis of colon cancer stage 4.

Today, I am recovering from exploratory surgery in my gut 10 days ago, and thankfully now out of the hospital staying with loving friends. Chemo to start next Wednesday, Folfiri. I hope it is effective. Doctors say that perhaps it will extend my life, not cure the cancer. My friends in natural medicine are more optimistic. I remain in learning mode about the whole thing, not knowing.

I was at White Plains hospital in NY, and loved the staff. I feel so blessed by their help. I will continue to work with the physicians and surgeons there and explore my treatment options and share my experiences. That is what this blog will be about.