Fuck Cancer

[cspringsposer]

Great to hear Mrs TBS is doing great. Same situation here - the Mrs is still NED and getting stronger every day. Fear of recurrence is real.

Sidenote, it's fairly shocking to me how many women we are meeting that are HER2+. I would estimate 70% of the BC patients we talk to are HER2+. I'm sure the medical community is tracking these numbers far more scientifically, but there really seems to be a lot of HER2+ right now. Thank God for Herceptin and Perjeta!

Goddammit Meadow Skipper! I'm so sorry to hear that. I'm sure you know the deal, but fight like hell and beat cancers ass for a second time. Don't know what we can do from CO, but anything you need please let me know. Seriously anything!

Fuck cancer!

[Meadow Skipper]

Thanks for all the kind words. I’m in an immunotherapy treatment regimen, with pretty tolerable side effects compared to chemo. The doctors seem pretty excited about it. We’ll see. It does help a lot having gone through these things previously - more focus, less confusion and mystery.

[2bjenny]

Thanks TBS. He’s finished his first cycle. He says he’s able to feel some small relief already., he can eat a little more and has a little more energy. The immunotherapy is what hits him the hardest so far. Hopefully things won’t worsen with each cycle. He has his second of six this coming week. Now that the govt won’t be shut down and everyone is rehired for now, I’ll make plan to go visit for a few days.

[TBS]

Bump - it’s been an eventful summer in the TBS household

In June, Ms TBS went in for her annual mammogram. “We need you to come back in for another Mammogram. There’s something odd looking on this one”. She schedules the redo once the panic subsides. It once again shows something they don’t like and want an ultrasound. During that test they determine they were looking at some extra dense tissue and all is good. Whew!

Then in June I developed a sore throat. It’s summer in Central Oregon, wildfires are burning, sore throats are a thing if you go outside. The sore throat turns into an earache by late July. Doc orders a CAT scan, which shows a tumor that turns out to be Squamous Cell Carcinoma under my tongue.

So I start radiation next Tuesday for seven weeks, along with seven weekly doses of cisplatin to weaken the tumor. Get fitted for a chemo port and feeding tube tomorrow

The good news is this tumor was caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, and the five year cure rate is 80+%, vs 50/50 if no HPV. Never thought I’d be pleased to know I was carrying an STD but here we are.

So my big issue is how I can get through this and be fit enough to ski come December. Doc sez I’m gonna lose weight “10 pounds if you’re lucky, probably more.” At 6’ and 185lbs I’m at the high end of “normal” weight, so not a lot to lose.

[cspringsposer]

Goddammit TBS! This shit is not fucking fair. No couple should EVER have both go through this. I am so sorry you and Mrs. TBS have to go through this again.

The good news is you know what you have to do and you know you will win this fight! Once this is over you and the Mrs will have proven you are two of the toughest people on this planet!

I might be way over here in Colorado, but if there is anything whatsoever that you need, just say the word. Seriously, anything!

Please keep us updated on the ass kicking you are giving the cancer and we will be sending good vibes and prayers from Colorado!