JONNY PUGLIA

JONNY PUGLIA, 34

Stage IVc, 2018
Colorectal Cancer
Albany, New York, USA
Status: N.E.D / Surveillance

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MY TIMELINE

• AUGUST 2018
  Started Acupuncture
  Started Yoga & Meditation

• OCTOBER 2018
  Completed 6th round of FOLFOX
  First CT Scan – Overall Regression
  Lung Lesion cleared, Colon/Rectal tumors shrunk, Liver lesions Shrunk

• FEBRUARY 2019
  Completed 12 rounds of FOLFOX
  Second CT Scan – Progression
  Colon/Rectal tumors grew, Liver lesions grew

  Chemo Break Vacation

• MARCH 2019
  Started FOLFIRI Regiment

• MAY 2019
  Completed 18 rounds of FOLFIRI
  Added Avastin to FOLFIRI regiment
  Third CT Scan – Stability

  Chemo Break Vacation

• AUGUST 2019
  Completed 24 rounds of FOLFIRI
  Fourth CT Scan – Progression
  Lymph Nodes, Liver, & Colon/Rectum aggressively grew

• SEPTEMBER 2019
  Started Certuminab & Irenotcean (C&i) Regiment

  Started Helminthic Therapy (Hookworm Therapy) 10 Worms

• NOVEMBER 2019
  Preformed True Storytelling w/ TMI
  Completed 7 rounds of C&I
  Fourth CT Scan – Regression
  Lymph Nodes cleared, Liver, & Colon/Rectum aggressively shrunk

• DECEMBER 2019
  Cleared for Surgery
  Total Colectomy with radical Liver Resection & Ablation

• JANUARY 2020
  Completed 41st round of Chemo
  Surgery
  Total Colectomy, 4 Liver Ablations, 1 Liver Resection, Partial Diaphram Resection, and Illeoostomy

• MARCH 2020
  Cleared to be active (6-week Post-Op)
  Resumed playing Soccer
  Altered Diet
  Focused on eating a primarily plant-based diet

  Second Innoculation of Helminthic Therapy (20 worms)

• APRIL 2020
  Ran first Post-Op 5k
  Completed 55 rounds of Chemo
  Fifth CT Scan – No Active Disease
  Still in remission from Cancer (woo!)

• JUNE 2020
  Completed 65 rounds of Chemo
  Sixth CT Scan – No Active Disease
  YUP, still in remission from Cancer

• JULY 2020
  Completed 65 rounds of Chemo
  Celebrated my SECOND Thriverversity

  Chemo Break Vacation to Portland, OR

• SEPTEMBER 2020
  Completed 80th round of Chemo
  Seventh CT Scan – No Active Disease
  In remission from Cancer (woo!)
  Started Graduate School for MBA

• JANUARY 2021
  Completed 100th round of Chemo
  Eighth CT Scan – Reoccurrence?
  Big mesenteric mass in perineum
  First PET SCAN – Cancer Is Back
  Multiple small mass
  Restarted FOLFIRI Regiment
  Added Certuimab to FOLFIRI

• MARCH 2021
  Chemo Break Vacation to Florida
  Started CAREOncology Protocol
  Started Integrative Oncology
  High dose Vitamin-C IV Therapy
  Metabolic Protocol
  CARE Oncology Protocol

• APRIL 2021
  Completed 105 rounds of Chemo
  Eighth CT Scan – Progression
  Lymph Nodes & Left Lung nodules
  Standard Chemotherapy Exhausted
  Sought out Clinical Trials

• MAY 2021
  Started First Clinical (Phase II) Trial
  NIH Funded trial in Bethesda, MD; every 2 weeks for Experimental Immunotherapy
  Started Partnership with STOUQ
  Ostomy positive community
  Started Partnership with OneVillage
  Cancer community organziation

• JUNE 2021
  Ninth CT Scan – Mixed Results
  New aggressive Liver lesion, slight growth in lung nodules, mesenteric masses shrunk

• July 2021
  Completed 4 rounds of Immunotherapy
  Tenth CT Scan – Mixed Results
  Only 1 Liver lesion, stable Lung Nodules, mesenteric masses shrunk
  Celebrated my THIRD Thriverversity

  Chemo break vacation to Detriot, MI

• AUGUST 2021
  Cleared for Surgery
  Liver Resection Surgery & Mesesenric Mass Biopsy

• SEPTEMBER 2021
  Surgery
  Liver Resection, 3 Liver Ablations, partial Diaphram Resection

• OCTOBER 2021
  Restarted Helminthic Therapy
  Third Innoculation of Helminthic Therapy (10 Worms)

• NOVEMBER 2021
  Eleventh CT Scan – STABILITY
  No suspicious lesions, Lung nodules resolved, Mesesntric masses calcified, Desmoid Tumor stable

• DECEMBER 2021
  Fourth Innoculation of Helminthic Therapy (6 worms)

• FEBRUARY 2022
  Eleventh CT Scan – STABILITY
  No suspicious lesions, Desmoid Tumor grew slightly
  CEA lowered to 1.9 (from 3.7)

  Modified CareOncology Protocol
  – Added transdermal Metformin and Doxyclinine

• APRIL 2022
  Fifth Innoculation of Helminthic Therapy (7 worms)

  Obtained Medical Cannabis & Healthcare Certificate
  Syracuse University

  CEA level rose to 2.1 (from 1.9)

• MAY 2022
  Twelfth CT Scan – STABILITY
  No suspicious lesions, Desmoid Tumor grew slightly
  CEA level lowered to 1.4 (from 2.1)

  Integrated Medicine break

• JUNE 2022
  Bloodwork great, CEA Level rose to 2.7 (from 1.9)

  Continued CARE Oncology Protocol

• JULY 2022
  Celebrated my 4th Thriverversity & 34th Birthday

  Bloodwork great, CEA level rose to 2.8 (from 2.7)

• Thirteen CT Scan – STABILITY
  No suspicious lesions, Desmoid Tumor grew stable
  CEA level lowered to 1.6 (from 2.8). All bloodwork great.
  Continuing current adjunct therapy

• AUGUST 2022
  
  Bloodwork great, CEA level rose to 2.7 (from 1.6)

• SEPTEMBER 2022

  Bloodwork great, CEA level stable at 2.7

• OCTOBER 2022

  Bloodwork great, CEA level slightly lowered to 2.6 (from 2.7)

  Continued CARE Oncology Protocol (adding in Membendazole)

• NOVEMBER 2022

  Fourteenth CT Scan – STABILITY
  No suspicious lesions, Desmoid Tumor grew stable
  CEA level lowered to 2.1 (from 2.6). Bloodwork good, and liver enzymes are slightly higher

• DECEMBER 2022

  CEA level high to 5.6 (from 2.1). Bloodwork good otherwise.

“Progress is never linear, nor can be completed in a day. Focus on the overall goal and enjoy the ups and downs for what they do; opening your mind to life!“

Jonny is an unapologetic Stage IV (metastatic) Cancer Thriver from Albany, NY. On his Instagram page, @pugggslife, he shares his experiences as a cancer patient, educator, and advocate. Jonny founded Thrivr, a space to empower young adults affected by cancer through the power of storytelling and connection.

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Instead of celebrating his 30th birthday with the usual hike and kayaking trip, Jonny was forced to make a decision that would change the rest of his life – start chemotherapy or undertake a major surgery for his surprising diagnosis – Stage IV Colorectal Cancer! Given only months to live if left untreated or just “five years” on conventual treatments, Jonny decided that statistics had no claim on his life.

He sought to continue his busy lifestyle by traveling, playing soccer on his club team, and continuing his passion for advocacy on Healthcare, LGBTQ, and Storm chasing. Through his own exposure to true storytelling and a partnership with a great friend Jonny co-founded ThrivR. An initiative focusing on creating a platform owned by young adults to further express their life with and without cancer front-of-mind.

After going through a Total Colectomy, Liver Resection, and 76 rounds of chemotherapy he finally reached remission in early 2020. Unfortunately, as cancer is, especially at a late stage, reoccurrence can occur and in January 2021 his cancer returned; while still ongoing weekly chemo treatments. Not looking back, Jonny has his mindset on hitting remission again by introducing three natural therapies, The Metabolic Protocol, RSO, and Vitamin C IV Therapy, while surpassing his 100th chemo treatment! His battle continues as he connected with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) outside of Washington DC, where he has joined his first clinical trial with a series of experimental immunotherapy drugs.

Jonny now enjoys weekly competitive soccer games, providing advisory consulting with his local GLSEN chapter; all while engaged in an experimental clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health either every two weeks. Shortly after five immunotherapy rounds and another Liver Resection surgery, his prognosis changed for the better as his last CT scan showed clear margins from his previous results, including resolved Lung and Mesesntric tumors. 🙂

AUDIO

*Coming Soon* 11/2022: Jonny’s 4th appearance on WRPI 91.5PM HomeRadio Talk Show in late 2022, talking about the inequities involved in healthcare and his new career with the Alliance for Positive Health – focusing on upcoming World AIDS Day.

11/2022: Jonny’s 3rd appearance on WRPI 91.5PM HomeRadio Talk Show in late 2022, on a panel with co-hosts Ray & Ulysses discussing our unique cancer perspectives.

2/2022: Jonny’s feature on “The C Word Radio” podcast

2/2020: Jonny’s 2nd appearance on WRPI 91.5PM HomeRadio Talk Show in early 2020, updating on his journey through his first surgery which made remission possible.

2/2019: Jonny’s 1st appearance on WRPI 91.5 HomeRadio Talk Show in early 2019 talks about his recent cancer diagnosis and plans for an upcoming initiative called ThrivR.

Video

10/2019 – MHA in Ulster County: TMI Project: Kingston, NY

After deep reflection, I come to this conclusion; blame has no place in life built on purpose!

Passions & Hobbies

My ThrivR Life

My ThrivR Blog