Tag Archives: Colon Cancer

January 12th, 2021

January 6th 2021 was not just an “off” day for myself but it seemed like the world was on fire. COVID fatigue, an insurrection at the Capitol, and getting told that my cancer has come back with high progression…

FOLFIRI – My Second Line of Chemotherapy

Sometimes your scans come back with less than good results; “progression” is occurring, which means your cancer is growing or has spread elsewhere. In the case of my own journey, I was quickly flunking out of chemo regimens! My response from the first regimen of chemo – FOLFOX – was fantastic after the first six infusions. I remember feeling on top of the world when my oncologist walked into the room with a huge grin telling me “Good response!”; my eyes were wide open and dilated in ecstasy! At the time both myself and the oncologist agreed to continue with the same treatment plan with no breaks or reductions in strength. However, an additional six treatments later my scans showed a result that chilled my body to the bond.

FOLFOX: My First Line of Chemotherapy

FOLFOX is an acronym for a chemo regiment that is typically prescribed to individuals with advanced Colorectal Cancer (staged III to IV), as a first line of “deferment” of the disease. In clinical terms…

My Journey Starts Here

The vast majority of traditional oncologists automatically label Stage IV Cancer as “terminal,” because of the lack of consistent medical proof that current standards of care would cure such an individual of cancer. What those…

Forgiveness & Thriving

It’s my 30th birthday and I’m finally here, sitting on this old patient table waiting for the surgeon. It’s already been years of waiting just to left alone to wait a littler longer. I grow restless and begin touching various medical…

Katy Smith

Hello Thrivrs! I’m Katy. I live in Albany, NY. I’m a chemo nurse and a chemo patient. I love being outdoors, hiking and kayaking, reading, and baking fancy pastries. I’d really like a dog and some sheep someday, but for now I live in an apartment in the city.

Jordan Millar

Prior to my son’s diagnosis, I was an active health-conscious chiropractor who loves hiking, nature, animals, and travelling. Then cancer hit our family when my son was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3. I also had an 11 month old daughter who was still nursing. We went through 3.5 years of chemotherapy and lumbar punctures for him which was extremely stressful and heartbreaking to see your child go through that and wonder if he was going to survive. He had been off treatment for about 18 months, when I was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer at age 39. So pre-diagnosis I had two small children while dealing with childhood cancer. I felt like I was just getting my life back together after a stressful 3.5 years of being a cancer mama to my son.

Jonny Puglia

Before being diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer, my life was overall great. I was working for an amazing company where I developed and found my “big why” in life – teaching. Besides working, I volunteered and chaired for a few non-profits focusing on LGBTQ advocacy; all while playing soccer on a local club team…