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…
Tag Archives: colorectal cancer
January 6th 2021
day started off with waking up in damp night sweat, from a combination of anxiety and flux. Today was my appointment with my oncologist to review my routine CT scan monitoring my NED status. Little did my doctor know that my results were already sent and read to me the day before…
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…
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…
Matthew Strother
I am a dual-citizen of America and New Zealand. Pre-diagnosis I was living what felt like a well-balanced life in Brooklyn, New York. I spent half the week working as a private tutor for high schoolers, teaching kids grammar, the art of the essay, and some smatterings of history, French, and German. The other half of the week, I pursued my own reading and writing projects. For leisure, there was some CrossFit, some yoga, haunting natural wine bars, and highly competitive board game nights with friends.
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.
Diego Olegário
I have always been a healthy person, nothing too crazy but tried to stay active and eat well (although I could’ve done better haha). I don’t have family history of colorectal cancer, so I honestly had never heard of it. I was diagnosed with stage 3b rectal cancer in April of 2018. I was 33 years old.
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…
THRIVR 