In April of 2021 I was having trouble swallowing food. I got scoped and was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I had 4 chemo treatments, full stomach removal, then four more chemo treatments. My last one was February 2022. Things were looking good. My weight was holding at a stable 170 pounds or so, and my strength was returning. In October 2022 a CAT scan showed I was still cancer free. In February of this year we were discussing getting my chemo port removed.
In April of this year, I started having pains that seemed to be intestinal. Everything was pointing at a possible ulcer. Then, an ultrasound revealed some spots on my liver. An MRI revealed 14 spots on my liver, and a biopsy proved that the cancer decided to pop up in my liver. So, I restarted under a new chemo regimen. Then, I started having problems swallowing again. I wasn't eating, and the weight was dropping badly. At one point a few weeks ago I weighed in at 135 pounds. At 5'10" I am beginning to resemble a skeleton. I go next week for a consultation about getting a feeding tube put in. I can't continue to fight this cancer at my current weight and strength levels.
So, to wrap up a long-winded post, it looks like I won't be around very much longer. I am scrambling to get my affairs in order, and will likely be going on long term disability, which will be 60% pay, but it keeps my health and life insurance active (my life policy is 3 times my annual salary- wife is going to need that). I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone on B&B for making this place what it is. I have been here since 2010, and still find it hard to believe that one can belong to a forum where you can consider people you never met in person as friends. Many of you are kind of like family to me. I thank you for accepting me into this group of fine people.
To those who respond, I may not get back to you right away (this post has been a little emotionally rough), but I will try to do so as soon as I can.
In April of this year, I started having pains that seemed to be intestinal. Everything was pointing at a possible ulcer. Then, an ultrasound revealed some spots on my liver. An MRI revealed 14 spots on my liver, and a biopsy proved that the cancer decided to pop up in my liver. So, I restarted under a new chemo regimen. Then, I started having problems swallowing again. I wasn't eating, and the weight was dropping badly. At one point a few weeks ago I weighed in at 135 pounds. At 5'10" I am beginning to resemble a skeleton. I go next week for a consultation about getting a feeding tube put in. I can't continue to fight this cancer at my current weight and strength levels.
So, to wrap up a long-winded post, it looks like I won't be around very much longer. I am scrambling to get my affairs in order, and will likely be going on long term disability, which will be 60% pay, but it keeps my health and life insurance active (my life policy is 3 times my annual salary- wife is going to need that). I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone on B&B for making this place what it is. I have been here since 2010, and still find it hard to believe that one can belong to a forum where you can consider people you never met in person as friends. Many of you are kind of like family to me. I thank you for accepting me into this group of fine people.
To those who respond, I may not get back to you right away (this post has been a little emotionally rough), but I will try to do so as soon as I can.
