The beginning of the end

[1stpar3]

Stay warm, well fed, and well rested.     

I guess this is me transferring what I need to do myself but I feel it does allow you to be at your strongest against any foe.

ONCE again,when I seem to be getting too weary to keep fighting...someone in this community punches me IN THE GUT(in a good way). How CAN I,going through NOTHING as compared to you Columbo, read your post AND NOT CONTINUE SWINGING? It seems I am not as weary as I believed, just 10 minutes ago. Thank you, for your COURAGE and inspiration. 

[caldera]

That is some awful news, Colmbo.  A small consolation, but you have the chance to say all the things that need to be said to your loved ones. 

That said, don't let anyone tell you how long you have. 

[Pudgie]

 

I've known you from simming since the Warbirds days myself...…..my handle was flyhii back in them days.

I have always enjoyed your posts & the knowledge you've imparted of this game & aviation I have always held in high regard. I'll continue to look forward to reading many more of your postings!

May your days be long & your memories be fulfilling!



Dale "Pudgie" Lockett

[scott66]

I just passed a law in the thread titled players  who has passed that we miss.. No one else is allowed to die! So colmbo you and 1stpar3 listen up! Seriously! You and both your family's are in my prayers

[1stpar3]

 

[pembquist]

Damn, I'm really sorry to hear this. You have been one of the voices on this forum that I have enjoyed the most. I'm sorry you have this battle and I send you the very best luck I can. You are part of the shape of this place.

[Puma44]

Colombo, a great deal of strong encouragement in this post; 672 so far.  So, remember, no matter how tough it may get down the road with this, you are not alone. 

[Grayeagle]

Damn dood

Cancer is the ultimate insult to humans atm.
As others have said, Enjoy the day.

I hope they engineer a cure in time.
Immunology advances are happening almost daily that target specific cancer cells,
..talk to *everybody* you can who is involved (reputable) and jam on!

-Gray Eagle aka Frank

[Vraciu]

My sim instructor this week was given a 16 percent chance of beating his cancer.  He did it.   It was rough going but he made it.  Hang tough. 

[Dichotomy]

Christ Dave... I don't have the words other than to say you've always been a class act that I have a ton of respect for.   

[SysError]

Good luck Columbo.  This will be the toughest battle of your life.  Smart move getting the family moved.

Here is a series of studies that show how fasting prior to chemotherapy treatment (~72 of non-feeding prior to the treatment) protected healthy cells, caused cancer cells to become more vulnerable to chemotheraphy, and even better, reduced the awful side effects of chemo.  At the very least it might make treatment more tolerable. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2815756/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4289501/

I do not know if this is just hyped up or what:

Chemotherapy before surgery could extend pancreatic cancer patients' lives
A clinical trial has found those given chemoradiotherapy 10 weeks before surgery for deadly disease lived months longer

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jun/04/pancreatic-cancer-chemotherapy-before-surgery-trial

[Toad]

Sorry to hear this Columbo.

As others have pointed out, it ain't over yet.

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned, is go to NOW to the "pros from Dover" </Mash movie quote> and get a second opinion. MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the like. These are the most experienced docs, nurses and facilities in dealing with your problem. They do this everyday, they know what they are doing. They are are the bleeding edge of clinical trials of new treatments.

I went to MD Andersen for my kidney cancer and I'm REALLY glad I did.

The other thing I haven't seen mentioned is keeping a logbook of everything. Who you talk to, their address and phone numbers. The tests you have taken and copies of the results. The treatments you have tried, the results, how it made you feel. It's a whirlwind and it's easy to forget stuff. Having the logbook was very helpful in my case. Just having the records of all the tests got me into surgery at Anderson in a couple of days versus a couple of weeks.

Good luck, mate...and may God richly bless you in your search for a cure.

[Oldman731]

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned, is go to NOW to the "pros from Dover" </Mash movie quote> and get a second opinion. MD Anderson, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the like. These are the most experienced docs, nurses and facilities in dealing with your problem. They do this everyday, they know what they are doing. They are are the bleeding edge of clinical trials of new treatments.

Agreed.  Also check the one in Texas - Houston, I think - as well as Fox Chase in Philadelphia and Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC.

- oldman

[Vraciu]

My instructor in recurrent was talking about a fellow cancer survivor.  They put him on a drug that wiped the stuff out like you can’t believe.   He didn’t know the name of it but I think he is referring to Keytruda.   Might be worth a look if you haven’t already. 

[colmbo]

Toad when I was first diagnosed in 2016 our first thought was to run to one of the big cancer centers.  As I talked to people and got more info I realized it isn't vital to go to one of the big centers.  Everyone is treated with the same protocols for their specific cancer.  Protocols developed by the cancer centers such as MD Anderson, Sloan-Ketterling, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, etc.  My doctors here have worked at MD Anderson, Sloan Ketterline, etc and still communicate daily with those facilities.  My doctors also deal with cancer each and every day.  What you might get at a big center is a chance at a new study or trial if one is underway, so far we haven't found one.  What you also get by going to one of the big centers is increased costs.  Insurance doesn't pay for lodging, travel, food, normal living expenses.  MD Anderson has a facility on campus for patients to stay in and it's over $100/night.  That adds up pretty quickly.

Vraciu each of the chemo drugs I have used have "failed", the cancer responded at first but then stopped responding to the treatment and returned.  I was on Opdivo which is an immunological similar to Keytruda. While the TV adds talk about a "longer life" the extension is measure in weeks, and for Opdivo only about 20% of patients respond to the treatment.  While on Opdivo my cancer went nuts, they are not a miracle drug.  This last "outbreak" has been very sudden and fast growing.  As my Radiation Oncologist explained it the cancer cells that have survived through the treatment are the "special forces" of cancer.

No one survives pancreatic cancer.  Not even Steve Jobs.