ianunderhill vs. cancer (RIP Nick)

Sparhawk: just let him know you're around and willing to help in whatever way you can. Chances are he doesn't have much more of an idea about what that might entail than you do at this point, but if he's the pragmatic sort of fellow you describe, he'll take that for what it's worth at face value, which is actually quite valuable when you get down to it. It's just cancer, not ritualistic courtship.

ianunderhill wrote:

Sparhawk: just let him know you're around and willing to help in whatever way you can. Chances are he doesn't have much more of an idea about what that might entail than you do at this point, but if he's the pragmatic sort of fellow you describe, he'll take that for what it's worth at face value, which is actually quite valuable when you get down to it. It's just cancer, not ritualistic courtship. ;)

Yupz, pretty much what I will do.

Ian, have you tried asking the Oncologist about a prognosis? Sometimes doctors just keep doing their thing and it doesn't occur to them that you might want some kind of progress report that's not about white blood cell counts and the like.

ianunderhill wrote:

Sparhawk: just let him know you're around and willing to help in whatever way you can. Chances are he doesn't have much more of an idea about what that might entail than you do at this point, but if he's the pragmatic sort of fellow you describe, he'll take that for what it's worth at face value, which is actually quite valuable when you get down to it. It's just cancer, not ritualistic courtship. ;)

As much as I keep offering to help, I do have an ulterior motive; I've yet to actually meet you, and you seem like a pretty cool kid.

Yeah if your really want to know then prod your oncologist for it, repeatedly if necessary. I know I had to keep after mine for months before they would finally give me their estimate based on the specifics of my case, I suspect some of them presume no one wants to hear such things and so avoid it unless the prognosis holds some sense of urgency.

In the meantime I suspect you'll find people start to lose that "so.. still dying?" vibe as you get further along in and beyond your treatment, some wont because that's just how they are but in general (purely anecdotal) the more you're able to return to normal life the more people around you do likewise, for better or worse it seems to be something they'll follow your lead on.

wordsmythe: That's some very generous giving of the benefit of the doubt. Honestly, a social occasion would be great, and I'm sorry it hasn't happened already. The second one comes up that fits my schedule, it'll happen. I'm sorry it hasn't yet, but I'm hoping to compensate for the past eight months of largely sitting around at home by having a kick-ass spring and summer just swarming with activity. Hopefully any damper reality puts on that still translates to quite a lot of activity.

Robear and krev82: I've tried that. The central issue seems to remain that there's so little information on my type of cancer (aside: "I never thought I was a cancer man!") and the particulars of my case are atypical enough that it's tough to make a prognosis. The original one was basically, "Your cancer is treatable but not typically curable." Currently, we're in, "you're responding extremely well to treatment" territory. But you've both got a point about persistence in questioning. I'll make a note to keep at it, despite any murkiness suggesting otherwise.

Are you back on your bike yet, Ian? Plans for spring riding?

Nope, not back on the bike yet. Taking the bus to work is starting to drive me batty, but my legs just aren't up to doing a couple miles yet. And goddamn, is that a terrible and weird thing to type. I'm hoping that the next couple weeks of working and all translate to increased strength throughout my body and subsequent commuting, followed by starting to get back to some shortish (25-30 mile) outings on the road bike and whatever follows.

Perhaps you might check in on resources available to folks who deal with things like dialysis because one way to look at it is that the cancer didn't get you at the beginning and maybe for a while this is your new normal. I hope it's understandable in the way that I'm hoping you'll get a signal of full remission soon but in the interim you are one step towards being back to where you were before all this started. Namely that anything can happen to us as we live our lives (today's news sadly underscoring that point) and unless you have a cool time machine or something, the future is falling back into that space of things you can't control.

I would totally understand if that isn't what you are looking for but you are clearly already doing everything you can. Going forward, each day is an important step. When my dad reached his five year mark we celebrated not just because that meant something statistically but because personally we'd all gotten five more years from that first scary day. Closing in on thirty years later we still count them but we count a lot of other things first.

We'll have your back if there's more we can do.

Inquiries from multiple Goodjers has prompted an update:

Hey gang, I'm alive and everything's pretty much the same. The only big development of late is from this morning, and the gist of it is, "Hey, we tested a sample of your tumor and the test shows you lack [particular genetic mutation here], so you're a candidate for [slightly different chemo drug here] if we need to change your infusion drugs around again."

I'm due for more scans on 7/22, so there'll likely be more news sometime shortly thereafter. But for now, things seem like they're under control.

Glad to hear it. Hope you are enjoying the summer and are back on your bike a bit.

Sounds great!

That's great, Ian, take care of yourself and keep getting better!

Missed this update when it came out, but I've been thinking about you and am really glad to hear things are under control. Like Robear says, keep getting better!

Oh, you lovely people... Work has been bonkers of late, and the latest round of chemo has been harder on me than the previous ones. The past couple days have involved coming home from work and collapsing into bed. Seeing your collective encouragement coming across the forums in the moments where I've been free and conscious enough to look is a tremendous help. Thank you once again for all the support and kind words - I'd be less invested in this fight without so many reminders that there are good-hearted, wonderful folks like yourselves helping to make life worth living.

Just remember dude, SPANIKOPITA!

SPANIKOPITA!

Work has been bonkers of late, and the latest round of chemo has been harder on me than the previous ones. The past couple days have involved coming home from work and collapsing into bed.

Undergoing chemo while still being able to work and the major effect is you're tired? I'd say that's a win! You're back in the world, man, enjoy it even when it hurts, because it's been worse.

SPANIKOPITA! Time for goat races!

I don't really know where this spanakopita talk is coming from, but as a resident of Greektown, I heartily approve.

wordsmythe wrote:

I don't really know where this spanakopita talk is coming from, but as a resident of Greektown, I heartily approve.

Just don't look when Quintin goes sponge diving.

boogle wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

I don't really know where this spanakopita talk is coming from, but as a resident of Greektown, I heartily approve.

Just don't look when Quintin goes sponge diving.

My new goal in life is to invent a new depraved sexual act that I can term "sponge diving" in Stone's honor.

boogle wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

I don't really know where this spanakopita talk is coming from, but as a resident of Greektown, I heartily approve.

Just don't look when Quintin goes sponge diving.

What? It's how the ancient Greeks did it.

Love is having my "...vs. cancer" thread derailed by Venture Bros. references. You guys are the best.

ianunderhill wrote:

Love is having my "...vs. cancer" thread derailed by Venture Bros. references. You guys are the best. :D

We are all momma's boys.

boogle wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

I don't really know where this spanakopita talk is coming from, but as a resident of Greektown, I heartily approve.

Just don't look when Quintin goes sponge diving.

My wife works at an adult shop and they sell sanitary sponges (primarily to sex workers) so that they can still undertake their chosen line of employment during that... period... when they might otherwise be indisposed.

I'll just leave that image of Quintin sponge diving there for you

Stop making my sweet, innocent venture brothers references dirty!
You should listen to me. Harryhausen is a friend.

ianunderhill wrote:

Love is having my "...vs. cancer" thread derailed by Venture Bros. references. You guys are the best. :D

So does that mean that the summation of what everyone's been saying is that cancer has no authority in Fort Kickass?

So my health has taken a dive. Lots of digestive problems these past few weeks saw me in the hospital on and off, losing weight, and not working. Unfortunately, things are to the point where it looks like more of this is going to come intermittently. I've gone from being fairly indepedent to needing someone available to help me with many tasks. This is beyond what my friends and the limits of Medicaid can provide.

So: the big end scenario is happening and I'm moving down to Florida with my parents. They're doing all the leg work on the logisitics of how I'll get care and so on, which is great as I just don't have the headspace for it any longer. I'm extremely sad to say goodbye to my friends and my favorite job ever, but there aren't many options - I'm starting to die a little more and I need to be taken care of. Anyone(?) in the Port St. Lucie area who feels like a boardgame should PM me in a few weeks. I might need your help.

So sorry to hear that, man. Much love.