Cois

Sadly I do not have a Zwift device, would have been fun And thanks everyone for the kind words.

Having a very tough week again. Feel as though I struggle to recover more and more between treatments. I know that they say that chemo can have a build up effect, but man, this is starting to suck! The stairs where I stay is starting to become an issue. I struggled more than ever tonight to get up the stairs. The tumor is also a pain the past two days. Spent most of today in bed. Sleep still eludes me most of the time and the cold weather is not my friend (and I love winter time, but this year I hate it) At least the sun through the curtains helps a bit to warm up the house. Just wish I could sit in direct sun, but man, sunburn sucks big time and as soon as I get sunburnt the acne takes over the area and becomes very painful. Medical aid requested a scan to proceed with treatment, but it sounds as if the oncologist that I see, was diagnosed with cancer. So I am seeing another doctor that just helps to reduce the load on the oncologist. So hope to see the oncologist so that he can decide if I must go for a CT, PET or MRI. Hope it is not the MRI as I can’t do the 2 hour scan again

I must say one thing I miss is the sun on my skin. I made the mistake of walking in the sun on Thursday to get to Dischem at Hazeldean. Got the worst sun burn in 4 minutes. Just by walking from my car to a shaded area. I miss the bike under me, the trill of the whole thing. The dust, the cows at Cow house blocking the path. Seeing the mist in the distance. The open fields beckoning me to push a little harder. To explore the trails and attempting to beat the last time setup on Strava. I miss the days where I was younger and very naughty where I took the trails outside Bronkhorstspruit as I was born (where I knew I was out of sight and you could hear and see traffic before being spotted by other people). Where I could take the road bike and do a 100+km training ride. Where the farmlands called and the train tracks opened mile after mile of landscapes that can take your breath away. Where you could cycle and your thoughts could take flight. I miss the nights with the D&D group cycling in the rain and spending time with friends doing what we loved. I miss the Guinness at the Spur after the ride. But most of all, I miss the freedom!

Was astounded that we reached the goal and I can’t thank everyone enough for any contribution.It helps a lot, left close to R1000 at CANSA just to be able to poo and that was for a months supply. The medical aid decided to approve 4 of the 8 treatments of Erbitux. They want a CT or PET before they want to continue. To be honest if I can get a break from Erbitux for a week, it will be great. It must be the nastiest stuff one can get. Been floored and could not get down the stairs to say goodbye to my wife this morning. Ventured out and had trouble getting up the stairs this afternoon to open the garage for her. Found out why I could not get my pulse up on the spinning bike. The beta blocker did a very good job and limited my heart rate. I could not get it higher than 130bpm and was a huge thing because I am used to push it to 180bpm at least. One piece of good news. ABSA life decided after 7 months to pay part of my credit card. I am classified as disabled and kind of a shocker, but it is the only way that ABSA would pay out my Life Insurance in my credit card. Dread disease should be covered, but ABSA decided to be hard assed about it. Just glad a contact decided to push ABSA to investigate the case again, as the medical team at Steve Biko Academic noted that I am unable to work due to the tumor, the treatment and the anemia, and they did mention that on the paper work that ABSA expected to be completed. So it will relieve even more stress.

That is correct. Can feel my tummy is really not happy, have the worst heartburn as well, but could be the antibiotics as well

Had a chemo session yesterday So flat in bed today. Nausea is the worst I have had. They gave me 3 kinds of nausea meds yesterday, but still getting to me. So intake is yoghurt and water today. But all in all things are good. I am still here to fight another day

I let out a little whimper to be honest. The tumor did not like the session. Bleeding a lot more today. Bleeding more today than the week passed, and also a little tender. But felt more energetic and more positive today than the last few days (okay few weeks as Depression started creeping in)

Got on the spinning bike this morning. First time in 6 months 25 days that I go on a bike. The tumor did not like sitting up straight, so had to do the position 2 or 3, but felt great to bet my butt on a saddle again... Now to build on the 15 minutes...

Hi ChrisF Been a recovery week. Have been working on some transcripts on Rev.com for a bit of income so took up a lot of time Have not been able to sleep for the past week because of the pain from the acne like rash caused by the Erbitux. Got some sleeping tabs to knock me out, as I am starting to hallucinate and see things that are not there. My brother and his fiancé was in Gauteng for training this week. So went to my folks today and spent some much needed family time. The side effects of the Erbitux is starting to get to me. The constant pain and itching is driving me nuts. Been using antibiotics twice per day for the past week, and will have to use the antibiotics till the end of the Erbitux treatment. But all in all things are going well. And the support from BikeHub keeps me going at this stage. Without you guys and girls behind me, I would have given up this fight, because this is a fight you can’t take on by yourself! Oh and as a treat... here is a pick of Max and Abby. Had a load of fun this evening with them and a laser. Thought cats loved playing with the little red dot, but Max and Abby went nuts. Max was still looking for the missing red light that he tried to catch... Little Max (the softest little pup) Abby wit the longest wagger in the house

Reading the articles.... We could only get the Scope. Beggars can’t be choosers you know.

Chatted to a guy from the US last night and touched on the subject of censorship (we talked about Pokemon of all things) and he was surprised when I told him of things we were not allowed to have or watch. Remember in standard 6 sitting on the rugby field waiting for the PT teacher, pot heads smoking weed and we paging through the scope stolen from the one kids fathers collection. NG elder nogal...

I am not going to lie, but tears are streaming down my face! Wish I could help more. Where is she located? The problem with the piss poor public health system (thanks to the corrupt ANC) is that you need someone to get you in and start treatment ASAP. Cancer waits for no one! One thing she must do is contact CANSA ASAP! The Cancer fight is not a fight you can take on yourself. You need people around you. And not negative people! The outlook at most state hospitals are that you are just another person. And that breaks one! Please tell her that she matters! I will be adding her to my prayer list. Cancer can be beaten and there is hope! She must stand strong (I know it sounds easy but some days it is not possible) and not give cancer a gap to screw with her mind.

Just got back from the chemo session. Doctor was pleased with my rash (it means the Erbitux is working well), but she did increase the dose of the FU5 with 250mg. Had a little struggle getting to my car and getting up the stairs, but traffic was light and can still pull myself up the stairs by my arms. My brother from Mosselbay surprised me with a visit and a school friend that works for CANSA also swung past the unit. And the support dogs was there as well today. So feeling a lot better. I did not understand the friends and family for support, but today I do! Thanks as well for all the well wishes! You have no idea how much it means for me!

A soundtrack can make of break a movie. Just think of Baby Driver that has one of the best sound tracks around imho

this is what reaction a Apple Watch causes with Erbitux. This is just a small patch. My face looks like the skin of a Teenager and hurts so much at this stage. The worst is my hair on my head and chest. It is all inflamed and hurting a lot. Read an article online on the chemo treatment. They had a patient that with 400mg dose showed this symptoms. I am getting 900mg per session! So I am glad the doctor is not playing around. I am stressing about tomorrow. The next round of chemo is waiting for me, and it is like a mountain ahead of me. This morning I sent in my application for Rev (transcribing audio files) so just waiting for the yes or no on the application. At least it is a job to do while I am on therapy.

Having trouble sleeping.The Erbitux has a side effect of causing severe acne and it is all over my face, head, back and my legs. The doctor said she will prescribe meds to help, but she had to wait to see if I will have a reaction. So will get the script on Tuesday. Other than that I am doing okay. Just the sleep eluding me is a problem, but that will come right as well. One light point... got my drivers license card yesterday. Only took 11 months to be printed! Was driving like Mrs Daisy the past few months as my card expired last year September.

R50000 should cover the 20% co-payment we need to make. One session of chemo works out at about R35000. One drip of Erbitux is R26000

Don’t think I mentioned this, but tears hurts me. It burns my eyes and it burns my skin. And today I must admit, my face and eyes have been burning the whole day. I can’t hold back the tears! Most of the people donating I do not know and some I have never met, but I stand in awe! Thanks to everyone making donations. I am just floored at this moment and do not have enough words in my limited vocabulary to say thanks

That is so true. And the thing that got to me, is that I did not ask for donations, the group wanted to assist with donations as we do not have access to all the resources that the US and the UK has access to. The Erbitux in the US is subsidized by the company making it, in South Africa we do not get subsidies at all. The one person asked me who takes me to chemo as most of the US has people driving you to and from treatment centers. All I asked for was prayers. I then sent the lady who banned me from the group a copy of the diagnosis, the biopsy results as well as a report from the doctor. I saw the guy has some R400 000 on his platform already. I just hope that the person uses his funds to educate himself and creates a future for himself and that he wont go on a bender with all the funds. And Amen on the verse! Needed that today.

Guys and girls I will never be able to thank you enough. You now have me and my wife in tears. H huge thank you for the backing! The funds will go towards a huge co payment waiting for us, due to the medical aid being tapped out! As well as the fact that the medical aid does not cover things like cotton swabs and needles for injections and for the chemo meds mixes. If anyone needs statements for any reason (I have been called a scammer on Facebook many times this past few months) I will be glad to share it. Thank you all again! It means more than you will ever know

Thanks to everyone helping me and my wife. It is real tough at the moment. My skin is on fire today due to the Erbitux. I am getting the worst acne ever, but it is the only way to know that the chemo is working. Heading to CANSA today to get colostomy stock. If you can go to the loo in a normal way, be thankful because having to go in a little bag is the worst! But at least I can sit in traffic and go while you must rush home or to the office to go.

I swapped my gears today on my Scott. Found a set of XT 10 speed shifters so I replaced the SLX shifters with XT. Just have to get the gears set tomorrow as I started having vision problems (was wearing my glasses and since starting chemo I am struggling to see with my glasses) I still hope to get on the bike. Just need to get my platelets up to a better size as they are very small and can’t carry the needed O2. Thus the reason for passing out and feeling light headed most of the day. On an iron substitute, so hoping for the best. And I can’t do this on my own, but I have the backing of BikeHub and I can’t let you guys and gils down! I am going to beat this demon!

it is worth a watch. After the episode I understood a lot more of what took place. I have spoken to a few nuclear guys in the past on nuclear energy and how it worked, but I never understood the finer details, and always found our chats interesting but a bit more university level than IT Tech level, but the series explained the whole event in such a way that even my wife understood what happened.

Hi WaynemolSorry, Back a Buddy sent the link this afternoon... The link is https://www.backabuddy.co.za/francois-marais And thanks for anyone that can contribute. It means a lot to me, and will help my wife a bunch. She hid it from me, but we were slapped with a bill of R3000 for the Anesthesiologist because he was not contracted to Momentum. And that was for 30 minutes of sleep to insert the port into my chest. The rest of the treatment we do do not know yet, but she is busy running up an overdraft on her account. And that makes e feel like a dog.

The last episode tugged at my heart. We will never know the true scope of the event and how it has changed the world. And just the coverup of the whole situation and the lies. Reminds me a lot of some things of South Africa