Cois

Hi Steven It could have been connected. A few years ago I was diagnosed with IBS. That and the city of Pretoria that sent out a cholera alert, I was sure it was just the IBS and “clean water” of Pretoria that gave me the runs and all the visits to the loo that caused the bleeding. That and the new job that I started at last year (that ended up in the company failing a year after I started working for them) that placed me under a hell of a stress load could all contribute to the spread and some of the symptoms. But as the one doctor said it is something that we will never understand. It is just one of those things that we can’t explain at all. The beta blocker is working but still having a fair bit of shakes. The Dr who took out my stitches from the port did not want me to leave his rooms as I looked like I was going to pass out any minute. It might be a side effect or it can be the anemia that is getting to me. The blood counts looks good but the platelets size is very small. So the count looks right, but the size of the platelets are a cause of concern. I can just hope that tomorrow will go well and that I can get a little positivity in the form of a job to assist my wife with all the bills and expenses that we have and that was not foreseen at all.

One thing that is getting to me is the inability to cycle. I think it is time to get on the spinning bike as I am losing a lot of muscle mass. Tomorrow I will be at the hospital again to get sutures removed from the port site. And one thing I must say of cancer warriors, we support each other. It is weird, but we see each other every second week, and just the positivity among the warriors are infectious. Cansa asked me where I wanted to die. At a hospice or at my folks in Bronkhorstspruit. And the only reply I could think of was f-you for asking me that question. Yes the paper work says there is no cure for stage 4 cancer, but I say F-you to everyone saying that there is no cure. Just the hopelessness that people like them are spreading is a killer, killer of hope and stealers of any future outlook. And got some other great news, the medical aid approved another treatment protocol today. So it is more targeted and will be the third item on the treatment list to kill this cancer in me.

When I am cured I will do. And can just as well. I have a huge testimony. Just the amount of prayers that we had answered in the past 8 months. From a Pro Bono CT scan to a medical aid without exclusion. And getting fast tracked for a oncology appointment at Steve Biko as well as a fast tracked surgery consult. There is a lot that G-d did for us and is still doing for us. We can only thank our friends and G-d for the mercy and love that we have received. At every turn where we saw a road block, we were jousted into another direction. Some things are very difficult to comprehend, like losing my job and not being able to go to the department of labour to claim UIF due to medical difficulties, but I can only trust in G-d at this stage as the system is flawed and in most cases (like uFiling) is a total waste and it does not work like most systems screwed up by the ANC. And I must thank each and every person for their prayers and helping me in the difficult time. And I want to send a shout out for Pierre from Ecologics (https://www.ecologic.co.za) He is a real friend where family and friends disappeared in the woodworks after I was diagnosed. He was the only person who went with us to Steve Biko while I waited for a bed. The messages that I received from him that was needed when I struggled with suicidal thoughts, even thought we kept it quite. He was a pillar for my wife and I know the man is praying for us all the time and I must thank Pierre for all his help during this time. So a huge shoutout to Pierre and everyone on the forum for your support. It means a lot to me and to my other pillar, my wife.

Just got home from chemo. Feeling a bit shaken. Was a real struggle keeping awake during treatment. Took my beta blocker this morning. Got a prescription for iron pills. Blood count is good, but my platelets are very small and thus getting short of breath just going up a single flight of stairs. At least I have a older gentleman from Bronkhorstspruit that I know (same diagnosis) that I can chat with during treatment. Just sad to see the same faces every week.

I must say this cancer thing is starting to piss me off. Billions of dollars and rands are pushed into aids studies. Aids have only been doing rounds since the early 80’s. Cancer also gets a lot of funding, but for a disease that has been around way longer than AIDS it just baffles my mind why CANCER has not been eradicated yet. But can only guess that HIV is where the money is at. I hope your mom can recover soon Maxxis. Best of luck as I have seen what bone cancer can do, and must be one of the worst cancers around.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes. Think the one word that got to me in all this was that the treatment is non curative. But I know that I can be healed, but still not nice to see that after spending R350000 it is not to cure but to hinder the spread of cancer

Got my first treatment last week at Wilgers hospital. Folfox with a chemo pump (FU5). Got a letter from the medical aid. Doctor wants to get me on another treatment to try to kill the cancer, but small problem is that the medical aid will not cover the total amount due to the cost of the treatment. So the 8 sessions of Folfox will be paid, but the additional treatment will be only partially covered and then we have a 20% copayment of about R7000 to pay out of pocket. So it was a huge hit on me today. I am emotionally broken. I can’t find a job. I am doing odd jobs where I can, but it is still killing me a bit. I applied at SAGE, got a reply, sorry, job has been re advertised twice since then. Applied at Intercare, got rejected. Applied at a few IT companies, rejected. I applied at Academia last week and have an interview next week Thursday, so hope for the best. At least then I will not lose my car and other things, but selling my bicycle (ridden less than 200km’s) is inevitable. I should have started my treatment 2 weeks ago on Monday, but did not have a port, so few hours later I was wheeled into theatre for a port install. Nursing staff wanted me to stay overnight, but I requested to go home. Doctor came to see me and sent me home against the protests of the nursing staff. The next morning at 08h15 I clocked in to get my Chemo treatment started. Was quite an adjustment to get the chemo via the port and not via IV. Got a few very painful injections as well, one right into the gut area that hurt like nothing I have felt before. The Chemopump was also something new that had to run for 46 hours. When they started treatment and when I went to remove the chemo pump, I started shaking a bit, and the staff took immediate action. I am now on a beta blocker to help with the shakes. So it has been hectic these past few weeks. I have yet to register for UIF, but between public holidays, interviews, job hunting, Chemo Sessions, days where chemo knocks me on my ass, hospital visits and waiting in cues at Dischem, it is tough. Went to Bronkhorstspruit to register, but after waiting 3 hours and a severe bout of an upset stomach I had to leave (that and every person that decided to push in front of me because they deem the number system as a non working system (10 people with numbers were helped in the 3 hours I was waiting there), and can’t seem to get uFiling to work and can’t get hold of their helpdesk. I have spent 90 minutes holding to get help today and was unable to get assistance. So just proof that it is yet another failed system brought to you by the anc

Watched the first episode of Chernobyl yesterday. Man oh man, what a gripping series and lends just a little insight of one of the greatest nuclear disasters. Can see a little South Africa in the story (the lies and deceit to cover up the huge pile of poo)

My attention started drifting within 15 minutes of watching the episode, wanted to spot the error, but the episode was boring for the first part and only started getting cool after the one war.... oh lets not spoil the one big death....

One of the few films that I watched without falling asleep (and that is amazing because I sleep through most movies these days

Sure.The oil is taken sublingually. You can use your gums as well, but under the tongue works best and lessens the taste as well. Used to take it with Honey but taking 3 drops CBD in the mornings and 3 drops CBD and 3 drops THC before bed time at night. You can drink coffee afterwards as it has a funky taste. You do get flavored CBD drops that works well enough, but that is only 450mg of CBD per bottle of 15ml. The CBD helps with the anxiety of the whole episode. I stopped taking my Urbanol as the CBD works better. On the cognitive side I am 100% on the CBD. I will not recommend the THC during the day. THC gives you the high feeling that some people crave, but I hate the feeling. And I have an IT Company that gives me an odd job now and then to help me get money in, so I need to be 100% and able to drive to see clients. Just to give an idea, I am on Morphine 10mg as well as Tramadol 50mg for the pain of the tumor pressing against my bladder and other things inside of my body. I have used 10ml of the Morphine mix that I had for 3 months now. I had severe hallucinations and stoped using it. I will however use it again if the pain increases to 10 out of 10 (I am on pain level 6/ 10 to 8/10 and have not reached 10/10 yet although I have been close to it last week). The Tramadol I use at night to be able to sleep as the pain can keep me awake. I can’t use the Tramadol or Morphine while driving or seeing clients (when I had a job) because of the side effects of the two drugs (they are both schedule 5 pain meds) the New Oncologist said we can rather try a sticker for better pain management as it has less side effects compared to Morphine and the Tramadol. Morphine and Tramadol gives me severe headaches as well. I am also vaping CBD. Got some Koi and another local brand. The local brand works better than the Koi brand due to the price. You can get 800mg of Cannabis CBD for the price of 250mg of Hemp CBD for less than half the price. And both bottles are 30ml.

It might be.I was advised not to smoke weed but to continue with the CBD oil and THC Oil. Will see in the next few weeks what happens. But so far I have more trust in the CBD/THC oil than the chemo meds, but that is just because of the pain from the chemo

That is great news. Glad we made the move. Waiting from 06h00 to 12h00 to see a doctor is not much fun.

Just got back from Doctors office. Sounds like the 14cm tumor has shrunk down to 10cm. They can’t find a trace of cancer in my blood, and that freaked the Dr out a bit, as we can see the tumor he “touched” the tumor but my bloodwork came out clean He is taking me off the Oxyplatin due to the effects I am having (I can’t write my name anymore and fine motor skills are shot) and will get a port for the chemo pump, so no more chemo pills. The chemo pump will just be an adjustment to get used to. The doctor just needs one more bloodwork up for genetics. That will take about 2 weeks to get the results

Went for a MRI Yesterday. Will know the results on Monday. PSG Wealth (at Lynnwood Bridge) helped a lot during my illness. My wife works for them, and they helped to get us on a medical aid. Moved over to a new oncologist at Wilgers Hospital. Doctor at Steve Biko told me I am not getting the correct treatment for my illness. I knew the treatment that I got from Steve Biko was not the best. The symptom of the tumor just got worst. I have been for 4 chemo infusions. The last one knocked me on my arse. I have been hit hard by the last treatment. And the lingering joblessness does not add anything positive to waking up every morning. I have a sort of part time job helping on of the companies that I worked for to do Apple Mac repairs and support. And helping some of the clients that they can’t support or do not have the capacity to support them. But not helping much as they underquote and labour tasks. (Quoted 1 and a half hours labour on a job that I had to drive to their office 3 times for and spent 6 hours on already) Health wise things are okay. My wife is the greatest and helps me a lot with things that I can’t do anymore like getting things out the fridge and holding cold objects. She also supports me while my parents think I am nuts for vaping, eating and smoking weed in an attempt to kill the cancer cells inside of me. I still can’t cycle. The tumor is located where the seat creates a lot of pressure and causes a not so lekker time on the bike. So still not able to get on the bike.

Thanks DavidAnd thanks for the prayers.

You are my inspiration! The first two months was the worst. Not knowing what is ahead. And then having to struggle with hospital issues and knowing that things will not be the same. I have one small issue, the sun. I can’t go into the sun. I have passed out due to the sun by just standing in the sun for a few minutes. So riding might be a problem if the sun is out. I have to ask about your vision problem. I have noted a reduction of my sight with my glasses and contacts since starting chemo. The astigmatism has escalated to such an extent that I can’t watch TV or read books.

Not doing real well at this stage. Depression is catching up to me. Went for a few interviews but that is as far as it goes. Never get any feedback after the guys hear the C word. I have not been able to get on the spinning bike. The area where the pain is very bad is where the saddle contacts. So been a bit painful to get on the bike. Tuesday is the start of the next session of Chemo.

I decided (had to due to health) to take the route of a settlement. It was not done as it should have been done, but I have a fight of cancer to fight, and the stress of all this screwed me health wise, and that in just two weeks. Fighting a piece of excrement for months in a CCMA case will push the stress levels up more than it is at the moment. Now it is just to find work again. Went for 2 interviews last week. One company wanted me to move my chemo day. And the one company are willing to work around the chemo treatment. But most companies are not willing to take on a person when they hear you have cancer and are still in treatment. I still miss cycling. Will try to get on the spinning bike this week Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Lawyer asked me if we can play this card and I said no, but after yesterday and being called a liar and then being suspended and being threatened with he will have me arrested and sent to jail, I am going to play this card as well. And all this because I pulled the recordings of our phone calls. And an listening to recordings are part of my job as we had voice problems and random connection problems Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The company is attempting to get rid of me.Even suspended me yesterday, because I consulted a labour lawyer and used some of the phone recordings on our PBX where the CEO made lots of claims and lies, and then verbally calling me a liar, saying we are not being retrenched, but lay off. And that was not communicated to us at all. And they are not going to go on for much longer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Doubt it. I am 100% fine. Most people that know me for years do not know that I have cancer until I tell them. The biggest irritation is the stoma. It hampers me a bit. I can't pick up heavy things anymore.

CBD works great, but not the crap you get in SA.My brother got some CBD in Italy. Works much better than the black 1ml you get here in SA. I found a medical Cannabis Dispensary, they are very expensive, but hope it helps more than the black crap. I also started vaping CBD, it is faster acting when needed. Was not an option that I liked, but at this stage I want to get clean from this cancer. Smoking was a vice that I stopped 10 years ago, and vaping was the last thing I wanted to do Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Sad to say I did not. Aurina Ford screwed up as I always take out insurance for work or disease. They did not apply that to my loan. Could never afford life or dread cover, till I started the job I am being retrenched from, but tried to make a dent in my debt. After getting sick I got deeper in debt, if you have a job, you pay for public health care (aka you pay to go to Steve Biko)

Thanks will help a lot.IT Tech. Doing Helpdesk support or did Helpdesk support for an IoT company. Did support at the University of Pretoria for 9 years via a contracted company. Can support PC as well as Mac. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro