Cois

Less than a week.And this guy I am working for drives a Porsche and has load of $$$. He does not give a hoot. In his words “you can’t bring emotion into deciding who stays” They will just change the title of the job. But as said, it might be a blessing, but now to get another job with cancer is not going to be easy. Had 3 calls and all ended when I mentioned cancer. At this stage it feels like I am toxic and no company or person will hire me. And I can still do my job. I still go into the office every day, and do my job. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Yes they knew Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Lawyer friend phoned last night. She says the correct procedure was not followed. So just need to send her the information that I have, and she will handle the case pro bono.

Got confirmation today. I am being retrenched (non voluntary) I do not have anything on paper yet, but this year is turning into a very *** year. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

They (CEO) scheduled the meeting for Wednesday morning. The CTO (I report to him and not to the CEO) scheduled a meeting today with the team in Pretoria.

Got a mail today. Company is restructuring and relocating part of the company to Durban and laying off people. I am one of two people who received a mail on Friday on a meeting on Wednesday , the rest of the company received another mail today stating the restructuring. This is crap I don’t need now. The stress levels are trough the roof. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I ask them to switch arms. It hurts a lot on day 4. Neuropathy is a bitch as well. Can't touch anything cold, and tiles floors are the worst. I wanted to get a port, just to help with the IV, because it is so easy to screw up an IV and chuck it into the muscle. And that is what happend the last time. I also look like a Parkinson's patient due to the meds I am taking. The CBD Helps a bit with that. But I am still missing going on a bike ride. I am unable to get the bikes on the roof rack. But I hope that I will be able to get on the bike soon.

I got Project cars one for PC and bought Project Cars 2 last week, also for PC... Can't wait to get home tonight to try Project cars 2

I have a contact number in Pretoria if that will help?

It must be. It is the Pretoria Branch.

So after the first treatment (I get a set of 4 drips every 3rd week and then pills for two weeks and one-week recovery), I must say, OUCH! The site where the drip was in and the surrounds are very VERY sensitive. I am about to take the chemo tabs (Xeloda 1800 mg) so will know by later what the effects are. One thing... I miss cycling. At the current time, I still have some stitches healing, so will wait for the okay from the specialist, and most foods as the diet at the moment is a little limited and that is if I can eat. Lost 17 kg in the last three months.

Yes, I have. I have a 10% CBD Oil that my brother and his fiance sent me. (Comes from Italy) Another lady gave me 100% from ZA. The 100% has some THC so it kicks me a bit, but got a contact in Pretoria that can help. Getting a dagga plant as well. Will not smoke it (my lungs are the only organ that is 100% at the moment) so will either drink as a tea or make space cakes... Might just get a THC plant to space out a few people at work as well (this is a joke)

Morning guys and girls Sorry for the late update. But it has been a very difficult past two months so far. I have spent most of 2019 in hospital so far. I am posting this from Steve Biko Academic Oncology department. So update... Cancer has spread to my liver and spleen (Stage 4) Most of December was spent in hospital as well, where they made the choice to remove part of my liver and the spleen. I could not get a high care bed at that time, so was postponed to January. The day came and they had a bed open. So was wheeled into theatre. I opted for an epidural, but it took them two hours and a half hours of attempting to get the epidural in (must have been his first time, as the real doctor got it in within 5 minutes. Few test to make sure I could not feel anything and was put to sleep for the operation. I woke up the evening after 17h00 with my wife next to me, and I knew they did not remove the tumor or continue with the operation. The cancer spread to far. So they did a bit of exploring and looking round inside of me. As someone said, they did do a colostomy (that wrecked my lifestyle) so for now cycling is still out of the question. It made such a change, that I wanted to commit suicide more than once, but due to the incompetence of some of the staff at Steve Biko. The Stoma person gave us all the wrong information, leading to infection of the stoma that would have killed me if it was not caught in time by a private company. So had a few days recovery, found that with the epidermal they made a total screwup and suffering from back pain ever since then. Sitting is a real pain so working is a real problem (work decided that my sick leave note means nothing to them and I had to be back at the office as I was not sick and just wanted an extended leave. So last week I was suppose to have my first chemo session, but due to the late operation date and the unhealed stitches it was postponed to today. So I hope I can start this fight today. Just a huge thanks for all the support and messages from you all. Just one request. Please do not support CANSA. In my biggest time of need I was told, sorry we do not have the resources to assist you and your family. All we wanted was a counseling session. They said a month ago that they will send us information to visit the nearest Hospice. We are still waiting....

I am being discharged the moment. Will have to be back on the 23of December for admission I had 3 inoculations and thus the two-week break between it. They are first going to do a visual scan to make sure that cancer did not spread to the lining around the area. So this far I still have to see the oncologist next week, after the operation, I will be in for chemotherapy. And sounds like this might be a little problem because of the spleen removal problem. There is a lot of reading I have to do these following days. I have been booked off till the 23rd but I am going to go nuts at home alone. So not sure how to tackle this one.

Feeling a bit down. Posting this out of Steve Biko. I knew the cancer was aggressive but got a little shock. I am waiting for treatment to avoid infection. I will be losing part of my liver, due to a "spot" on my liver. That is not to bad. They will be removing my spleen at the start of next year and the tumour in my colon. That is the delay in treatment to get me resistant to whatever. My wife had to go and find two vials of injections as SBAH did not have stock. So will keep updated as things happen

Have been a very up and down week this far. I know a lot of people are not religious and the following link is what I can only state as YHUW helping hand in the situation. https://www.facebook.com/100023870225378/posts/363949957744009/ Just had one thing today that caught me off guard... Prostate exam... did not expect that event, and still feel a little violated

I have to be at Steve Biko next week Thursday to see a surgeon. 18 December I have to report to the oncology department. So things are getting to a point. One doctor could not believe that the specialist did not prescribe pain meds. I have not have a solid night sleep in the last two months due to the pain, and the normal meds does not help at all. So will get the meds tomorrow, so hope for a good nights rest tomorrow night

I just want to thank everyone for their good wishes and all the messages. Some days are better than others. Today is a very bad and painful day. One glimmer of hope. I am allowed to cycle and it is advised to keep active and going to keep this stupid brain busy. I say stupid brain because the thoughts and ideas it concocts is the worst.

Hi Daryl. That was the worst experience. I passed out at one stage, plus point on that... I have a very clean bathroom now

Hi Chingy182 I think I know the Kefir tread. I started it I use the kefir in my smoothy every morning. I mix a little plain yogurt, about half a cup of kefir and some blueberries as my breakfast.

Thanks MadMarc The symptoms was baffling. Sorry for the overshare, but maybe it will help someone else to see the warning signs. I had a prolonged time of stomach problems. Runny stool, but I did account that to stress as I started a new job in April this year, and the problem started in July. I took an antibiotic and that helped, but as soon as I stopped drinking the antibiotics it returned. The other curve ball was that the city of Tshwane or (however you spell that) sent out a notice of problems with the water supply so that was a bit of false hope. I started seeing some blood after cleaning, but with the amount of times that I had to visit the loo, bleeding was prone to happen. I was feeling weak and at the height of it, I could not cycle more than 20 km without having to make a dash to the nearest loo. I started showing blood and mucus in my stool, and that was when warning bells started sounding. I could not get to a Dr as we were busy with a huge project at work, but the one Tuesday morning, I could not take the pain anymore. We did not have water at the office, and I thought I injured my bladder holding out to take a wee, and then bumping into a table. So on the visit the doctor pressed here and there, and I told him of the blood, and he pressed some more and I almost pooped his table from the pain. He found some blood in my urine, but it was nominal. Gave me some antibiotics and pain meds (the pain meds does not help for the pain) and off I went and was to see him on the Thursday. So Thursday breaks and there is a crap load of blood in the loo. So decided not to skip the doctors visit. Get there, he asks me a few questions and gives me a letter to go for a colonoscopy. Few other details that pissed me off at the doctor, but went for the colonoscopy last week. While I was still in recovery the Dr spoke to my wife and scared the **** out of her (I do not have medical aid) and his first words were, "it is going to cost a lot of money" So if you see any blood, where there is suppose to be no blood... GO SEE A DOCTOR. Do not take a chance with it!

Thanks for this. A glimmer of hope. I am a bit anaemic, so slow and steady. Still have to meet with the oncologist. Just did the scope, and still need to be referred to an oncologist. And thanks for all the well wishes. Means a lot

I don't want to post this but received the dreaded phone call 23 November 2018 with the confirmation. I have been diagnosed with colon cancer. They found a 10cm tumor Update: CT Marked the tumor as 14cm's. The cancer was found to have spread to some lymph nodes, my spleen and to my liver. Update 2: Primary Tumor was removed November 2019. Liver was ablated to remove the tumor in 2020. Update 3: Went in for a checkup and they found new tumors. Spread to my peritoneum. Surgeon removed as much as he could September 2020. Removed 40 cm of the small intestine and another 50 cm of my colon. Update 4: Still waiting for Momentum health (they will take you on a ride) to approve the needed chemo therapy. We moved onto a higher option, but have not received any feedback from Momentum health. 9 February 2021 Started chemo session (I stopped counting). It is a oral medication taken once per day. The worst thing that can happen is death... and a loss of all minerals in the body resulting in severe cramping. I need to do a blood test before the next session to see if my liver will be able to handle the chemo. Update: The side effects of the chemo was severe and thus halted. 6 April 2021: Chemo treatment with Stivarga has been stopped. I had a sharp increase on my CA 19-9 count and had a severe drop in Potassium and liver functions, prompting intervention from the oncologist and the treatment team. July 2021: Started FU5 treatment. This is the second time that we are going to try this treatment even though the first round of treatment almost killed me and caused a severe problem with my liver. The last round did not effect my cancer counts at all so not sure why we are going to try the same treatment that did not work again. September 2021: Received radiation therapy on my liver due to a new detected tumour that has formed. It was a rough 10 sessions because of severe nausea and vomiting. The vomiting caused the reduction of the enamel of my teeth causing severe pain in drinking and eating most things. July - October 2021: Experienced a blockage the past few months leading to rapid weight loss and inability to gain weight. I have landed in the hospital twice a week due to severe weakness and inability to walk even short distances. The GP at Wilgers oncology referred me to a surgeon after I requested another opinion. I was referred to Dr Charl van Niekerk. Sadly the spread of the cancer was severe and I am unable to be operated on. The Oncologist should have transferred my case to a surgeon on the first sign that there was a blockage. Dr Viljoen at Wilgers should also have followed up on my case as he was the attending surgeon at Wilgers Hospital, but he did not do any follow-up consultations. The next steps will be an Elemental diet, a liquid diet, and then a port to enable me to get IV feeding going home. The elemental diet was chosen to lessen the strain on my system and to enable the nutrients to bypass the tumour that formed between my stomach and upper intestines. We have started looking into a new oncologist as Dr W van Zijl became distant and was absent during the last hospitalization, even after Dr Botha requested a consultation with him. He did not create a reference letter on request and Dr I Botha wrote the reference letter for me to get surgical assistance. As per request of a lot of members and other people... here is my BackaBuddy page https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/francois-marais We have created a Investec account due to the high fees of Backabuddy (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/fees) the fees on the Investec account is marginal and Managed by PSG. Statement will be available on request to keep this transparent. Account Holder: Mr FH Marais Branch: Investec Bank Limited 100 Grayston Drive, Branch code: Sandton 580105 Client account number: 50017804320 Type of account: Savings

Not sure if you knew this.... The last known company in the world to manufacture VHS equipment—Funai of Japan—ceased production in July 2016.

The Willem Prinsloo Races, getting killed on the last 13 km back to the finish. Samcor was one of the best races. About 18 km of downhill fun to the end. Those were the days. But I must say some races died due to the clubs getting greedy as well, and stealing the money made on the day.