Author: mattkassoff

I'm sitting here at Kaiser Franklin in the infusion center receiving round 16 of chemo. It still sucks. I'm feeling the effects of chemo longer after each infusion as the toxicity builds up from continuing treatments. I'm still crying often but trying to fill all the time in between with laughter. I had my labs … Continue reading Chemo: Rounds 14-16 – Plateau?

I had my 13th round of chemo on 3/10. It was relatively uneventful besides the usual awfulness that is the essence of chemo. The most significant thing about this round was that it was my 4th round since starting back up after surgery. Which meant a CT scan to look at the tumors on my … Continue reading Chemo: Round 13 – Scan, Scan Everywhere a scan, Blockin’ out the scenery, Breakin’ my mind. Do this, don’t do that, Can’t you read the scan?

Tomorrow will be round 12 of Chemo. We're dropping the biologic Panitumumab, which last round had replaced Cetuximab(which had given me an anaphylactic response during my infusion in round 10). So these biologic drugs, they don't actually fight your cancer. What they do is stimulate an immune response so your body is fighting the cancer. … Continue reading Chemo: Round 12 – No More Biologics

I was supposed to receive my 11th round of chemo on Wednesday, 1/27. In a SNAFU in which my oncologist, patient coordinator and oncology pharmacists all do not want to take responsibility for, I did not in fact have my infusion that day. Somewhere along the information flow, a new medication, Panitumumab, which was to … Continue reading Chemo: Round 11 – These Go To Eleven

Well, today was my first Chemo since surgery, scan and the subsequent finding of new cancer growth on my liver. It was bittersweet to see the caring nurses who had hoped they'd see me again sometime under different circumstances. They really are a great team over there and I'm thankful that they take such good … Continue reading Chemo: Round 10 – Same Shit, Different Meds

Well, Fuck. After a successful surgery(surgeries) and a pretty great recovery overall, I had my follow up CT scan and meeting with my oncologist today. It was not the news I wanted or to be honest, was expecting. I have more cancer on my liver. My colon, where the primary cancer originated, looks good. But … Continue reading Well, Fuck.

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Wednesday evening, instead of the actual holiday because of my scheduled surgery on Friday. Actual Thanksgiving day for me involved starting the morning by drinking an entire bottle of Miralax, with the rest of the day consisting of only liquids as I prepared my bowels for surgery the next day. My … Continue reading Thankful

Well, here I am in, a place I didn't think I'd get be. I just spoke with the surgeon a little while ago to go over the results of Friday's PET scan and yesterday's colonoscopy. Everything was pretty much what we thought before, but now is confirmed. The chemo worked great on reducing my cancer … Continue reading Surgery Gets the Green Light

"Pleasant 41-year-old Male Presents For Opinion Regarding Colon Cancer" - Philip Neff, MD Today, I met with a surgeon to discuss my options for surgery in regards to my colon cancer, hence the wonderful quote above from the surgeon's medical notes. Seemingly good news - after that consult and then another visit with my oncologist … Continue reading Pleasant 41-year-old Male Presents For Opinion Regarding Colon Cancer

All chemo and no play makes Matt a dull boy. All chemo and no play makes Matt a dull boy. All chemo and no play makes Matt a dull boy. All chemo and no play makes Matt a dull boy. All chemo and no play makes Matt a dull boy. All chemo and no play … Continue reading Chemo: Round 9 – All Chemo and No Play Makes Matt a Dull Boy