This i not for the Depression thread...fair play to all contributing and giving good tips/advice.
Not for the alcohol thread either, although it might have played a minor part in my current status. This Christmas will be my first alcohol-free one since 1977, as best I can figure.
Current status is I had my first chemotherapy session today (18 December) for colo-rectal cancer - two separate unrelated growths at either end of the colon. Chemo session every two weeks starting again in early January (nothing scheduled Christmas or New Year's week as they want to focus on patients on their final sessions...also complicated by the fact that one of my drugs is administered via pump that I wear home over three days (Mon-Weds, Tues-Thurs or Wed-Fri ) which along with other patients in the same boat causes scheduling nightmares. Taking the Wednesday out leaves only Tues-Thurs for everyone)
Eight chemo treatments in total by the end of March (so I'll miss the league), April off to recover somewhat (for club season), then 5 weeks of a lighter chemo/radiation combo (25 days in all) on a daily basis (Mon-Fri)...followed by a month or two to try to get over that (coincides with Super 8's) before surgery to whip whatever is left out of me...a week stay in hospital so proper planning will see me home every weekend. All treatment over by the All-Ireland Final.
Medical team is confident we can be successful in 2020...and constant screening thereafter to catch any recurrence as early as possible. I'll have an advantage in that I work from home and won't be exposed to infection on trains, buses, or a workplace. The adjustments to prevent side effects (things like very detailed oral hygiene to prevent mouth sores) are in full swing for the last few days and I'm confident of an easier (not necessarily easy) passage back to full health.
I'm ready to do whatever it takes to win this one and have a great support network in family as well as the medical arenas.
Lads, Early screening is vital...colonoscopy by age 50, especially if in family and even earlier if immediate family history.
And report any changes in "body performance" things immediately to your doctor.
Will update every so often as I move down the road of treatment.