Dad and I were in awe of you throughout your entire cancer journey. You never once complained or did the "why me?" and your optimism helped get us through our scariest year as parents. Your courage and positive attitude are truly awe inspiring and we are incredibly proud of you and we are so thankful you had J your side. She's as amazing as you are and you make a wonderful couple. Mom
Good to read this. In late March watching our daughter’s HS softball game I came out of my nauseous and in tremendous pain in my left lower back. Wife is pro at having kidney stones so we thought that. Scan at ER showed mass on left kidney. Sent me to Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for more scans and Urology appointment.
He comes in, tells us this more involved and gets Oncology Urologist (great doc).
Mass is too big to bother biopsying, it’s bigger than kidney.
Surgery was longer as it had infiltrated the colon a bit. Doctor said they got good margins, follow up scans and bloodwork reveal nothing where it shouldn’t be. Have had my first treatment of Keytruda as a precautionary immunology therapy.
I have a fantastic wife who held it altogether with our three kids and dogs.
Thank you for sharing. This was very well done, I think you have figured out how to talk about it! Your experiences will help others if you share them. It took me a long time to realize, that being grateful is important to not only yourself, but those around you. I think cancer speeds up that process! Stay healthy and happy. Love to you and your family Drew. Rich Casaceli.
This made me tear up. So beautifully written. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm glad you're doing better.
Your story hit home. I was diagnosed with a precancerous condition and just navigating that and understanding what that means and figuring how to go forward in the Healthcare system and in my head has been a weird feeling.
Catching it early enough before it got worse is scary but there is something about having something that is almost cancer that feels invalidating because it's not cancer - so u couldn't imagine all the struggles you felt physically and mentally
But I'm proud of you for fighting, going to the doctors when you did and powering through your treatments
Thanks for this, Drew. It's more than I had even expected from you, and that was a pretty high expectation. I'm glad you saved that wonderful mind of yours as well as that lifegiving smile. All the best as you go on; hazard yet forward!
Wonderful news.. you seem like a great person and I’m happy you got through it. My friend is going through this and it is not going as well.. but I will start praying and hope he finds better medical doctors to get him through it.
What does your future wife look like?! Only see many photos of the dog……lol ><
Thank you for sharing your journey. The way you wrote about it makes it very real. While cancer and the treatments are daunting, the way you describe them make them reasonable and less scary. I wish you continued health and best success in your writing career.
Dad and I were in awe of you throughout your entire cancer journey. You never once complained or did the "why me?" and your optimism helped get us through our scariest year as parents. Your courage and positive attitude are truly awe inspiring and we are incredibly proud of you and we are so thankful you had J your side. She's as amazing as you are and you make a wonderful couple. Mom
Your Mom and I can't take credit for getting you The Cancer Cookbook. You suggested it to us!
You also did an excellent job of keeping the scariest details away from us. Thank you.
I can honestly and objectively say, as a former editor and writer for newspapers and magazines, that you are an excellent writer.
Love,
Dad
Glad you’re back! New and improved. Marry your girlfriend. She’s a godsend.
I agree with Kathryn...marry her, she's a "pearl of great value" Matthew 13:46
Good to read this. In late March watching our daughter’s HS softball game I came out of my nauseous and in tremendous pain in my left lower back. Wife is pro at having kidney stones so we thought that. Scan at ER showed mass on left kidney. Sent me to Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for more scans and Urology appointment.
He comes in, tells us this more involved and gets Oncology Urologist (great doc).
Mass is too big to bother biopsying, it’s bigger than kidney.
Surgery was longer as it had infiltrated the colon a bit. Doctor said they got good margins, follow up scans and bloodwork reveal nothing where it shouldn’t be. Have had my first treatment of Keytruda as a precautionary immunology therapy.
I have a fantastic wife who held it altogether with our three kids and dogs.
I feel good but tire easier than before.
Good luck to you and everyone else out there.
Thank you for sharing. This was very well done, I think you have figured out how to talk about it! Your experiences will help others if you share them. It took me a long time to realize, that being grateful is important to not only yourself, but those around you. I think cancer speeds up that process! Stay healthy and happy. Love to you and your family Drew. Rich Casaceli.
This made me tear up. So beautifully written. Thank you so much for sharing. I'm glad you're doing better.
Your story hit home. I was diagnosed with a precancerous condition and just navigating that and understanding what that means and figuring how to go forward in the Healthcare system and in my head has been a weird feeling.
Catching it early enough before it got worse is scary but there is something about having something that is almost cancer that feels invalidating because it's not cancer - so u couldn't imagine all the struggles you felt physically and mentally
But I'm proud of you for fighting, going to the doctors when you did and powering through your treatments
Thanks for this, Drew. It's more than I had even expected from you, and that was a pretty high expectation. I'm glad you saved that wonderful mind of yours as well as that lifegiving smile. All the best as you go on; hazard yet forward!
Great story. One more thing to add - say it loud to your girlfriend - I should have listened to you earlier. 🤣
Wonderful piece.
I had no idea. Thank you for sharing your journey. I'm so glad to hear you have a great support network.
Wonderful news.. you seem like a great person and I’m happy you got through it. My friend is going through this and it is not going as well.. but I will start praying and hope he finds better medical doctors to get him through it.
What does your future wife look like?! Only see many photos of the dog……lol ><
"It feels like the journey should’ve left me with something more profound in the way of advice."
I thought I saw some pretty good advice. Profound enough for me.
"My faith helped get me through, too."
"...focus my efforts on things I think matter, and avoid things I think are more trivial."
"More than anything, I think (at least, I hope) the experience has made me more grateful. Grateful for the big things "
Thank you for sharing your journey. The way you wrote about it makes it very real. While cancer and the treatments are daunting, the way you describe them make them reasonable and less scary. I wish you continued health and best success in your writing career.
1) Your dog is so cute. 2) Please look into 72 hr fasting to boost autophagy and clear out the chemo-damaged cells. Some of those side effects you think are permanent may not need to be. Here’s the short version. https://gero.usc.edu/2018/11/26/fasting-for-72-hours-can-reset-your-entire-immune-system/
Inspiring and hopeful. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! I am so sorry to read you dealt with this, but also am relieved your treatment was successful and you are recovering.