# I have cancer, \[RIP, Updated Title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 1, 2017, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643 "2017-05-01T15:28:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/122 "2018-05-16T22:12:27Z")
Very best of luck to you Monkey. I know we don’t really know each other, but I often spare a thought your way with wishes of best possible outcomes. It’s not prayer, but it’s something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/123 "2018-05-16T23:50:08Z")
Good luck. EH??? GOOD LUCK!!! StG ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/124 "2018-05-17T00:38:40Z")
**MonkeyMensch** , I’m sending good vibes your way as well. I love how your radiologist was able to put things in perspective with such elegance. Hearing loss sucks, but most of us suffer some degree of it sooner or later. At least you have a good excuse. (Better than some people who went to a Grand Funk Railroad concert when she was 13 in the days before decibel limits and stupidly stood with her right ear facing 20 feet from a wall o’ speakers for the whole performance. But I digress.) There are treatments for hearing loss and it sounds like you’re at least going to retain hearing in your left ear. All good news!! Please continue to let us know how things are going, if you’re inclined. **StGermain** put it best: GOOD LUCK!!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/125 "2018-05-17T02:22:44Z")
Best wishes! Come back soon and tell all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/126 "2018-05-17T02:34:07Z")
Yeah, I appear to be suffering some sort of persistent tinnitus as a side effect - along with some others - of being treated with radiation last year. But, dude, it beats dying. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/127 "2018-05-17T05:16:02Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Yeah, I appear to be suffering some sort of persistent tinnitus as a side effect - along with some others - of being treated with radiation last year. > > But, dude, it beats dying. This happened to my dad from his cancer treatment as well, it took most of what little hearing he had left. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/128 "2018-05-17T20:05:10Z")
Well I got up early and went out to the office for the big treatment. Things ran right on time and went smoothly. Had another nice chat with my radiologist and he was pleased as punch with the targeting and the general process. We won’t know for sure till I get yet another MRI in six weeks or so, followed by another consultation, but I was heartened to hear his downgrading of the risk for hearing loss. So with another chemotherapy “pulse” of days starting tomorrow I am as optimistic as circumstances allow. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/129 "2018-05-17T22:52:43Z")
That’s great news!! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/130 "2018-05-17T22:57:59Z")
I glad it went well. 🙂 How many treatments in a “pulse”? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/131 "2018-05-17T23:01:11Z")
Woot! Keep up the good fight. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/132 "2018-05-17T23:55:41Z")
Glad to hear it, MM! Way to throw a Mensch into the works. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2018, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/133 "2018-05-18T00:28:00Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I glad it went well. 🙂 How many treatments in a “pulse”? A pulse is five days of double dose chemo followed by 23 days of no chemo to make a 28 day cycle. Three more cycles and then we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/134 "2018-05-20T00:27:47Z")
And after some delays from the insurance company I finally picked up the chemo doses this morning just one day late. I almost paid cash ($200) but then the insurance got approved and I paid the usual $3. I do like my insurance carrier. And now that three hours have passed since ingestion, I’m barfing. Ugh. I’ve actually gotten used to the vomiting; it’s the nausea that makes you feel like hell. You’re supposed to feel better after barfing, but no, the nausea just lingers right on…So four more days, and then a rest. Good on ya all. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/135 "2018-05-20T05:16:57Z")
Ugh. Is there any anti-nausea meds that work for you? I’m nauseous a lot (neurological condition). I alternate between 3 meds, but sometimes nothing really helps. I empathize. I hope the rest of this pulse goes quickly. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/136 "2018-05-20T07:43:01Z")
> [@MonkeyMensch](#): > > So the question is really more a matter of life or deaf ! Hee. Great to see you still can laugh, MM. Wishing you the best!! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/137 "2018-05-20T17:45:55Z")
Hoping for the best for you. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/138 "2018-05-21T14:22:56Z")
Another one rooting for you MonkeyMensch! I hope your nausea has gotten better. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/139 "2018-05-21T16:56:29Z")
The things I find out about my fellow Botticelli players. Kick cancer’s ass, MM! ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/140 "2018-06-28T22:34:26Z")
I go for an MRI on the ninth and hope to see no new gegrowth but in all honesty I’m completely pessimistic and feel whatever life I have left Months?’ will be spent in various nasty IV chemo and any other thing that can be thought up. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643/141 "2018-06-28T22:54:29Z")
I read today about a modified Polio virus being used to treat aggressive brain tumors. I’ll dig up more info and send it over if it looks relevant. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few years, it’s that I’m my best advocate and it never hurts to ask. Sometimes the rock to move up the hill looks pretty damn big too. The reality is that it’s your life. Spend your time the way you want to. If you want to try everything you can, do that. If you want to be comfortable and visit Paris or Uruguay, then do that. There may be a middle ground between those two where you aren’t so miserable. You have some time to think about this. I hope you feel a bit better over the next week or so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-cancer-rip-updated-title/785643.md?page=8)