# I start my chemotherapy tomorrow **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099 "2016-11-15T21:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/1 "2016-11-15T21:42:00Z")
This is not a cure; it’s a holding action. Some of you noticed in my hospital stay thread that I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. It’s spread to at least my liver. This is a very severe, very fast acting form of the disease. I have two options. I can do nothing, and die in a month or two. I’m not quite ready for that. I can undergo chemo, extend my lifetime for a bit, and have some good days along the way instead of feeling so horribly every minute as I do now. This is what I’m opting for. Eventually this will become useless, the chemo won’t have as strong an effect, I’ll spend shorter periods of time feeling good, and so on, and at that point I’ll probably begin to strongly consider pulling the plug on myself. I’m trying to deal with this fatalistically. I came into life with my death sentence already issued. It was bound to happen sometime. And I can’t pretend that I was ignorant of what all those years of smoking could cause. I wasn’t ignorant, and I made my choice. And you know, I’ve had a better life–a more comfortable, better fed, better housed, and more free life–than 99% of all humans that have ever lived. I’ll complain about my life, of course, but I really shouldn’t. You haven’t seen the last of me, either; I expect to be around the board till the bitter end. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/2 "2016-11-15T21:43:57Z")
I don’t know what to say, Frank, but to wish you the best and as much peace and comfort as you can find. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/3 "2016-11-15T21:44:54Z")
Big hugs, Frank. You’re a giant around these boards and we’re all wishing you the very best. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/4 "2016-11-15T21:50:43Z")
I think you are an atheist, but I hope you can accept that I will be praying for you in the spirit in which it is offered. Peace be with you. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/5 "2016-11-15T21:58:30Z")
Holy cow Frank. I’m speechless. I hope you have a lot of good days. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/6 "2016-11-15T22:03:32Z")
My gob is smacked. My best to you, your family and your friends. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/7 "2016-11-15T22:04:54Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > … I hope you can accept that I will be praying for you in the spirit in which it is offered. I can. This is not something that bothers me. Ask me to pray _with_ you, and we might have an argument. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/8 "2016-11-15T22:08:14Z")
I’m so sorry to hear this. I was all set to come in and say chemo is much better than it was twenty years ago, talk to the doctor about side effects, they may be able to give you something to counteract. Do as much as you can. Make sure your affairs are in order, that your family knows where the important papers are. We’ll be here too. Mucho hugs. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/9 "2016-11-15T22:11:30Z")
Oh, Frank. You make a difference here and surely w/ your family and friends. We’re glad to hear your voice and share your ear. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/10 "2016-11-15T22:25:53Z")
I hope you have as many good days as possible. You are in my thoughts. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/11 "2016-11-15T22:30:08Z")
Frank, didn’t you once wear jackboots? Too bad you can’t use them to stomp on the cancer. I’ll pray for you as well. I’ve said that to a number of people here and now I sometimes say “Please do the best you can for my friends on the Dope that need it.” I figure God will know who all I’ve said I’ll pray for. Please keep us updated. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/12 "2016-11-15T22:49:20Z")
Ah hell. As someone who’s going through the same thing (but with a longer fuse before I blow, so to speak), welcome to Club Terminal. The food is crappy, but the waitresses are cute. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2016, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/13 "2016-11-15T22:56:13Z")
I hope things go smoothly for you and you don’t feel the chemo at all! But just in case, here are a few things that worked for me. Smoothies helped a lot while I was dealing with cancer, surgery, chemo and effects from all of the above. Try to keep your protein intake as high as you can. I went through a lot of protein powder, but found this one from Jarrow to be the most palatable because it isn’t overly sweet: [Jarrow Unflavored Whey Protein](https://www.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formulas-Supports-Development-Unflavored/dp/B0013OVWHM) I used frozen fruit and yogurt along with the protein powder. Jamba Juice has some good smoothies, too, if you need a little bit of out-of-the-house time, but don’t want to do anything major. The regular protein drinks like Ensure were gross to my tastes, but the clear Ensure was palatable (I think I mentioned this in your original thread). I drank Gatorade for hydration because plain water made me sick (weird). It has sugar but it did the job. With some pain meds and at least Zofran (anti-nausea), you risk constipation. A daily dose of Miralax worked well. You can put it in any liquid. I put it in my smoothies. I tried it with plain water (juices were burning my stomach), but it was uncomfortable and felt like it just sat there, so in something was much better. Hugs to you and the best of luck that you’re comfortable and able to live your life fully for a long time, still! ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/14 "2016-11-15T23:02:30Z")
Just coming by to say you are in my thoughts. Stay strong. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/15 "2016-11-15T23:04:50Z")
Frank, I’m at a loss. Jack boots hell, I’ve always appreciated your Modding. If you say a holding action is the best you can do… then you do it & you fight it. Hard. Goals are things we set for ourselves every day, and every day you can find some progress if you look. Just Keep Fighting! ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/16 "2016-11-15T23:06:30Z")
Also - I highly recommend the people at the Cancer Support Community, which is a national organization. They have support groups (free), lectures about things relevant to cancer patients/survivors (free), and other events (all free). Looks like the one in Kettering went out of business, but there are several others in the Ohio/N Kentucky area. They’re good people. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/17 "2016-11-15T23:11:11Z")
Shit man. Sorry to hear it. Take care, as much as you can. Sent from my adequate mobile device using Tapatalk. ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/18 "2016-11-15T23:11:35Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Frank, didn’t you once wear jackboots? Too bad you can’t use them to stomp on the cancer. Frank did indeed do a stint as an SDMB moderator. I’m sure I speak for the staff when I say we’re shocked and saddened to hear this news. Our thoughts are with you, Frank. Here’s wishing we had a way to drop the ban hammer on this disease. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/19 "2016-11-15T23:15:26Z")
I don’t know what to say, **Frank** , so I won’t. Any words I try to say will come out sounding clumsy. Except to say I’m very sorry to hear this. I hope you will have many good days ahead of you still to come. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/20 "2016-11-15T23:18:28Z")
I’m really sorry to hear this Frank. I hope things go as well as possible. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099.md?page=2)