19 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

My experience with Mayo turned me off to them...long story short, they screwed up the oder for radiation seeds to treat my eye...I left and had the eye pulled

 

And should have thought stronger....

 

Diagnosis: small cell carcinoma, metastasized from lungs to pancreas and brain

Treatment: chemo for the lungs/pancreas followed by targeted radiation for the brain

Immediate prognosis: will shrink chest/abdomen areas, 3-6 month remission where I'll feel semi normal,  then it comes back

Long term: 14-16 months on average before it does me in

 

Further updates later....Nora and I have to process.

Ken, Just know that we are all in your corner and praying for you and Nora.

13 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

If you choose to forego this option what are you looking at?

Drop that figure  by 6-8 .months, and I won't have a period of 'normal activity ' where I can help Nora get all our ducks lined up

Prayers sent!

@MN Fisher

 

I am just seeing this thread today.  This is shocking, sad news and words never meet the moment in these situations.  I am hoping that your body responds to the treatments much better than the doctors expect and some kind of recovery can be achieved.  However, based on your prognosis, I hope you find a way to live your life the way you want to during this difficult time, and love of family and friends sustains you.  I know it isn't much, but hope and best wishes are all I have to give.

Wow @MN Fisher I don't know what to say man. I'm not sure what the realistic best outcome is but that's what I hope for you. Teri and I have you and Nora in our thoughts.

Wow really sorry to be reading this. I hope you react to the treatment better than expected and at least get a bit more time. Plenty of stories of people going years longer than expected and I truly hope you are one of them.

Good thoughts and prayers heading your way 🙏

@MN Fisher Sending positive thoughts your way.

Well, round one of the chemo is done - and I got no side effects (so far). Ate the regular stuff I always have and my stomach didn't even twinge.

 

Now a 3 week wait for round 2.

 

Because of where this invader is sitting, I'm finding myself short of breath for small exertions...so now I gotta take it slow.

 

And this all comes on the heels of something I'd already decided to do.

 

Nora's PCA is a single mom of 4 kids ranging from 9 to 15. Nora and I have kinda adopted them and they're all calling us 'Papa Ken' and 'Mama Nora' (short for grand-pa/grand-ma)

 

They don't have much in the way of positive older folks around - dad is a laze about, grand-mother 1 is a hypocondriac who uses way too much medical marijuana, uncle is just plain mean most of the time and the other grandparents are gone....so, time to give these kids - whose mom busts her arse taking care of Nora - the type of role-models they need as well as skills and tools suited to their abilities and desires...something mom has tried to do, but just can't do it alone.

 

I got a year - I think Nora and I can make a difference

24 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Well, round one of the chemo is done - and I got no side effects (so far). Ate the regular stuff I always have and my stomach didn't even twinge.

 

Now a 3 week wait for round 2.

 

Because of where this invader is sitting, I'm finding myself short of breath for small exertions...so now I gotta take it slow.

 

And this all comes on the heels of something I'd already decided to do.

 

Nora's PCA is a single mom of 4 kids ranging from 9 to 15. Nora and I have kinda adopted them and they're all calling us 'Papa Ken' and 'Mama Nora' (short for grand-pa/grand-ma)

 

They don't have much in the way of positive older folks around - dad is a laze about, grand-mother 1 is a hypocondriac who uses way too much medical marijuana, uncle is just plain mean most of the time and the other grandparents are gone....so, time to give these kids - whose mom busts her arse taking care of Nora - the type of role-models they need as well as skills and tools suited to their abilities and desires...something mom has tried to do, but just can't do it alone.

 

I got a year - I think Nora and I can make a difference

Special 

On 4/22/2025 at 7:52 PM, MN Fisher said:

Well, round one of the chemo is done - and I got no side effects (so far). Ate the regular stuff I always have and my stomach didn't even twinge.

 

Now a 3 week wait for round 2.

 

 

First off, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation/prognosis, my friend. As someone who's in the same boat, it's definitely a shock hearing that news. I'm also doing treatment every 3 weeks. I'll have my 3rd treatment next Thursday. Hopefully you continue to not have many side effects. 

 

I was also given a timeline (a year). But I'll be damned if I ain't gonna try to prove them wrong. You can as well. 🙏

Ken, I just happened upon this thread. I am heavy with sadness. It sounds like you're having the frank conversations that are good and proper. I once read an essay by an oncologist who had treated a woman with cancer and he kept wanting her to consider that the cancer might end her life, but she kept denying it. Then, two days from her death, she was desperate for the next trial treatment and when he told her that there was nothing left to try, she despaired, for she was out of time to accept her death. 

 

I'm glad too that you've identified a profound purpose for the time that remains. 

 

And finally I'm glad that your first chemo treatment didn't nauseate you. 

 

I'm thinking good thoughts for you, Ken. Sad ones too.

Hows it going? I got the bad news a month ago and having a medical procedure done monday. It will be a long recovery and life changing .

22 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Hows it going?

So far, so good - one more shot this week (today)...a white blood cell booster, then a CT scan tomorrow to see if there's any effect from the two rounds.

2 More rounds scheduled and a PET scan later in June....then we see how it's really doing.

 

Little nausea, but my appetite hasn't suffered too much.

 

Wife bought me a guided trip since I don't think I'll get Bass Trek in the water this year...so prepping it for sale. Trip is with a guy I've followed for a few years now and we've interacted on his YouTube and Facebook accounts - so should be interesting

Hope you slay them on the guided trip!! 

Catch them all Ken!

Well, I'm back from a week in the hospital. Went in last Monday for round 3 of chemo and the Doc didn't like my blood-work or vitals. Got checked in on 5th floor (oncology patients) and after a few tests got moved to 3rd floor (Cardiac). Seems I'd developed A-Fib and my Red Cell count and Hemoglobin were both very low...probably why I've been severely short of breath the past month or so.

 

So lots more tests - got put on a couple more meds, got a pint of blood shoved in me, and then had 500ml of fluid drained out of my Pleural Cavity - that's the liquid filled space between your lungs and ribs...I had that much 'extra' which was also restricting my breathing.

 

So now I'm on more meds, including a blood thinner (not Heparin) and Albuterol - both emergency puffer and nebulizer for 2x daily treatments.

 

First outing with Matt had to be canceled due to I was just getting over a cold and it was rainy, cold and windy that day....when I called him the night before even he had been reluctenct, and a little relieved that I wanted to reschedule.

 

And I've got to reschedule NEXT week's scheduled outing as well as Round 3 of chemo has been scheduled for then

 

Never rains but it pours.

Hang in there Ken. We’re all in your corner.

We are pulling for ya Ken! Those fish will be there when you are ready 

dang it...I hate reading about this.

 

bud, I dont know you, but I feel like I do.  I wish the best for you and the other fellow fisher people suffering similarly.  sorry, I am not much of a word smith in situations like this.  

They’ll be there whenever you’re ready!!

 Just do what they tell you to do and listen to your body. 
It’ll tell you when and what you can do. 
 

Stay strong Pal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike