Paul Fraser Captain Awesome's Journey

I haven't been feeling the best and saw the doctor as a result.  Being only 41 the Doc thought my symptoms were similar to colitis. Nothing to worry about, no big deal, but to verify we ordered a colonoscopy. Fun right? Turns out, the colonoscopy was the least of my worries (the colonoscopy wasn't that bad of a process anyway).  During it, they found a mass in my colon near the "exit" sign.  The docs biopsied the mass and it turned out cancerous. Ugh. Colorectal Adeno Carcinoma to be specific.  A very common type of colon cancer but cancer non the less.  Immediately, the docs ordered an CT scan to see if it spread.  The results of the CT scan were another bundle of fun and it verified it had spread to some lymph nodes scattered around my abdomen and possibly to my L2 vertebrae. At this point we know that it's a stage 3 and likely a stage 4. 



The next steps is to get a 'port' installed into my chest to handle future treatments and blood draws.  Also, I need to do a PET scan to see if it can give further clarity. It will hopefully tell us what stage it is. If not, a MRI is in my future. On Friday morning, the docs are going to have a pow wow about folks like me, they call it a tumor board. I'm on their agenda.  This is where they will determine my official course of action.  I meet with them on Wednesday where they will tell me the plan, and fill in the rest of the details.



I have issues with other people feeling sorry or bad for me.  It quite frankly makes me break down.  If you are the sort of person that wants to get mushy-gushy... that's OK.  I only ask that you try to do it in a way that I can digest it either by myself or with you, one on one.  I'm uncomfortable having a break down on the way home from work or eating lunch at my desk or any other public space. Simply put, it happens, that's OK, but I prefer to do it alone or with someone who cares.


As far as financially, I think I'm OK.  Time will tell and bills will rack up, but Harley has pretty good insurance and its early in the year.  Hopefully I can kick this thing by the end of the year.


In the end, thoughts and prayers are always welcome and appreciated.  Many thanks to those who have already been doing so.