Dan’s Story

Site created on July 8, 2020

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In May Dan began to feel uncomfortable. He said it was a sharp pain when he stood up or sat down. He was able to still work, but it just kept getting worse. By early June the pain began to resemble a bad pinched sciatic nerve and he requested a steroid shot. (We knew that was a big deal because he hates shots.) The first one helped a little and the second one didn't help at all. That made us question what his pain really was. On Friday, June 12th, he went to Bozeman for an MRI. The results were shocking.

They found a tumor on his lower spine that was affecting lots of nerves. Also numerous lymph nodes were enlarged.  The same day they took a biopsy of one of the lymph nodes and then way late that evening a CT scan. The results came back that Dan has colon cancer that has spread quite a lot.

We first met with the oncologist (telemed) on June 17. She was going to schedule a port placement surgery and chemo for the very next week.  But then after discussing with the radiation oncologist, they decided to do 10 days of radiation first.  So Dan went to Bozeman that same afternoon to get set up for radiation and had his first treatment the next day. The radiation succeeded in shrinking the tumor, and Dan felt a bit better each day. By the end of the 10 treatments, he could move more freely again without excessive pain and stiffness. He still spends most of his time sitting and is grateful for movement and pain medication.

After finishing radiation we had a 4 day weekend, then Dan got his port on July 6 and first chemo treatment on July 7.  He has been handling chemo pretty well so far. He is scheduled to go in for chemo every 2 weeks for 6 treatments. Then, they will do more tests to see how he is responding to the treatment.
Post by Erica and Brenda

Newest Update

Journal entry by Dan Volz

hi again.
In early October I started taking a supplement called protocel  that I found out about in a book called Outsmart Your Cancer. The book has many different non-toxic , alternative treatment methods for cancer ranging from juices to dietary  regiments to supplements. It shared many studies and testimonials of people where it had helped cure their cancer.  So I thought I'd try something. I take 1/4 teaspoon of  protocel with water 4 times daily around the clock, every six hours.   It can be a little bit of a challenge for the time that I'm sleeping but my cell phone alarm is really useful.

I had a CT scan done in mid October before our trip to Mi. All the cancer spots seemed to be stable or still reducing. My oncologist had started me on an oral chemo called Xeloda that I take 5 pills morning and night for two weeks then a week off, continually. I started this in mid to late July as a maintenance program. 

In August we were allowed to come a back in to the school gym after the Covid break .  We play volleyball every Wed night for 2 hours and have been doing that for many years. I didn't know how it would work for me since I hadn't done anything athletic for a year and a half, but I was willing to give it a try.  It has helped me greatly with balance and flexibility.  I enjoy it a lot.

On Dec 8th, I had a colonoscopy. Earlier in the week a customer called that wanted a chair cleaned and I told him I could probably do it later in the week after I see how I'm feeling after my procedure. He said "I hope they don't find anything".  I said, "well I think they  will... I have colon cancer."  which he was not aware of. (The hardest part of the whole procedure was removing the sticky monitoring electrodes from my chest when I got home.)  Everything went smoothly for the procedure until the doctor came in to tell me the news that the tumor which they saw in the first exam a year and a half ago, was gone. He said that after finding it last time, they tattooed the area. He found the tattoos but no sign of the tumor! We were definitely not expecting that.  (Of course, that doesn't mean I'm cancer free. There are other spots in the body we have been watching.)

I guess the prayers, medicine, and maybe supplement are doing their job.  Praise God.
Dan

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