How My Cancer Began
As many of you know, my cancer journey started in March of 2022. I had a large tumor removed and later discovered by the Colon Tumor DNA (CT-DNA) that the cells were still in me. I began the Folfox chemotherapy regimen that May for 6 months. Once it was finished, it appeared to be gone. So, I had my port removed and went back to work at the Fire Department where I am a Driver/Engineer (firefighter/paramedic).
However, within just a few months I knew something was wrong as I kept having significant pain in my lower abdomen. I began keeping a heating pad on me all the time to help deal with the pain. Moffitt confirmed that my CT-DNA test was positive again, yet the CT and PET scan that they did was inconclusive and they felt that all they could see at that time was possible endometriosis in my right ovary. They wanted me to come back in 3 months.
Thankfully, I had already been seeing some doctors at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. I had an MRI scheduled for June 1, 2023, which was only a few weeks after the PET scan. The results came back showing that the cancer had spread and was not only in my right ovary, but also in my uterus, my cervix, around my left ureter, partially on the bladder, and on the sigmoid colon. I had a significant surgery done on July 19, 2023, to remove the cancer. I also received an ileostomy at that time. I then did 6 months of the Folfiri chemotherapy treatments. I finished that on my brother’s birthday, February 21, 2024.
However, 3 weeks later, I had an MRI done that confirmed that the cancer had already spread to my peritoneum, slightly on my bladder, and near my ileostomy. I had another surgery in April 2024, to reverse the ileostomy. Then, on May 9, 2024, they did a lengthy surgery to remove what they could of the cancer and did a HIPEC procedure where they placed heated chemotherapy in my abdomen like a sauna effect for 90 minutes. It was hard recovering from that surgery. I even went back to the hospital a couple of times and was not sure if I was going to make it.
However, things finally turned around, and I began improving. In July 2024, my MRI scan of my abdomen and CT scan of my chest was clear. I was ready to work on getting stronger so that I could hopefully go back to work by late October or early November.
In October, I began to have pain in my abdomen again. I asked if they could move my scan up by a few weeks. Unfortunately, the MRI scan of my abdomen shows that the cancer has spread again in my peritoneum and on my bladder while the CT scan shows some small possible spots on my lungs. They told me that I needed to go back on chemotherapy.
When I went to Moffitt to start the chemotherapy, they let me know that they are no longer trying to cure me, but rather give me some quality of life before the cancer takes over. They said it is usually a textbook answer of 2 years from that point. Needless to say, it was pretty disappointing.
I did schedule an appointment with MD Anderson in Houston, Texas. They could not get me in for 6 months. (That appointment was in April 2025. They really had nothing new to offer from where I had already been receiving treatments at Mayo Clinic and Moffitt Cancer Center.)
I started back on Folfox chemotherapy on November 6, 2024. The first five cycles were pretty horrible with lots of vomiting and nausea for several days. I was very fatigued and spent 4 to 5 days in bed out of the 14-day cycle. Not much of quality of life! I was told that the treatments are more difficult the next time you do them because your body has built resistance against it. They call it an Adverse Reaction and give me Benadryl with each treatment to help me deal with the side effects.
In December, Jason talked to a friend about a different type of treatment protocol that his relative did for their loved one. He called it the Rosalyn Protocol. I started to look into and think about its possibilities. Meanwhile, I had someone over to plan my funeral details so that would not be a burden on my family. I began doing what I could to get my affairs in order. When I finally sat down and read the articles and studied them, I turned to Jason and said, “What do you think about this possibility?” He said, “I think it is a lot better than planning a funeral.”
So, that is where we are. I am researching and looking at many alternative therapies and medications to synergistically work with chemotherapy. Unfortunately, most of what I am doing is not covered by insurance and it adds up quickly. But I know that God will provide. I look forward to one day being in remission and showing them, I no longer need these treatments. Until then, I will keep trusting God to give us the answers that we seek and follow His will.
