Week #147 … Chemo Round #40 … And Obi Wan Said “Use the Force, Crafty. Keep Rollin!”

Last Friday, I hit one of my cycling mileage goals right out in front of a very low-profile Petaluma tourist spot called Rancho Obi Wan. According to Guinness World Records, Rancho OW houses the world’s largest Star Wars memorabilia collection. (Who knew? Right here in PTown of all places!) Anyway, as I rolled by and clicked over another 1000 miles on my eBike, I’m certain I heard someone whisper: “Use the Force, Crafty. Keep Rollin!“
Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it as I get ready for Chemo Round #40 tomorrow.
I am using the Force along with every prayer, positive vibe and white light coming to me from all you members of Team Crafty around the world. We are so grateful and thankful for all your support. It is so much more powerful than you know.

You might be thinking forty rounds is a lot of chemo … and you’d be damn right! That said, I’m on a very forgiving treatment regimen we’ve dubbed ‘maintenance chemo’. I get an infusion every 3 weeks down at UCSF Health. It is walk-in, walk-out treatment that runs about 5-6 hours start to finish. We do a blood draw, review test results with my doctors, and I sit for the chemo infusion. Once I get home, the ‘chemo hangover’ is the toughest part of the process. Chemo is after all poison and I’ve learned it takes its own sweet time getting through your system. My current chemo blend packs a hangover that lasts about 4-5 days. Each round is a little different. But I’m really a pro at this point and we have our processes down to practiced routines, from house to hospital and back. This regimen has allowed us to keep my cancer in a closely monitored, ‘steady state’ over the past 7-8 months. This all makes me the most fortunate cancer survivor/fighter you know and I will bet you on that.

I am troubled by what COVID-19 is doing to the cancer community worldwide. Cancer is a brutally tough monster in its own right and COVID-19 has only made it more lethal. Everything from new case diagnoses, to treatment and surgery schedules, to clinical trials, has been thrown off track and disrupted by COVID. The net result of all that will be substantial increases in avoidable cancer deaths. This is one of the many reasons why it’s imperative we get the pandemic under control as soon as possible. Please do the basics. Wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance, and call your congressional representative to demand an effective national plan.

I’m so grateful to be in the great condition I’m in today and I always find myself thinking about what new cancer patients are going through right now. I really can’t imagine starting the long trek I’ve been on over the past 3 years in today’s hospital conditions. Yet, that’s what many new colorectal cancer patients must do. I’m continually amazed and awed by those I read about who are undergoing complex cancer surgeries, while not being able to interact with their doctors, surgery teams, family and friends, like I did. Every single one of those patients is an absolute cancer hero in my book … and so are their medical teams who brave the frontlines for them.

Please be sure to stay current on your own cancer screenings.
It can save your life and it can keep you off this very tough path.
Call your doctor today and ask what screenings are right for you – and get them done!
Please also do what you can to reach out to all your friends battling cancer.
They can use your help and support now more than ever.

Keep rollin’!
Crafty

P.S. Here’s a really easy and fun way to support cancer research.
Our storefront with Tee-Public has a bunch of great cancer awareness designs and you can get on all sorts of products – like shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, stickers, phone cases, mugs, pillows, pins, and masks, to name a few.
Team Crafty donates 100% of our affiliate partner commissions on every sale to Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation. So, you get a cool product and Conquer.org gets a couple bucks to help fund worldwide cancer research – for ALL types of cancer.
Visit the Team Crafty shop here: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/TeamCrafty