Cancer Selfies

VLog: August 24, 2023

I really overdid it yesterday, and it will happen again.

VLog: August 23, 2023

I visited the Kirkfield lift lock (but I overdid it)

VLog: August 22, 2023 - A little more

Short discussion about how you can feel great and healthy while still knowing your dying, and that that situation is actually normal, about symptoms and side effects, and planning around them, and about how there's always laundry to do.

VLog: August 22, 2023

Recovery is going surprisingly well

VLog: August 21, 2023

A very exciting laundry day

I'm still bad at selfies

I'm 36 now, and my technical selfie abilities have certianly improved, a year of constant practice will do that to you. But more importantly, my comfort with taking my own picture (and having my picture taken) has increased dramatically.

I remember when I was in university, not wanting to be in any of my photos because "why would anyone want to look at me, they want to look at those cool rocks / buildings / geese / whatever. And I wasn't wrong, you should be taking those pictures, too. But I wasn't right. Not in a way that mattered. Its important to appear full of joy in photos, because that is what those who love you want to see. Unless its your job, you aren't going to take a groundbreaking photo of Machu Picchu, but only you and your friends can take one with you and that wonder in the same frame.

The two photos were taken in the same spot, facing the same way. When I said I was bad at selfies, I meant it, it would be months before I found the mirror setting and turned it off.

The following was originally posted August 21, 2022

(This was written on September 4th, 2022)

Back at home after Barrie trip, at the Balm Beach breakwater. Look, I'm 35, I know I'm bad at selfies, and I would normally only share the really good ones. But that isn't what this album is about.

VLog: August 20, 2023

Have I talked about this blog project before? Because its going well now.

Fake cancer cures

Its been a constant stream of fake medicine, weird new age bullshit ("energy healing"), natural nonsense and, the most frustrating to me, faith healers, for the past year. Mostly on Facebook ads, although genuinely a lot less than I expected, and while Facebook is really bad about taking down con artists, their block function seems to work in a very absolute way. I don't see a lot of objectionable cancer stuff on Facebook anymore.

On the wider internet, things are more dire. Google is terrible about letting you block dangerous advertisers, and the place I spend the second most time is YouTube. Google ads power much of the rest of the internet, too, making it often difficult to navigate.

Its all very frustrating, because even though some of these clowns might genuinely believe in what their doing (new agers and natural fanatics are generally in this camp), the whole lot of them get a lot of people killed. I devoted much of my adult life to scientific skepticism, which puts me, personally, in a good place when it comes to these people. I've seen their claims, often am familliar enough with their products to know if they've been properly tested, and if that testing reflected well on them (none of the things I listed pass these tests). And, if I don't know their products and claims, I have a strong network of people who I trust and who I can ask.

None of which helps the people who were not fortunate enough to be exposed to skepticism. Or those who grew up in the church, and think seeking out real medicine is equivalent to questioning their faith. Or people who's support group is made up of those well meaning frauds who still get people killed.

I want a call to action, to tell you to write your MPP/MLA to kick medical fraudsters out of the medical system, and your MP to put these con artists in jail. But their lobbies are far, far too powerful, because their lies are too profitable. The best I can reasonably hope for is that we can save a few of our most vulnerable from wasting their time, their money and, in the case of people like me, what little life they have left on dangerous charlatans.

The following was originally posted August 30, 2022

If your wondering how fast advertisements for nonsense natural remedies take over your feed, it's within hours (maybe quicker, I was at work and not paying full attention).

I've already blocked and reported a half dozen.

Right now I'm still in a position where I can laugh these off, block some scammers, and move on. If I start to break, someone please just point me at Science Based Medicine to set me straight again ❤️

VLog: August 19, 2023

A brief discussion about the consequences of the power being out

Looking back at announcement day

Friends, thank you for consistantly giving me an escape from a world dominated by existential terrors at every turn. Thank you for keeping me in cute animal photos through chemo and scans and dozens of blood draws. You made it easy to be hopeful when it was possible to be hopeful, and have helped me be peaceful, level and calm now that there's nothing to do but wait. Each and every one of you is fantastic, and while I may have been able to get this far without you, why would I ever want that?

Gone is the pain (literal and figurative) I felt when I wrote this, gone is the terror of the unknown. The horror remains, at least a little bit, but mostly what I feel on this anniversary is gratitude. Thanks for being there, and I sincerely hope you'll remain. It's going to be sad, but there'll be cats at least.

The following was originally posted August 19, 2022

Friends, this is not going to be a happy post. I understand if you take a pass, just know that you're all important to me, you brighten and give colour to my life, and that I love you all.

I've been diagnosed with cancer of the appendix. Its already spread to at least two other places. This is the source of the gut/abdominal/belly button pain I've been complaining about for a while. We've only suspected for just over two weeks. and only had it confirmed this week, so I don't know what the outlook is like, but I'm choosing to be hopeful.

Work friends, please keep this to yourselves. Work is the only place I can pretend things are normal right now and that is important to my mental health.

All friends, please don't tell me you're praying for me. That's often used as a passive aggressive threat towards atheists, and while I know you don't mean it that way, I'm already emotionally spent.

Again, you all mean the world to me, and the world is a better place having all you in it ❤

VLog: August 18, 2023

In search of the Bog Beast of Bala

VLog: August 17, 2023

I talk about the cricket

Treatment on pause

This isn't even an anniversary I remembered, but on this day in 2022 my partner and I sat with the surgeon I'd been seeing for my abdominal pain and had all our worst fears confirmed by the results of test after test. And you know what? It's fine. I forgot. My partner and I went to the Toronto Zoo, not to mark time but because it's a fun way to spend a summer day.

Apparently the beaver at the zoo has passed away, and that hit me much harder emotionally than August 17 ever could. The beaver wasn't the fattest or roundest of the fatrounds, but they slept right against the glass window that opened into their lodge, so you could always get a good view. The beaver was probably my favourite exhibit.

I have no appointments in the next month. I've grown used to seeing someone every week or two. It's honestly become part of my identity. I'm not upset about it, obviously, but it's still weird. I've been busy, and my strength has been returning, which is also nice.

VLog: August 16, 2023

A trip to the zoo

VLog: August 15, 2023

I'm trying a longer walk today

VLog: August 14, 2023

More on the blog project

A discussion with the Cancer Centre dietician

Today I learned that I have no idea what an ounce is, nor do I have an idea why a medical professional would be using it

From the comments

James Petrosky: I was talking to a dietician, because my diahrea is only going to get worse over time and I wanted some advice. It's fine until we come to meat. I think it was 18 ounces of meat (maybe just red?) per week maximum. But because I got so confused about this unit, I can't remember if it was red, the time interval, or even if it was 18. I'm pretty sure it's per week because that's a lot for a day. And I think the dietician confused ounces to cups with ounces to pounds because I thought it was 8, so that's two contradictory things that are now locked in my brain, ready to cause catastrophic problems in the future

Anyways we're going with generic advice for now, which means more soluble fiber, being careful about insoluble fiber, and patting down foods for extra grease. Nothing I didn't know, but sometimes I need an expert to motivate me.

VLog: August 13, 2023

At the Big Chute Marine Railway, acomplishing things from my todo list

You know cannabis is legal in Ontario, right?

1 - I miss the good avatar backgrounds ¹
2 - Look at me, being all cute and coy, pretending the problem was the cannibis and not the high grade existential crisis that comes from knowing you're a) extremely, utterly, nonsensically doomed and b) won't be given a timeline for that doom for almost three weeks, so even planning for Thanksgiving in two months seems futile.

Anyways a combination of the cannibis and winning a staring contest with that deep, dark void was the solution. The CBD works much better now.

The following was originally posted August 13, 2022

Holy crap CBD is a demon chemical that damns me to an unrestful sleep full of vivid and surreal dreams. I'll take seven.

From the comments

James Petrosky: I have a lot more Facevook memories than I share. I've been reading every comment as they come up. Your kind words of support were invaluable then, I genuinely don't think I could have made it from diagnosis to treatment without you all, and remain a comfort to me now. A good community and sense of belonging won't alter the course of my illness, but it brings light and colour to the days as they pass in joy and contentmemt. For that I thank you.

I am crying right now, but it's from happiness and comfort. I don't know if anyone wants to contemplate their own mortality, but when you do, I hope you feel this supported.

VLog: August 12, 2023

First time I mention the project you're reading right now