Best of luck, Scorcho. [Sadly passed. RIP, Scorcho.]

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A scary reminder of human mortality. I will confess that sometimes as I lay awake before bed, I wonder 'what if I'm terminally ill and I just don't know it yet'. It's no way to live, and a scary thought to have. I wish you the best mate and hope your time is a ways off yet.
 
Scorcho - I've never really posted in any of your threads, but I have read them for the past few years. I just want you to know what an immense impression you have made on me. Your take-everything-that-comes attitude towards your illness and life really puts my own struggles and shortcomings into perspective. I hope the new trial drug proves to be effective for you. Keep us updated, and if there's ever anything that gaf can do, just let us know.
 
Repeated 1000x already but is no less heartfelt: Stay strong, Scorcho. Keep in good spirits and kick that cancer's ass.
 
drspeedy said:
That's it folks: this is something worth getting behind, and I hereby submit to you all a new avatar suggestion (sorry SalsaShark, this is more deserving):

"The Scorcho"


I'll go first. Hang in there, Scorch!
Click to expand...
I think this would be a great idea too, if we could "Scorcho" our avatars

scorcho said:
Update:
.
Click to expand...

Awesome to hear about the meds. Your strength and courage amaze me, and as long as your mental faculties aren't clouded, you can still beat this. And hell, go crazy with the updates man, I subscribed and everything.
 
I think you should use this thread to update us. If it can help you hang on and help your body get back to normal.

GAF can amaze me as a source of sympathy sometimes. Always there when people really need help.

I had no idea you were sick Scorcho, and maybe its the Sigur Ros music but i'm having a hard time keeping my composure as I type this at the office.

It might be inaccurate to call you a friend, but I've never had anyone close to me hit by an illness at a young age. Hope you are the 1% :)
 
Natetan said:
I think you should use this thread to update us. If it can help you hang on and help your body get back to normal.

GAF can amaze me as a source of sympathy sometimes. Always there when people really need help.

I had no idea you were sick Scorcho, and maybe its the Sigur Ros music but i'm having a hard time keeping my composure as I type this at the office.

It might be inaccurate to call you a friend, but I've never had anyone close to me hit by an illness at a young age. Hope you are the 1% :)
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Please get well, Scorcho.
 
Fuck cancer.
I truly hope that you get well soon.

Btw Scorcho, have anyone ever told you that you look like Donnie Yen?
 
Just caught this the other day... really sorry to hear that and I truly hope you get better...
 
I really should be writing this for my blog, or in an email to my girlfriend. I'll probably copy/paste and add some additional stuff later. I suppose I like posting on here because my identity is, for the most part, still private. I can bitch and wine and tell you about my thoughts on ODing without worrying those around me unnecessarily. I hope you don't mind.

-

Fall has always been my favorite season. That transition from the ragged green to an orange rust; the cooler air that invites longer walks and ruminations; the chilly mornings that makes you, for a split second, want to linger even longer in the heated pocket you created for yourself in your bed. Sometimes, in that second, you even manage to forget the situation you're currently in.

The last two mornings have been pretty good for me. Because I only have a fraction of one working lung along with a compromised diaphragm, it's hard for me generate enough force to blow out the accumulated sputum/phlegm that builds up overnight or through allergies. Before oxygen therapy I'd be hunched over the sink for 30 minutes, red in the face, attempting to cough out a piece of phlegm that thickened overnight and disrupted my airflow. Every breath I took in would cause a loud wheeze. Yet if I coughed too hard I'd eventually break some capillaries in my throat and, frankly, it becomes a bloody mess. Then the doctors wouldn't know if I was bleeding out of my lungs or throat, which compromises treatment options, etc.

But no more! I'm using a netipot to clean out my nasal passages from lingering boogers - both hard and soft - and if i inhale the water through my nose and lift my head, the water that trickles down my wind pipe will subsequently kick up any deep phlegm that would've taken me hours to cough up otherwise. It's certainly improved my experience breathing through this cannula.

Additionaly, I think the accumulative side-effects (unrelenting pain) of the last two chemo cycles have left my body. Yesterday I finally felt 'normal' enough for the first time in a week to move around and not feel as if everything was breaking down. Great timing as I had to head to my CT scan that afternoon. This morning continues the trend. I keep imagining melting tumors, images of plums turning to prunes, testicles on a cold fall morning - anything to help me visualize the cancer melting away.

So today is the meeting with my doctor to review the scan and decide whether I start on these blasted pills. The pills he initially wrote the prescription for 2 months ago. The one that seems to work in limited clinical trials but, well, my cancer's a fucking bitch. It doesn't follow protocols or norms. It's as much a snowflake as I am.
 
cancer is bullshit. we need to step it up on cancer research.

scorcho said:
I really should be writing this for my blog, or in an email to my girlfriend. I'll probably copy/paste and add some additional stuff later. I suppose I like posting on here because my identity is, for the most part, still private. I can bitch and wine and tell you about my thoughts on ODing without worrying those around me unnecessarily. I hope you don't mind.

-

Fall has always been my favorite season. That transition from the ragged green to an orange rust; the cooler air that invites longer walks and ruminations; the chilly mornings that makes you, for a split second, want to linger even longer in the heated pocket you created for yourself in your bed. Sometimes, in that second, you even manage to forget the situation you're currently in.

The last two mornings have been pretty good for me. Because I only have a fraction of one working lung along with a compromised diaphragm, it's hard for me generate enough force to blow out the accumulated sputum/phlegm that builds up overnight or through allergies. Before oxygen therapy I'd be hunched over the sink for 30 minutes, red in the face, attempting to cough out a piece of phlegm that thickened overnight and disrupted my airflow. Every breath I took in would cause a loud wheeze. Yet if I coughed too hard I'd eventually break some capillaries in my throat and, frankly, it becomes a bloody mess. Then the doctors wouldn't know if I was bleeding out of my lungs or throat, which compromises treatment options, etc.

But no more! I'm using a netipot to clean out my nasal passages from lingering boogers - both hard and soft - and if i inhale the water through my nose and lift my head, the water that trickles down my wind pipe will subsequently kick up any deep phlegm that would've taken me hours to cough up otherwise. It's certainly improved my experience breathing through this cannula.

Additionaly, I think the accumulative side-effects (unrelenting pain) of the last two chemo cycles have left my body. Yesterday I finally felt 'normal' enough for the first time in a week to move around and not feel as if everything was breaking down. Great timing as I had to head to my CT scan that afternoon. This morning continues the trend. I keep imagining melting tumors, images of plums turning to prunes, testicles on a cold fall morning - anything to help me visualize the cancer melting away.

So today is the meeting with my doctor to review the scan and decide whether I start on these blasted pills. The pills he initially wrote the prescription for 2 months ago. The one that seems to work in limited clinical trials but, well, my cancer's a fucking bitch. It doesn't follow protocols or norms. It's as much a snowflake as I am.
Click to expand...

Good luck today Scorcho
 
scorcho said:
I really should be writing this for my blog, or in an email to my girlfriend. I'll probably copy/paste and add some additional stuff later. I suppose I like posting on here because my identity is, for the most part, still private. I can bitch and wine and tell you about my thoughts on ODing without worrying those around me unnecessarily. I hope you don't mind.

-

Fall has always been my favorite season. That transition from the ragged green to an orange rust; the cooler air that invites longer walks and ruminations; the chilly mornings that makes you, for a split second, want to linger even longer in the heated pocket you created for yourself in your bed. Sometimes, in that second, you even manage to forget the situation you're currently in.

The last two mornings have been pretty good for me. Because I only have a fraction of one working lung along with a compromised diaphragm, it's hard for me generate enough force to blow out the accumulated sputum/phlegm that builds up overnight or through allergies. Before oxygen therapy I'd be hunched over the sink for 30 minutes, red in the face, attempting to cough out a piece of phlegm that thickened overnight and disrupted my airflow. Every breath I took in would cause a loud wheeze. Yet if I coughed too hard I'd eventually break some capillaries in my throat and, frankly, it becomes a bloody mess. Then the doctors wouldn't know if I was bleeding out of my lungs or throat, which compromises treatment options, etc.

But no more! I'm using a netipot to clean out my nasal passages from lingering boogers - both hard and soft - and if i inhale the water through my nose and lift my head, the water that trickles down my wind pipe will subsequently kick up any deep phlegm that would've taken me hours to cough up otherwise. It's certainly improved my experience breathing through this cannula.

Additionaly, I think the accumulative side-effects (unrelenting pain) of the last two chemo cycles have left my body. Yesterday I finally felt 'normal' enough for the first time in a week to move around and not feel as if everything was breaking down. Great timing as I had to head to my CT scan that afternoon. This morning continues the trend. I keep imagining melting tumors, images of plums turning to prunes, testicles on a cold fall morning - anything to help me visualize the cancer melting away.

So today is the meeting with my doctor to review the scan and decide whether I start on these blasted pills. The pills he initially wrote the prescription for 2 months ago. The one that seems to work in limited clinical trials but, well, my cancer's a fucking bitch. It doesn't follow protocols or norms. It's as much a snowflake as I am.
Click to expand...

We await the report from the doctor. "testicles on a cold fall morning' haha
 
I don't know you. You don't know me. But we are both human beings. And that is enough.

I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you will see better times.
 
So, after all that, the chemotherapy failed. All masses grew by nearly 10% since the last scan in early August, rendering all that post-chemo pain of the last few weeks and the two month administrative hurdle in getting this experimental drug an expensive waste of time.

I start taking the new chemo pill tonight. I'll find out in four weeks where we're at, or sooner depending on whether my body gives up first. C'est la vie.
 
scorcho said:
So, after all that, the chemotherapy failed. All masses grew by nearly 10% since the last scan in early August, rendering all that post-chemo pain of the last few weeks and the two month administrative hurdle in getting this experimental drug an expensive waste of time.

I start taking the new chemo pill tonight. I'll find out in four weeks where we're at, or sooner depending on whether my body gives up first. C'est la vie.
Click to expand...

I don't know what to say, we all will be dead one day, however it is never easy, and any word of comfort I could give you will vanish once you read it here, I am not a man of faith myself, don't know if you are, what I hope is the rest of what you have left would be as awesome and happy as it possibly can, be around your loved ones, I, a friking random internet forum poster will keep you on my thoughts hoping you stay around us as long as possible.
 
scorcho said:
I really should be writing this for my blog, or in an email to my girlfriend. I'll probably copy/paste and add some additional stuff later. I suppose I like posting on here because my identity is, for the most part, still private. I can bitch and wine and tell you about my thoughts on ODing without worrying those around me unnecessarily. I hope you don't mind.

-

Fall has always been my favorite season. That transition from the ragged green to an orange rust; the cooler air that invites longer walks and ruminations; the chilly mornings that makes you, for a split second, want to linger even longer in the heated pocket you created for yourself in your bed. Sometimes, in that second, you even manage to forget the situation you're currently in. ...

So today is the meeting with my doctor to review the scan and decide whether I start on these blasted pills. The pills he initially wrote the prescription for 2 months ago. The one that seems to work in limited clinical trials but, well, my cancer's a fucking bitch. It doesn't follow protocols or norms. It's as much a snowflake as I am.
Click to expand...

You should write as much as you can (assuming you enjoy it). You do it well. Sorry to hear about the last round of chemo. Let's see what this new drug can do.
 
Damn how did I miss this thread =/

You sir have my Axe & Beard!

If you need anything I have PM'ed ya!

I do give a mean massage... lets keep it clean fella'

My hands are munchkin-esque, so I get into the muscles real good!

Also I always loved your avatar, name was secondary, but DAT avatar always notified me you posted
 
Jeez, I somehow missed this until now =/ Scorcho, you're one of my favourite posters and I always look out for your posts on PoliGAF/politics-related threads.

Your posts and updates in this thread have been really touching. My thoughts are with you dude.
 
scorcho said:
So, after all that, the chemotherapy failed. All masses grew by nearly 10% since the last scan in early August, rendering all that post-chemo pain of the last few weeks and the two month administrative hurdle in getting this experimental drug an expensive waste of time.

I start taking the new chemo pill tonight. I'll find out in four weeks where we're at, or sooner depending on whether my body gives up first. C'est la vie.
Click to expand...

I really wish you the best, don't give up, those pills have worked before, they can work for you too. You're in my thoughts!

Also, don't forget that the improvements you have felt could be a new positive phase. You wouldn't see it overnight, the tumors may have grown more and then shrunk to where they are now. That's why you need to keep going and stay hopeful, you never know.
 
Cancer is a bitch, especially when it hits healthy young people so randomly.

How do you even get diagnosed with this stuff? Most doctors I see are very brief, unless I have crazy symptoms...by then what stage is cancer in? Seems like there's a future industry to test this stuff daily like brushing your teeth.
 
scorcho said:
So, after all that, the chemotherapy failed. All masses grew by nearly 10% since the last scan in early August, rendering all that post-chemo pain of the last few weeks and the two month administrative hurdle in getting this experimental drug an expensive waste of time.

I start taking the new chemo pill tonight. I'll find out in four weeks where we're at, or sooner depending on whether my body gives up first. C'est la vie.
Click to expand...
I and the rest of gaf, your friends and family are all in your corner rooting for you and your new medication. Good luck, man. I have a feeling these meds are going to work well.
 
Thanks for continuing to fill us in Scorcho. I'm here in NYC myself since my sister was recently admitted to NY Presbyterian for 3 weeks on account of a manic breakdown. It was a scary and confusing time for my family and we're still kind of dealing with the aftermath, but you've been in my thoughts since I came across this thread. In fact I mentioned to my sister (a fellow GAFfer) that I'd like to visit you while I was in NY. I know that might not be feasible, but know that someone out there wishes you the very best. Continue to fight the good fight my friend
 
What a rare, random cancer. Fate/luck/chance whatever it is, it does not always make sense to me. You seem like a good person Scorcho. I don't know you, but I wish you the best.
 
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