Brief update.

[Outrider]

Hey guys, I had my twelfth and final chemotherapy session today, and whilst I'm not feeling great at this moment, at least that's over with for now. I go back Friday to have the slow release bottle disconnected, and to have the feed line taken out of my arm after six months (thank goodness!). The next two weeks will be filled with some more scans and then I go back to see the oncologist who will consult with the surgeon as to what more can be done, if anything, so it really is going to be a make-or-break sort of moment. I'll let everyone know the outcome once I find out myself.

[Cobra Freak]

Good luck you'll be in my thoughts.

[guiltridden]

As always Craig you are in my thoughts and prayers as i look down at the angel sleeping on my chest right now (Gianna) I know that things that once seemed impossible can happen.

[Flatline]

i Wish You All The Best My Freind.

[Rambo]

God bless you Craig. Keep fighting 40's bro.

[General Jones]

Good Luck Craig.

[Urban Saboteur]

It really is the make or break moment, but everyone here has your back and as always you have my full support!!
My best wishes to you i appreciate these few months have been troubling and difficult at times.
As always you can PM me on flickr.com or on here if you need anything lmk. :)

Rich

[ToneGunsRevisited]

Things aren't easy mate, but we will win this battle. Keep thrusting on God, he'll never leave us.

God will bless you with your health back!

[Sonneilon]

I hope things work out for the best!

[Beast from the east]

I will be thinking of you and hope all the news you recieve is great.

[tycondrius23]

dude seriously you gotta get better and hope all is well cuz the dios wouldn't be the same without ya . and I'd have no one to send old O-rings to :P .good luck dude

[Hammerfel]

You are in our prayers, Craig!

[neapolitan joe]

Forza Outrider!

[Scarrviper]

All we can do is hope for the best Craig. You've gotten this far, you can beat it.

[yorktownjoe]

I am still praying for you. May God bless you and your family with grace and peace.
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[Outrider]

Thank You everyone. :)

[Outrider]

After having some more scans last week I saw the oncologist again today, and received some mixed news. The spots on the liver have gotten a little smaller, but the main pelvic tumor is still about the same size, and still active. So whilst it hasn't got any bigger, it hasn't shrunk to the point where surgery is possible. The oncologist is meeting with the surgeon on Friday to discuss my case, and he believes they will now try some radiation therapy as a last resort to see if that can help. He also told me that even if surgery becomes possible it is extremely high risk due to the large number of veins and nerves caught up in the main tumor. He then stated quite frankly that at the end of the day he doesn't believe thay can cure me because of the size and complexity of the tumor. I hope to know a little more about the immediate future after I see him again next Wednesday.

[vader9900]

Man Craig, I don't know what to say. Keep strong my friend!

[KALASH69]

Ah man, I don't know you but hang in there dude!

My mother is battling cancer right now too so I can imagine what your going through. Hope all is well.

[Hammerfel]

If anyone can do it, YOU can.

[Flatline]

[QUOTE=Hammerfel]If anyone can do it, YOU can.[/QUOTE]
STAY STRONG AND POSSITIVE MY FRIEND. :) I WISH YOU AND YOUR WIFE ALL THE BEST!

[ender098]

Good luck and God Bless you and your family Craig. I'll be praying for you. I wish you all the best. Keep positive!

[ToneGunsRevisited]

Ok so you'll have to fight a little more, but all your friends here support you Craig. Keep going man!

[Scarrviper]

You can beat it Craig, we know you can.

[Scuba Steve]

Thats never good to here but, you know I'm pulling for you every step of the way! we keep you in our prayers and hope nothing but the very best!

[Prince Adam]

Wow... I'm at a loss for words, Craig. All I can really offer are my thoughts and prayers. Please know that your friends are routing for you, bud.

[yorktownjoe]

We will keep praying for you and that you will be cured. May God bless you and your family.

[Tracker]

I'll glade your chemotherapy session are over for now and hopefully you won't need them for along time if ever.. I hope all goes well for ya from now one.

[Urban Saboteur]

[QUOTE=Outrider]After having some more scans last week I saw the oncologist again today, and received some mixed news. The spots on the liver have gotten a little smaller, but the main pelvic tumor is still about the same size, and still active. So whilst it hasn't got any bigger, it hasn't shrunk to the point where surgery is possible. The oncologist is meeting with the surgeon on Friday to discuss my case, and he believes they will now try some radiation therapy as a last resort to see if that can help. He also told me that even if surgery becomes possible it is extremely high risk due to the large number of veins and nerves caught up in the main tumor. He then stated quite frankly that at the end of the day he doesn't believe thay can cure me because of the size and complexity of the tumor. I hope to know a little more about the immediate future after I see him again next Wednesday.[/QUOTE]

wow.. he doesn't believe they can cure you? :(
this is a very tough pill to swallow for you and your family. I am with everyone here and you know it when I say that I will remain positive despite this bad news.

I dont mean this to sound overly naive and my question is merely from an 'interested' viewpoint but did the specialist say why the main tumor hasn't reacted to treatment?
It's my understanding that tumors have to be removed and are developed via active cells, and something in your body/system is keeping it alive and going.

I gotta say its frustratin as heck sat here on the other side of the world whilst you go through this, I wanna do so much to help but feel so redundant. I'm remaining hopeful that the surgeon and the specialist will get together this week and at least develop a strategy to take down this tumor, seeing as though plan A for chemo didnt reduce it.

The main thing at this point is that you dont overdo it in terms of physical exertion, even if you feel fine, keep drinking plenty and resting up well and give your body the best chance it can to help it carry on fighting the good fight.

[silentdusty]

My prayers are still with you Craig. Hopefully, there will be positive news.

[Outrider]

[QUOTE=Urban Saboteur]I dont mean this to sound overly naive and my question is merely from an 'interested' viewpoint but did the specialist say why the main tumor hasn't reacted to treatment?[/QUOTE]

Apparently it's quite an aggressive tumor, and was well advanced when first discovered, so I was behind the eight ball to begin with. He said to me before I began chemotherapy that the chances of reducing the tumor were not good, but that there was nothing to lose by giving it a try.

[Tracker]

Sorry i didn't see you last update on page two :(. That is mixed new indeed and I don't know what to say.

[Outrider]

I had another appointment with the oncologist yesterday, and since I saw him last he has had a meeting with the surgeon. They have decided that as risky as it is, they have to operate, because to do anything less would be the end of me. They're not even going to try radiation therapy because they don't think the benefit gained from it would offset the damage done by the tumor in the amount of time it would take to complete. I've had a worrying few days because the tumor has started bleeding again already and is causing me some problems, so I don't really have any choice but to go under the knife and hope for the best. I have an appointment with the surgeon on the 28th to organise everything, so when I know more I'll let everyone know what's going on.

[Urban Saboteur]

Thanks for keeping us updated again Craig mate, worrying times ahead but lets hope that they can at least give you a fighting chance with some good surgery.

We're still all very much rooting for you here at Joe Dios :)

[Flatline]

[QUOTE=Urban Saboteur]Thanks for keeping us updated again Craig mate, worrying times ahead but lets hope that they can at least give you a fighting chance with some good surgery.

We're still all very much rooting for you here at Joe Dios :)[/QUOTE]
I KNOW I AM FOR SURE ;) STAY STRONG CRAIG AND I WISH YOU THE BEST.

[Scuba Steve]

Best of luck buddy! I still hold out hope that good things will come!

[Sonneilon]

EEK!!!! Good luck man and stay strong. Kick it's butt!

[Agent Viper]

Glad to know you are doing better Craig! My prayers goes out to you

[Scarrviper]

Now we can just hope for the best. I know I've said this a lot already, but you can beat it. We're here for ya.

[ToneGunsRevisited]

Hey mate, some news aren't as good as we want, but they can be hiding a nice end to this cancer. I'm sure that the doctors will use well their "knife" and take this tumor from you. We'll have plenty of time to see more of your fantastic work and to have your fine coments on our pictures. Always helping us to do to better.

You'll win this tumor and your victory is our victory too. And don't forget that you'll have some help, they must be finding you.

[Tracker]

[QUOTE=Urban Saboteur]Thanks for keeping us updated again Craig mate, worrying times ahead but lets hope that they can at least give you a fighting chance with some good surgery.

We're still all very much rooting for you here at Joe Dios :)[/QUOTE]


I going to second that because I just couldn't say better my self.

[Death_at_Midnight]

And I'll third that too. You are very much still in my prayers for full recovery.

[Red Sox]

I know I don't check in much with these forums, but I wanted to chime in with some support as well. God bless and stay strong!

[Cobra Freak]

Hopefully they can take care of you man and you will be feeling 101% better!

CF :cool:

[Outrider]

Update time again. I saw the surgeon today and he has me booked for October 5. He told me straight up that it's a very risky operation, and will be one of the biggest he's done in his 20 years of experience, and that they have no choice now but to operate to save my life. I know that sounds dramatic, but that's how it is. I have to have a couple of preparatory day procedures in the week leading up to the operation so they don't have to do everything on the day of the surgery. On a positive note, he said if everything goes well and there's no surprises once he opens me up, then he believes that I may be able to be cured. That's the first time I've been told that since diagnosis. To balance that out, if there's something in there that hasn't shown on the scans, then that could change things entirely. He's not going to remove the tumors on the liver at this stage because the surgery is already complex enough, that will be done at a later date. I can't say I'm looking forward to the surgery (who would?), but it's the last chance I have.

[troopsofdoom]

That's really good to hear! Medicine is better now than it ever was in history, those doctors will fix you up. :D

[Flatline]

After going through all of this with little to no good news. So to hear CURED! wow that is very promising. Best of luck my friend.

[Death_at_Midnight]

Still keeping you in prayers. You are not alone in this.

[Urban Saboteur]

Be Strong and Courageous mate.
We will all keep you in our thoughts. Surgery is something that I myself will have to undergo later on in the year, nothing that hangs my life in the balance, but its a case of passing your life over to someone in the hope they can fix you.

I guess with what the surgeon says.. goes.. so lets all get together and keep hoping that when you are operated on we can expect good things and that the surgeon does his best work EVER in his 20 years experience. :)

As already stated the medical profession has taken leaps and bounds in the last 10-15 years, the preparatory things they are doing will save time for the real important stuff.

Obviously you wouldn't want to have surgery, but in this particular case we're not left with any other option. I wish you all the best and please do keep us updated you'll be in my thoughts greatly as always.

Rich

[Da Talent]

I'll keep praying Craig.

[ToneGunsRevisited]

The last chance and the only one you will need mate. After that you'll be back soon.

[Scuba Steve]

I am highly optimistic that something good will happen! You have alot of people on your side, and we are all over the world, so you can say you have global support! I believe whole heartedly October will prove to be a turning point for you. Best wishes!

[bartus]

Hi Craig:

You're on my prayers! It's good to hear that the doctor thinks there's a possibility of solving this with the surgery.

Keep the fight man! :)

[tycondrius23]

dido man keep strong and always looks to the positive side :)
will be routing for ya :D

[Scarrviper]

It's good to know things are looking up Craig. Great news indeed. We still have you in our thoughts.

[Marty]

My prayers are still with you. There's a long time between now and 5th October, I'm sure it will be a very tense time for you. We're behind you all the way.

[ender098]

Stay Strong Craig! We'll be here praying and rooting for you!

[Cobra Freak]

Stay strong! you are in my thoughts and I am sure that you will be able to overcome this.

[Beast from the east]

Our thoughts are with you.

[yorktownjoe]

We will keep praying for you!
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