When Cancer Returns

My Chemo Treatment Celebrations

After battling all of 2018 with illness, stage 3C colon cancer diagnosis, major colon resection surgery, month after month and round after round of FOLFOX chemotherapy to finally have no sign of cancer within me, I’ve been looking forward to 2018 coming to a close.

The support from my family and friends was amazing.   

I led the Director Dan team at Relay For Life and raised money for continued cancer research. 

In October 2018 I was finally well enough to visit my mom in Florida ... I miss being physically closer, especially with her failing health, it was a bright spot in the recovery.

I was so looking forward to 2019, until about 2 weeks ago.  After cancer, the follow up test and observations are so critical ... just as critical as early screening and testing in the first place.  On December 13th, a blood test identified an increase in my tumor markers, up from the normal range, increasing 300% within about 5 weeks, to a point indicating much concern.  Sadly, my cancer is back and has spread.  A CT Scan was quite  revealing.  Yesterday I received official word from my oncologist, my cancer has been declared stage 4 and I now have a growth on my liver.  Not good at all.

We are fast tracking to do all that is necessary to identify my cancers protein and look at future treatments that could include radiation, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, or whatever else my team determines.  I’ll still be under the care of my local oncologist, however, I’ll now be seeing colorectal specialist and researchers in Boston who will take the lead on my future treatments.  God willing, we are going to kick butt (pun intended) yet again.

Although I'm personally devastated again with this news, the hardest part has been telling each of my kids, that was not easy for me, or them, and I hated it. Carol, my caregiver from day 1 of this ordeal, was with me and took it just as hard, Thoughts and thanks for all she has done for me this past year.  This story is not done, there will be more to come.  

Throughout this past year, my social media following and support of family, friends, my Scentsy family, former coworkers and more has been incredible.  I so much appreciate it and each one of you.  I ask for your continued support, encouragement, not only for me, but for my entire family, they are hurting too.  Lastly, I’m going to ask you now to also support my 2019 Relay For Life team’s fund raising efforts.  I need that research support now more than ever.  

You can make a tax deductible donation in support of me and my team by clicking here:  My Relay For Life Donation page

You’ll receive a receipt directly from the American Cancer Society for your tax deductible donation.  A huge thank you from me personally for helping.  Please feel free to select “Other Amount” and write in what works best for you, ANY amount helps.  Please share this post on your social media page and let’s get the word out.  If you live near an Applebee’s or other location that does fundraising, let’s chat how you could help in a much bigger way, without a lot of time on your part. 

The fight continues.

#HaveFaith  #HaveBelief

My Bucket List

It was suggested to me I make a list of things I want to do over the next several years ... I guess that means my "Bucket List".  Never had a list, just ideas and thoughts of things I wanted to do, places to go, and other cool stuff.  When this post is done, I'll have a written down, post on the refrigerator, Bucket List, Dream Board, plan for the future.

For now, here goes, in no certain order:

• I want to go bass fishing with my nephew Jason Cyr ... he’s a pro (at least in my eyes) and knows what he’s doing
• I want to take Carol to Hawaii for a vacation.  It’s not that I ever wanted to go, but years ago, she said she wanted to.  It would be my way of a little thank you for being my cancer caregiver.  OK, so here’s a twist for me - my Scentsy friends Becca and Terry Levi go to Hawaii for several months of the year.  I’d like to go when they are there and meet them for dinner one night
• I want to build window frames to spruce up the appearance of the front of our house
• My son Ryan wants to go to a hockey game at all the NHL arenas.  I want to go with him to as many as possible
• I want to go to Florida and visit my Mom again soon
• I want to do something I always said I would never do ... the details won’t be disclosed until I actually do it
• I need to sell my BMW - I’ll never be able to get it fixed, it should go to someone who can give it new life (but I’m not giving it away!)
• I want to go visit my old HS days friend Barry and Ruthann - just want to say I love them and miss them
• I want to go to Kael and Bryanne’s wedding in Cancun, May 2019
• I want to cruise on Norwegian’s new Symphony of the Sea
• I want to go on a friend and family cruise.  Pick a date out in the future ... invite anyone to go on that cruise.  We don’t all have to hang out together all the time, just lots of friends and family having an amazing vacation 
• I want to take Stepheni to a Red Sox game at Fenway
• I want to re-earn my Scentsy Director title ... the Star ... then Superstar Director ... being one of the first men to do so, if not the first.
• I want to earn the right to attend Scentsy Leadership 2019
• I want to earn the next Scentsy Incentive Trip
• I want to see Mt Rushmore
• I want to see the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC
• I want a steak & lobster dinner at the Outback
• I want to spend a day lobstering with Tony Eugley and hear how his story is coming
• I want to get 500 people to complete cancer screening (colonoscopy or mammogram) who have put if off in the past
• I want to clean my garage and enjoy doing it
• I want to go back to NY and visit my relatives I don’t see often enough
• I want to visit Lakewood Church in Houston and meet Joel Osteen
• Say that I am cancer free ... I don’t have cancer, I “had” cancer #HaveBelief
• I want to find a way to help disadvantaged/hospitalized kids - like going to hospitals and making things happen to make them smile or laugh (I remember taking costumed cartoon characters to Newington Children’s Hospital in Newington, CT probably late 1970’s - don’t know why that didn’t continue.
• Participate in Relay for Life at as many places as I can

Okay, that’s a pretty good start.  Not too bad of a start.

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Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us

Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Interesting in reading about my fight with cancer?

Read about it here: https://www.gofundme.com/dan-greeley039s-fight-against-cancer

Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!

National Siblings Day ... I Give Thanks

I know I’m a little late, but I wanted to ensure I gave credit where credit is due on National Siblings Day.  I have two of the finest sisters a guy could ask for, especially considering I was not the easiest brother to live with and love.  We’ve had ups and downs, but, through thick and thin, even while cursing under their breath at me (which is only my speculation that’s what they may have been doing), they hung in there and stood by my side.  Sometimes, literally.

If I were able to recall all the examples of where they may have wanted to disown me or cast me away, Moby Dick would seem like a short story to read in an afternoon.  To this day, I will swear, I never ever meant to be a jerk brother, big or little.  Unfocused, spoiled maybe, and not really “getting it” as I wished I had, they were there.

So I don’t bore you with the details of my own inequities, I’d rather focus on my sisters heroics, which is how I see it, and how they each were always there, always.  I can never thank them enough or ever pay them back for all they have done.

My best shot at pay back is passing along to my children, and the others I interact with, their qualities and the life lessons they showed me, to help them be better people. The ultimate pay it forward passing through me.

Karen, Deb, and my brothers-in-law that also endured me, Bill and Steve, thank you, thank you, thank you.  You’re all the best.

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Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us

Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Interested in reading about my fight with cancer?

Read about it here: https://www.gofundme.com/dan-greeley039s-fight-against-cancer

Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!

Another Scary Post, At Least For Me

Here I sit about 3:30 or so a.m.  I’ve been awake for over an hour with stomach cramps, bad taste in my mouth (more like an aftertaste from drinking Crystal Light, can’t sleep, can’t get comfortable.  Another bloody nose, which has been common place for a long time (partially what sent me looking for another doctor that would help figure it out - it’s been going on since I was seeing Dr. Mintz over 3 years ago).  I figure it’s just the reaction to chemo last week, or is it, my mind wanders.

It wanders and wanders, the new norm.  It’s often hard to put the good face forward when your mind is going in other directions. It’s hard to reel the thoughts back in when it seems like deja vu and you’ve been down this path or thought process before.  Is it already written in stone and I’m just playing out the days?  

As my stomach sits here gurgling away, I suddenly think, deja vu again.  This is exactly why I drove myself to the Emergency Room on February 20th - the same gurgling, the same stomach pains, the same sick feelings.  Was my disease just taking me over?  Was it spreading already?  Will my next CT Scan show that what’s left of my colon was just becoming a breeding ground for the cancer within me?  I hate this feeling.  How do I get it out of my head?  

I want to beat this horrific situation and move on with life.  It’s very difficult to see that happening and feeling my insides are just NOT normal anymore.  The support and love of friends is amazing.  The outpouring of so many well wishers is touching, some of them almost outright shocking. Nevertheless, I can’t help but think it’s all just part of the script with my tragic ending.

Heavenly Father, I beg you for the strength needed to make it to the next phase of my life on earth. I hope my wishes are the same as yours.  I am weak, I need your hand and love now more than ever.  This in the name of Jesus I pray.

#HaveBelief

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Check out my Scentsy Web store at: http://DanGreeley.Scentsy.us

Want to join my amazing team of consultants?  http://bit.ly/JoinDan

Interesting in reading about my fight with cancer?

Read about it here: https://www.gofundme.com/dan-greeley039s-fight-against-cancer

Never, ever, forget how amazing you are and can be!