Chemo Blue Balls

January 27, 2026

Today was supposed to be episode four of chemo season two. Instead, it turned into a reminder that some setbacks are self-inflicted. In a previous post, I wrote about the pain I’ve been dealing with. Turns out, part of it is on me. On Friday, I did an upper-body workout and pushed too hard. I’ve been trying to keep things conservative—only two gym sessions a week, low weight, and only during my good week. Mondays are lower body. Fridays are upper body. Simple. Controlled. Sensible. Or so I…

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How Am I Doing? I Feel Like Shit

January 26, 2026

How am I doing? The ongoing question. The honest answer: I feel like shit. My body never fully recovered from chemo, season one. Nine months post-chemo, I was *close* to normal—but I’d already been told full recovery can take up to five years. I finished season two, episode three almost two weeks ago. Episode four starts tomorrow. And I’m dealing with systemic pain. Primarily: shoulders, neck, clavicle, lower back, and my big left toe. Season one chemo was **FOLFOX**. The “OX” is…

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Fasting, Autophagy, and Chemo

January 25, 2026

What Autophagy Actually Is Autophagy is your body's cellular recycling program. When you go without eating for an extended period, your cells start breaking down old, damaged, or worn-out parts and reusing them for energy or repairs. It's not some exotic new discovery—your body does this naturally at a low level all the time. Now, here's an important distinction I need to clear up: autophagy and ketosis are not the same thing, though they often get lumped together. Ketosis is a metabolic state…

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Open Questions for my Oncologist

January 21, 2026

I want to confirm a few technical details about my diagnosis and treatment and clarify whether any complementary approaches raise concerns. 1. Tumor Classification (Confirmation) Can you confirm that my tumor classification is correct? -- MMR status: MSS / pMMR -- Meaning: Microsatellite stable; mismatch repair proficient 2. Immunogenetics What is my HLA (human leukocyte antigen) type? -- Has this already been tested? -- If not, is there value in testing it now? 3. Compatibility With Eastern /…

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Omega-3 as a Chemo Tool

January 20, 2026

As season 2 of chemo cycles began, I wanted a tool to help me decide when and what to eat. I built a simple chemo helper to track these foods, supplements, and timing across each cycle. Today, I wanted to learn more about omega-3s from food. What are the benefits of Omega-3s, and why only on certain days? Why omega-3 matters Omega-3s (specifically EPA and DHA from food) help during chemo because they address what treatment stresses most after the drugs stop circulating. Used at the right time,…

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