Health Blog 2

July 28, 2026

Medical and healthcare symbols over a hospital background

First of all, a quick update on my cancer journey. On July 27, 2026, I finished my 12th and hopefully final chemotherapy treatment.

A Big Treatment Update

The treatment plan has been a roller coaster lately. I was first told that I was not currently a candidate for the surgery I needed because the tumor was too close to an artery, and that I would need radiation treatments to shrink the tumor.

Then, a few days later, I was scheduled for an MRI, which is a requirement for surgery planning. After the MRI was shared with the tumor board, the vascular surgeon cleared me for surgery. Surgery is now scheduled for August 26, 2026.

The chemotherapy has been doing its job. My cancer antigen level is now in a normal range, which means the cancer is not spreading. More updates to come.

Finishing 12 rounds of chemotherapy is a big milestone. I am grateful to be moving toward the next step.

Staying Physically Active

Now let's talk about what I have been doing physically. I have been more active as each week goes by. You would think that might not be possible while dealing with cancer and going through chemotherapy, but I have pushed myself to stay active, and it has helped me both physically and mentally.

One issue I have had to address is my weight. The doctors do not want me to lose any more weight because it could impact my treatments. Each time I have chemotherapy, I lose 5 to 6 pounds right away. Then I have to spend the next 10 days trying to get my weight back up.

With the help of medications from my doctors, my appetite has increased, which makes it a little easier to eat. Being physically active also increases my appetite. I just have to make sure my workouts are not too intense, because that could cause me to lose weight. I am happy to say that, so far, I have been able to keep my weight up.

I know a lot of people would love to have the problem of not gaining weight!

My Current Routine

My typical routine is to go to the gym three times a week for weight lifting. I use the machines instead of free weights. I typically do at least 2 sets of 10 reps on each machine. If I am feeling really good, I will do 3 sets.

I also have a Hume scale that tracks a lot of different things besides just weight. I am proud to report that my weight gains have been muscle, according to the Hume scale.

I have also been doing more biking. Nothing too strenuous. I ride around my neighborhood, typically in the evenings, usually 3 to 4 miles. That is not a whole lot, but it adds up and it is enjoyable. I multitask by either calling family and friends or listening to music or a good audiobook.

I also purchased a new Trek electric mountain bike, and I have been riding some local trails. This has been a great source of cardio workouts.

The last part of my current fitness routine is walking. I make sure I record at least 5,000 steps daily. I used to do 10,000 steps a day, but that has been scaled back some for obvious reasons.

The goal right now is simple: stay active, build muscle, gain a few more healthy pounds, and get my body ready for surgery.

Preparing for Surgery

My main goal right now is to stay active, increase muscle, gain a few more pounds from muscle, and get my body ready for surgery. The hope is that my next post will be just prior to surgery.

Part of getting ready for surgery is having higher protein levels, which can aid in recovery. Almost everything I eat has some type of protein in it. I try to consume at least 100 grams a day. With the 4 weeks I have before surgery, I will consume as much protein as I can.