Tracy Jacobson - Cancer Warriors
Donation protected
“The tests confirmed it’s colorectal cancer, stage 4, in addition to 2 spots in your lungs and 2 nodules on your thyroid. It’s probably a good idea to get your affairs in order”. What? Have I swallowed the red pill? Am I about to experience how deep this rabbit hole goes?
Over 15 years in the film and television industry, I have been inspired to tell other people’s stories, now, I find myself telling mine. So far I’ve traveled 45 times around the sun and have always been one of those people who thought I would never get cancer. Even if I did grow those abnormal cells, I wouldn’t want to know, but if I did find out, I would just throw a big party and then leave the country. Off to Nepal or another place where they believe in natural cremation. My idea of that changed when I got the news and I became open to all options on the table. I’m not done in this life~much to live and experience. No farewell party needed, just a really big cancer climbing expedition. I plan to summit this mountain, descend, and return safely.
For the past 3 years, I began experiencing digestive issues and into the beginning of 2017, that wheel began to spin faster. With multiple trips to the doctors (western and eastern), I was diagnosed with IBS symptoms and hemorrhoids (frequent bowel movements, no word of a lie, a min 5 per day) due to no food absorption. Anything I ate just went right through me. I kept busy with work and building my business throughout the year, mixed of course with plenty of hiking and a little climbing in the summer. Little did I know there was an alien bum baby (tumor), growing in and around my rectum creating this mess…message~
The frequent bathroom breaks were easy when hiking in the bush, but traveling via car or hanging off the side of an exposed cliff, posed many difficulties. Not a lot of control down there. I had a routine leaving the house and planned out where every bathroom stop would be. MORE roadside toilets are needed to help bathroom frequenters not have to join the ‘poopie pants’ club!! Oh and do I have stories to share on that one (another time;).
Around September 2017, my weight started to decline rapidly and my energy level was running at about 40%. I was pitching projects for network deals and I had some stresses financially. All that piled on with trying to figure out what was going on with my body, made it for a dark few months. The elimination of foods trying to help my digestion, the pain in my backside, no sleep, anemia (which the two iron infusions didn’t help with), in addition to trying to get work, I had no more than a couple hours a day of energy. This all coming from my usual 10 to 12 hour days. This made for a challenge to live a somewhat normal’ life. I had an appointment with a colon specialist that November. He seemed to think it was IBS as well but wanted to make sure. I was booked in for a scope mid-January 2018. Till then, I was trying to figure out the eating and how to increase my energy.
In January 14th, 2018 about 1:30am I felt like I had to go to the bathroom, I stood out of bed and bam!…blood pored out of my rectum filling my Pj bottoms and running down my leg.
A trip to the ER and multiple tests confirmed stage 4 colorectal and thyroid cancer, in addition to spots in my lungs and liver.
Fast forward eight months later, the tumor in my rectum shrunk in half. I felt the most benefits during my first couple weeks of hyperthermia treatments in April. The pain went away, the tumor stopped bleeding, my sleepless nights ended, and I stopped shadoobieing in my pants! **See Hyperthermia information below.
So as you can see there are a lot of benefits to this treatment. There are only 2 beds in Alberta. The one I use is at my naturopath ‘Pyatt Health Clinic’ in the Chinook Mall professional building Calgary, AB.
Getting diagnosed with cancer is overwhelming; emotions, processing, accepting your life path will not be what you expected, and loads of information coming your way. Deciding on protocols to best support your immune system through the chemo treatments so it doesn’t kill you, is not easy. The moment I walked into Dr. Matt Pyatt’s office, I will never forget the first words out of his mouth ‘I will be your quarterback’… I was soooo relieved!
Dr. Matt’s main focus is oncology. Supporting us through our treatments to keep the toxic levels down without interrupting the chemo action and boosting our bodies up to help heal.
I’ve only had a couple of weeks where I wasn’t able to receive my Vitamin C IV and mistletoe infusions and I noticed a HUGE difference!! My energy dropped and chemo side effects increase. Proof is in the IV pudding;)
I can’t imagine going through this cancer journey without this immunity support, and there are a lot of people who either don’t know about it or can’t afford it. Going through a cancer illness does not come cheap, even in a country with free health care. I have used all of my funds to this point in my treatments and living expenses. So grateful as this would not have been possible without the support from many beautiful souls around me. Who knows where I would be in my healing without this.
To give you an idea ( I wish for someday these treatments to be included in our healthcare system for all to benefit from), on average the hyperthermia with IV run around $1000 / per week. IVs alone are about $500 per week.
In addition to the naturopath treatments, there is eating organic (healthy), gas driving to many appointments with surgeons, oncologist blood work follow-ups, parking, living expenses. Some weeks I am good to plug away a little at my creative craft to feed my soul and business (which my doctors are baffled by;), other weeks I am so tired from the chemo I need to rest. Not being able to plan my future as the initial schedule was: 3 chemo rounds, scan, surgery to remove colorectal tumor, surgery on thyroid, recovery, 3 more rounds of chemo, reconstruction surgery on rectum and recovery. THIS OUT THE WINDOW:)
I have just finished round 10 (yes TEN) of chemo. I am currently on a little chemo vacation for a couple of weeks, YA!!…before I embark on a new journey…Radiation starting soon; 5 days a week for 5 weeks, while on chemo for the full 5 weeks, hyperthermia to help the radiation work better BUT I have to stop my Vitamin C IVs during the treatments as it will interfere with it. So my immune system will be compromised (during prime cold and flu season).
I did a liver MRI last week which I am waiting for the results on. They are concerned with two nodules on my liver which showed on a scan, they want to rule out my tumor spreading before surgery. If it is, they will do a two in one surgery beginning of next year.
So there you have it. For now, I will be prepping for 5 weeks of radiation, chemo, hyperthermia treatments, and rest in hopes of shrinking this alien bum baby down to be able to remove it beginning of 2019. Thyroid surgery planned next spring. I am beginning this platform in light of the new chapter as I move forward on my journey. Along with me, I will be including a few other younger cancer warriors and donating some of the proceeds to them as well. The reason for this is I find helping others to heal, heals me. Not having children of my own, I would love to connect with others on the same journey as they inspire me so;)
WHY THE GOFUNDME:
A podcast Introducing our first CANCER WARRIOR: 2-year-old Lennon
"Wednesday morning (September 27, 2017) we got the news we never ever imagined we’d hear in our parenting journey – her biopsy results are consistent with leukemia". ~Tenille Poole (Lennon's Mother)
**I will be hosting a fundraising campaign October 20th @ the Fusebox Studio in Canmore, AB 6:00PM [silent & live auction mixed with some latin dancing!]. I will be sharing a portion of the proceeds with her. Lennon is currently in her 2nd cycle of "Maintenance" chemotherapy, after having already completed 5 blocks of intense "Frontline" chemo and her mother's EI has since run out. Lennon must now attend daycare in order for her mother, Tenille, to return to work. This will be a gamble with Lennon's immunity compromised. I would like to help out so that Tenille can be at home with Lennon in her mother's arms and receive the TLC she needs. **IF you are not able to make the event and would like to donate to the Cancer Warriors, please feel free to do so here. I will be sharing 30% of the GoFundMe proceeds with Lennon.
When I am on the other side of this and able to work again, I would like to continue that platform to help out as many people on the cancer journey as possible;) ~THANK YOU~ xxoo love and hugs to all of you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Hyperthermia treatment uses heat to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours. Heat can harm or kill cancer cells by damaging proteins and structures within the cells. Heat also damages blood vessels inside of tumours and causes less blood flow to the tumour, which can help slow its growth. The temperature of the heat used in hyperthermia treatment is carefully controlled to limit damage to normal cells and tissues. Researchers have also found that heat can trigger an immune response that may help fight cancer. Hyperthermia treatment is also called thermal therapy or thermotherapy.
Hyperthermia is under study in clinical trials (research studies with people) and is not widely available. Hyperthermia is sometimes given with other types of cancer treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, including embolization techniques that block off a blood vessel to directly deliver these treatments to specific areas of the body.
The damage to cells during hyperthermia can make them more sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy so these treatments work better.
Read more: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-101/cancer-research/hyperthermia-treatments/?region=on#ixzz5TAy3WrDN
Over 15 years in the film and television industry, I have been inspired to tell other people’s stories, now, I find myself telling mine. So far I’ve traveled 45 times around the sun and have always been one of those people who thought I would never get cancer. Even if I did grow those abnormal cells, I wouldn’t want to know, but if I did find out, I would just throw a big party and then leave the country. Off to Nepal or another place where they believe in natural cremation. My idea of that changed when I got the news and I became open to all options on the table. I’m not done in this life~much to live and experience. No farewell party needed, just a really big cancer climbing expedition. I plan to summit this mountain, descend, and return safely.
For the past 3 years, I began experiencing digestive issues and into the beginning of 2017, that wheel began to spin faster. With multiple trips to the doctors (western and eastern), I was diagnosed with IBS symptoms and hemorrhoids (frequent bowel movements, no word of a lie, a min 5 per day) due to no food absorption. Anything I ate just went right through me. I kept busy with work and building my business throughout the year, mixed of course with plenty of hiking and a little climbing in the summer. Little did I know there was an alien bum baby (tumor), growing in and around my rectum creating this mess…message~
The frequent bathroom breaks were easy when hiking in the bush, but traveling via car or hanging off the side of an exposed cliff, posed many difficulties. Not a lot of control down there. I had a routine leaving the house and planned out where every bathroom stop would be. MORE roadside toilets are needed to help bathroom frequenters not have to join the ‘poopie pants’ club!! Oh and do I have stories to share on that one (another time;).
Around September 2017, my weight started to decline rapidly and my energy level was running at about 40%. I was pitching projects for network deals and I had some stresses financially. All that piled on with trying to figure out what was going on with my body, made it for a dark few months. The elimination of foods trying to help my digestion, the pain in my backside, no sleep, anemia (which the two iron infusions didn’t help with), in addition to trying to get work, I had no more than a couple hours a day of energy. This all coming from my usual 10 to 12 hour days. This made for a challenge to live a somewhat normal’ life. I had an appointment with a colon specialist that November. He seemed to think it was IBS as well but wanted to make sure. I was booked in for a scope mid-January 2018. Till then, I was trying to figure out the eating and how to increase my energy.
In January 14th, 2018 about 1:30am I felt like I had to go to the bathroom, I stood out of bed and bam!…blood pored out of my rectum filling my Pj bottoms and running down my leg.
A trip to the ER and multiple tests confirmed stage 4 colorectal and thyroid cancer, in addition to spots in my lungs and liver.
Fast forward eight months later, the tumor in my rectum shrunk in half. I felt the most benefits during my first couple weeks of hyperthermia treatments in April. The pain went away, the tumor stopped bleeding, my sleepless nights ended, and I stopped shadoobieing in my pants! **See Hyperthermia information below.
So as you can see there are a lot of benefits to this treatment. There are only 2 beds in Alberta. The one I use is at my naturopath ‘Pyatt Health Clinic’ in the Chinook Mall professional building Calgary, AB.
Getting diagnosed with cancer is overwhelming; emotions, processing, accepting your life path will not be what you expected, and loads of information coming your way. Deciding on protocols to best support your immune system through the chemo treatments so it doesn’t kill you, is not easy. The moment I walked into Dr. Matt Pyatt’s office, I will never forget the first words out of his mouth ‘I will be your quarterback’… I was soooo relieved!
Dr. Matt’s main focus is oncology. Supporting us through our treatments to keep the toxic levels down without interrupting the chemo action and boosting our bodies up to help heal.
I’ve only had a couple of weeks where I wasn’t able to receive my Vitamin C IV and mistletoe infusions and I noticed a HUGE difference!! My energy dropped and chemo side effects increase. Proof is in the IV pudding;)
I can’t imagine going through this cancer journey without this immunity support, and there are a lot of people who either don’t know about it or can’t afford it. Going through a cancer illness does not come cheap, even in a country with free health care. I have used all of my funds to this point in my treatments and living expenses. So grateful as this would not have been possible without the support from many beautiful souls around me. Who knows where I would be in my healing without this.
To give you an idea ( I wish for someday these treatments to be included in our healthcare system for all to benefit from), on average the hyperthermia with IV run around $1000 / per week. IVs alone are about $500 per week.
In addition to the naturopath treatments, there is eating organic (healthy), gas driving to many appointments with surgeons, oncologist blood work follow-ups, parking, living expenses. Some weeks I am good to plug away a little at my creative craft to feed my soul and business (which my doctors are baffled by;), other weeks I am so tired from the chemo I need to rest. Not being able to plan my future as the initial schedule was: 3 chemo rounds, scan, surgery to remove colorectal tumor, surgery on thyroid, recovery, 3 more rounds of chemo, reconstruction surgery on rectum and recovery. THIS OUT THE WINDOW:)
I have just finished round 10 (yes TEN) of chemo. I am currently on a little chemo vacation for a couple of weeks, YA!!…before I embark on a new journey…Radiation starting soon; 5 days a week for 5 weeks, while on chemo for the full 5 weeks, hyperthermia to help the radiation work better BUT I have to stop my Vitamin C IVs during the treatments as it will interfere with it. So my immune system will be compromised (during prime cold and flu season).
I did a liver MRI last week which I am waiting for the results on. They are concerned with two nodules on my liver which showed on a scan, they want to rule out my tumor spreading before surgery. If it is, they will do a two in one surgery beginning of next year.
So there you have it. For now, I will be prepping for 5 weeks of radiation, chemo, hyperthermia treatments, and rest in hopes of shrinking this alien bum baby down to be able to remove it beginning of 2019. Thyroid surgery planned next spring. I am beginning this platform in light of the new chapter as I move forward on my journey. Along with me, I will be including a few other younger cancer warriors and donating some of the proceeds to them as well. The reason for this is I find helping others to heal, heals me. Not having children of my own, I would love to connect with others on the same journey as they inspire me so;)
WHY THE GOFUNDME:
A podcast Introducing our first CANCER WARRIOR: 2-year-old Lennon
"Wednesday morning (September 27, 2017) we got the news we never ever imagined we’d hear in our parenting journey – her biopsy results are consistent with leukemia". ~Tenille Poole (Lennon's Mother)
**I will be hosting a fundraising campaign October 20th @ the Fusebox Studio in Canmore, AB 6:00PM [silent & live auction mixed with some latin dancing!]. I will be sharing a portion of the proceeds with her. Lennon is currently in her 2nd cycle of "Maintenance" chemotherapy, after having already completed 5 blocks of intense "Frontline" chemo and her mother's EI has since run out. Lennon must now attend daycare in order for her mother, Tenille, to return to work. This will be a gamble with Lennon's immunity compromised. I would like to help out so that Tenille can be at home with Lennon in her mother's arms and receive the TLC she needs. **IF you are not able to make the event and would like to donate to the Cancer Warriors, please feel free to do so here. I will be sharing 30% of the GoFundMe proceeds with Lennon.
When I am on the other side of this and able to work again, I would like to continue that platform to help out as many people on the cancer journey as possible;) ~THANK YOU~ xxoo love and hugs to all of you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Hyperthermia treatment uses heat to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumours. Heat can harm or kill cancer cells by damaging proteins and structures within the cells. Heat also damages blood vessels inside of tumours and causes less blood flow to the tumour, which can help slow its growth. The temperature of the heat used in hyperthermia treatment is carefully controlled to limit damage to normal cells and tissues. Researchers have also found that heat can trigger an immune response that may help fight cancer. Hyperthermia treatment is also called thermal therapy or thermotherapy.
Hyperthermia is under study in clinical trials (research studies with people) and is not widely available. Hyperthermia is sometimes given with other types of cancer treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, including embolization techniques that block off a blood vessel to directly deliver these treatments to specific areas of the body.
The damage to cells during hyperthermia can make them more sensitive to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy so these treatments work better.
Read more: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-101/cancer-research/hyperthermia-treatments/?region=on#ixzz5TAy3WrDN
Organizer
Tracy Jacobson
Organizer
Canmore, AB
