Derrick's Cancer Journey

02/15/2025

2-ish year update, post treatment.

Derrick is still having issues with jaw mobility, still on a feeding tube/formula, and still has his trach to support his airway in case he needs surgeries between now and his jaw opening fully.

He lost nearly 100 lbs during treatment and recovery and has finally stopped losing weight. He is very active with work, his family, and has been physically active. Every year or so, he has to have a revision on his feeding tube, but otherwise he is in good health.

He won't be deemed in remission, officially, until November 2027. Between now and then, he hopes to regain his jaw mobility, swallow function, and transition back to solid food.

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08/27/2022

Derrick is still recovering even though treatment is over, symptoms are expected to worsen over another week or so. Currently he's dealing with mouth and throat sores, stiff neck, mucusitis and inability to swallow. His neck sores have closed and healed, skin's a bit dry but that's expected. PEG site still a bit red but almost fully closed, minimal leakage.

He's in good spirits and anxious to get back to his old routine. We hope he'll be able to return to work and his normal daily activities in 2 to 3 weeks. He has follow ups for the next 2 weeks to check his CBC for improvements and a final PET scan in November.

08/18/2022

Derrick has finished his round of treatment!! Pet scans in November to find out if he beat it.

08/02/2022

NG tube is in, surgery in an hour or so. Everything subject to delay will update when there's news.

07/30/2022

Endoscopic PEG attempt failed, consulting GI and General Surgery Monday. Currently on TPN and may have to stay that way until next month.

07/28/2022

New thread update:

Derrick is doing better, surgery tomorrow but no official time just when they can get to him. He was literally starving but thankfully hasn't lost muscle mass according to the nutritionist/PT. All of his doctors are confident he's through the worst of it; they corrected his electrolytes and nutrient deficiencies through his IV and he'll be on PEG feedings tomorrow evening. He's expected to be in the hospital for a few more days while he heals and they experiment with feeding methods. No chemo this week but oncologist said it shouldn't negatively affect his recovery and that he could afford to skip it.

07/26/2022

Derrick has lost close to 20 lbs in the last 6 days. He's being admitted to the hospital for fluids and observation and will likely be getting a PEG tube for feeding in the next few days. Currently not scheduled, waiting for surgical scheduling to confirm with his standing chemo/radiation appointments. He's currently in an emotional state and has asked for privacy for a few hours while he comes to terms with this next step in his treatment path. For more info please keep an eye on comments below, Hilary will be updating regularly attached to this post. You may also call or text her if needed.

07/26/2022

For anyone trying to reach Derrick, he's hit the point in his treatment that he cannot speak without extreme pain. Please contact Hilary Crist through phone (if you have it) or messenger if he doesn't respond to calls/texts/emails. He only has 3.5 weeks to go but it's getting rough. We were warned it could get extreme and that this radiation was aggressive, it just feels so different now that he's going through it like there was no way to truly prepare for it. He's in relatively good spirits, considering. Mainly focused on the end goal of his final treatment day on 08/18. We're going to learn more from his doctors this week about options they've approved to handle his pain and drainage, including whether or not he'll need surgery to put in a PEG tube. Please keep him in your thoughts as he pushes through to the finish line

07/14/2022

Update:

Derrick's second week of chemo/radiation went well, one more radiation treatment tomorrow and he gets to come home. Being in the hotel 5 days a week is frustrating, internet is not the best and it is hard to be separated from the family for so long. He's still in good spirits and is focused on the end goal, which is good.

He's beginning to experience the semi-permanent sore and dry throat so he may or may not be up for verbal phone conversations (or they may have to be short) in the near future. Texting his phone or messaging him via Discord for friends and family will probably be the best way to reach him.
For his side effects we have already purchased him some "cancer melts" that help him salivate as well as altering his diet to eliminate most crunchy food. He's trying to stay away from chloraseptic spray after what happened in February as well as his narcotic pain meds until absolutely necessary. He had a really hard time weaning off of them so we're doing our best to accommodate his wishes. His doctors say he's responding well to the treatment and we're holding on to hope that this will be curative and he'll only have to go through this once.

24 more days of treatment left.

07/05/2022

Tomorrow begins chemo/radiation! 33 more treatment days to go! Be sure to comment well wishes to Derrick as he begins phase 2 of his cancer recovery.

06/14/2022

Congrats to Derrick on his last FV4 removal! Induction chemo is officially over. MRI Wed and dental Thursday

06/09/2022

Derrick's final induction infusion was able to take place yesterday despite delays, he'll have the on-board chemo removed Monday. The 21st he gets his radiation mask fitted and ct mapping done. If we understand correctly, he could begin chemo/radiation as early as 4 weeks from now.

We'll keep you updated on any changes in his health, but hopefully it'll be a fairly uneventful month. He's been very lucky in his side effects: some nausea, only vomited once, sweating, fatigue, and brain fog. Honestly his biggest complaint is inability to focus and general lack of energy not only during chemo but for most of the time between infusions as well.

Thank everyone again for your continued support, between the GoFundMe, bracelet sales, and general donations we have been so blessed. All of your contributions have allowed Derrick to focus on getting well and, according to his doctors, he's handling the treatment much better than expected.