Ben discusses living with stage IV colorectal cancer, noting fluctuating wellbeing and chemotherapy side effects including pain, nausea, fatigue, itchy skin, brittle nails, and poor appetite. He mentions infusion logistics, new pains and temperature swings, as well as anxiety about his PET scan. He observes minor changes in tumor and thyroid SUV values and plans to review these with his oncologist. Ben recommends Colontown for peer support and acknowledges recent losses in his community.
00:00 Welcome and Gratitude
00:46 Up and Down Health
02:02 Too Much to Say
03:31 Humor and Sports Talk
06:14 Time Travel Thoughts
08:21 Facing Death and Grief
09:34 Chemo Routine Update
12:33 PET Scan Anxiety
14:23 Mystery Pains and Symptoms
18:45 Planning Life Anyway
22:27 Travel Dreams and Politics
26:04 Reading PET Results Early
29:16 Wrap Up and Colontown
29:31 Final Reflections on Loss
Visit Colontown!
https://colontown.org
Join the Conversation!
If you or someone you know is living with cancer, share your experiences and thoughts in the comments!
Check Out Ben’s Substack:
https://substack.com/@benplumley1
Subscribe & Stay Updated:
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.
Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health.