Eric's Battle with Rectal Cancer

Always have a Plan B

I have now talked with all of my doctors. The surgeon came up with the most viable Plan B.

The pain and bleeding is caused by a tear in wall of my anus that is aggravated by my bowel movements. The best way to end the pain is to end the BMs, I will have surgery on Wednesday to have a colostomy bag installed. Since I would need one after the main surgery anyway, it makes sense to do it early and end the pain. He also plans on giving me a Botox injection to relax the muscles.

My surgery will be at Providence Portland.

Please pray the surgery goes well and is successful.

Thank you - Eric

Pain and prayers

I just put in phone calls to all three of my doctors and cancelled today's radiation treatment. The pain and bleeding have worsened. Considering the progression during the last 4 weeks, there is no way I can continue for two more weeks at current levels and especially not if it continues to worsen.

Pray for pain relief.
Pray for mental and emotional strength.
Pray the team can come up with a valid "Plan B".

There was early discussion of postponing treatments and resuming later in a situation like this.
There was also discussion during my hospital stay last week of a preemptive surgery that would also delay treatments.

Keeping me in the hospital until treatments are over is also valid, in my opinion.

There may be other options. I don't care what we decide as long as we find something that will work.

From Eric - 10/14/16

Journal entry by Marissa Phillips Brown — 10/14/2016

The cancer is silent. I don't feel a thing from the cancer. The treatments, however, are really kicking my ass (figuratively and literally). I am very tired and wiped out at times. Yesterday (etz Wednesday) wiped me out emotionally.

Please continue to pray for me and my family but right now, please pray for the friends and family of Boyd and Boe. We lost two really good people yesterday. I am confident that they are with God right now and that gives the family some comfort but this is still a hard time for them and they need prayers and support.

Thank you

With Sadness

Journal entry by Marissa Phillips Brown — 10/13/2016

We have to share that Eric's two co-workers, Boyd Wiff and Boe Richards, both passed away in the past 24 hours.

Please pray for their families and co-workers.

Others

Journal entry by Eric Brown — 10/10/2016

Hey all. I just wanted to draw your attention to two of my co-workers' pages here on CaringBridge. Both of them are also fighting cancer. I know for a fact that they and their families would greatly appreciate your prayers also.

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/boydwiff

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/boerichards

Thank you

1 week down

Journal entry by Eric Brown — 10/6/2016

I am a week into my treatments and the only side effect so far is always being tired.

For the past several months, I was getting up at 4:30 and working 12 hour days. Now I try to get up at 6:30 and work 6 hour days but always seem to be tired. That doesn't necessarily mean that I am able to sleep very well though.

If this is the worst side effect I have to deal with, I will consider myself lucky and just deal with it and move forward.

A great friend blessed us by making dinner for the family tonight. We watched a movie afterwards and laughed. Good stuff!

Treatment is underway

Journal entry by Eric Brown — 10/4/2016

I have my treatment schedule now. Radiation and chemo is Monday through Friday. They were able to get me the latest possible slot in the day so I can still work six hour days before leaving for my treatments.

There will be some days that I will need to leave earlier for other doctor appointments as well but those can't be avoided. Of course, this is assuming that my body can handle the treatments and I can continue working regularly. I have already adjusted my start time to normal as I had been coming in early for OT but needing more than 5-6 hours of sleep now.

The only people at work who know about this so far are my boss and co-boss. Others are noticing and commenting on my missed hours already so I may have to tell others soon. I am not a fan of gossip so would rather be open than have others talking and whispering about me. We already have two of our people at home battling brain cancer.

Please continue to pray for me, my family, friends and co-workers.