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Happy St. Patty's day to you all!

Thanks for your very informative and helpful post, Pragmatica! I'm grateful for your tip about dandelion and will discuss it with my Oncologist this week. Talk about synchronicity, today is my last day of Chemo before my next PET scan (this Wed) and I will confer with him on the results on this coming Friday! I expect that the tumors in my liver will be gone and that I'll be free of detectable tumors for a while. My Oncologist believes that I will probably be free for more than the 90 days last go round gave me.

Also, I am going to follow your advice regardless. I always listen carefully to any recommendation from my medical providers (and usually follow them. But I have found them over-careful at times and sometimes refuse.) When I was first diagnosed and my treatment protocol determined, both my Med Oncologist and my Radiation Oncologist ordered things that I had to refuse.

My Med Oncologist wanted to hospitalize me for the first 5 days of treatment with Cisplatin (a truly difficult chemo) and I had to refuse that because I was sole caregiver to my 89 year-old Maiden Aunt (who lived with me.) After the treatment started, I could see that it would have been a good idea, but it just was not to be due to the actual circumstances.

At the same time, the Radiation Oncologist wanted to implant a PEG (feeding tube) directly into my stomach through the abdomen because they were going to "Light up my throat" with 8 weeks, M-F getting 15 "fields" (directions the beam would be projected) of radiation, and my throat massively burned. I refused that also on the basis that I know that I heal and endure more than the average bear; and I could always have the PEG installed if it actually became necessary. It did not, and despite the fact that I now have a ring of scar tissue (to which my thickened saliva likes to adhere and drive me nuts) around the Adam's Apple area, I never even got sore and never had any difficulty swallowing. I did lose 38 lbs of (mostly) hard-earned muscle in 90 days because I could not keep more that one bottle of Ensure+ (350 cal) down because my level of nausea was stratospheric! I have greater than average empathy for pregnant women now, as I had to drive 24 miles each way every day I got radiation; and I had to constantly look for a safe place to pull over and call for my buddy, Ralph. Fortunately, it never came to that either, but it was close every day, going and coming.

The truth is that, other than the Cisplatin, none of the other treatments have been any more onerous than "mildly inconvenient."

*oneironaut*, thanks for the sympathetic remarks. I hope you never have to be tested either. In retrospect, such tests are not for everyone because the price simply for taking it is so high, the the outcomes are always so uncertain. Living through one is not fun, but for the fortunate, and I'm one fortunate lad, for sure; the experience is the reward and it is precious, indeed. Still, it's kinda hard to see that when the test is going on.

WRT your caution on the fortified elixirs, I'm unsure as to your meaning. I am definitely looking for the full ego-death experience, as practice for the main event.

I'm currently reading ("Studying" may be more accurate) a book called "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying." The central thesis of this is that it's foolish to NOT prepare your mind for the Bardo Todrul (also written Bardo Thodol,) the transition from Life to Death and rebirth. Tibetans have been doing this for at least a thousand years or more, and the book, by Sogyal Rimpoche provides not only a detailed explanation of what's involved but also how to train in anticipation of the event.

He makes a particularly apt comparison between "Lucid dreaming" and the Bardo state, and points out how difficult it is to maintain awareness of the transition between the waking and lucid dreaming states; comparing it to the difficulty to be expected when the actual Bardo processes kick-in. That really resonated with me, and sold me.

I have been trying to practice Vipasanna, especially following Tich Nhat Hanh's writings on the subject, and my difficulties with this reinforce what Sogyal Rimpoche is saying. (TNH also concurs with SR on the matter, so another validation for me.)

Anyway, thanks for letting me run my mouth for a while,

Bart

<blockquote data-quote="Red Cat" data-source="post: 3623234" data-attributes="member: 20438">Happy St. Patty&#039;s day to you all!Thanks for your very informative and helpful post, Pragmatica!&nbsp; I&#039;m grateful for your tip about dandelion and will discuss it with my Oncologist this week.&nbsp; Talk about synchronicity, today is my last day of Chemo before my next PET scan (this Wed) and I will confer with him on the results on this coming Friday!&nbsp; I expect that the tumors in my liver will be gone and that I&#039;ll be free of detectable tumors for a while.&nbsp; My Oncologist believes that I will probably be free for more than the 90 days last go round gave me.Also, I am going to follow your advice regardless.&nbsp; I always listen carefully to any recommendation from my medical providers (and usually follow them.&nbsp; But I have found them over-careful at times and sometimes refuse.)&nbsp; When I was first diagnosed and my treatment protocol determined, both my Med Oncologist and my Radiation Oncologist ordered things that I had to refuse.My Med Oncologist wanted to hospitalize me for the first 5 days of treatment with Cisplatin (a truly difficult chemo) and I had to refuse that because I was sole caregiver to my 89 year-old Maiden Aunt (who lived with me.)&nbsp; After the treatment started, I could see that it would have been a good idea, but it just was not to be due to the actual circumstances.At the same time, the Radiation Oncologist wanted to implant a PEG (feeding tube) directly into my stomach through the abdomen because they were going to &quot;Light up my throat&quot; with 8 weeks, M-F getting 15 &quot;fields&quot; (directions the beam would be projected) of radiation, and my throat massively burned.&nbsp; I refused that also on the basis that I know that I heal and endure more than the average bear; and I could always have the PEG installed if it actually became necessary.&nbsp; It did not, and despite the fact that I now have a ring of scar tissue (to which my thickened saliva likes to adhere and drive me nuts) around the Adam&#039;s Apple area, I never even got sore and never had any difficulty swallowing.&nbsp; I did lose 38 lbs of (mostly) hard-earned muscle in 90 days because I could not keep more that one bottle of Ensure+ (350 cal) down because my level of nausea was stratospheric!&nbsp; I have greater than average empathy for pregnant women now, as I had to drive 24 miles each way every day I got radiation; and I had to constantly look for a safe place to pull over and call for my buddy, Ralph.&nbsp; Fortunately, it never came to that either, but it was close every day, going and coming.The truth is that, other than the Cisplatin, none of the other treatments have been any more onerous than &quot;mildly inconvenient.&quot;*oneironaut*, thanks for the sympathetic remarks.&nbsp; I hope you never have to be tested either.&nbsp; In retrospect, such tests are not for everyone because the price simply for taking it is so high, the the outcomes are always so uncertain.&nbsp; Living through one is not fun, but for the fortunate, and I&#039;m one fortunate lad, for sure; the experience is the reward and it is precious, indeed.&nbsp; Still, it&#039;s kinda hard to see that when the test is going on.WRT your caution on the fortified elixirs, I&#039;m unsure as to your meaning.&nbsp; I am definitely looking for the full ego-death experience, as practice for the main event.I&#039;m currently reading (&quot;Studying&quot; may be more accurate) a book called &quot;The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.&quot;&nbsp; The central thesis of this is that it&#039;s foolish to NOT prepare your mind for the Bardo Todrul (also written Bardo Thodol,) the transition from Life to Death and rebirth.&nbsp; Tibetans have been doing this for at least a thousand years or more, and the book, by Sogyal Rimpoche provides not only a detailed explanation of what&#039;s involved but also how to train in anticipation of the event.He makes a particularly apt comparison between &quot;Lucid dreaming&quot; and the Bardo state, and points out how difficult it is to maintain awareness of the transition between the waking and lucid dreaming states; comparing it to the difficulty to be expected when the actual Bardo processes kick-in.&nbsp; That really resonated with me, and sold me.I have been trying to practice Vipasanna, especially following Tich Nhat Hanh&#039;s writings on the subject, and my difficulties with this reinforce what Sogyal Rimpoche is saying.&nbsp; (TNH also concurs with SR on the matter, so another validation for me.)Anyway, thanks for letting me run my mouth for a while, Bart</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Red Cat, post: 3623234, member: 20438"] Happy St. Patty's day to you all! Thanks for your very informative and helpful post, Pragmatica! I'm grateful for your tip about dandelion and will discuss it with my Oncologist this week. Talk about synchronicity, today is my last day of Chemo before my next PET scan (this Wed) and I will confer with him on the results on this coming Friday! I expect that the tumors in my liver will be gone and that I'll be free of detectable tumors for a while. My Oncologist believes that I will probably be free for more than the 90 days last go round gave me. Also, I am going to follow your advice regardless. I always listen carefully to any recommendation from my medical providers (and usually follow them. But I have found them over-careful at times and sometimes refuse.) When I was first diagnosed and my treatment protocol determined, both my Med Oncologist and my Radiation Oncologist ordered things that I had to refuse. My Med Oncologist wanted to hospitalize me for the first 5 days of treatment with Cisplatin (a truly difficult chemo) and I had to refuse that because I was sole caregiver to my 89 year-old Maiden Aunt (who lived with me.) After the treatment started, I could see that it would have been a good idea, but it just was not to be due to the actual circumstances. At the same time, the Radiation Oncologist wanted to implant a PEG (feeding tube) directly into my stomach through the abdomen because they were going to "Light up my throat" with 8 weeks, M-F getting 15 "fields" (directions the beam would be projected) of radiation, and my throat massively burned. I refused that also on the basis that I know that I heal and endure more than the average bear; and I could always have the PEG installed if it actually became necessary. It did not, and despite the fact that I now have a ring of scar tissue (to which my thickened saliva likes to adhere and drive me nuts) around the Adam's Apple area, I never even got sore and never had any difficulty swallowing. I did lose 38 lbs of (mostly) hard-earned muscle in 90 days because I could not keep more that one bottle of Ensure+ (350 cal) down because my level of nausea was stratospheric! I have greater than average empathy for pregnant women now, as I had to drive 24 miles each way every day I got radiation; and I had to constantly look for a safe place to pull over and call for my buddy, Ralph. Fortunately, it never came to that either, but it was close every day, going and coming. The truth is that, other than the Cisplatin, none of the other treatments have been any more onerous than "mildly inconvenient." *oneironaut*, thanks for the sympathetic remarks. I hope you never have to be tested either. In retrospect, such tests are not for everyone because the price simply for taking it is so high, the the outcomes are always so uncertain. Living through one is not fun, but for the fortunate, and I'm one fortunate lad, for sure; the experience is the reward and it is precious, indeed. Still, it's kinda hard to see that when the test is going on. WRT your caution on the fortified elixirs, I'm unsure as to your meaning. I am definitely looking for the full ego-death experience, as practice for the main event. I'm currently reading ("Studying" may be more accurate) a book called "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying." The central thesis of this is that it's foolish to NOT prepare your mind for the Bardo Todrul (also written Bardo Thodol,) the transition from Life to Death and rebirth. Tibetans have been doing this for at least a thousand years or more, and the book, by Sogyal Rimpoche provides not only a detailed explanation of what's involved but also how to train in anticipation of the event. He makes a particularly apt comparison between "Lucid dreaming" and the Bardo state, and points out how difficult it is to maintain awareness of the transition between the waking and lucid dreaming states; comparing it to the difficulty to be expected when the actual Bardo processes kick-in. That really resonated with me, and sold me. I have been trying to practice Vipasanna, especially following Tich Nhat Hanh's writings on the subject, and my difficulties with this reinforce what Sogyal Rimpoche is saying. (TNH also concurs with SR on the matter, so another validation for me.) Anyway, thanks for letting me run my mouth for a while, Bart [/QUOTE]