Yolanda had the Watchman procedure (reduces risk of stroke caused by AFib and allows her to discontinue the Eliquis which was causing excessive bleeding) in Los Angles at Good Samaritan with one of the top cardiologist and the Medical Director for the cardiac cath lab.

The procedure went very well. The physicians, nurses, techs and  facilities were excellent. Unfortunately, following the procedure, beginning the next day, instead of 1-2 hours of AFib maybe 3 times a month, she is experiencing AFib almost everyday now, 6, 8, 10, 24 hours at a time. It is hard to do anything when she is having AFib. Pulse can approach 140-150. Shortness of breath. Zero energy. On top of the chemo side effects. 

Yolanda finished the 6 cycles of chemo and began a new cycle last Wednesday because while her Signatera showed the cancer numbers had fallen, they were not zero. 😢

As bad as it is, we are having some wins along the way. We will take them. 

Thanks for all of your support, we appreciate you all. ❤️ 🙏 ❤️🙏

Tony & Yolanda

Well, we got through the latest emergencies thrown at us and Yolanda is holding her own. Between the wind, electricity outages and threats of fire, it’s been a heck of a start to 2025. This last chemo was BRUTAL! 10 days post and poor Yo still reeling. But she is rallying. 

Again, there were so many (over 500!) who offered help, including accommodations, generators, etc., etc..

From the bottoms of our hearts, thank you, thank you, thank you!

❤️🙏❤️ 🙏❤️

For all of you messaging about Ivermectin and Fenbendazole, first, THAN YOU! Joe Tippens has been a friend for years. ( MyCancerStory.rocks )

We are incorporating western and eastern medicine, including Joe Tippens’ protocol. This particular cancer kills very quickly and is extremely aggressive. It’s been 3+ years. We’ve had periods with no evidence of disease but it comes back. We will continue the fight. A number of immunotherapies for her exact cancer are in the final stages of testing.

Yolanda had her fourth cycle this go around, of the most evil, vile chemotherapy yesterday. In our experience it is about 8 days of pure hell. I know that sounds like an exaggeration. It is not. She has probably had 100+ cycles in all and this one is definitely the most brutal. The side effects are many, but the lethargy to the point she can barely lift her head from the pillow. Those whom know Yolanda, know she has been an angel to so many in need. It makes it even more difficult for her as she still wants, needs in fact, to help those within her circle of influence. 

We were able to visit our old neighbor from Rivera Beach (San Clemente) who is 90 now and in an assisted living facility in San Juan Capistrano. Her and her husband, a flag officer in the Navy, were our entire families closest friends. Her husband passed years ago and is still very much missed. 

Yolanda is scheduled around Christmas for another Signatera, which is a blood test that uses circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to detect molecular residual disease (MRD) in patients with various solid tumors. It is a custom-designed, tumor-informed assay that can help identify relapse earlier and monitor response to therapy. Signatera has given up an huge heads up when the cancer returns. She also has a CT scan scheduled. Her doctors are confident the results will be positive, given how powerful this poison is. 

Yolanda had a heart scan last week in preparation for a procedure called the Watchman which is a device that closes the left atrial appendage to prevent blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation which developed after her 10 hour double surgery, which removed approximately 7 inches of colon and removed half of her liver (which has already regenerated) but one of the tumors was the size of a grapefruit, grew into her inferior vena cava and diaphragm. 

The pain Yolanda had from her diaphragm area was a continual 5-9 for over 4 years. That pain is finally gone. After the Watchman procedure, Yolanda can then discontinue the Eliquis. Eliquis is a blood thinner, which, for the record, under the previous administration was $47 per month, it was expected to drop to $5 per month in 2023 because the patent had expired and a generic version would be available but Bristol Myers and Pfizer, which the Pfizer Covid vaccine gave tens of millions of Americans blood clots, convinced the government and FDA to extend their protections for at least 2 more years. The price jumped to almost $1,000 per month, $615 with a coupon! So corrupt!!!

I will try to post updates a little more regularly. 

Thanks for all of your support, we appreciate you all. ❤️ 🙏 ❤️🙏

Tony & Yolanda

Unfortunately, the cancer has now returned and has spread to Yolanda’s lungs. The lesions are very small and we know this type of colon cancer respond well to the intense chemotherapy, but nevertheless, the next half year will be brutal, yet again. 

We knew something was up when Yolanda’s energy was zero. Even though her Signatera numbers are still low, the CT Scan tells a tale. Paramedics had to take Yolanda to the hospital a few weeks ago, die to atrial fibrillation with RVR. Her AFib began after the 10 hour major double surgery with all the complications. She was quickly stabilized with Diltiazem and then her Metoprolol was temporarily increased to 50 mg twice a day. Anof course Eliquis. She has an echocardiogram today and sees the cardiologist Monday. 

Yesterday Yolanda had two appointments with her oncology liver surgeon and oncology radiologist. Both agreed to get the new chemo regimen started ASAP and revisit new CT scans in 3-6 months to evaluate when radiation treatments can commence.

We are so thankful her entire medical team are the top of their fields, not just in the U.S. but in the world. 

I suppose the good news is the lung lesions are very small, the low Signatera numbers indicate the cancer has barely grown, but one cancer cell is one too many. Her two liver lesions, after 5 radiation treatments, the one we were most concerned with due to how close to the stomach it was has completely resolved. The second appears to still be healing.  

Thanks for all of your support, we appreciate you all.

Tony & Yolanda

Yolanda is still on a chemo break. 

We are so thankful for every day. 

Being able to live life semi-normal, like before cancer.

Watching Yolanda teaching our granddaughter how to swim touched my heart and reminded me the pure happiness that drives us both each day. Family is everything.  

Yolanda’s next Signatera liquid biopsy is scheduled for Friday, August 29th.

We pray for a low or even zero number. 

And we appreciate all of the prayers and support.

Please share.

❤️

T&Y

Appointment Tuesday with Yolanda’s oncologist. 

Very good news, Yolanda’s Signatera (a molecular residual disease (MRD) assay that uses circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to detect cancer recurrence earlier than standard of care tools) numbers were very low, 4.03. As a result, there is no need for chemotherapy ant this time. We thank God ans the side effects are horrible. We p,an on visiting with our grandchildren and enjoying family and friends as much as possible. Another Signatera and scans are scheduled in 6 weeks.

Please continue sending positive thoughts and prayers.

Share this with your own friends and family. We’ll take all of the help we can’t get. ❤️

T&Y

Yolanda has had 4 radiation treatments on the two small liver lesions. One more treatment on Wednesday. The side effects are much greater than we anticipated. Severe headache, nausea, lethargy. Worse than the chemotherapy but at least there is no hand foot syndrome, although she is unable to walk much right now. She continues to offer a kind word and encouragement to others we meet at City of Hope. We see her oncologist tomorrow for the game plan after radiation. We need a new Signatera DNA test so we know where we are at.

Thanks for all of your support and prayers,

Tony and Yolanda 

I wish I had better news, but they couldn’t do the needle ablation on the two lesions (right and left lobe of Yolanda’s liver) 

The Interventional Radiologist injected fluid in an attempt to separate the liver from the stomach, which worked, however, by the time he was ready to introduce the needle to deliver the radiofrequency ablation, the stomach and liver moved next to each other again.

It was determined not to be worth the risk, which means instead, Yolanda will have targeted radiation over 5 sessions. 

We are going to visit our daughter in Texas early in May, she is having our grandson, we will be watching our granddaughter.

As a result, we will have the radiation planning session and another CT scan with contrast next Wednesday, but won’t do the actual radiation sessions until we return from Texas after the 10th of May.

Frustrating as it is, we do appreciate all of our doctors and surgeons and trust their judgment to keep Yolanda safe.

Many are now part of the family!

🙏🙏🙏🙏

In my last update, I shared that Yolanda's last scan showed two small liver lesions, one in her right lobe and one on her left. Yesterday she had another Signatera, blood draw. We are expecting this Signatera to be zero.

Today we are at City of Hope for the needle ablation by the interventional radiologist for both lesions found on her liver. She is having the procedure right now as I type this. Between the preparation, CT scan and the actual procedure itself, Yolanda should be done by noon and then into recovery for approximately 4 hours. Hopefully we can go home. Her last stay was a grueling 14 days. I never left her side, sleeping in the chair next to her bed. The staff at City of Hope is just amazing but nothing beats our own bed.

Last month Yolanda was moved from the Xeloda (Capecitabine) pills, changed from two weeks on and one week off to one week on and one week off, but the side effects were still unbearable. 

Especially distressing was the horrible Hand-Foot Syndrome (Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia) extremely painful like walking on shards of glass that came out of nowhere. Additionally, AFib had returned. So, last month for her last cycle, she went back on 5-FU, going home with a bolus/pump for two days. The side effects improved but still lots of difficult challenging days and her hair began falling out again!

Fortunately, the goal still remains a cure, or at least years rather than months with no evidence of disease.

We will likely be experimenting with Joe Tippens’ protocol as a preventative strategy but we must still carefully monitor bloodwork for any potential liver damage.

Thanks again for all of your support! ❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

Yolanda's last scan showed two small liver lesions, one in her right lobe and one on her left. These made sense after she had zero evidence of cancer for 9 months but in October 05, 2023, her Signatera, which again is a molecular residual disease (MRD) assay that uses circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to detect cancer recurrence earlier than standard tools, showed a small number of cancer cells had returned, with reported MTM/mL of 119.20 and after immediately restarting chemotherapy, on January 10th, 20024 had dropped to 0.18, we fully expect her April Signatera to be zero.

City of Hope has a needle ablation scheduled by the interventional radiologist for both lesions in April with multiple appointments in preparation beforehand. The goal is to totally them with 100% certainty. 

Yolanda was moved from the Xeloda (Capecitabine) pills, changed from two weeks on and one week off to one week on and one week off, but the side effects were unbearable. 

Especially distressing was horrible Hand-Foot Syndrome (Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia) extremely painful  like walking on shards of glass that came out of nowhere. Additionally, AFib has returned. On Wednesday, she went back on 5-FU, going home with a bolus/pump for two days. 

Fortunately, the goal still remains a cure. 

Thanks again for all of your support! ❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

My wife is VERY close to ZERO cancer cells! Her personalized molecular residual disease assay (MRD) using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) was 160.34 three months ago, her highest before all of her surgeries and a year plus of chemotherapy was 1136.71.

Today was .18! The next test WILL 💯 BE NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE!

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Unfortunately, Yolanda was unable to have her chemotherapy infusion today because we both have Covid.

Seems so unfair but we soldier on. 

We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. ❤️

T&Y

Yolanda had her first chemotherapy infusion on Wednesday after a 9 month reprieve.

Her CEA and scans are still showing no evidence of disease, however, with two Signatera DNA blood tests being positive, everyone on our medical team was in agreement. A hard pill to swallow for sure. And speaking of pills, versus going home with an infusion pump, Yolanda opted to take her oncologist’s recommendation to try the Xeloda pills for two weeks, twice a day, and then take a week off.

Previously, we were not sure about her doing the pills because she had a horrible reaction to the Oxaliplatin infusion she took after her first colon surgery. It was like anaphylactic response. It was an absolutely horrible situation. Well, she could not tolerate the pills at that time due to her bodies total rejection of the Oxaliplatin.

So for two years she opted for the 4-5 hour infusion and then going home with the pump for two days.

I am happy to report she is tolerating taking the 3 Xeloda pills, twice a day, quite well, with limited gastrointestinal issues and nausea controlled by Zofran. Her fatigue is, of course, debilitating. Especially for someone that is used to being always on the go and tending to everyone else.

One issue I wish would resolve itself is the scary episodes of AFib. They come out of the blue and are VERY frightening. She is taking Eliquis to help, as blood clots are a very real possibility with AFib. The doctors believe the AFib is temporary and will eventually resolve on its own. It was likely the result of the 10 hour, double surgery.

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. ❤️