It's been about 6 weeks since the Chuck Report. In that time he started and quit another Cancer pill that just about destroyed him. He's been off all medication for a few weeks now. He told me that he's going in the ring one more time to fight his Liver Cancer.
"This is the Title Fight" he said. "If I can't win the Championship Belt, that's it."
He starts Immunotherapy treatment next week. Immunotherapy uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight diseases such as cancer.
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/immunotherapy/what-is-immunotherapy.html
His symptoms from the last round of drugs have been devastating. He feet and legs are swollen with fluid and the water pills haven't done much. He's had nurses come in three times a week to massage the water back up to his upper extremities and has to wear full length support stockings. So far it's working. He finally fits into his driving shoes and after months being grounded, can drive his cars. Today he say's he's going to take his Cobra out for a ride around Montecito.
Chuck is so inspired about the new treatment, using his own cells to fight the Cancer cells, that he feels there is hope. He believes his own DNA will be better than all the drugs he's been given, to kill the tumors. So, to celebrate, he plans to customize and order an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, that comes out in 2018.
He's still waiting for his Alfa Romeo, 4C Spider, to be delivered from Italy. Chuck believes his Passionology and love for his fleet of cars is what's keeping his Spirit up and giving him the Will to keep fighting the Cancer.
He's a born fighter and Cancer, you're not going to take him down.
Chuck believes that his personal relationship with Mike Love and the Beach Boys, has been the greatest accomplishment in his life. For over 50 years he's kept them as friends. Mike Love trusts Chuck completely and considers him an official Beach Boy.
More to come, stay tuned.
Chuck has been fighting Cancer now for over 18 months. He's had Thera Sphere Y90, a very evasive procedure that had side effects and it wound up doing nothing to stop the Cancer. He was put on a Liver Transplant list, only to be taken off because the cancer left the liver and lodged onto his rib. He proceeded to do an FDA approved drug that made him so sick and miserable he couldn't function. It cost $8,000. He quit and is fighting to get some of his money back. After all that he went without treatment or heavy drugs for a few weeks and began to feel more like himself.
The Doctor recommended he try Xeloda a drug that has worked for Breast and Lung Cancer but it has shown in clinical studies to have an effect of Cancer Tumor growth, but not necessarily for Liver Cancer. Another $8,000. But, he's a fighter and says he has to do what ever it takes. He's been on the new drug for 2 weeks. He's miserable. The side effects are as bad as the first drug. He honestly can't walk on his feet, because of the nerve pain. His lips are so dry they bleed and chunks of skin are falling off. His hands and feet have open sores and he has boils all over his body. He's lost 7 lbs. Not good. He sleeps in the afternoons, and his appetite isn't what it normally is. He has pain throughout his body and he cramps up so bad sometimes he can't move until it stops. After being off for a week the Doctor will adjust the drug to see if that will lower the side effects. Eventually Chuck hopes, they will get the drugs right so he can function.
Right now, his passion for his new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, being built in Italy right now and his new Mclaren 570S Coup, is what's keeping his Spirits up. Hopefully the cars will arrive by his 68th Birthday, November 23rd. So, right now it's one day at a time now.
Keep sending him your love and good vibrations.
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Talked to Chuck, BB1, today, he took another punch from the process. "The frustration of dealing with red tape is the worst part of the process so far," he said. "the Paperwork, the questions, the different admin people reminding me of my dire situation, it's @#%&4#."
I asked him if he's able to rise above it and just do his life. "I wake up in the morning," he said, it's a beautiful Spring day in Santa Barbara and I can't wait to get going. Then I remember I have Cancer. I forget everything and I wonder if it's growing...and will I ever get my life back."
It's a daily struggle to keep his mind off his Cancer now. Chuck say's he plans to keep his May reservations at the new Las Vegas car racetrack, Speed Vegas. He still hopes he can buy the new racing Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and race on the track. But for now, he has no real control over his future. It's hard for him to trust that the insurance company will ever get the red tape finished so he can get into UCLA and have the tumor removed.
"I don't want a liver transplant," he said, "I just want them to take the tumor out.".
Stay tuned as BB1 is in the Ring with Cancer.
