#chemotherapy

The last time I sketched was back in September. This is the longest i have gone without drawing since i was a kid.

By the time I was ready for my whipple surgery and removal of my pancreas, the chemotherapy induced neuropathy had reached the point where my fingers and my feet were constantly fizzing with pins and needles. Just holding a pencil steady became a challenge.

Now I find myself in a place that far too few pancreatic patients get to be.

Post whipple, post radiation and post 12 rounds of chemo, I am officially in remission.

Unfortunately, reoccourance for pancreatic cancer is extrodinarially high. Upwards of 70% of patients will come out of remission at some point in the first few years, with the average time with no detectable disease being around 18 months.

This may sound like I am being overly negative, but it's actually quite the opposite. The time I have been afforded is precious, which while true for everyone, feels especially poignant after what I have endured to hopefully have a year or two of good health.

I wish to use that time well.

I had one major regret when looking back at my life during this fight. I gave up on my own art years ago. I stopped painting for myself. I let myself believe my work had little value, and instead focused entirely on making other people's ideas a reality.

My career in animation has been wonderful and I am deeply greatful for every show I have had the opportunity to work on, but i should have still found the time to create for myself.

The idea of having missed the chance to do that has haunted me through these last 10 months.I still can't feel my fingers well, but the pins and needles has improved.

I may not be able to feel exactly where my pencil is on the page, but I will re-learn how to make the marks i want to make, I will re-learn how to paint, to illustrate, to tell stories.

I wish to leave something of value behind for my family, for my friends, for my loved ones.

And perhaps most of all

For myself.

Deleted at 76k.. Over 3300+ 4 & 4 Available!

Everything

For what it's worth, we've actually made a shocking amount of progress against cancer - especially the most common cancers like breast cancer, and especially in the past 30 years.

Cancer rates have been falling, often dramatically (x, x, x, x, x, x). One of the best examples it that breast cancer deaths in the United States dropped 58% between 1975 and 2019 (x).

Right now, we're at the beginning of an absolute revolution in cancer care that promises to increase survival rates even further. This revolution has been going on to a lesser degree since the first human genome was successfully sequenced in the early 2000s (and in fact, the first gapless sequencing of a human genome was finally finished just two years ago, in 2022), and to a greater extent since CRISPR DNA-editing technology was first successfully tested in 2013, and since medical digitzation/digital communication and vaccination were massively spurred ahead in 2020, by the COVID pandemic (x, x).

Right now, the results of this revolution are only beginning to trickle out into actual treatments. But I guarantee you, in the next one to three decades, the way we fight cancer will be massively transformed.

We're talking personalized genome sequencing for each person with cancer - not just for early and better detection, but even to figure out what types of treatments will work best. (x, x, x, x)

We're talking using CRISPR-based DNA editing to literally cut cancer-causing mutations out of your DNA, to edit the genes of immune cells to better detect and kill cancer cells, and to kill cancer-causing viruses. (x, x, x, x)

We're talking using CRISPR-based screening to figure out how chemotherapy resistance works, so that we can overcome it - and even weaponize it. (x, x)

We're talking using CRISPR to edit immune cells so that they recognize and target the mutations of a single individual's specific tumor. (x)

We're talking new types of testing that can predict if cancer will return years before it shows up on scans. (x)

We're talking using (non-generative) AI to massively increase the accuracy and earliness of cancer detection - which by the way is already starting to happen, there are several AI-based systems that detect cancer earlier and more accurately than doctors do. (x, x, x, x, x, x)

Also, the more we transition to a green, sustainable, and ethical future, the fewer cancer-causing substances will be in the environment (fossil fuels, oil drilling, and mining are massive sources of carcinogens at every point in the process).

And free art offered by a friendly other artist ! @transgendz @theartistrans

Roomate/found family lost insurance while in middle of chemotherapy and AC bro AC in car broke.They live in a very warm climate, and she is suffering from severe heat sensitivity due to the chemo,, so they don't a vehicle safe to transport her to the clinic.

Multiple ways to donate

Patreon (which has exclusive art)

Prefer to help via or Kofi? Or GFM?

Cashhapp--Payypal--Venm0

Tumblr artist Calmthing offering art incentives

calmthings

"ART INCENTIVE FROM ME! Donate to this and if you message me with proof and I will draw your sfw request of your oc or favourite character or whatever you like!"

vetted by @kyra45

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The Princess of Wales is at Christie NHS Foundation Trust to highlight the healing power of holistic care, alongside clinical care, for people living with and beyond cancer.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 60,000 patients a year.

It is the first UK centre to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre, meeting high international standards in all aspects of cancer care, including treatment, research and education.

The Trust serves a population of 3.2 million people from Greater Manchester and the surrounding areas.