# Free from Cancer! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous\ **Created:** [May 9, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720 "2025-05-09T11:13:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenyorC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/senyorc/32/13567_2.png) [@SenyorC](https://forum.headphones.com/u/SenyorC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 11:13am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/1 "2025-05-09T11:13:02Z")
I am taking the liberty of creating my own thread for this as I feel it deserves it!! I haven’t been active around here for quite some time, although I have been popping in almost daily. The truth is that I didn’t really feel up to doing much (any) posting here or anywhere else. However, I am here with some very good news… a few days ago I got the results from my biopsy and I am now officially cancer free!! It’s only been 10 months since I was diagnosed but, being totally honest, it has been a long road. The radiation and chemo did not sit well and… actually, it doesn’t matter, it’s over! The bad news is that the treatment has affected my hearing (and my taste buds!) and, although I haven’t really lost much hearing, it has become very sensitive in the mids and highs, along with rather severe tinnitus. It’s like getting home after a festival except that this won’t be gone in the morning! While the ringing is obviously annoying, the sensitivity to the mids and highs, and elevated noise in general, is very painful. Any time that I am in a place with any kind of elevated noise (bar, restaurant, kids playing, supermarkets, etc.), I need to wear earplugs or ANC earphones. Being totally honest, if these are the only side effects I have been left with, then I am not going to complain as I feel very lucky. However, it does mean that I am no longer able to review earphones, at least not the sound quality of them. I have always aimed to be as sincere as possible in my reviews and being sincere now, I can’t bring myself to comment on audio quality, especially if it means that there is a possibility of anyone spending any money at all. I can still enjoy music though, I just have to EQ it differently and use more ANC stuff than high end stuff. I guess it saves me money in the long run 😉 I would still like to keep the Acho Reviews channel and page going, as I do enjoy reviewing, but it won’t be reviews of headphones, at least not the sound quality. I am probably better equipped to judge noise cancelling more than anyone elso though 😃 Thank you to all who sent me messages of support, they were greatly appreciated even if I didn´t have the energy to respond a lot of the time! Who knows what the future holds but for now, I am enjoying my new freedom. It has been a good week, on Monday I got the “all clear”, on Wednesday was my wifes birthday and tomorrow is my birthday, so it’s a great week to celebrate!!! ![cancer loops](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/c/f/cf61b31909d11bebebf4fd6a933dad473ae1e2be.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![generic](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/generic/32/61169_2.png) [@generic](https://forum.headphones.com/u/generic)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 11:27am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/2 "2025-05-09T11:27:45Z")
Welcome back and here’s hoping for recovery or improvement. I used to have pretty bad tinnitus and got into headphones partly as self-created therapy. It helped a lot—I started with gentle vocals and simple acoustic music. ---
**Author:** ![SenyorC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/senyorc/32/13567_2.png) [@SenyorC](https://forum.headphones.com/u/SenyorC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/3 "2025-05-09T13:23:46Z")
I was already on simple vocals and gentle acoustic at low volumes before tinnitus 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Jean-Paul\_Petrosyan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/jean-paul_petrosyan/32/56583_2.png) [@Jean-Paul\_Petrosyan](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Jean-Paul_Petrosyan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/4 "2025-05-09T15:51:32Z")
Oh, shoot! Congratulations, brother! Such amazing news. Happy first and second birthday to you! 🙏🏻 And Happy birthday to your wife! This might be a crazy week… Welcome back! I’m so very sorry to hear about the complications… Hope you’ll be able to heal both physically and emotionally, and celebrate your life to the fullest. All the best to you and yours! ---
**Author:** ![PaisleyUnderground](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/paisleyunderground/32/15919_2.png) [@PaisleyUnderground](https://forum.headphones.com/u/PaisleyUnderground)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 4:56pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/5 "2025-05-09T16:56:54Z")
Congratulations @SenyorC , I’m so happy for you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![Polygonhell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@Polygonhell](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Polygonhell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/6 "2025-05-09T19:04:03Z")
> [@SenyorC](#): > > and my taste buds! The lack of taste does come back eventually according to my wife (so there may be some hope for the hearing), though her tastes did permanently change the first time she went through Chemo. I wish you the best and hope you stay cancer free, the monitoring period following the treatment can itself can be extremely stressful, you just have to learn to live with the disruption every 3 months when you wait on test results (assuming a similar protocol). ---
**Author:** ![SenyorC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/senyorc/32/13567_2.png) [@SenyorC](https://forum.headphones.com/u/SenyorC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/7 "2025-05-09T19:52:31Z")
Thanks. Yes, it’s every 3 months for a year then every 6, then per year etc. I’m sure it will be more stressful when it gets closer but if I have learned anything going through this is that it’s now that’s important! ---
**Author:** ![Polygonhell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@Polygonhell](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Polygonhell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/8 "2025-05-09T20:19:14Z")
> [@SenyorC](#): > > I’m sure it will be more stressful when it gets closer but if I have learned anything going through this is that it’s now that’s important! I think that’s the only attitude that works. Just keep telling yourself there is no point worrying about it until you know something, it’s easy to say and harder to do. But you have to take it one appointment at a time. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![mgosdin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mgosdin/32/47331_2.png) [@mgosdin](https://forum.headphones.com/u/mgosdin)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/9 "2025-05-09T21:23:20Z")
This is great news at the end of a busy week. @SenyorC I am so happy that you have gotten the “all clear”. I know you are frustrated with the changes in you body, but you are **still with us** and that is priceless. Mark Gosdin ---
**Author:** ![Bookbear](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/bookbear/32/35615_2.png) [@Bookbear](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Bookbear)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/10 "2025-05-09T21:53:50Z")
Congrats on the good news from the biopsy! I’ve always enjoyed reading your reviews. I find music a great solace, so do whatever you need to (EQ, ANC, any and all of it) to be able to continue enjoying music! ---
**Author:** ![robson](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/robson/32/59145_2.png) [@robson](https://forum.headphones.com/u/robson)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2025, 6:05am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/11 "2025-05-10T06:05:22Z")
I’m very glad you’re here again @SenyorC, we’ve missed you so welcome back! I know from personal experience how incredibly taxing treatment is, with the side effects and long term follow up so my best wishes to you and your family. This birthday deserves much celebration, happy birthday! 🎈 🎂 ---
**Author:** ![Saracen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Saracen](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Saracen)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/12 "2025-05-11T17:27:48Z")
Congrat’s to SenyorC on the all-clear. It is a wonderful bit of news. The rest of my comments here are with those that may have _just, or recently_, received a cancer diagnosis in mind. My experience has been that cancer treatment, for some (and I emphasaise SOME) cancers has changed massively in recent years. Yet if you read around online, a high proportion of anecdotal evidence of what it’s like is based on a more historic view, which is understandable given that changes have been dramatic, and pretty recent. What am I on about? Two things really. First, if you have ANY reason to suspect cancer, the longer you wait to get checked out the worse the potential outcome, if it turns out you do. Don’t delay, get off your ass and get checked. Secondly, both the outcomes and the severity of the treatment vary a LOT, depending on the specific cancer. If you are only aware of the more unpleasant side of treatments, it is a natural sort of reaction to put off finding out. That is a mistake. Neither radiotherapy nor chemo are pleasant, but again, vary a LOT. I’ve had quite a few rounds of radiotherapy and, so far, the worst side effect has been an itch at the treated site for a day or so, and a bit of a permanent suntan. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not minimising anybody else’s experience if it is not like that. I’m merely pointing out it isn’t **necessarily** unpleasant. You can’t know what your treatment will be like, should you need it, because it varies. The same applies to chemo, but much more so. This is where the traditional experience, at least until recently, can be anything from highly unpleasant to horrible. I’ve seen that side of it up close in family members several times. **However** , these days, it is not always like that. I have been taking chemo, DAILY, for a bit over 5 years now. It’s one tablet, and it makes me feel a bit queasy for, typically, 60-90 minutes. That’s pretty much it. I get scans usually every 4 months, and starting chemo shrank my tumours by up to 50-60%, and they are still, 5 years later, dormant. No growth. To be clear, my cancer is stage 4. It has already spread and is not curable. But from that initial diagnosis, which was 6 to 18 months, here I am here typing about it \>5 years later. My message? Pretty simple, really. IF you have cancer, there is really no downside to getting checked ASAP. You might find out you don’t have it, so heave a sigh of reief and move on. But if the result is positive, then the sooner treatment starts the better the outcome might be. And while some treatments MIGHT be very unpleasant, even chemo is not necessarily as bad as you may have heard. Mine is a case in point. But even if it is still of the unpleasant variety (and the list of highly targeted chemo’s like mine grows almost monthly) it STILL gives you the best chance of complete recovery to get on with it. So if you have suspicions, don’t delay checking because doing so might turn it from curable to uncurable, or render it past the point where less intrusive treatments will work. Get checked. ASAP. Sermon over. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spearthrower\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Spearthrower\_Owl](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Spearthrower_Owl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/13 "2025-05-11T23:22:07Z")
Congratulations on such wonderful news! (And happy birthday!) You may find that subjectively the tinnitus is less annoying over time. Hopefully so. I wouldn’t regard it as disqualifying to be a headphone reviewer either, by the way. Anyone who’s an audiophile hobbyist in his 50s and beyond is quite likely to have some hearing loss somewhere and tinnitus nearby, and your reviews might even be more useful to us now. Cheers ---
**Author:** ![pennstac](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/pennstac/32/381_2.png) [@pennstac](https://forum.headphones.com/u/pennstac)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 12:31am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/14 "2025-05-13T00:31:38Z")
Gracias sean dadas al buen destino, que por fin te ha concedido alivio en tu pobre cuerpo. Pues más golpes te ha dado la vida que enfermedades, y aun así, aquí sigues, más listo que hambriento y más vivo que nunca. ¡Dios bendiga esta fortuna y no te la quite pronto, que de favores bien sabes cuán efímeros son! ---
**Author:** ![Polygonhell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@Polygonhell](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Polygonhell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/15 "2025-05-14T19:12:12Z")
> [@Saracen](#): > > My message? Pretty simple, really. IF you have cancer, there is really no downside to getting checked ASAP. I’ll agree with this. I will always remember my wife shaking in the parking lot of the Oncologist before the appointment where she was diagnosed, I don’t think she’d have made it to the appointment if I hadn’t been there to reassure her. But that appointment and diagnosis saved her life. Cancer is not one thing, and the diagnosis and treatments vary wildly. Chemo can be anything from daily pills to 8 hour infusions weekly, and people react very differently to the treatments. It’s true of almost all cancers if you have symptoms that might be cancer have it checked, a lot of cancers are very treatable Unfortunately it’s not always the case that cancers have direct symptoms, and where there is regular screening (colonoscopies for example) you should bite the bullet and do that, Colon cancer is treatable if it’s caught early with a very high success, not so much if it’s advanced. I don’t often share this, but my wife was diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer in 2018, after visiting a doctor for a rash, the rash was indicative of a very rare autoimmune disease, and 80+% of the cases of that autoimmune are linked to cancer diagnosis, and that chain led to the diagnosis. After surgery and Chemo she got a clean bill of health, the Cancer recurred in 2021, more surgery and more Chemo and another clean bill of health after that, it will probably recur again. As unpleasant as some of that treatment was including 2AM runs to the emergency room and allergic reactions to the Chemo drugs and dealing with a colostomy bag for 6 months, she wouldn’t decline to be treated again if it does recur. Treatment can be unpleasant, but it does end, you have to take it one day at a time. On the flip side I was diagnosed with prostate cancer around 2021, it was a tiny tumor, with a minimal amount of the tumor being aggressive, the treatment is basically monitor it and deal with it if becomes more aggressive. As a result i have prostate biopsy’s (not a pleasant procedure) every couple of years and imaging in between. ---
**Author:** ![Fc-Construct](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/fc-construct/32/61065_2.png) [@Fc-Construct](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Fc-Construct)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 6:27am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/free-from-cancer/25720/16 "2025-05-15T06:27:16Z")
On the note of getting checked, if you are diagnosed and haven’t done a biomarker analysis, ask your doctor if it’s an option. It might not be, but doing biomarker testing can open up a few of different treatment options. Pay out of pocket if you have to (as long as it’s not too crazy). There are many new therapeutics these days beyond chemo, and some of them are accessible only after they identify the right biomarker for you. And they’ll work a lot better than chemo since it’ll be targeted to your specific situation. Likewise, if you’re on treatment for some of these newer treatment options, inquire about patient support programs. They’re there as another resource to potentially help you with side effect management and monitoring, financial assistance or drug delivery, patient education, nursing support and check-ins, etc.