Stillness isn’t surrender.

It’s been a bit since I shared where I’m at health-wise.

After a “stable” CT scan in May with some rising tumor marker numbers, a PET scan revealed what looks to be a few areas that are ‘fixin to cause a stir’ aka spots of early concern. The challenge lies in these forming while on chemo. This could indicate the cancer is becoming chemo resistant or has mutated.

Since this scan, I’ve met with one of the top-rated Oncologist’s in the world in regard to young onset colon cancer. Both she and my primary Oncologist agreed that the play for me in particular is going to be one rooted in grit.

She said, most reach this point and are left with few options as the chemo will typically tear them down to a point where they cannot continue. They cannot physically handle the treatment which impairs their ability to hold the cancer at bay. For me, I’ve been able to weather everything they’ve thrown at me. Our goal is to continue to cycle through lesser-known options to keep me rolling as long as we can in hopes of new options that are on the horizon.

Currently, I’m using a combination of Lonsurf and Avastin in an attempt to keep the disease at bay.

Physically… I’m solid. Still rolling. Still training. Still getting out on the bike. Treatments punch holes in your week, but I’ve found my rhythm. Not chasing perfection, just staying in cadence. Move when I can. Rest when I have to. Repeat.

Mentally and emotionally, it’s a mixed bag. I’ve cut out a lot of noise lately. Pulled focus back to what matters - my people, my purpose. The rest can go. Some days feel like dragging a full pack uphill. Some days, I wish I could bottle my clarity and sell it on TikTok.

My biggest challenge is energy management. I want to do everything - train, write, lead, build, be present at home. Some days I can. Some days I can’t. But every day, I find a way to make my own heat. One small push forward. That’s the game.

There’ve been wins. Quiet ones. A training session I almost bailed on. A finished chapter that had been stuck for weeks. A message from someone who said my story helped them keep going. It all matters.

If there’s one thing to take from this: I’m still here. Still in the fight. Still building what’s next. Whatever you’re pushing through - don’t wait for it to get easy. It’s not coming. Just show up. Show up tired. Show up unsure. But show up.

More soon.

- Casey