Greetings fellow investors!
Here’s a quick update on my post-chemo scans & biopsies after the scheduled 12 rounds of chemotherapy (Feb to August) that followed ‘hemi-colectomy’ surgery in January to remove right side of large intestine, plus appendix and a bunch of lymph nodes. A few of those lymph nodes were cancerous, so we knew it had got into the lymph system (‘Stage 3’), hence the six months of chemo.
The post-chemo scans showed up three areas of potentially cancerous ‘mildly hot’ activity: (A) two lymph nodes in neck near thyroid, (B) hilar lymph node in right lung, (C) lower-right abdominal wall.
Today’s news: Biopsies in the neck (A) and abdominal wall (C) appear benign. The lung (B) will be harder to biopsy, but my oncologist is happy just to monitor with regular follow-up scans and tests.
Overall, its fairly good news: Not a definitive ‘all clear’ yet, but nothing serious enough to require immediate further surgery or treatment at this stage, just regular monitoring. PHEW!
As I reported in a recent article, my chemo experience turned out a lot better than I had expected. I had 18 different side effects (including some still with me) that ranged from weird, to annoying, to painful. Fortunately nothing too debilitating, and none of the horror stories that we hear and read about. I was able to eat, sleep and exercise with only minor disruption.
I have been lucky, but my plan was to stay as fit and healthy as possible. I cleaned up what I ate, cut out alcohol, aimed to walk at least an hour per day, built a new home gym, and resumed weight training in April.
Today’s chart shows body weight since the start of the year. It includes the dramatic weight loss after the big surgery in January: I lost one kilogram PER DAY in the week following surgery!
The inset chart shows changes in body composition (DEXA scans). Between April and October I lost 0.9kg in overall body weight, but that included losing 2.9kg of fat and gaining 2.0kg of lean/muscle.
Keeping fit not only helped me handle the chemo, but also allowed me to keep up with research / writing, investment committee work, mentoring advisers.
Most important (and satisfying), I was also able to keep up my regular volunteering gig playing piano for dementia therapy (in the dementia home where my mother spent her final years).
2026 has not been a year I would like to do again! But I have been lucky being so close to the North Shore medical/health precinct, and receiving the tremendous support from my wife, family and friends.
‘Till next time – stay healthy, and don’t put off those free government cancer screening tests! Get it out of the bottom drawer and do it. TODAY!
(non-alcoholic) Cheers!
Ashley Owen
(If a tree falls in a forest but it’s not on a spreadsheet, did it really happen?)
NB. Please note that these are just my personal observations and experiences from a sample of one. Every patient is different, every cancer is different, and every chemo program is different. I have talked to several friends and relatives who have gone through their own cancer journeys and their ranges of experiences and side effects have been many and varied.
For background on my cancer/chemo journey so far, see -
· My Life in Weeks: 83% done, but there’s a nasty new twist this year. “Life’s like a box of chocolates. . .” (4-Jan-2026)
· 15-Jan-2026- 4 out of 5 on my Cancer Surgery goals. Could have been worse, but could have been better! (15-Jan-2026)
· My cancer journey: First 2 months of costs – steep learning curve for me, plus some surprises (25-Feb-2026)
· Chemo Round 1 – Much better than I had expected. So far, so good! (9-Mar-2026)
· Chemo Round 2: Similar overall impact, but the mix of side effects is different each time. Weird! (20-Mar-2026)
· Chemo Round 4: Getting used to the routine, still much better than expected. (27-Apr-2026)
· My Chemo Journey - Round 6 update: Game of Gloves! (27-May-2026)
· I went 12 rounds with Mr Chemo. Came out pretty well, but some possible complications. Constant wait for the next step! (23-Sep-2026)