I hear you Riki on the giving up part. It bothers me too, but i learned 2 things through this experience. One is I have a lot of anger, well more than usual. So much so that I started therapy, odd since I was never a big believer but it has at least helped me sort out my feelings. Apparently losing control and facing death will make one angry
Second is that our path is lonely and entirely our own. Sure, we lost some friends after being diagnosed. Maybe they weren't good friends, maybe they don't know how to deal. Some of us have excellent caregivers, some less so, some are abandoned by their friends and family. In the end, we will walk this path lonely because it is a lonely experience.
I try not to give into the anger and project my own on others. I am disappointed to hear that pfccr does not want SOC, i hear him when he says chemo was invented in 1957, that's true. I think it would be awful to give up. But those feelings are my own and not his burden. pfccr has had his own journey and is emotionally in a place where that's his perspective.
I encourage him to follow any path that can bring better health. I am happy every time there's a new possibility of treatment. I imagine his doctors hear him and understand his reluctance to go back to chemo. Some oncologists will try other things if the patient has decided on a path. Also not every clinical trial is for last line, some are specifically designed for early and second line crc. This is goodness, we saw that with the dostarlimab MSI first line trial. All MSI patients were NED without chemo/rad/surgery.
For my part, i was "educated" early on chemo. I was complaining to a stage 4 CRC friend and she told me I should have more respect. Thousands of people dedicated their lives to refining and countering side effects. It worked really well for me. But I will not ignore the collateral damage it does. I hope some day (soon) we will not have to go through chemo, but given where we are, i will take it. And whatever else my oncologist thinks will help me.