From cancer and a blog to a book

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Julie YW
Posts: 170
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:25 am
Facebook Username: Julie.yip-williams

From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby Julie YW » Tue Oct 17, 2017 4:01 pm

Hi everyone.

Four years ago I started a blog right after I was diagnosed. This was the first place I shared it. And from time to time I would share posts that seemed to really resonate with the cancer community. And many of you read. The blog has really grown in its readership. Now, it will be the basis of a memoir and will be published by random house. I wanted to share the post with all the details here. Thanks for being my first readers. Strange things can come from cancer, even good things.

https://julieyipwilliams.wordpress.com/ ... /complete/

Julie
DX July 2013, 37yo
12 of 68 LN
Stage IV w/ drop peri met
Folfox 8/12/13
Clean scans 1/24/14
Rising CEA 2/13/14
HIPEC 3/13/14
Folfiri 4/21/14
Recurrence in lungs 12/19/14
Xeloda & Avastin
Follow my blog: http://julieyipwilliams.wordpress.com/about/

AussieAssCancer
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat May 21, 2016 10:16 am

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby AussieAssCancer » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:46 pm

Julie,

I have read your blog intermittently and have always been impressed by both your way with words, but more importantly, your strength of character.

How fitting is that that strength is now formally recognized and a tangible legacy results, one that can be read, and reread, and reread again.

We were lucky to be the first readers :D

With many hugs,

Geoff
Dx Oct '15 w/ Stage 3c RC/ CEA 8
Nov '15 - Jan '16: 3x FOLFOX and 5wks Chemoradiation w/ Xeloda
March '16: ULAR w/ temp ileostomy
Complete pathological response incl 0/12 nodes
May - Aug '16: 9x FOLFOX (dropped Oxaliplatin for final Rd due to neuropathy)
Clear CT scans in April ‘16 (NED), Dec ‘16, Aug ‘17, Feb ‘18, March ‘19, Feb ‘20
Feb '17: Ileostomy reversed
CEA Post Surgery: ALWAYS 2

Blog: kickingrectalcancerintheassblog
https://kickingrectalcancerintheassblog.wordpress.com/

peanut_8
Posts: 2340
Joined: Sun May 25, 2014 1:31 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby peanut_8 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:53 pm

Julie, I hope you don't mind that I've copied a few words from your last paragraph...

"and now a writer, about to leave a legacy few ever manage to do."

Wow.

words fail me at this point, butt so happy for you, your family, and the rest of cancer sufferers and survivors
Terri
female, diagnosed Jan 14, RC stage 2a, age 56
MSS
April 14, 28 chemo/rad with Xeloda
June 14 adjuvant Xeloda 6 rounds
currently NED

ams5796
Posts: 2298
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 10:07 am

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby ams5796 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:56 pm

Julie,

That is so impressive. I'm not surprised at all. So many times I would read your inspiring posts and think "wow, she should write a book." I have read most of your blog and have marveled at how well written it is. It will be a beautiful lasting legacy for your girls and for Josh.

I do hope it's a while before I read it.

Ann
Stage 3C (or 4?) Rectal Cancer 01/07
2/10 lung mets
3/11 VATS
6/11 VATS
7/13 lung met
2/14 SBRT
NED 8/14
5/17 scan and MRI found treated spine met

Detox
Posts: 61
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 5:27 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby Detox » Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:17 pm

Great job on securing the book deal!

I commented on your blog but I also wanted to say that I hope you can go and do something fun with some of the funds you secured for your book, you deserve it!

mariane
Posts: 704
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:16 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby mariane » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:41 pm

Your book will always live Julie.

It is your " Non omnis moriar".

Thank you for it! I look forward your every blog entry.

I pray for you every day since I have learnt about you. As stage 4 mom of young kids you are very close to me.
mom of now 14 years old twins, dx @ 40 in 6/2015 with upper rectal cancer, 10+ liver mets, CEA 140
chemo: 8/2015 - 10/2016 - 4xFOLFIRINOX, 2xFOLFOX, 8xFOLFIRI, 10x5FU, HAI pump -12xFUDR
4 surgeries, complete pathological response
CEA<2 since 10/2015
NED since May 2016

I praise God for every day with my family!

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O Stoma Mia
Posts: 1709
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:29 am
Location: On vacation. Off-line for now.

A 'Thank You' from Julie Yip-Wiliams

Postby O Stoma Mia » Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:25 am

Image
      好生活

Obituary, March 19, 2018

CBS Interview, March 11, 2018 -- Borrowed time: Reflecting on a life with cancer

Julie YW (Chris4Life VIDEO)

One Story: How The Challenge Of Colon Cancer Stage 4 Is Making Julie Yip-Williams Better, Smarter, Kinder

Here are links to Julie's blog posts(in reverse chronological order):

  1. ‘Complete’ (October 16th, 2017) : Last blog post
  2. ‘Love’ (September 26th, 2017)
  3. ‘Preparing’ (September 13th, 2017)
  4. ‘Oneness’ (August 31st, 2017)
  5. Thank You’ (August 17th, 2017)
  6. ‘Life’ (July 14th, 2017)
  7. ‘Death’ (July 1st, 2017)
  8. ‘Pain’ (June 22nd, 2017)
  9. ‘Action’ (May 15th, 2017)
  10. ‘Breath’ (April 28th, 2017)
  11. ‘Paralysis’ (April 6th, 2017)
  12. ‘In’ (March 7th, 2017)
  13. ‘Believe’ (February 2nd, 2017)
  14. ‘Home’ (January 25th, 2017)
  15. ‘Fragility’ (December 1st, 2016)
  16. ‘Hate’ (October 10th, 2016)
  17. ‘Chaos’ (August 11th, 2016)
  18. ‘More Crazy’ (July 13th, 2016)
  19. 'Courage and Love' (June 15th, 2016)
  20. 'Chipper' (June 2nd, 2016)
  21. 'Insanity' (April 16th, 2016)
  22. 'Living' (March 20th, 2016)
  23. 'Ghosts'(February 9th, 2016)
  24. 'Pride' (January 4th, 2016)
  25. 'A Good Life' (November 6th, 2015)
  26. 'Isabelle (Part 2)' (September 25th 2015)
  27. 'Isabelle (Part 1)' (September 18th, 2015)
  28. 'Solitude' (August 3rd, 2015)
  29. 'Progression' (July 23rd, 2015)
  30. 'How Far I’ve Come' (July 2nd, 2015)
  31. 'Dreams Reborn' (June 26th, 2015)
  32. 'Invincibility' (May 29th, 2015)
  33. 'Stability' (May 5th, 2015)
  34. 'Lessons From Hawaii' (April 11th, 2015)
  35. 'Julie Fruit Flies And Julie Mice' (March 13th, 2015)
  36. 'A Shared Humanity' (March 6th, 2015)
  37. 'A Day In My Life' (February 25th, 2015)
  38. 'Alternative Treatments And More' (February 24th, 2015)
  39. 'Not In Denial: How One Tiger Mom Is Confronting Stage 4 Cancer' (February 17th, 2015)
  40. 'Dreams Coming True' (February 13th, 2015)
  41. 'Please Don't Forget Us' (February 3rd, 2015)
  42. 'From Darkness to Strength' (January 6th, 2015)
  43. 'The Cancer is In My Lungs' (December 20th, 2014)
  44. 'What Now?' (December 8th, 2014)
  45. 'The Next Move' (November 20th, 2014)
  46. 'Dominos Falling' (November 4th, 2014)
  47. 'WOOHOO!' (November 3rd, 2014)
  48. 'Dying Young' (October 29th, 2014)
  49. 'Second Look' (October 26th, 2014)
  50. 'Gratitude, Scan Results and More Decisions' (October 12th, 2014)
  51. 'Video From Cleary Fundraiser' (September 23rd, 2014)
  52. 'Going Public' (September 23rd, 2014)
  53. 'A Love Story' (September 19th, 2014)
  54. 'The Hand of God' (September 14th, 2014)
  55. 'Randomness' (August 19th, 2014)
  56. 'Farewell My Friend' (July 28th, 2014)
  57. 'An Intermission For An Update On The Realities Of Life With Cancer' (July 22nd, 2014)
  58. 'A Nightmare' (July 7th, 2014)
  59. 'Shaping a Legacy' (June 25th, 2014)
  60. 'The Secret' (June 2nd, 2014)
  61. 'I am Lost' (May 19th, 2014)
  62. 'Obstruction' (May 1st, 2014)
  63. 'Silence and Stillness' (April 21st, 2014)
  64. 'Surgery and Recovery' (March 31st, 2014)
  65. 'Hope Everlasting' (March 12th, 2014)
  66. 'The Juxtaposition of Life And Death' (March 7th, 2014)
  67. 'The Decision and More' (February 28th, 2014)
  68. 'Some Bad News And Some Good News Maybe' (February 28th, 2014)
  69. 'You Must Be So Happy' (February 4th, 2014)
  70. 'Fight With Me' (February 3rd, 2014)
  71. 'More Drama At Chemo' (February 3rd, 2014)
  72. 'The Crossroads Of The World' (January 31st, 2014)
  73. 'Slipping The Surly Bonds Of Earth To Touch The Face Of God' (January 10th, 2014)
  74. 'A Dance Between Two Worlds' (January 7th, 2014)
  75. 'The Marvels Of Acupuncture' (December 19th, 2013)
  76. 'The Holidays' (December 16th, 2013)
  77. 'Parenting With Cancer Another Battle' (December 4th, 2013)
  78. 'Drama At Chemo' (November 26th, 2013)
  79. 'Hiking - A Metaphor' (November 22nd, 2013)
  80. 'The First Defeat' (November 12th, 2013)
  81. 'Filial Love (Part 1)' (November 6th, 2013)
  82. 'Filial Love (Part 2) (November 6th, 2013)
  83. 'In Honor of Our Anniversary' (October 30th, 2013)
  84. 'CEA, PET, MRI' (October 22nd, 2013)
  85. 'An Adventure With The Chinese Medicine Man' (October 16th, 2013)
  86. 'The Bliss In Making The Journey Alone' (October 11th, 2013)
  87. 'The Art Of Anger' (October 7th, 2013)
  88. 'Invictus' (September 30th, 2013)
  89. 'Moments of Happiness' (September 27th, 2013)
  90. 'Here We Go Again' (September 23rd, 2013)
  91. 'Faith - A Lesson Of History' (September 20th, 2013)
  92. 'Deals With God' (September 18th, 2013)
  93. 'CEA and D.C. - Some Good Things' (September 16th, 2013)
  94. 'For All My Fitness Instructors, Past and Present' (September 14th, 2013)
  95. 'Splendor In The Grass and Glory In The Flower' (September 9th, 2013)
  96. 'No Man Is An Island' (September 6th, 2013)
  97. 'Dreams Forsaken' (September 3rd, 2013)
  98. 'Numbers Mean Squat' (August 30th, 2013)
  99. 'Swallowing Glass And Piercing Needles' (August 28th, 2013))
  100. 'Armor On!' (August 25th, 2013)
  101. 'Death, I'm Not Afraid Of You' (August 23rd, 2013)
  102. 'I'm Not Crazy' (August 21st, 2013)
  103. '4 lbs In 1 Week' (August 20th, 2013)
  104. 'Coming Back And Getting Real' (August 20th, 2013)
  105. 'It's Stage IV Colon Cancer' (August 20th, 2013)
  106. 'What Was Removed - Don't Look If You're Gonna Be Queasy' (August 19th, 2013)
  107. 'In The Beginning' (August 19th, 2013)
  108. 'My First Blog Post' (August 19th, 2013)
  109. Note: Julie's favorite posts are listed here: https://julieyipwilliams.wordpress.com/favorite-posts/
.
Last edited by O Stoma Mia on Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:04 am, edited 3 times in total.

User avatar
Maggie Nell
Posts: 1151
Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 1:57 am
Location: Central Highlands, Victoria, Oz

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby Maggie Nell » Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:09 am

AussieAssCancer wrote:
How fitting is that that strength is now formally recognized and a tangible legacy results, one that can be read,
and reread, and reread again.



Rather like all the raw first-hand accounts that have been preserved and archived in this forum.
DX April 2015, @ 54
35mm poorly diff. tumour, incidental finding following emergency R. hemicolectomy
for ileo-colic intussusception.
Lymph nodes: 0/22
T3 N0 MX
Stage II CRC, no adjuvant chemo required.

NedPlease
Posts: 550
Joined: Fri Mar 23, 2012 3:56 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby NedPlease » Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:43 pm

I love this.

N
F-54- St 4- Ascend Colon, 2 Liver mets, Poorly dif, Mutant
6/10- Folfox
9/10- R Liver Resect/Colon/Gall/Appendix
11/10-3/11- Folfox
11/11- R Lung, 1 met, VATS
3/12- 9/12- Xeloda
2/12- 6/18 Clear Scans
6/19- first time no scan
Today- NED

lpas
Posts: 1010
Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:11 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby lpas » Wed Oct 18, 2017 8:06 pm

Such wonderful news, Julie. Honestly, I'm not surprised. You have a wonderful way with words. Congratulations!!
11/14 Dx sigmoid CC @ 45yo
12/14 Colectomy + hysterectomy
Stage IIIB, T3N1bM0, 2/20 nodes, MSS, G2, KRAS(A146T), TP53, SMAD4, ERBB2, CEA 1.0
2/15-7/15 XELOX & celecoxib
2/19 clean scope
11/19 clean CT
Ongoing cimetidine & other targeted supplements
Mom to a 6 & 8yo

User avatar
HopeForJesse
Posts: 249
Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2016 9:39 am
Location: Philadelphia

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby HopeForJesse » Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:41 pm

Can't wait for the book and future movie I am sure! You continue to amaze! :D
DH DX 01/16 49 YO inop RC stage IV liver mets
MSS TP53 APC,BRCA2
12/15 CEA 241, FOLFOX to 11/16
LAR/ileo 5/16 Clear margins 1/29 nodes
HAI, reversal, liver resections7/16
FUDR 8/16 -NED 3 mos
Rising CEA 3/17 Xeloda, 5/17 -12/17 Erbitux & Iri stable but lung/lymph mets CEA 2.7
5/18 5 days SBRT radiation to sternum 10/22/18 surgery to remove zyphoid process met
6/11/19 5FU added to cetuximab and irinotecan CEA 16
Ephesians 3:20 Our God is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!

risto
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:28 am
Location: USA

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby risto » Fri Oct 20, 2017 12:32 am

Julie, I have been reading your blog since my wife was diagnosed stage IV over 2 years ago. I have appreciated your regular posts these past 2 years and the way you write so vividly and candidly. Congratulations on your book deal but I hope it's a long time before it's out, because I know you want it to be published posthumously. It feels so weird to even say that, but I understand where you're coming from. I hope you continue to write your blog even though it's "complete" and that you continue to live as well as you can for as long as you can!
DW Dx 7/15, 41 yo, st IV, 3+ liver mets: 11.3 cm, 7cm, 3cm. MSS.
KRAS, APC, SMAD4, TP53 mut.
7/15-10/15: FOLFOX+bev. x8
11/15-12/15: SIRT (Y90)
1/16: Toxic Hepatitis, chemo break
4/16: Liver resec. fail
5/16-7/16: FOLFIRI x6
8/16: Liver resec.
8/16-11/16: FOLFIRI x6
2/17: IMRT/Xeloda x25
4/17: LAR
6/17: CT: Progression. Peri, Lung, Liver mets. FOLFIRI x6
9/17: FOLFIRI+Bev x5.
11/17: CT: Stable. 5FU+bev. maintenance x5
1/18-2/18: Surgery for SBO
5/18: ascites, acute liver injury

jdepp
Posts: 488
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 7:53 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby jdepp » Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:16 pm

Julie,

Congratulations! You are required reading for people going through stage 4 with kids. I hope you have a lot more writing in you before this book comes out! /jdepp
Colon dx 08 @ 41 Poorly diff. 12+ liver mets, 19/28 LN
Colon rsx /14 x Folfox-Erbitux 08-09
PVE / Liver rsx 09
Lung & LN mets 10
Folfiri, Xeloda, Avastin 10-13
Xelox, Erbitux, UFUR, TS-1, Oxi, Lonsurf 14-16
Stivarga & TIL trial 16
Brain lesion, RO688 trial 18

User avatar
CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: From cancer and a blog to a book

Postby CRguy » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:13 pm

Keep kickin' it forward Julie !!!

Cheers
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far


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