Matthew Slater
@matthewslater.bsky.social
Philosopher of science at Bucknell University; living with cancer (so far...); microblogging about my treatment here: scroll to first post for the backstory if you're interested.
https://www.mhslater.com/
https://philpeople.org/profiles/matthew-h-slater
https://www.mhslater.com/
https://philpeople.org/profiles/matthew-h-slater
Waiting for pre-op testing and appt at MSK. The fancy coffee machine here is taunting me (liquid only diet today).
December 4, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Waiting for pre-op testing and appt at MSK. The fancy coffee machine here is taunting me (liquid only diet today).
So normally I'd be back to chemo this morning. But all that's on hold in the leadup (and hopefully aftermath) of my surgery. 🥳Instead, I'm back for a CT scan to get a pre-surgery baseline. And no grape for me this time! Brought my own orange gatorade.
November 17, 2025 at 7:35 PM
So normally I'd be back to chemo this morning. But all that's on hold in the leadup (and hopefully aftermath) of my surgery. 🥳Instead, I'm back for a CT scan to get a pre-surgery baseline. And no grape for me this time! Brought my own orange gatorade.
Met with my MSK oncologist yesterday and she was very enthusiastic about the surgery and its potential to keep me from chemo for a good while (again, assuming that there aren't any surprises awaiting in my abdominal cavity!). So we're in.
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Met with my MSK oncologist yesterday and she was very enthusiastic about the surgery and its potential to keep me from chemo for a good while (again, assuming that there aren't any surprises awaiting in my abdominal cavity!). So we're in.
Going for the surgery (unless my MSK oncologist takes an unexpectedly contrary view). Booked for 12/5. Basically I get a retry on my first surgery a little less than a year later. Whatever comes from it, I'm reeeeeaalllly looking forward to a break from #chemo.
November 7, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Going for the surgery (unless my MSK oncologist takes an unexpectedly contrary view). Booked for 12/5. Basically I get a retry on my first surgery a little less than a year later. Whatever comes from it, I'm reeeeeaalllly looking forward to a break from #chemo.
Good news from my MSK surgeon: surgery is tenable; the biopsies came back clean, indicating that the chemo has been working better than expected. It's a major, open procedure that will mean a several week recovery, but at the very least it can beat back remaining tumors and provide more information.
November 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Good news from my MSK surgeon: surgery is tenable; the biopsies came back clean, indicating that the chemo has been working better than expected. It's a major, open procedure that will mean a several week recovery, but at the very least it can beat back remaining tumors and provide more information.
I started #chemo session #22 in the *private* room in the clinic for the first time (since the rest of the chairs were occupied). No one told me that this chair has a massage feature! As a bonus, I got a lunch hangout with my friend Miranda who was passing through before heading back to CA.
November 3, 2025 at 7:13 PM
I started #chemo session #22 in the *private* room in the clinic for the first time (since the rest of the chairs were occupied). No one told me that this chair has a massage feature! As a bonus, I got a lunch hangout with my friend Miranda who was passing through before heading back to CA.
Halloween marks an easy-to-remember anniversary for my "cancer journey" (I remember thinking about going to my colonoscopy in costume). In those early days when the fear and uncertainty level was high, I did wonder at times whether I'd see another. So it's a happy milestone that it's been a year.
October 31, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Halloween marks an easy-to-remember anniversary for my "cancer journey" (I remember thinking about going to my colonoscopy in costume). In those early days when the fear and uncertainty level was high, I did wonder at times whether I'd see another. So it's a happy milestone that it's been a year.
Chemo round #21 in the bag. Not super-psyched to be back to a Tuesday–Thursday schedule given that I'm teaching this afternoon. Hopefully my students will feel a bit more active than I am. . . . Followup appointment with MSK surgeon on 11/4.
October 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Chemo round #21 in the bag. Not super-psyched to be back to a Tuesday–Thursday schedule given that I'm teaching this afternoon. Hopefully my students will feel a bit more active than I am. . . . Followup appointment with MSK surgeon on 11/4.
Pre-surgery last night. The team at MSK is so good in so many ways. Everything was smooth. No nausea this time. Will have some abdominal pain for a few days (4 incisions) but not too bad. No news to report. Apparently it’s hard to tell the difference between live cancer and dead (due to chemo). 🤞
October 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Pre-surgery last night. The team at MSK is so good in so many ways. Everything was smooth. No nausea this time. Will have some abdominal pain for a few days (4 incisions) but not too bad. No news to report. Apparently it’s hard to tell the difference between live cancer and dead (due to chemo). 🤞
So my procedure has been serially moved back to 7:30pm today. Mind you, I was ordered not to eat after midnight last night. After some pushback, they said that I could have a light breakfast. My omelette and Laura’s pancakes at Sarabeth’s were very light and fluffy. So we’re good!
October 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
So my procedure has been serially moved back to 7:30pm today. Mind you, I was ordered not to eat after midnight last night. After some pushback, they said that I could have a light breakfast. My omelette and Laura’s pancakes at Sarabeth’s were very light and fluffy. So we’re good!
In NYC for my diagnostic laparoscopy tomorrow. Pre-surgical testing in the bag. Managed to avoid the temptations of their automatic espresso machine (lest it wreck my BP!).
October 16, 2025 at 10:04 PM
In NYC for my diagnostic laparoscopy tomorrow. Pre-surgical testing in the bag. Managed to avoid the temptations of their automatic espresso machine (lest it wreck my BP!).
Celebrated my 20th chemo session with donuts for the crew here. One of them (understandably) asked if this was my last session. Ah, unfortunately not. . . .
October 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Celebrated my 20th chemo session with donuts for the crew here. One of them (understandably) asked if this was my last session. Ah, unfortunately not. . . .
Weird phenomenon: I used to have a bad habit of absent-mindedly picking at my cuticles. (Gross, I know.) Since chemo started, though, I haven't done it at all. Like a switch flipped. . . . I'll take the win.
September 27, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Weird phenomenon: I used to have a bad habit of absent-mindedly picking at my cuticles. (Gross, I know.) Since chemo started, though, I haven't done it at all. Like a switch flipped. . . . I'll take the win.
Day 2 of #chemo cycle #19 and all's well enough. No hiccups (yet). Except my usual chair (10) was taken over by the bloodwork folks because of dumb administrative changes. New chair had windows but more company / commotion. 😐
September 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Day 2 of #chemo cycle #19 and all's well enough. No hiccups (yet). Except my usual chair (10) was taken over by the bloodwork folks because of dumb administrative changes. New chair had windows but more company / commotion. 😐
Met with MSK surgeon last week. Planning on a laparoscopy to take a little look-see in mid-October to judge whether CRS-HIPEC surgery (major procedure) is tenable. Tentatively blocked that out for early December. 🤞 Meanwhile, chemo load has been very manageable.
September 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Met with MSK surgeon last week. Planning on a laparoscopy to take a little look-see in mid-October to judge whether CRS-HIPEC surgery (major procedure) is tenable. Tentatively blocked that out for early December. 🤞 Meanwhile, chemo load has been very manageable.
This weather sure makes the chemo aftermath easier to take. Round #18 commenced.
September 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This weather sure makes the chemo aftermath easier to take. Round #18 commenced.
Saturday mood: an affogato (with coffee ice cream, no less!) while listening to Freddie Hubbard. And figuring out what all I’m assigning for my PhilSci course this semester.
August 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Saturday mood: an affogato (with coffee ice cream, no less!) while listening to Freddie Hubbard. And figuring out what all I’m assigning for my PhilSci course this semester.
Nothing revelatory from my MSK consult. I’m tolerating chemo well, disease stability is better than progression, but the peritoneal infiltration is hard to image. The next step is likely a laparoscopy to get some better insight. Probably something I can wait until early December to do.
August 28, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Nothing revelatory from my MSK consult. I’m tolerating chemo well, disease stability is better than progression, but the peritoneal infiltration is hard to image. The next step is likely a laparoscopy to get some better insight. Probably something I can wait until early December to do.
Had a very nice pre-classes, pre-chemo trip to NYC to visit some friends and attend opening day at the U.S. Open. Sprung for the good seats in Armstrong (saw Raducanu and Fritz matches) but took in lots else on the outer courts and even watched some practice sessions. Back to reality yesterday.
August 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Had a very nice pre-classes, pre-chemo trip to NYC to visit some friends and attend opening day at the U.S. Open. Sprung for the good seats in Armstrong (saw Raducanu and Fritz matches) but took in lots else on the outer courts and even watched some practice sessions. Back to reality yesterday.
CT results in. Somehow they manage to artfully blend the good news (disease stability again) with a sobering reminder of the bad: "Stable appearance of extensive abnormal soft tissue infiltration suspicious for metastatic involvement." Checking in with MSK oncologist next week.
August 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
CT results in. Somehow they manage to artfully blend the good news (disease stability again) with a sobering reminder of the bad: "Stable appearance of extensive abnormal soft tissue infiltration suspicious for metastatic involvement." Checking in with MSK oncologist next week.
Another morning with my grape-iodine CT contrast solution. Revolutionary new info though: I can bring my own flavor if I want!
August 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Another morning with my grape-iodine CT contrast solution. Revolutionary new info though: I can bring my own flavor if I want!
Neuropathy update: Had a few sessions of acupuncture; no change (worsened actually, but I don't blame the treatment). Trying treatment at a clinic 30 minutes away that feels more familiar (to me) — we talked about neurons and capillaries rather than meridians. 🤷🏻♂️
August 10, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Neuropathy update: Had a few sessions of acupuncture; no change (worsened actually, but I don't blame the treatment). Trying treatment at a clinic 30 minutes away that feels more familiar (to me) — we talked about neurons and capillaries rather than meridians. 🤷🏻♂️
Back from Portugal on Sunday. Great trip. Lisbon and Porto are some striking cities. Some photos here: www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/...
Now it's back to my chemo reality. Will have to work back up to 12k+ steps a day. . . .
Now it's back to my chemo reality. Will have to work back up to 12k+ steps a day. . . .
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July 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Back from Portugal on Sunday. Great trip. Lisbon and Porto are some striking cities. Some photos here: www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/...
Now it's back to my chemo reality. Will have to work back up to 12k+ steps a day. . . .
Now it's back to my chemo reality. Will have to work back up to 12k+ steps a day. . . .
Made it to Lisbon — a very vertical city. Feeling good and also exhausted from all of the walking! Weather is perfect.
July 18, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Made it to Lisbon — a very vertical city. Feeling good and also exhausted from all of the walking! Weather is perfect.
Interesting phenomenon: my resting heart rate (consistently around 62 before chemo) has been varying on the same biweekly schedule during chemo. Oddly, it's lowest during treatment weeks and goes up the week after.
In other news, platelets are up slightly. So . . . "yay" treatment tomorrow is OK.
In other news, platelets are up slightly. So . . . "yay" treatment tomorrow is OK.
July 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Interesting phenomenon: my resting heart rate (consistently around 62 before chemo) has been varying on the same biweekly schedule during chemo. Oddly, it's lowest during treatment weeks and goes up the week after.
In other news, platelets are up slightly. So . . . "yay" treatment tomorrow is OK.
In other news, platelets are up slightly. So . . . "yay" treatment tomorrow is OK.