Cottage Grove resident Wayne Schlicht has shared another update in his cancer journey. We reproduce it here:

Last night I told you I was nervous. Today I can finally exhale.

My January 13, 2026 CT scan shows stable metastatic disease.
If you've been following my story, you know what those words mean. You know I've been fighting this battle for four years now. You know about the 70 radiation treatments, the 20 chemotherapy infusions, the five hour surgery where three surgeons cut into my neck. You know that despite all of it, on my 25th wedding anniversary, June 3rd, 2025, I sat across from my doctor and heard the words no one wants to hear: metastatic. Stage 4.

That was supposed to be the end of my story. It wasn't.
I refused to be a passive patient anymore. I became the project manager of my own survival. I threw out the foods that were feeding the disease and committed to a carnivore diet. I added high dose IV vitamin C. I researched repurposed medications and targeted supplements. I tracked my vitamin D, my magnesium, my zinc, my immune markers. I documented every scan, every lab, every adjustment. Thirty years of managing complex systems, and now the most important system I've ever managed is my own body.
September brought a 50% reduction in my tumors. December brought news that two lung nodules had become undetectable.
And today? Today I got to read the word "stable." My tracked nodules have not grown. The changes in my lungs appear to be inflammatory or treatment-related, not cancer progression.

In the world of stage 4 cancer, stable is victory. Stable means more time.
More time with my wife of 25 years. More time with my adult sons. More time to share what I've learned so that others facing this monster don't have to feel as alone as I once did.
I've documented everything in a 400 page manuscript that I believe is the first of its kind. Every decision. Every result. Every lesson. This blog is where I share all of it: the medical details, the emotions, the fears, the small victories, and the faith that keeps me going.
If you're walking a similar road or caring for someone who is, I hope my journey helps you find your way too. You can start with Chapter 1 of my memoir, Still Here: How Faith, Food, and Family Beat Stage Four Cancer. https://waynescancerjourney.com/chapter-1-when-cancer-comes-back/

But I'm not done fighting, and I still need you.
My disability benefits don't begin until February. The treatments that are keeping me alive don't wait for paperwork. Every IV infusion, every supplement, every appointment chips away at resources we don't have.

Here's how you can stand with me:
Leave a comment on my blog and let me know you're in my corner: WaynesCancerJourney.com
Say a prayer for my family and me. I believe in the power of prayer, and I feel it.
If you're able, make a donation to help me afford my next treatment: https://gofund.me/85e855e3

Stage 4. Still here. Still fighting.
And grateful for every single one of you.
Wayne