J. Michael Dennis, Dead Man Talking 1952-2024 - The Journey
J. Michael Dennis, Dead Man Walking
- The Journey
In 2018, I was diagnosed with advance stage 3 colrectal cancer. After intensive radiations and chemotherapy treatments, I underwent colorectal surgery to remove the cancerous tumor. Tho years later, in 2020, a colorectal cancer liver metastasis was diagnosed and an attempted liver surgery failed to removed the affected area. Microvawe burning of the affected area was then performed, a procedure that had to be repeated in 2021. On January 4, 2022 I was told that I was no longer in remission and that if I was to decline another liver surgery attempt to remove the tumor, I would have only twenty-two to twenty-four months to live.
The late renown visual artist Marcelle Ferron [1924-2001] was one of my relatives and my late mother, Madeleine Ferron, was also a gifted artist. Still today, two of my sisters, Carmen and Nathalie, Carmen still being active, and one of my cousins [Isabelle Ferron], are still perpetuating the inherited artistic family tradition.
Now that my days are counted, I decided to give up on all the vicissitudes of life and to start an artistic journey creating a series of paintings to illustrate the next two years, the evolution of my state of mind during the last two years of my life.
Every one of these collectable paintings will be titled numericly as follow: # 1; # 2; # 3 ... and on until the day of my death or as long as the evolution of my cancer will allow me to paint.
Auctioning these paintings will hopefully allow me to enjoy my last two years without worrying about my financial situation and allow me to secure my funeral. As some would say, "Colorectal Cancer is a real pain in the ass".
I hope you will enjoy my art and,
thank you for both, your assistance and contribution.
J. Michael Dennis
March 11, 2022
About Colorectal Cancer & Liver Metastasis
Colorectal Cancer & Treatments
Colorectal cancer is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. Sometimes it is called colon cancer, for short. The colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.
Sometimes abnormal growths, called polyps, form in the colon or rectum. Over time, some polyps may turn into cancer. Screening tests can find polyps so they can be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colorectal cancer at an early stage, when treatment works best.
In my case, colorectal was only discovered in its advanced stage 3, which required intensive radiations and chemotherapy treatments before surgery.
I am now dying from colorectal cancer liver metastasis and given only twenty-two to twenty-four months to live.
Colorectal Cancer Survival Rate
Doctors give survival statistics based on historical information, so the numbers do not reflect the current standards of care or recent improvements in chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.
Improvement of the treatments available today recently increased the relative survival for people diagnosed at stage III, as well as the length of time that people with metastatic cancer will live.
According to SEER data the five-year survival rate is 64.5 percent for all colorectal cancers. However, that percentage is nearly 90 percent among those diagnosed with localized (early stage) disease.
As of 2015, there are an estimated 1,332,085 people living with colon or rectal cancer in the United States.
Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
The liver is the commonest site of metastatic disease for patients with colorectal cancer, with at least 25% developing colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) during the course of their illness.
The management of CRLM has evolved into a complex field requiring input from experienced members of a multi-disciplinary team involving radiology (cross sectional, nuclear medicine and interventional), Oncology, Liver surgery, Colorectal surgery, and Histopathology.
Liver resection may safely be carried out laparoscopically or open, and synchronously with, or before, colorectal surgery in selected patients.
For unresectable patients, treatment options including systemic chemotherapy, targeted biological agents, intra-arterial infusion or bead delivered chemotherapy, tumour ablation, stereotactic radiotherapy, and selective internal radiotherapy contribute to improve survival and may convert initially unresectable patients to operability.
Currently evolving areas include biomarker characterisation of tumours, the development of novel systemic agents targeting specific oncogenic pathways, and the potential re-emergence of radical surgical options such as liver transplantation.
J. Michael Dennis
Education &
Achievements
1972-1976
Ottawa University: ll.l.; ll.m.
1977-1980
Montreal Urban Community Transport Commission: Legal Adviser
1980-1985
Barrister & Sollicitor: Corporate, Business & Statutory Law
1985-1995
Union Carbide Corporation: SCMS National Coordinator
1995-2022
Business Consultant: Envionmental, Copoate & Regulatory Compliance; Crisis & Reputation Management
2015-2022
CEO, King Global Earth & Environmental Sciences Corporation
2022-2024
Dead Man Talking Artist
J. Michael Dennis, ll.l., ll.m.
1952-2024