Eric S Neitzel

30 years in Wildfire and Aviation Management, Owner of Fireground Drone Works. Wildland Fire subject matter expert.

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

There’s a box sitting on my table right now that most people would never think twice about.
Plain white cardboard. Shipping labels. Tape. A little dent on the corner from the journey.

But inside that box is thirty days of my life.

Thirty doses of Verzenio.
About $600 a day.
Roughly $18,000 for one month of trying to stay alive.

When people hear “cancer treatment,” they picture brave faces, inspirational quotes, ringing bells, and stories about fighting.
What they don’t see is the reality orbiting around these medications.

The side effects can be brutal.
Severe diarrhea.
Stomach problems.
Exhaustion that drains the life out of you.
Depression.
Low drive.
Pain.
Brain fog.

And then comes the second layer of medicine — the medications prescribed to counteract the side effects caused by the first medication.
Then more medications to help you sleep.
More to help with nausea.
More to stabilize your body when the others throw it off balance.

Each bottle comes with another price tag.
Another insurance battle.
Another reminder that cancer doesn’t just attack your body — it attacks your finances, your independence, your mental health, your dignity, and your future.

And that’s the part that’s hard to explain to people.

I am grateful this medicine exists. Truly.
There are brilliant scientists, researchers, doctors, and nurses behind it, and I understand that without treatments like Verzenio, many of us wouldn’t even have a fighting chance.

But at the same time… it’s impossible not to feel angry sometimes.

Angry that an illness can financially devastate someone while they’re already suffering physically and emotionally.
Angry that entire industries profit from pain.
Angry that surviving cancer can become a full-time economic burden.

Cancer has already taken enough from me.
It’s taken strength.
Energy.
Sleep.
Peace of mind.
Moments of joy.
Confidence.
Time.

And now every month it arrives in a white box with a shipping label attached.

Some days I look at it and feel hopeful.
Other days I look at it and feel resentment.
Because every pill is a reminder that my life changed forever.

But here’s the reality:
I’ll still take it.
I’ll still fight.
I’ll still get up every morning and keep moving forward even when the side effects hit hard and the emotions hit harder.

Because despite all of it, I’m still here.

And maybe that’s what this box really represents.

Not weakness.
Not defeat.
Not surrender.

Survival.

#CancerBattle
#CancerJourney
#MaleBreastCancer
#BreastCancerAwareness
#Verzenio
#CancerTreatment
#CancerWarrior
#StillFighting
#SurvivorMentality
#LifeAfterDiagnosis
#TheRealCancerFight

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

One thing I wasn’t prepared for in this cancer fight…

Doctors: “This could save your life.”
Insurance: “Not medically necessary.”

Meanwhile, it feels like some guy in a basement—missing his stapler from Office Space—is making the call with a big red “DENIED” stamp.

That shouldn’t be part of anyone’s survival story.

#StillFighting #RealTalk #ThisIsReal #NotJustPaperwork #SurvivalStory #BehindTheScenes #malebreastcancer

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Today marks my 5
5th radiation treatment. I have 19 more to go! And yes, I am counting. At the end of each session, I thank them for saving my life. @Bannermdandersn

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

@Majormac1 Thank you!

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Yesterday, at this time I got the call that I was diagnosed with male breast cancer.

That’s not something I ever expected to say, and I’m still processing what it means. Breast cancer doesn’t only affect women, and one of the reasons I’m sharing this publicly is because many people—especially men—don’t realize that.

2026 has already taken a drastic turn for me, and many of the plans I had in motion have been put on hold as I shift my focus to my health.

I’ve chosen Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Valley as my route of treatment. I have my first appointment with my oncologist on the 20th, where we’ll begin mapping out next steps.

Over the coming weeks, I’ll be navigating additional tests, treatment decisions, and recovery. I plan to share updates and information when I have the energy, both to keep people informed and to help raise awareness about a disease that often goes undiscussed in men.

I may not be able to respond to every message or question, but I truly appreciate the support and understanding. Right now, I’m focused on taking this one step at a time. @MDAndersonNews

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

https://t.co/Z5PigFzZ4w

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

My new normal.
Tomorrow I find out if chemotherapy is in my future.

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Im out of the hospital! Waiting to feel good enough to drive 3hrs home at the hotel nextdoor.
#CancerJourney #malebreastcancer

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

I was just diagnosed with male breast cancer. I go into surgery to have a right mastectomy next Tuesday at Banner MD Andersen Cancer Ctr. Every donation helps cover surgery, travel, and pet care, easing the burden during this challenging time. Please consider contributing or sharing to help Eric on his journey to recovery. Thank you!

https://t.co/oV56y5hdWM

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Today marks my 21,445th day of sobriety! I'm incredibly proud, especially given my family history of alcoholism.

Dad died from it.
His parents died from its effects.
My family was destroyed by it.
#breakingthechain

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

@SquareSupport Well this is not cool! I'm going to start looking for a different solution card solution.

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Small Business Rant:
Why @Square is Punishing My Small Business?
I’ve used Square for many years. It’s easy to use, reliable, and their small business loans have been a real help — letting me repay through a percentage of sales instead of a fixed payment.
But lately, they’ve started putting an arbitrary five-day hold on my very few check deposits. In reality, that’s an eight-day hold once you count weekends.
I’m a small business. I have a few high-profile clients who can’t pay deposits because of how their systems work. That means I eat the upfront costs — fuel, materials, labor — and make it up when the final check comes in.
That used to work fine. But now, Square is holding those final payments for a week or more, locking up the money I already earned. Smaller checks used to clear instantly; now even those get flagged.
Let’s be honest: Square is punishing small businesses for accepting checks.
These are verified clients, including government agencies, not risky transactions. Yet I’m treated like one.
I’ve stayed with Square because it’s simple and their loans help me grow — but these check holds are crippling for small operators like me.
If you trust me to process credit cards and repay loans, you can trust me to deposit a check.
Square holding my small-business money hostage.

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Texas Poachers Busted in Historic Kansas Sting After Slaughter of 119 Monster Bucks https://t.co/5aQOpSfO4Q @AgWebEditor

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

@SpaceX Congrats!!!

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

@Matterport @CoStarGroup It looks like the Recycle logo.

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

I am seriosly rethinking @FiregroundDrone's relationship with @Matterport and donating my cameras to goodwill!

[Eric S Neitzel @EricNeitzel]

Started installing the replacement engine in the Wings of Help mission-ready Tahoe—and my mechanic found serious issues. It’s been 6+ weeks
@LKQonline, I’ve been patient. Fix this or I go full scorched earth.
https://t.co/TZ2x0UtDwF
#WingsOfHelp #LKQonline #SearchAndRescue

[The Hotshot Wake Up @HotshotWake]

A tremendous amount of work has been done on the Dragon Bravo Fire in the Grand Canyon National Park. Critical Fire weather is expected in Arizona later this week so Fire Managers from SW CIMT 4 and crews have established a contingency groups, IA group, conducted tactical firing Ops, and installed sprinklers around infrastructure including the Kaibab Lodge.

They are also trying to finish hazard mitigation around the burned infrastructure in the park so park employees can return and retrieve their personal items. The team made it clear that the weather event may bring increased activity with potential spotting up to 1/2 mile, so crews are focused on building a lot of depth with firing Ops, to reduce the potential for spotting near the line.

The fire is 12,728 acres, 8% contained, with nearly 900 personnel assigned. Thanks to the subscriber who shared these incredible views of Fire activity in the Park.