Saturday, August 13, 2005

Good News for people that love Bad News

Well the hits just keep coming.

Friday prior to my appointment with a Sarcoma Specialist, I got the results on my car. Turned out to be an anti-theft module that is going cost $500 to get fixes. I really don't have any choice sine I am marooned on the island without my car. I definitely see the irony in have to pay so much for an "anti-theft" device.

At the end of my appointment I found out even worse news. The last CT that was performed of my pelvis included about a third of my lungs. Turns out there are at least 6 new tumors in my lungs. A full scan is being scheduled for next week and we'll discuss my options. When the doctor told me the news, my first question was "Is this a death sentence" he said no, but that he couldn't guarantee 5 years at this point. Once Sarcoma has spread to the lungs it becomes harder to deal with and this is quite scary news to hear.

One tearful call home and a shuttle ride later I received my radiation and headed to the Airport. I got into Tulsa at 12:19 this morning. Being home is nice I really missed the kids and Amy. I've got more tough roads to travel but I am feeling ok and I am focused to fight.

LIVESTRONG - It is a way of life

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Broke Down Car Blues

Today I made it through my routine and was in line to make the 3:00 ferry. And once it was my turn to start up and drive on the ferry, my car decided not to start! It actually would start get to idle and then die over and over again. Luckily I was near the back so not too many people had to drive around me. Once I was pushed out of the way I got a tow to a nearby GM dealership and a ride back to the ferry terminal. I ended up walking onto the 6:20 ferry and taking a cab back to the house. The tow truck driver thought it was only a clogged fuel filter (which I would normally fix on my own) but I won't hear from the dealership tomorrow. I wish it had done this earlier in the week. I have an appointment with a Sarcoma specialist, my radiation therapy, and my flight back to Tulsa. (I get to see my kids and Amy for the weekend!)

definitely not something I am budgeted for, hopefully it'll just be a filter and not something larger like a pump.

The spam won't stop!!!

So I have had to restrict comments even further, only Amy and I can make comments now. I have contacted blogger and if I feel that they have fixed the problem I'll relax the restrictions.

My blog got SPAM'D!

I didn't know people would do this, but it happened tonight. I had about 20 comments on my last post that contained links to all the crap that gets sent out on e-mail spam. So this forced me to change my blog so only registered users can post a comment. So you'll need to register with blogger.com if you want to be able to comment on my posts.

I am sorry that I had to do this, but I can't deal with having to manually delete spam all day.

LIVESTRONG - AJM

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Tire Shop Blues

I've got the tire shop blues today. I ended up waiting about 3 hours to get a flat fixed this afternoon. Originally they told me it would take an hour. They literally did almost no tickets for that hour! When I asked how much longer I got a snide remark. At least I made it out of there without them trying to sell me new tires. All thanks to a nail.

The rest of my day was pretty routine. Take the ferry to Seattle, grab lunch, get radiated, head home. I usually can catch the 3:30 ferry which takes about 35 min to get me to the island. Today thanks to the tire shop, I get to wait about 1.5 hours to catch a rush hour ferry (I arrived on time for the 5:20 but had to wait for the 6:20). Luckily they have free wi-fi at the terminal. Which is where I am right now. It's 64 degrees and overcast today, I'm used to high 90s and low 100s all August in Oklahoma so I am enjoying the mild weather.


Just thought I'd make a mundane day in the life post.

LIVESTRONG

AJM

BTW - I saw the doctor today, 1/2 way done!, and they were pleased with the relatively minor side affects I have experienced.

Skin cancers becoming more common among young

"In the study, doctors focused on people under 40 in Olmsted County, Minn. From 1976-1979 to 2000-2003, the combined rate of the two diseases grew from 19 cases per 100,000 people to 33 per 100,000 — a 74% increase.

Although up to 90% of such cancers typically appear on the head and neck, doctors in the study found 40% of skin cancers on other parts of the body, a change that probably reflects the effect of excessive sunbathing."

Something to think about before sunbathing or paying for your children to go to tanning booths. It hardly seems worth the risk.

Knowledge is Power in the fight against cancer.

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Unity is Strength

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and Senator John McCain of Arizona, two of the nation's most high profile Senators and cancer survivors, joined the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) in the fight against cancer by posting their personal stories about living with cancer at http://www.livestrong.org.

You can find my story there as well.

LIVESTRONG - AJM

Monday, August 08, 2005

Rest in Peace Peter

Peter Jennings passed away due to advanced lung cancer.

"Westin noted that once Jennings learned of the cancer he "moved straight into an aggressive chemotherapy treatment. He knew that it was an uphill struggle. But he faced it with realism, courage and a firm hope that he would be one of the fortunate ones.""

You really can't fight it any other way.

Sunday, August 07, 2005

Interesting new article on PubMed

Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare group of neoplasms readily dispersed throughout the body with different histopathologies and different outcomes. The present review summarizes advances made in biology, distribution and natural history, and emphasises predictive models for outcome. Complete resection remains the major factor in providing cure, with limited benefits in the control of the local disease by radiation therapy and only minimal benefit of systemic therapy for metastatic disease. Identification of targeted therapy utilising direct specific molecular targets raises hope that future progress in control, if not cure, is realistic

Definately good news. I meet with a Sarcoma specialist this Friday, I plan on discussing this article along with other topics.

LIVESTRONG