Beating Cancer

“Bear...am I missing something...do you have cancer?”

“check this thread from about a year ago.”

“Blood/Lymphoma Cancers. Circulating cancerous cells. And you're right, I get a PET/CT scan now. But it is the prefered method for Lymphoma detection.

Had cancer, crazygurl. Hodgkins Lymphoma. I'm cured. Though My doctor is calling it remission until she sees no cancer for the next five years. That's a pessimist, in my book.

;)”

“PET/CT isn't good at picking up leukemia, which primarily involves the bone marrow and blood. PET/CT is good for picking up lymphoma, which predominantly involves lymph nodes.”

“Big hugs!!!”

“Thanks cg!

And thanks for the correction, pathman.I guess the blood tests I have are good enough for Leukemia detection, yes?”

“the blood tests I have are good enough for Leukemia detection, yes?

If the blood tests are all normal, unlikely that there is anything bad going on in the bone marrow unless very small amounts of disease. The only way to exclude that is bone marrow examination, which you probably already as part of your staging.

LIVESTRONG”

“Yeah. I had a BM biopsy (LOL!) in the beginning. That was an odd experience. I asked for one at the of therapy but they said it was uneccesary. Would've made me feel better.”

“Why do Dr's suck? Why do Post-Doc Docs #&%!$ing suck ass? I knew something was wrong. My wife knew something was wrong. And all he could do was give the facts.

2 neck lymph nodes were positive for PET. Then my Onco came in and discovered another swollen node in my armpit. It may be Hodgkins. It may be infection/left over mono issues. But she doesn't want to take any chances.

I scheduled an MRI. July 7th. 1AM. If they can visualize them then they come out.

So I'm gonna wallow a bit before my wife gets home......good excusence too have a whiskey no?

If it's Hodgkins I'm #&%!$ed. And just this week I decided to stop being honest about why I've been out of work. Figuring it's no big deal. The #&%!$ is curable and I have my own health coverage. No need to discriminate against me. I can't possibly estimate how many jobs I've applied for........7-10 yesterday. I do know how many responses - 3 calls, 1 interview.

I'm damaged goods. I had the opportunity to tell Mr. Moore my story and maybe have a bit in his current movie. I chose discretion. I think I chose wrong.

That felt good.

Cheers.”

“Damn, BM, I hope it's just an infection.

Bottoms up.”

“thanks tree. here's to infections.

;)”

“My mom still reminisces (AKA complains loudly) about how she had mono when she was 21, and ended up in the hospital for a week because no one around her (AKA my dad and his family) believed she was that sick.”

“mono can frikken blind side you. my mri is 1 yr minus a day after i was married to dani. maybe thats a good thing?”

“Bear, I hope it all works out and turns out to be nothing serious. I know exactly how you feel because a similar thing is happening to me. I'm having surgery next week to get a nodule removed from my lung. It grew 3mm in the last 3 months, but they don't know what it is based just on that and a CT scan image. 2 weeks ago I had surgery on my tongue again for what I think was a small cancer. I don't have results for that yet, but it was so small that it seems trivial right now and whatever it was should be in the bucket anyway. I'm just taking a wait and see attitude about my lung for now.”

“Damn Rich. It's a #&%!$ty, hard knock. Hope all goes well. My doc was able to bump up my MRI to today.”

“My dear friend Maggie is still fighting brain cancer after two years. She had an infusion whereby they drip the poison directly into her brain. The stuff worked so well that the good brain tissue is dying now. She had a seizure a few weeks ago. The good thing is that there is no new cancer growth. Just more necrosis of good brain matter. She got to see her oldest son graduate from high school and that gave her great joy.

Good luck RichB and BM. I will be thinking about you.”

“I wish the best for both of you.”

“That's a good move so you don't have to wait as long. It's much better to move as fast as possible with these things.”

“Rich and bearmagnet, I’m sorry to hear this I wish all the best for both of you.”

“Sorry CD. Cancer sucks.

got a 7/13 appt with an otolaryngology surgeon. They said to call back if the MRI looks suspicious and they'll squeeze me in earlier.”

“Big hugs...and lots of prayers.....

..keep us informed!!!!”

“Guys, I'm hoping the best for you. You're both in my thoughts and prayers.
Bearmag, I believe if I were in your shoes the situation would call for a bottle of whiskey. Damn. Damn. damn.”

“I think I drank a bottle yesterday sass. You know, I've just been alerted to the fact that PET's produce a lot of false positives. Nothing like being told your cancer may be back to throw one into a complete state of panic.

I will be thinking False Positive until I'm told otherwise.”

“Thanks everyone, I was just informed a few hours ago that my surgery for next week was cancelled. I had a carotid artery ulrasound in my neck last week and I've got up to 90% blockage from radiation damage. As a result, my surgeon said I'd be at too high of a risk to a have stroke on the table. He's sending me to a vascular surgeon and he'll probably install some stents in the arteries. Once that's fixed, then they can start working on the lung problem. It sucks, but I'll get it fixed. I can't drink so I'm going for a mountain bike ride, that's my fix.
last edited: 6/27/07 2:04:47 PM”

“Stay positive Rich.”

“Inflammation, wounds and swelling can cause a false positive on PET scan. I've had it light up from some esophagitis. It's not always cancer when a PET scan lights up.”

“sheet! I'm hoping all goes well for you RichB and bear. Though I never met you - the connection is tangible.

Rich - You are one tough mofo and a fine role model and reference point for me. Hope the lungs are OK.

Bear - I can get some sense of where you are at. When I found a lump, had it confirmed as a tumor earlier this year my life didn't flash before me, but I did hit the rewind a lot. I hope your news turns out to be as good as mine.

One guy who had lymphoma said he always knew life was an elimination round with death, you lose one and you are gone. He said, "We are all going to lose one and go out. What I figure is that there is no way I'm going out 0-1."

So, I'm rooting for you to your winning streaks going. And then, I'd like to have you go quite a few decades before the next match.”

“Thanks everyone, I was just informed a few hours ago that my surgery for next week was cancelled. I had a carotid artery ulrasound in my neck last week and I've got up to 90% blockage from radiation damage. As a result, my surgeon said I'd be at too high of a risk to a have stroke on the table. He's sending me to a vascular surgeon and he'll probably install some stents in the arteries. Once that's fixed, then they can start working on the lung problem. It sucks, but I'll get it fixed. I can't drink so I'm going for a mountain bike ride, that's my fix.
last edited: 6/27/07 2:04:47 PM”
RichB
1:55:47 PM
6/27/07

Please don't have a stroke. Bad news all around.

Bear, I'm pulling for you.”

“Wow. MRI's suck ass. I came close to losing it. Maybe a couple of times. I might not wish one on my worst enemy.”

“You are both in my thoughts in prayers.

I hate seeing this thread come active.”

“Bear, I hate MRI tests too, but what works for me is pretty simple. I keep my eyes closed right before I go inside and don't open them until I'm out of the tube. I just imagine that I'm somewhere else.”

“Left two messages for every contact I had at Lombardi yesterday, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, hoping for word. Got nothing.

Packed up the car this morning for a much needed trip into the outdoors and got word - Lymph nodes need to come out ASAP.

So here I sit, waiting to hear from the surgeons office, hoping, somehow, I'll still be able to leave. Just for a little bit. Wishing I could have a drink.

Cancer sucks.

Rich -

I just imagine that I'm somewhere else.

I tried. But was mostly unsuccessful. The decibel levels always broke through. I'm not sure I could ever do it again”

“Bear, sorry to hear you need the surgery. I doubt they do surgery on a weekend so maybe you'll still be able to go on your trip.

I heard the noise too even with the earplugs, but still was able to deal with it by keeping my eyes closed. I hated the PET scan even more because I had to stretch my arms out above my head and leave them there. That quickly gets uncomfortable for me because I separated my shoulder in a bike crash and it's never been normal again.”

“Very sorry to hear it bm. You'll be in our prayers.

dh”

“LOTS of hugs and prayers!!!!!!!”

“Sending good kharma your way, bro.”

“Thanks y'all.

I think we compliment each other, Rich. I sleep like a baby all the way through my PET scans. I could probably sleep through CT scans if not for the breathing "exercises" and the Barium enema.

;)”

“Sending healthy thoughts your way Bear!”

“Get better bearmagnet.”

“The worst part about an MRI imo is having to be still for 20-30 minutes. The noise is a close second.

Bear, I hope you get to get away for a few days.”

“My Friend Col. Brad smith has stage 4 cancer and is currently Hiking the AT in sections southbound. He is raising money doing the hike for the Patriot Fund. Helping children of Soldiers killed in the line of duty go to college.




Brad Smith’s Appalachian Trail Journal, 19-23 June 2007
Manassas Gap (Virginia Route 55), Virginia to Milam Gap, Virginia
56 Miles (11 miles a day)

"Every man’s life is a fairy tale, written by God’s fingers."
Hans Christian Anderson

The Shenandoah National Park provides a great setting for a fairy tale… Long, circuitous paths meander along the military crests of mountains, skirting jagged cliffs, and offering majestic views of the valley below. Beds of ferns stretch deep into the woods and disappear into darkness. Shadows move as cool breezes shiver through the trees, setting imaginations into motion. Trails maze their way through the dense vegetation, and are made of soft dirt or padded with pine needles. The mountain slopes are gentle and easily negotiated. It’s a hiker’s dream come true.
Prior to entering the park, I passed through Chester Gap, the fifth pass through the Blue Ridge Mountains after Keyes, Snickers, Ashby and Manassas Gaps (discussed in the last journal entry). Chester Gap was discovered by a German, John Lederer, during his third trip to the Blue Ridge in 1670. The Blue Ridge was later settled by German immigrants coming south through the Piedmont from Pennsylvania. They used the five gaps to reach the central portion of the Shenandoah Valley. In 1736, Thomas Lord Fairfax had 120,000 acres of land surveyed that stretched from Snickers Gap to Chester Gap, and much of the adjacent Shenandoah Valley. In 1748, he hired 16-year old George Washington to survey the land for his personal estate in nearby White Post.
West of Chester Gap near the Appalachian Trail is a federal installation with an unusual and diverse history. In 1911, the U.S. Army used it as a remount station for horses and mules. Later, the Army re-designated the land for prisoners-of-war and then as a canine training facility after World War II. The Department of Agriculture took possession of the facility in 1948 to research beef cattle. In the 1970s, the National Zoological Park took possession and used the installation as a conservation and research center. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University also used some of the land to create a 4-H center which still exists today.
Three and one-half miles beyond Chester Gap is Compton Gap where the Shenandoah National Park begins. The park encompasses the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia between Front Royal and Waynesboro. Its 306 square miles include more than fifty peaks that exceed 3,000 feet in height. In 1931, President Herbert Hoover began using Rapidan Camp as a fishing vacation spot and getaway (similar to Camp David, Maryland today). The camp is an easy detour by foot off the current-day Appalachian Trail at Milan Gap. The trail hugs much of the 105 mile Skyline Drive that was built as a contractor "relief project" during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Over a thousand members of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built picnic and recreational areas, to include a trail across the Blue Ridge between 1933 and 1937, which is now part of the Appalachian Trail. Miles of trail are on top of tall, sturdy, and still intact rock walls that fill engineer cuts through steep mountain terrain.
Thru-hikers will agree that the dense flora and hilly terrain almost dictate bivouacs in pre-established camping areas. Park regulations do not prohibit overnight stays in the wild, but the ground is too densely forested along the trail to find a clear, level spot for a tent. One does come across suitable, postage stamp-size spots, usually with beautiful views of the valley below. But invariably, the discoveries come too early in the day to stop hiking. So many thru-hikers fall into the daily routine of covering 13-15 miles separating outdoor shelters, or "huts" as they are designated by park authorities. These sites are therefore the hub of social activity in the forest – "everyone who is anyone" stays there. And it’s quite a gathering… At this time of year, the Shenandoah National Park absorbs the remaining bow wave of thru-hikers who began their Appalachian Trail trek in late March or early April at Springer Mountain, Georgia. On weekends, vacationers also come out to join the action. On my last night, two troops of Boy Scouts swarmed all over Rock Spring Hut. Kids were everywhere. Their uniformed blue tents were pitched in the most creative locations up and down Hawksbill Mountain. The quiet oasis in the woods was transformed into a kaleidoscope of noise and perpetual motion on steroids. I regretted not packing some martini mix.
When campsites exceed their intended capacity, it’s bewildering to see people sleeping on the ground immediately surrounding the huts. These are the same spots that normally serve as convenient, middle-of-the-night, urination relief points. So I had tremendous motivation to rise early, get on the trail as soon as possible, and reach the next bivouac area before all the choice (sanitary) spots were taken.
Wild animals are plentiful in the park. Two big attractions for tourists are black bear and whitetail deer. It’s unusual to spend days in the Shenandoah National Park and not see a bear. On the way home in the car, we were caught in a traffic jam along Skyline Drive as drivers stopped to goggle at one strutting his four hundred pounds of well proportioned muscle and shiny black fur. It’s hard to believe something that big can run at speeds over 35 miles per hour. Whitetail deer seemed to be everywhere. They wandered fearlessly through camp. One night, I returned to my tent after cooking my dinner at the hut, and found a deer with its snout inside my neighbor’s sleeping bag. One hiker who spent the night on the ground outside the hut told me he couldn’t sleep because deer were noisily chomping on something several feet away. When you wake up, deer will be grazing inside the bivouac area, patiently expecting to share your breakfast. It’s against the law to feed them for obvious reasons. The deer are already too friendly, which can lead to potentially dangerous situations during mating season. Some approach moving vehicles for an expected hand-out and create hazardous road conditions.
On Pass Mountain, less than a mile from completing that day’s mileage goal, I was busily negotiating large rocks that "flowed down" the mountainside like a river. This short stretch of trail was treacherous. One had to keep one’s head down and remain focused on safe footing. I sensed movement immediately ahead and glanced up to find a deer with her two fawns less than five feet ahead. I was literally on top of them, so I moved back, knowing a wild animal that feels threatened will fight. The mother snorted and her two youngsters clambered slowly and clumsily over the rocks to her. The three of them took a couple of steps and the mother turned her head and just looked at me. Her eyes told me, "go away; you bother me". I wanted to leave the trail and maneuver around them, but the terrain boxed us in. I spoke to her in a low, calm voice urging them along. They’d take a couple of steps and then stop. The babies were tired, their legs bowed inwardly together, and they struggled over the rocks. So the fawns would stop to rest, I’d softly talk, the mother would snort, and the fawns would move forward a bit, falling down as they made slight progress… They’d partially disappear into the space between the rocks and I worried they’d break a leg. We patiently repeated this drill for at least 30 minutes when the mother alerted. I looked for a bear, wondering if I was going to witness or be part of some violent attack. But it was another hiker coming from the opposite direction. I signaled for him to stop, and the deer were trapped on all sides. Cliffs and humans blocked all avenues of escape. So, I immediately left the trail, scaled down the rocks, clambered across, and joined the hiker on the opposite side. During that time, the mother escaped with the stronger of the two fawns through the opening I provided, abandoning one to save the other. The other hiker and I proceeded on our way quickly to provide the privacy necessary for a deer family reunion.
During this same day, I was unaware that a bizarre saga was unfolding. My part in the story began in the morning and continued into the night. About 1100 hours, I was stuffing my face with hot dogs at the Elkwallow Wayside snack bar when "Mountain Man" rolled in from the trail. He was a friendly giant of a man, extroverted, and explaining to others that his wallet had been stolen the previous day. I’m sympathetic to anyone who is down on their luck, especially those who are alone on the trail. Problems that normally would be considered small are magnified in importance when you’re hiking cross-country. No one was offering to help, so as I was leaving, I walked over to "Mountain Man" and offered to buy him lunch. He explained what he needed most was $20 so he could buy enough supplies to enable him to reach the next post office where a money order awaited. I helped him out, thought nothing of it, and proceeded on my way. But that night at Pass Mountain Hut, Park Rangers were out in the middle of a pouring rainstorm, waking up hikers, and conducting visual identifications. They were looking for "Mountain Man" who also went by the name of "Shed Dog". He was wanted for various larceny crimes, illegal solicitation, and exposing himself to women. Because I had spoken to the suspect earlier that day, I was able to give the grateful Rangers a detailed description and the man’s intended destinations for the next several days. Two female hikers who had also spoken with the pervert were very concerned. The next morning, they told me they stayed awake all night clutching their pepper spray. I smiled inwardly, because pepper spray would only anger someone that size and, if squirted, might turn him into a raging bull. That boy needed something Ajax can’t scrub off. Because the two women were also traveling southbound on the trail, I’d walk ahead of them, climb a mountain, stretch out on an overhang, enjoy the view, and wait for them to catch up – just so they knew someone else was close by. After a while, they were back to enjoying the hike and continued ahead on their own.
I returned home relaxed and re-charged after five days in the Shenandoah. Good news awaited me when I traveled to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. The facility and staff were extremely impressive, which explained their world-class reputation. The particulars of my medical condition may enable hepatic surgeons to place a hockey puck-sized pump in the spot normally reserved for a gall bladder. Oncologists can then access the pump externally with a syringe and shoot large quantities of toxins directly into the liver to kill tumors. The amount of drugs involved would be lethal if injected anywhere else. It’s an intriguing option if I do qualify, and especially appealing since we’ve gone through all FDA approved chemotherapies. My cancer has morphed over the years to "outsmart" everything in the standard inventory that can shrink or eliminate colon cancer tumors. As a side note, I am eternally grateful for the superb care that I have received at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center over the last two and one-half years. Their team has beat the odds, at least for now, that were definitely stacked against me.
Surgeons at Memorial Sloan-Kettering might be able to install a pump, and do so high enough in the abdomen to allow me to strap on a backpack belt and continue hiking. The jury is still out. But if they do go inside my belly, I’m hoping they can slide the scalpel over a little and, as we did at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2005, slice off two-thirds of my cancerous liver. (The liver is the only organ, other than skin, that regenerates.) Lesions have grown so large that one can a see a painful protrusion pushing outward. Regardless, it is pure speculation on my part at the moment, but the hepatic procedure might keep me in the fight longer. It might even turn out to be the curative option. God’s miracle continues. Anyone with a truly serious illness is like a soldier in combat. You develop a deep belief in God, if one didn’t already exist. There are no atheists in foxholes.
Each mile of the Appalachian Trail hiked raises additional money for the American Patriot Scholarship Program, which provides undergraduate tuition grants to the sons and daughters of military servicemen and women who die while serving our country.
Resolute! Long Hunter”

“Sass - I believe the headlock, the sound, the coffin, and a 45min scan is what made it hell for me. I might be claustrophobic now and may never set a willing foot in a closed MRI again.

Diagnostic Purgatory - a term someone used for this crap. I like it. Saw a surgeon today. He examined my MRI and didn't seem to like what he saw. The nodes are deep, not close together, and they're surrounded by a lot of sensitive stuff (jugular, nerves, whatnot)

He thought the best thing to do was take a slice of node, let pathology take a look and then maybe whack the whole node out. Not gonna try for the smaller one.

I'm waiting for a call to tell me when I can have surgery....”

“Sorry to hear about this setback BM. This is one of the few threads that I check regularly. I am always hoping to read good news and my heart sinks when the news is not so good.

We missed you and your wife at the campout last weekend. Maybe next year you guys can make it.”

“You were indeed missed, Mr. Bear.

Good luck!”

“Please keep us up to date, bear.
I read, but don't post a lot to these type threads because I never really know what to say, but I do care.”

“Thanks guys. it sucked to miss it. I'm 0-2 on Blue moon jam fests. :(

BTW - there is an Astronomically Traditional Blue Moon 5/20/08.

;)”

“Bear, good luck with the surgery. I'm assuming he'll send the the node sample off to pathology while he's doing the surgery and wait for results. That way they don't have to do surgery again. That's what they did to me for my first neck dissection. My surgeon told me it takes longer because he had to wait around for the lab results.”

“My MRI was a piece of cake. Just 20 minutes or so of keeping my head still, with lots of loud noise and lights.
Of course having my right side paralyzed made it easy to lie still. ;-)”

“Hope it goes well for you BM.”

“Thanks again, y'all. I really appreciate it. SS - half paralyzed in an MRI rifle barrel? I would have definitly lost my #&%!$.

Rich - yeah. They're gonna cut, slice, and wait for an answer all while I'm under. Kind of worried about that. I'm a little resistant to anaesthesia.”