tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84480110582444511022024-03-12T20:46:26.756-05:00My Journey Fighting MelanomaPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-78331777291441685252014-05-04T21:00:00.000-05:002014-05-04T23:57:08.887-05:00A Really Boring UpdateIt's hard to believe that it has been since November that I have posted anything in my blog. I guess its an indication of two things. One I am extremely busy these days and two my life is really going well. This month makes one year cancer free and I am incredibly grateful. I have had three scans in the last year and all of them have come back clear. Honestly I feel the best I have felt in a long time and the localized occurrences of melanoma that I couldn't seem to stop last year were finally halted by the radiation treatments. I can still remember sitting in Dr. Baders office and him telling me with all the confidence in the world that he could help me and he was very confident that radiation would be effective. I hoped he as right and he was. I was just thinking that its kind of sad that if all goes well I will never see him again. I will definitely drop him and his staff a thank you card this month and drop off some bagels or something the next time I am at providence for an appointment. <br />
<br />
Thanks to everybody who has supported me this difficult year. I couldn't have gotten through this without you. Unfortunately I also had to say goodbye to a new friend this weekend. Dan is in the middle of the picture below. It was our one and only time meeting in person the day that picture was taken but he made an impression on me. Dan was called home on Easter Sunday and his celebration of life service was this last weekend. Dan was a great guy and he never gave up and I will always remember his smile and his attitude. The week before he passed we were texting back and forth about going skiing together next winter after he completed a new trial drug. Well that day will have to wait . Rest in peace my friend. Melanoma is not just skin cancer. Please pay attention to your skin. See a dermatologist annually for a skin check and use some common sense while out in the sun. I spend more time in the sun now than before I was diagnosed with skin cancer but I am much smarter about it now. <br />
<br />
Paul<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivS-vE_5qcF4kI7dMfQGoO2wIv36XxAu8WFS_j49SA4Fc-eck3vdJ-FXBw_1932O9S46mkNRbl2b1QxmckFH4sHmj5rN1Jt8quDiGX7-PCz3gKuhHa8p6J49LDhhM19rRaNva19WMfuA/s1600/Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivS-vE_5qcF4kI7dMfQGoO2wIv36XxAu8WFS_j49SA4Fc-eck3vdJ-FXBw_1932O9S46mkNRbl2b1QxmckFH4sHmj5rN1Jt8quDiGX7-PCz3gKuhHa8p6J49LDhhM19rRaNva19WMfuA/s1600/Pic.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-51672749099082654342013-11-11T22:58:00.000-06:002013-11-11T22:58:25.619-06:00Moments In Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41JOMUEVSa1tzJgF0pJ4b0chk5qv8NNZhu5ns-8qfLv8zAnp92nhTXr_ZgkDGG_kPVBrOekoBjoXqqpWxMStF1CM8dhlS3e9haR4Djg5LtR3vqekDDf3ll2P5msghVBClN_DphxJRFw/s1600/1379911_10201991015714706_875024040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41JOMUEVSa1tzJgF0pJ4b0chk5qv8NNZhu5ns-8qfLv8zAnp92nhTXr_ZgkDGG_kPVBrOekoBjoXqqpWxMStF1CM8dhlS3e9haR4Djg5LtR3vqekDDf3ll2P5msghVBClN_DphxJRFw/s640/1379911_10201991015714706_875024040_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
I took this picture as soon as we arrived in Homer Alaska as kind of an afterthought. It was later that evening when I was looking at my first days pictures that I realized what a great picture it was. That is my son and my older daughter. Life has taken them away from each other as it often does to people. I thought I was going to Alaska to catch fish and visit my son. We did do that but I think more importantly I was able to reunite these two for a few days and for a few days it was like they were 5 and six again. In hindsight I believe that was the purpose of my trip. When I saw that picture the first thought that raced through my mind was mission accomplished. We had a great time and Alaska is so beautiful. We caught lots of fish and had some good food but nothing can replace that moment. <br />
<br />
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-72050327507511799512013-09-07T10:56:00.000-05:002013-09-07T11:28:45.712-05:003 Years Ago.......<div style="text-align: left;">
Three years ago this month I was diagnosed with cancer. Soon there after a well meaning Dr. told me that I most likely had less than 12 months to live. Well, I solicited Mr. Johnny Cash to help me pass a special message along to him, people who wrote me off for dead, and to cancer itself. I think that picture pretty much sums up my feelings.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a data-ved="0CAUQjRw" href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=WRS8qbFAIl93oM&tbnid=3wwpZeYp-dTolM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savingcountrymusic.com%2Fjohnny-cashs-famous-middle-finger&ei=RrQPUtPjLeWniAK074Fo&psig=AFQjCNGa2_9V2aCxJr3wU3xvZYdM-5w4WA&ust=1376847242043010" id="irc_mil" style="border: 0px currentColor;"><img alt="" height="640" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/johnny-cash-middle-finger-billboard.jpg" style="margin-top: 0px;" title="" width="539" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yesterday I received the news that my latest scans show no evidence of disease, or NED as we like to say. My latest battle with melanoma started last September when I noticed lumps appearing in the same area I had my primary tumor in 2010. I had several surgeries but it kept coming back. In the middle of all of this I had the idea to move across the country to Washington State. Soon after moving I noticed another lump and went to see my new oncologist. By the time I saw him one lump had become three and he sent me to a new surgeon. By time I could get in to see him three lumps had become seven. My surgeon told me that it was spreading so fast that surgery by itself was futile. There was only so much they could cut out of me. So off to see the radiation oncologist and soon after surgery I started radiation treatments. My old oncologist was anti radiation so if I had never moved here I would most likely never have received this treatment. Time will tell but for now at least this has been successful in stopping the spread of melanoma. <br />
<br />
My summer got off to a rough start with radiation treatments in May and dealing with the aftermath of that for much of May and part of June. It wasn't much fun but I know people who are going down much rougher roads than I so I wont complain. By late June I was pretty much healed up from the burns and getting back to normal. The fatigue hung on a little longer but all and all it was fairly manageable for the most part. <br />
<br />
I continue to settle into my new home here in Washington State and loving the weather. Summers here are spectacular and I have been enjoying the great outdoors as much as possible. Between recovering from the radiation treatments and a knee injury I have been slowed some but I have stayed as active as possible. There are an endless numbers of great hikes to do here, camping galore, kayaking, .... If you can't tell I love living here. This summer my daughters and grand daughter came out to visit which was by far the highlight of my summer. I didn't get to spend as much time with them as I wanted but I enjoyed the time we had. My parents are visiting soon and in October I have a trip penciled in to go and see my son and his girlfriend in Alaska so I have plenty to look forward to this fall. <br />
<br />
As I bask in my good news my thoughts are with many who are dealing with less than favorable news. Some of my fellow warriors bodies are just giving out against all the treatments and procedures. I pray that god willing they get their second wind and are able to fight back. If not, I still believe they will get their miracle. They get to go to heaven. A good friend from high school is just entering this cyclone with his wife recently being diagnosed, and some really close family friends (I consider them family) are dealing with the beast again. My friend Rich had to say goodbye to his four legged chemo buddy Jordan. Dogs are the best therapist. I know how much my dog help me while doing treatments and surgeries and I don't look forward to the day I have to say goodbye. I get how hard this is for him. There is also a lot of great news as many of my friends are also still NED and living life to the fullest. One is walking down the aisle next month with her sweetheart, one just refuses to stop believing, one continues to give me spiritual clarity in times of need, and another continues to wander around his own hotel keeping everything in order and keeping us entertained. Some impress me with their mental and physical toughness to complete treatments I couldn't take, and others continue to answer the bell and come out swinging no matter what cancer throws at them. You all inspire me. <br />
<br />
My blog doesn't get a lot of visitors, but many who do are fellow melanoma warriors. I am going to enter the lottery to try and get a team for this event next year. Click on the link below. Can you imagine, a team of 12 melanoma survivors running a nearly 200 mile relay over 30 hours? Check out this trailer and if this gets your blood pumping stay tuned. Hopefully more news to come on this. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RHWvnGjpYoY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Paul<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-14622171576516450132013-05-05T11:29:00.000-05:002013-05-05T11:29:37.183-05:00Melanoma Black Monday<img alt="Photo" class="img" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s480x480/922705_538114409565276_2112084391_n.jpg" style="top: -2.3%; width: 100%;" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Getting ready for a new work week can be stressful. The weekend comes to and end and work starts to creep back in to your mind. It can be stressful. I understand and want to help you alleviate some stress. I want to help you get dressed on Monday morning. Open your closet, find something black, put it on. Its that simple. Black matches everything as I understand it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, here are some reasons why you
should wear black on Monday and help raise awareness about melanoma. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Melanoma kills more young women below the age of
29 that any other form of cancer and is second to only to breast cancer in
women up to the age of 39</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Melanoma rates among teens and people in their
early 20’s are increasing at what some dermatologist are calling epidemic
rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->There is no cure for melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prevention is the only way to beat this
disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Melanoma is not just skin cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot just cut it out and move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a common misconception about skin
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melanoma is not skin
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It spreads to your internal
organs and is very aggressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The 5 year survival rate for stage 4 melanoma
patients is about 10%.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please see point
4 above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Black is slimming and lets me honest, most of us
can use this help</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> Use common sense while outdoors. We sun protective clothing, wear sunscreen, and please stay out of the tanning beds. Using tanning beds even just a handful to times can greatly increase your risk of being diagnosed with melanoma. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">I have been battling this disease since August of 2010 and
have endured 10 surgeries, 5 months of chemo therapy, and next week get the joy
of starting radiation therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To see
that over 6,000 people have accepted the Melanoma Black Monday invite on
Facebook gives me hope that we are making progress on the awareness front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raising
awareness about this disease has been so important to me and my friends who are
also battling it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally it feels like
we are making some progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
If you are wearing black on Monday thank you so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter if you go full Johnny Cash
like me or just wear a small black ribbon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the thought that counts and it means so much to me and others
battling melanoma<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am heading out to
hike Dog Mountain today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gotta get my
fun in before starting radiation next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
I don't really know what to expect. I have heard everything from I wont have any side effect to I wont have the energy to get out of bed after three weeks. </span>Also there still is time to support me in my efforts to raise money for
AIM at Melanoma by clicking the link below.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/en/aim-for-action/1158/1159/portland-2013/6719.html" target="_blank">My AIM Portland walk page. </a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-78082401220423657882013-04-29T23:43:00.000-05:002013-04-30T00:13:59.298-05:00Aim At Melanoma Walk-Portland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img class="rg_i" data-sz="f" height="347" name="wy46EutgdF5nAM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ_k6PPoW3zUOWL791cxoTksLwGuRUSqxUrd8vYic3xKjvqPtnVIA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_10507006"></span><span id="goog_10507007"></span><br />
On May 11th I will be participating in an event to raise money for AIM At Melanoma . Please consider making a donation to this great organization that has been so helpful to me during this difficult time. AIM has been a tremendous resource for me and has been a great source of information on melanoma. When I was first diagnosed it was far and away the most helpful resource I found. I have used their call or e-mail a nurse program. I use them to keep up to date on the latest treatments and trials for melanoma. When I wanted to get involved in trying to help get legislation passed in Missouri to try and limit access to tanning beds for minors they encouraged me and helped me prepare to testify before both the House and Senate in Jefferson City. Recently when I moved half way across the country I didn't have to worry about finding a new Dr. Aim has a database of melanoma specialists and I am now receiving the best healthcare possible. AIM also provided a forum for me to connect with other people battling this disease which has been so helpful to me. Thank you all for your support and I really look forward to meeting some of you on May 11th in Portland. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.aimatmelanoma.org/en/aim-for-action/1158/1159/portland-2013/6719.html" target="_blank">Paul Hummel's Fundraising Page</a><br />
<br />
<br />
I had to add this picture I took this last weekend. I really do love living in the Northwest. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXHDsxyXPmh2kEty3rOmjdhA_L19ZzvSYrag8M0PC5F1Y_6Zxi3gpN4MnTJTxXBqyV0SP_sh4cB1p2K_80TUrUtsED7m3oyJhMH7Malr0ANrkgc1T3XEjIVS4k7ALxRONtdWhMaWm8w/s1600/DSCN0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXHDsxyXPmh2kEty3rOmjdhA_L19ZzvSYrag8M0PC5F1Y_6Zxi3gpN4MnTJTxXBqyV0SP_sh4cB1p2K_80TUrUtsED7m3oyJhMH7Malr0ANrkgc1T3XEjIVS4k7ALxRONtdWhMaWm8w/s320/DSCN0071.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-3532632258373663832013-04-20T16:05:00.000-05:002013-04-20T16:06:43.274-05:00Update From The Pacific Northwest. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5v6xvHjORg_rnaJrviwjJN1aoOOVedbP1bV-vbn0eH-jIu2aDbV7Lbz4gckLn2qekQ4CdBIfX2AT355PqhpAfgSk6qu_KM2n3NcAKKW6CQruiF_f-yu-Ixa_g7SjfzH6iBfMPwSElA/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5v6xvHjORg_rnaJrviwjJN1aoOOVedbP1bV-vbn0eH-jIu2aDbV7Lbz4gckLn2qekQ4CdBIfX2AT355PqhpAfgSk6qu_KM2n3NcAKKW6CQruiF_f-yu-Ixa_g7SjfzH6iBfMPwSElA/s640/IMG_0247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well it’s been a pretty wild ride since I last updated my
blog with any news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The move to
Washington has gone great and I absolutely love living here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have really enjoyed my time on Mt. Hood
this winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not a great skier by
any stretch but I think I have gotten much better this winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the weather gets warmer I look forward to
exploring the area on my bike and getting my running shoes back on and hitting
the road again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately melanoma
has decided to make another appearance in my life so I am in a bit of a holding
pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make a long story short I
keep having reoccurrences around my original site and once again have had to
have surgery to have them removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the move of course I have all new doctors
and they have a different philosophy on how to approach my treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My new surgeon alarmed me when I met with him
and he told me that he really doesn’t think I am a surgical candidate any
longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His opinion is that they can’t
keep cutting melanoma out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
grows back as fast as they cut it out and without some sort of alternate
response he called surgery futile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually
like direct and to the point doctors but I was really alarmed after meeting
with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What he said made sense but
hearing it was a little scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
end my surgeon and oncologist felt that the best solution for me was to start
radiation treatments as soon as possible after surgery in hopes that it will
prevent it from coming back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
actually relieved to hear that we were trying something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding suspicious lumps and nodules every
few months is stressful and I know like playing Russian roulette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been very fortunate that it has never
spread beyond my original site but it’s just a matter of time if we can’t stop
it from coming back like it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
time I ended up having 8 small tumors removed and I assume they are all going to
test positive for melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
option being considered was to start <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zelboraf
but I really wasn’t that excited about going that route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, if it had been their recommendation
I would have but after battling interferon I really wasn’t that excited about
doing chemo again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see it in my
future but am not that excited to do it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I ended up having surgery this last week on Thursday and start radiation
on May 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surgery went
really well and I feel pretty good for being just two days post op.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest issue I had was how I was going
to be back and forth to the hospital considering they wouldn’t let me drive
myself home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up finding a way
to make it work and was back at work the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really don’t know what to expect from
radiation treatments but can’t imagine they are worse than chemo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hope they don’t zap all my energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am closing on my new house May 20<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
and am really looking forward to getting out of my apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My house back in Kansas City sold so my
stuff is all on its way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
getting out of the apartment with all the rental furniture and into a house with
my own stuff will finally make me feel settled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will update as I get started on radiation to let everybody know how it
is going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping for a great
summer and looking forward to these beautiful Pacific Northwest summers I keep
hearing about. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ0A4JiMGhNskAn0MolgFKCfzDjWDEa-mQPQX7Qc18ZLoku7_nXTXj8ZMre0m4JyJCma6vE6imuOSEtH4jMrCyCPjsIpOJfkkGtoyRsQdzLXTRFplMgfhhUyh6019rCe0cb4oOE8z5g/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ0A4JiMGhNskAn0MolgFKCfzDjWDEa-mQPQX7Qc18ZLoku7_nXTXj8ZMre0m4JyJCma6vE6imuOSEtH4jMrCyCPjsIpOJfkkGtoyRsQdzLXTRFplMgfhhUyh6019rCe0cb4oOE8z5g/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span id="goog_83695461"></span><span id="goog_83695462"></span><o:p></o:p></span></span> The best part of getting to go back to Kansas City and close on my house when I did was I got to be there for my grand daughters 6th birthday party. My daughter was good enough to let me crash in her guest room while I was there and we had a great visit. Cancer affects the entire family and having to share bad news with my kids, siblings, parents and friends is the hardest part. Thanks you all for you text, email, and phone messages this week. I may be far away from you all but I never felt alone this week as I was preparing for another surgery. Your unconditional love and support means everything to me. Every day is a gift. <br />
</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-32577963425423247112013-03-30T13:06:00.000-05:002013-04-09T00:24:43.900-05:00Discovering The Sea Shell<div class="storyInnerContent">
<div class="mainWrapper">
<div role="article">
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<span class="userContent"></span> </h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<span class="userContent"></span> </h5>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOHX9xfMaXThSqz8G4VV7bmsS5ebnfZKEHhildppUY-_0SVZxM4xgExLeSI_26sw9HcLmuxxrBJPQsbaGCiAfJmbkFvilIDlde_NhrKvcMZpkcAtJCQ9fY04sSTIP-zpp0TOzwhYVig/s1600/tumblr_mkh8e7wDQ91rhvr7po1_1280%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOHX9xfMaXThSqz8G4VV7bmsS5ebnfZKEHhildppUY-_0SVZxM4xgExLeSI_26sw9HcLmuxxrBJPQsbaGCiAfJmbkFvilIDlde_NhrKvcMZpkcAtJCQ9fY04sSTIP-zpp0TOzwhYVig/s400/tumblr_mkh8e7wDQ91rhvr7po1_1280%5B1%5D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<span class="userContent"></span> </h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<span class="userContent">Inspiration can come from surprising places sometimes. I stumbled upon this blog last week when somebody I follow on Twitter retweeted it. I find it interesting to read and this weekend I keep reading and rereading this particular post. I find this poem very interesting and it really makes me think. It reminded me of my freshman year in college when one of my professors would sit with me and help me while I butchered some classic poetry. He really opened up a new world for me. I tweeted to the author of the blog this am after posted this picture. Last week was my turn to choke down the CT contrast dye. Click on the link below to find the blog.</span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
</h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<a href="http://montalvod.tumblr.com/post/46502566193/discovering-the-sea-shell">http://montalvod.tumblr.com/post/46502566193/discovering-the-sea-shell</a></h5>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"></span><br />
<div class="actorDescription actorName" data-ft="{"type":2,"tn":":"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></div>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">
</span><h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">
</span></h5>
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">
<div class="actorDescription actorName" data-ft="{"type":2,"tn":":"}">
</div>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage uiStreamHeadline" data-ft="{"tn":":"}" tabindex="0">
<span class="userContent"></span> </h5>
</span><br />
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
</h5>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-82089247450679565382012-12-30T10:01:00.000-06:002012-12-30T10:02:21.860-06:00My best tan ever wasn’t worth this<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBHWJT5czQgQ57bpMVtlbps0in-mRkE7MaiXieZO-RcxpMV1DAzsblQvgVlPNJdKohHZL8dMY_Dm9r-4p4vJOa0pqVBH7Bw4bz6nA6bQk60v7okHT_fm0WVKPPznNWppCm8gj4n1GUw/s1600/IMG_0141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBHWJT5czQgQ57bpMVtlbps0in-mRkE7MaiXieZO-RcxpMV1DAzsblQvgVlPNJdKohHZL8dMY_Dm9r-4p4vJOa0pqVBH7Bw4bz6nA6bQk60v7okHT_fm0WVKPPznNWppCm8gj4n1GUw/s400/IMG_0141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My
best tan ever wasn’t worth this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday was surgery day for me again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was surgery #8 for those who are
counting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully next week when the
pathology report comes back I get the news that the margins are all clear and I
can put this chapter behind me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
scary for me to think that in two weeks I will be living in a new town and if I
need more surgery it will either have to be with a new Dr or I will have to fly
back to Kansas City to have it done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s hope it doesn’t become an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am excited to move to Vancouver and am really excited to start my new
job there but I am not looking forward to having to find all new doctors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard the statement “It’s just skin cancer”
again last week. Well, “Just skin cancer” killed 24 people yesterday, and will
kill 24 more today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the lives taken Saturday was a young
woman whose mother shared her brave and courageous fight with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can only hope for an ounce of her courage
and fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RIP Jillian, you have
inspired me and I am sure many others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank you Susan for sharing her journey with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have done so much to raise awareness
about this horrible disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://jilliansjourneywithmelanoma.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://jilliansjourneywithmelanoma.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Protect your skin, stay out of tanning beds, and see a dermatologist
regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
</span><br />
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</h2>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-86380178664882415262012-12-09T23:43:00.001-06:002012-12-09T23:43:57.021-06:00Changes<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As if my life wasn’t crazy enough I am relocating to Vancouver, WA in January of 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to imagine moving across the country and I will miss my daughter and granddaughter more than I care to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also terrified at the thought of continuing my journey with cancer without my trusted medical team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I had a </span>real eye opener this week when I was looking for an apartment to rent while waiting for my house to sell. I toured 6 different apartment complexes around Vancouver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each and every one of them had free, unsupervised and unlimited access to tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been 30 years since I have lived in an apartment so I am wondering if this is normal for apartments?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this something unique to the NW of the country due to the number of cloudy days?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure but it was stunning to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am here for a few more days before heading back to Kansas City for the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next trip out here I won’t be leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is still hard to imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have done some exploring around Portland and plan to do a lot more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I will like Portland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drove out to see the ocean today but I am not sure why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked on the beach some but it was cold and rainy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to hear the sound of the surf again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always found the sound of the surf very relaxing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also was excited to see that there is an AIM event in Portland in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully I can get involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Crazy times.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
Paul</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-35485387510909304082012-11-14T23:03:00.000-06:002012-11-14T23:03:11.549-06:00Lucky #7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="300" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5hx24GBAWMP_jJ1qTSEfYoGwAqATJFu5wQJ19FaDOOuC_7uL22T5qXzHdZZ2QPN9ZaYc3lmQYPdwX_JlE3K0vfJqH58uZc5y5eliNORqRrwjZXyupDAW4vzSeWLTfxnyUkfgIUUM-4q4/s400/lucky-7.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well today I underwent my seventh surgery since this journey
started back in September 2010 and I am hoping it is my lucky number. When half
the people at the local surgery center know your name it’s not a good sign.
This was a follow up to my surgery a couple of weeks ago. As bothered as I am
about the surgery I am much more bothered that the medical bills from two
additional surgeries these last three weeks will prevent me from making the
trip to Charlotte to walk with my molemates at the AIM event there this
weekend. I know overall my problems are small and I am blessed but I was really
looking forward to meeting everybody. Maybe next year.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
</div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-39092997485229042652012-10-27T21:06:00.000-05:002012-10-28T08:28:06.312-05:00Pushing The Reset Button<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think it is safe to say that every melanoma patient’s worse nightmare is to learn that they have had a reoccurrence of melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have regular scans and do self exams hoping we never find anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting for something that we hope never happens to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well this month my waiting came to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">After a long month of tests and biopsies </span>I had a lesion removed yesterday from my upper left chest wall that tested positive for melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The surgery was actually the easy part of my last month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Dr visits, the scan, the biopsy, and the worse part of course all the waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end I am very lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My PET scan came out clear but the needle biopsy on the spot in questions was positive for melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottom line to me is that although this is not good news the fact that my PET was clear other than the known bad area is very good news and my cancer free clock starts over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 23 months cancer free I have to push the reset button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I am cancer free one day and to steal a line from Rev. Carol I am grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The positive out of all of this is that it affirms in a way that I am being vigilant and it works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I noticed a suspicious bump on my chest went to my medical team and got it out before it could spread. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The million dollar question of course is where these cells came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just below my original site so I am guessing it goes back to my original melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much more discussion to come between me and my oncologist on this subject to come. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been so long since I have written anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This summer was a blur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t think of much that I wanted to get done this summer that I didn’t do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a great trip to Alaska to spend some time with my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughters and I had a blast running 5k races this summer. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I forget how many we did exactly but it was several.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My times were horrible and I never came close to my goal of a getting in good enough shape to run a 10k but I am really enjoying running again regularly for the first time since my early 20’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope to keep it up all winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s killing me this weekend to not be able to run because of my latest surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My running shoes are calling to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many of you know that the older of my two sisters was diagnosed with cervical cancer this fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her experience has given me a different perspective on cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really makes me appreciate the caregivers in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so hard to see somebody you love go through this battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that she is fighting back and doing great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She finished her chemo a couple of weeks ago and has her last internal radiation treatment next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been really hard on her but she is fighting like hell and on her way back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were talking about the menu for Thanksgiving here in a few weeks so I know she is feeling better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two weeks ago she didn’t want to talk about food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and I are hanging out together this weekend taking care of each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going to her chemo treatments was an interesting experience. Just walking in there and seeing those chairs and the bags of fluids brought back memories of being a patient there myself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got that metallic interferon taste in my mouth as soon as I walked in that room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> i am glad I could go with her and give her some support but am glad it is over with. </span></span></div>
Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-75202690530099052012-05-14T21:51:00.002-05:002012-07-17T22:18:52.477-05:00Prayers For Steve<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="617" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/562515_328472523880080_100001520044046_883755_2103424166_n.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
July 17th Update</h2>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Steve got the call yesterday that it was time to come home.
He fought like hell so he could spend a couple more months’ among his friends
and family. I was so inspired by him. Whenever I pull out my black Livestrong
"Fight Like Hell" t-shirt and put it on I will think of him. RIP
Steve. You have inspired so many.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
___________________________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me to call Steve a friend is a bit of a stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know each other only as we cross paths on
various melanoma sites and though mutual friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
latest post is below and I ask for your prayers for him and his family tonight, especially his young children. I consider myself a man of faith but have to
be honest in saying at times like this I don’t know what to pray for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds like he has another brain tumor and
he may be in the last stages of his battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am holding out hope for a miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Melanoma is a horrible, fast spreading, deadly disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use some common sense while outside this
summer the stay out of the human sized rotisseries known as tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br /><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Steve’s latest post.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span class="messagebody"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">im
sorry. but im done fightng,m thism isnt a life anymore. thanklyoui to all my
friends that stuck by me especially my m0m aand dad. my sister and best nest
friend bryan and my girl tami who has stuck by me noo mater what. i my arm is
just about dead now i have a huge tumor in that po[ped up almost over night and
had the worst seizure i have ever had, so i sai all i have to. Thank you for
the love and suppoort. i love you all. too hard to write anymore. th ngs are
just bettin g worse by thr hour. please get your skin checked :'( p,lease you
dont want to die like this. ill give my phone to tami and she can update, i
dont want to thin k abouit any more. I love you all </span></i></span><span class="messagebody"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">♥</span></i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-10623009568405103682012-04-28T00:53:00.000-05:002012-04-28T09:38:16.335-05:00Interferon Treatments and Vegas or San Diego?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtQqPO6KDJCmWP35Rx7IO8JXxYVXDJOyoVoMx_kFy8BdAJcYSy8_5CoNBUK1XxaI204AISO_9pyPpGsQWda9tk-gLLjZIfrTM4qMQBNWccQ5gtS1BSgN9g1WwetHdow-fbjm1XoVKnw/s1600/Int.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtQqPO6KDJCmWP35Rx7IO8JXxYVXDJOyoVoMx_kFy8BdAJcYSy8_5CoNBUK1XxaI204AISO_9pyPpGsQWda9tk-gLLjZIfrTM4qMQBNWccQ5gtS1BSgN9g1WwetHdow-fbjm1XoVKnw/s400/Int.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a year ago this week that I pumped the last few ounces of this crap into my veins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered how I would feel a year later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would I regret my decision?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would it make we wonder how tough I was?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did it say about me that I quit just past ¼ of the way through my supposed year long treatment regimen? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well a year later I really don’t have any answers but I don’t seem to be asking the questions near as often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess that is progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A year later I physically feel so much better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But mentally I hadn’t really realized how far I had slipped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have short term memory loss and at times will see people I recognize and know that I know but their names just don’t come to me<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently had to get a copy of my chart from my oncologist (more on this later) and in reading his notes I can read that he noticed it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was mentioning it way before I had called it quits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure my friends and family saw it but there was nothing they could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I posted in my original post the week I quit treatments (</span><a href="http://onemansjourneywithmelanoma.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-mas.html"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;">http://onemansjourneywithmelanoma.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-mas.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) I do not regret starting interferon, nor do I regret quitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just couldn’t do any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I had fallen off a cliff and no matter what I couldn’t seem to get back above ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In hindsight I realize the problem is I let myself get bad enough I fell off the cliff to begin with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see any reason to look back when the future is scary enough for melanoma patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure if some day my scans no longer show me to be NED I will wonder what if I had taken one more month, one more week, maybe just one more treatment……..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where would it end?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will worry about that day if and when it comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While waiting to testify before the house subcommittee on health care issues in Missouri I met two very nice doctors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is the dean of the school of dermatology at MU and the other was one of her former students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I told them both about my case and that I had taken just under 5 months of interferon treatments they both suggest I go to see an oncologist that was affiliated with MU who was doing treatments and trials the same as MD Anderson and was achieving great results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I flip flopped back and forth about going to see him for a month and finally at the encouragement of my older sister made an appointment to go and see him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make a long story short he didn’t recommend I do anything different than I was doing but was kind enough to take almost an hour to talk to me which I really appreciated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very nice man and it gives me something to consider should the beast return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I absolutely didn’t consider it a waste of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought to myself on the drive back home that I was just attention seeking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t seen my own oncologist for 90 days and was having oncologist withdraw or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, so that is why I asked my current oncologist for a copy of my own chart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Curious does anybody else keep a copy of their own chart? </span>I had about a 60% copy and wanted the complete story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It actually was enlightening and pointed out another flaw in my approach to this battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the girlfriend and I were no more I went to all my Dr appointments alone and to be honest I don’t remember most of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading his notes was like reading about somebody I didn’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really like Dr. D and am always afraid he is going to retire one of these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was an amazing stroke of luck that I ended up sitting in his office in September 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a side note the Missouri House did recommend that they pass HB1475 when it comes to a vote before the full house so restrictions on teens being able to tan in Missouri are a step closer<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bill basically made it this far last year so maybe this is the year it makes it through the senate and we get to see if Governor Nixon will sign it into law or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of the greatest things to come out of this experience is the people I have met along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have met so many brave and courageous people who are on some version of the same journey as me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t always post on Facebook or on your blogs but I follow so many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You inspire me and give me strength when I need it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days like today are a little rougher than others as I see another warrior has been called home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another family says goodbye to their daughter, wife, mother, and friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fight on my friends and live for the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still plan to live another 40+ years but none of us are guaranteed anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is also the one year anniversary of me publishing my blog for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can still remember the sick feeling I had in my stomach when I hit publish the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is funny the things I found scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am spending two weeks in California for work so this weekend finds me in Victorville, CA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vegas is about 2 ½ hours one way, San Diego is 2 hours the other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure what I am going to do yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may even just stay here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of mountains and I am sure I can find a place to go for a good hike. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-16588723092354301302012-02-25T10:24:00.002-06:002012-02-25T23:36:52.649-06:00My day at the state capital, giving thanks, some notes from vacation, and the longest blog post ever?<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGKrbcanoqz8pGXueDWKCnxnFoGxYNvEdaZ0GvvyutUHBB799LrizqHcvNNVFYpZmmqZbPLnMSJwid5PwTWn0C3UYOesVJ_sf_rU8yZ92IeO_8AM1kBJg8mR2ASiNOJraew24cbANlg/s1600/IMG952773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGKrbcanoqz8pGXueDWKCnxnFoGxYNvEdaZ0GvvyutUHBB799LrizqHcvNNVFYpZmmqZbPLnMSJwid5PwTWn0C3UYOesVJ_sf_rU8yZ92IeO_8AM1kBJg8mR2ASiNOJraew24cbANlg/s400/IMG952773.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How I ended up testifying before the Health Care Policy
Committee on February 15<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> is actually a fairly short story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day after governor Moonbeam (Jerry
Brown) signed the under 18 ban for tanning beds in California I wondered what
was happening in my home state of Missouri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I called Samantha Guild at AIM and she caught me up on what was going on
in Missouri and Kansas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was going
through all the prior year’s legislation and came across a bill by Representative
Gary Cross of Lee’s Summit which happens to be where I live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called his office, his legislative
assistant game me his home number, and I called him at home and the next
morning we were having coffee and bagels at Panera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Multiple conversations later Representative Cross later he asked me if I would to appear before the
committee and testify and I jumped at the chance to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Representative Gary Cross is a lucky man and I believe he
knows it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a cancer survivor but
that is not what makes him lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has
a daughter who after years and years of tanning bed use had to have pre
cancerous growths removed and he knows how close his family came to having to
deal with melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the dance
team his daughter was on in college was actually sponsored by a tanning salon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I believe t</span>his is the reason why he introduced this
legislation and why he feels strongly about the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started out the testimony by introducing
the bill and telling the story about his daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made the point that melanoma rates were
climbing among young women and that this legislation was necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His daughters personal Dr. testified next
and did a great job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told how she
tells young women all the time not to use tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was at her recommendation that Rep. Cross
daughter visited a dermatologist who found the pre-cancerous growths and
removed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The portly nervous as
hell token melanoma survivor was next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All I wanted to do was not say anything stupid which I failed at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was actually a relief that there were 3
doctors testifying which meant I didn’t have any real reason to talk science or
statistics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly was not an
expert at either, even though I think I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tried to keep it between 2 and 3 minutes and I think I went over but
am not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to make a few
points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One that there is a
disconnected between what we now know about indoor tanning and its link to
increased melanoma rates, and reality in Missouri that allows anybody to tan
anywhere at any age however many times they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wanted to make the point that my
daughters at a certain age cannot go to the mall and get their ears pierced without
me being there but yet they can go tan as much as they want at pretty much any
age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last point I wanted to make was
that we have to change the perception of what it means to go to the tanning
booth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are known risk of using
tanning beds and we need to make sure parents and teens both know these
risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where the stupid comment
comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole time I am testifying
I am pretty much staring down the chairman of the committee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Balaraman had told me that if you go too
long the chairman will just cut you off and you are done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point I wanted to make in closing is that
one person an hour dies from this disease in the USA and that we needed to
change the perception of going to the tanning salons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our teens today don’t give any more thought
of going tanning than they do of going through the drive through at a fast food
restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well as I am about to make
this point I see the Chairman reaching for his microphone and I am sure he is
about to cut me off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to make the point mentioned above but
that is apparently not how it came out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Either that or I was seriously misquoted by the media which unfortunately I
doubt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing yourself quoted in print
is odd, even if they keep misspelling my name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did a brief TV interview afterwards but have no idea if any of it
aired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stations were from Jefferson
City and Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After me came Dr. Brundha
Balaraman from St. Louis U.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She really
had a great presentation and did a fantastic job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to see if I can get a copy of her
presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her commitment to this
issue is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is her 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
straight year of testifying before the Missouri House on this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started when she was a Med student at
MU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anybody who follows my blog lives
in the St. Louis area and needs a dermatologist I would give her a call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about some of the new treatments
available and about my case some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next came
Dr. Karen Edison, who is among other things is Chair, Dept. of Dermatology at
the University Of Missouri.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She really
brought home some of the statistics of this disease and offered the one light
moment of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all this
testimony on the dangers and risk of melanoma she reminded the committee
members that the MU school of Dermatology will be doing free skin exams at a
future date for all the house members who were interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a nervous chuckle from the
committee members at that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr.
Edison was the nicest person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked
a lot about my case and she really wanted to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes people, even doctors, will ask but
you can tell they are only being polite and don’t really want all the
details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked about some additional
treatment options that may be available for me and my desire to never go
through anything like Interferon again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I e-mailed her yesterday and she got right back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know a department chair at a major US
University and medical school has better things to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody testified against the bill and I
believe yesterday the bill passed out of committee and will be sent to the
house floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I strongly encourage people to get involved in
this issue in their home states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
different representatives came up to me after the hearing and thanked me for
coming and Representative Cross told me that it really makes a difference when
people like me testify.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They see experts
and lobbyist all day long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Testimony
from a normal Missouri resident catches their attention. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest I feel a little selfish after
testifying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got way more out of this
than I gave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a lot of
brilliant and passionate medical minds there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They didn’t need me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your first call should be to Samantha Guild at
AIM if you want to get involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was so helpful and helped me
put my thoughts together of what I wanted to say and also prepared me for how
the hearings usually go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><em><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong> Thank You Rev. Carol</strong></span></em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also wanted to thank fellow warrior and blogger Carol
Taylor, or as I like to call her Rev. Carol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe this comes across in my blog or not I am not sure but I am an
extremely private and introverted person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t like attention and fear public speaking the way Sampson fears
scissors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very uncomfortable for me
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prefer to live in the
background.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was looking for any excuse
to get out of doing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to
have to change my vacation plans which were going to cost me a day with my
daughter in Colorado as well as hundreds of dollars in change fees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I read Rev. Carols post titled Come Over
To The Dark Side Of Melanoma, see link below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://letsgivethanks.blogspot.com/2012/02/come-over-to-dark-sideof-melanoma.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://letsgivethanks.blogspot.com/2012/02/come-over-to-dark-sideof-melanoma.html</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I told Rev. Carol in an email earlier her timing on this
was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After reading her post I
was reminded why I wanted to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
had the chance to have some minuscule part of preventing just one family from going
through the hell of this disease I needed to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No amount of personal discomfort or a few
hundred $ in change fees was a good enough excuse not to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called my youngest daughter and she
understood why I was going to have to put off seeing her<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks again Rev. Carol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was with a tremendous amount of anxiety
that I logged in last night to get the results of your day at the oncologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so relieved to hear the great news
that you had indeed given up Cancer for lent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Serenity Is What We Get When We Stop Hoping For A Better
Past.</em></strong></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgbf-OaULMO5VDObzMVOb0XCICavfwqCHp_sdFWrIiVuJ7ylCw67j06veWBDLsAC9F-0rlkCsSO4_gTmNYSsazh8Ti2EirV5EOTwAIuP3zc56R1ZwMQ6hkkaWDe1qkWgxWkvnZwHUeQ/s1600/IMG00382-20120216-1157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgbf-OaULMO5VDObzMVOb0XCICavfwqCHp_sdFWrIiVuJ7ylCw67j06veWBDLsAC9F-0rlkCsSO4_gTmNYSsazh8Ti2EirV5EOTwAIuP3zc56R1ZwMQ6hkkaWDe1qkWgxWkvnZwHUeQ/s320/IMG00382-20120216-1157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shot that picture on my first day of vacation. It was kind of odd. I left Kansas City at 6:00 am and by 10:00 am I was staning at the botton of lift 2 and ready to snap my boots into my ski and head up the mountin for the first time in four years.
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of those things that I had dreamed of doing
while I was doing interferon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That first
ride up was a long lift and it took about 15 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I savored every second of the
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sound of my boots
snapping into my skis, the whirling sound the lift makes on the way up, the breathtaking
scenery of the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest I
got emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were days I didn’t
know if I would ever do stuff like this again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>200 yards
into my first run I was picking snow out of my teeth and looking for my glasses
in the snow after committing the cardinal sin for skiers, I crossed my tips
while trying to remember how to turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
next day Rich made the trip up the mountain and I got to check buy Rich a beer
off of my list of things to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
should have had the bartender take a picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh well, we can get a group one on Charlotte in November.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The first round
of Kamikazes is on me.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was great to meet Rich and we had good visit over lunch and a cold one. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJNB2sjRxaSsAhEKdgXZCiRMPG6xjmusDR2D3f-glNmTT_K4JhZOM9Si_oFv6qgaj6rYpUnXfAVfx9mFepAVpgnL3eZNqqk9SGcC7s-Y5__HK9KhbE3pqdma0g7T5oo0ZA2BYalBjJQ/s1600/IMG00384-20120218-1940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJNB2sjRxaSsAhEKdgXZCiRMPG6xjmusDR2D3f-glNmTT_K4JhZOM9Si_oFv6qgaj6rYpUnXfAVfx9mFepAVpgnL3eZNqqk9SGcC7s-Y5__HK9KhbE3pqdma0g7T5oo0ZA2BYalBjJQ/s320/IMG00384-20120218-1940.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is my youngest daughter playing the piano in old town
Fort Collins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s funny the things I miss
about each of my children now that they are grown and gone. I miss the deep discussions I had with my son, I
miss the energy my middle daughter always has, and I miss hearing my youngest playing the
piano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I am still waiting for this empty nest thing to grow on me. </span>The city of Fort Collins has this
program where they spread pianos out across the city and people can stop and
play them if they want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got Sara to
play a little but when people started coming around she stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately she has her dads introverted nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent 5 days in Fort Collins just hanging
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read a lot, spent a lot of time with
my daughter, spent a lot of time in Old Town, and even stepped into the time
machine and visited Boulder for a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
swear I saw Abbie Hoffman there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
first real vacation since August 2010 was a huge success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to work and the real world on
Monday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jnnutrYC7IAN9F4BDzBjkiwZ8Kvn6uprTVvCp5jKDALhVZHMSCZER1WNQkozoCA16_wmbdClcBZp7Qd3n2G6wDfKd2sIdQ5Mli4M8OEttNFRvSSFJEa5dbsOcgaEGUA1rNf9y1crsg/s1600/138065071_extra_large%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jnnutrYC7IAN9F4BDzBjkiwZ8Kvn6uprTVvCp5jKDALhVZHMSCZER1WNQkozoCA16_wmbdClcBZp7Qd3n2G6wDfKd2sIdQ5Mli4M8OEttNFRvSSFJEa5dbsOcgaEGUA1rNf9y1crsg/s320/138065071_extra_large%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not before spending my day
today at Phog Allen Fieldhouse watching my mighty Jayhawks hammer the Missouri
tigers and claim our 8<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> straight conference championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so excited for the game today. I get to watch a great game and hang out with my godson. Wow, this may be the longest blog post ever. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-54091606851749238102012-01-25T19:23:00.000-06:002012-01-25T19:23:24.280-06:00Tanning Bed Use By Minors In Missouri<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Missouri House of Representatives" border="0" height="80" src="http://www.house.mo.gov/graphics/mainimage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Melanoma rates among our young people are increasing dramatically. Dermatologist will tell you that 15 years ago it was very unusual to see somebody in their mid 20’s with melanoma. Today it is unfortunately common. There is a substantial amount of research that points to increased tanning bed usage as a factor in this increase. People like me who have battled this disease see this as an opportunity to save families from this nightmare. I strongly support banning tanning beds for minors nationwide. Unfortunately getting anything done on the national level is unlikely so we have to take a grassroots approach to this effort. Later I will be posting some information for people who want to read more about this subject but not this evening. Instead I have a favor to ask. I figure there are three groups of people who read my blog. Fellow warriors, friends and family, and people who like a good train wreck. I don’t really care which group you fit in to I ask a couple of favors of you. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>There is a bit of activity in the Missouri House Of
Representatives currently around the issue of tanning beds and their use by
minors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There have been three bills
introduced this session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have tried to summarize them below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first one (HB1283) was introduced by Rep. Jay Barnes who
I believe is from the Jefferson City area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His bill has been co-sponsored by Rep. Gary Cross from Lee’s
Summit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This bill is a ban by anybody
under the age of 15 from using tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love that this bill is a ban but not crazy about the age or the fact
that it doesn’t speak to anybody between the age of 15 and 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a link to the bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills121/billpdf/intro/HB1283I.PDF"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills121/billpdf/intro/HB1283I.PDF</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The second bill that has been introduced by Rep. Dwight
Scharnhorst who is from one of the suburbs of St. Louis I believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
bill is a ban for anybody under 16 and requires parental consent between 15 and
18 years of age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I wish this was
a ban for anybody under 18 but unfortunately it is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a link to his bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills121/biltxt/intro/HB1343I.htm"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills121/biltxt/intro/HB1343I.htm</span></a><br />
<br />
The third bill was introduced by Representative Gary Cross of Lee's Summit. I have spoken to him several times over the last few months and he met me for breakfast one morning this winter. He is also a cancer survivor and has a pretty good reason for introducing this bill. We both agree that we need to take any opportunity to prevent anybody else from ever hearing that they have cancer. His bill however is not a ban for under 18 but a parental consent for anybody under 18 with no ban. Here is a link to his bill. I haven't spoken to him since this bill was introduced but I imagine he still feels that an under 18 ban has 0 chance of passing. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills121/billpdf/intro/HB1475I.PDF">http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills121/billpdf/intro/HB1475I.PDF</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What I would like to ask from my fellow Missouri residents
it that you reach out to these gentleman and let them know your thoughts on
this issue and that a full ban for anybody under 18 should be our goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like the parental consent bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However a bill that bans under 16 and
requires parental consent between 16 and 18 is better than nothing which is
what Missouri currently has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember
that your average state Rep. knows about as much about melanoma as most of us
did before getting to know this disease personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a teaching opportunity for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second thing I would like to ask is for
you to call or e-mail your own state rep and let them know how important this issue
is to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far what I am hearing is
that nobody believes an under 18 ban has a chance to pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> We have to make a statement that we can and will support any effort to ban tanning beds for minors. We also need let them know we are watching this issue closely. The Indoor Tanning Association is of course opposed to legislation like this. It will take numbers and passion to get this done. </span>My hope is that if they hear from enough of
us that someone will be willing to introduce an under 18 ban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For my friends in the St. Louis area support from that side of the state in crucial. Nothing gets done in Missouri without support from St. Louis. </span>Below is the contact information for the
people who introduced or co-sponsored these bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a few minutes out of your day and drop
them an e-mail or a quick phone call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The need to hear from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<strong>Representative Dwight Scharnhorst</strong><br />
<strong></strong>Legislative Assistant: <br />
Aaron Smith<br />
Phone: <br />
573-751-4392<br />
E-Mail: <br />
<a href="mailto:Dwight.Scharnhorst@house.mo.gov">Dwight.Scharnhorst@house.mo.gov</a> <br />
<br />
<strong>Representative Jay Barnes</strong><br />
Legislative Assistant: <br />
Amanda Littlefield<br />
Phone: <br />
573-751-2412<br />
E-Mail: <br />
<a href="mailto:Jay.Barnes@house.mo.gov">Jay.Barnes@house.mo.gov</a><br />
<br />
<strong>Representative Gary L. Cross</strong><br />
Legislative Assistant: <br />
Jacqueline Geary<br />
Phone: <br />
573-751-1459<br />
E-Mail: <br />
<a href="mailto:Gary.Cross@house.mo.gov">Gary.Cross@house.mo.gov</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last but not least is a link to the legislator look up web
site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You enter your 9 digit zip code
and it tells you who represents your district.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps you know already but to be honest I had to look mine up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-46495662907460627162012-01-06T23:12:00.000-06:002012-01-06T23:12:27.103-06:00Happy New Year. Looking forward to 2012.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlysQB_x229OIfAf7qYDWnlz1WwuW3pLt3P-PolLSq77WaxT100zx6DPs8LuzL13Z-is8D9JSITNyACDfLhVLVz-f1fSgh2iM_CaYm2y8P6oX4ini_G_LeA-axVccQO5nLJFuZdpy72w/s1600/New_Year_Ball_Drop_Event_for_2012_at_Times_Square%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlysQB_x229OIfAf7qYDWnlz1WwuW3pLt3P-PolLSq77WaxT100zx6DPs8LuzL13Z-is8D9JSITNyACDfLhVLVz-f1fSgh2iM_CaYm2y8P6oX4ini_G_LeA-axVccQO5nLJFuZdpy72w/s400/New_Year_Ball_Drop_Event_for_2012_at_Times_Square%255B1%255D.jpg" width="397" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know this is a little late but I have been thinking of what I would like to do this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the looks of this list it’s going to be a busy year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not big on bucket lists or New Year resolutions but there are definitely some things I would like to do this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spoil my granddaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My granddaughter Taylor is amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She will be 5 in April which is so hard to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really look forward to spending a lot of time with her this next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching Taylor grow is just confirmation of what a wonderful mother my daughter is and how blessed I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be a better father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what else to add but to say my commitment to the above statement is solid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciate all the people in my life and I hope that they know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really have leaned on a lot of people this last year and am very grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Run in a 5K with my daughter Jenny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe it or not I was once a runner and ever since I watched her run her first marathon I have wanted to run a race with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit my daughter Sara in Colorado as often as I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still can’t believe my baby is now a freshman in college.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit my son in Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am really looking forward to this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those frequent flier miles will come in handy.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Work with my fellow melanoma warriors to make this coming May the loudest Melanoma Awareness month ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends we have some work to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have a beer with Rich on one of my trips to Colorado.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich is the author of one of my favorite blogs ( </span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com/">http://hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com</a> )</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and is a fellow Dylan fan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have gotten a ton of entertainment from his blog during a very difficult year and think I owe him a cold one.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">See multiple Royals, Chiefs, and Jayhawks games this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t seen a Royals or Chiefs game in two years and only two Jayhawk sporting events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Todd I swear we will catch a Royals game this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be a regular at BB’s, Jardines if they open again, Knuckleheads, and The Blue Room this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great spots for live music. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Start dating again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somebody who enjoys the above activities would be nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All kidding aside this is very complicated now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy the great outdoors</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have spent so much of the last two years afraid of the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss being outside and feeling the sun on my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just have to be much smarter about it now than I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hat, sunscreen, UV protective clothing…..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No need to hide, just have to be smart.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 12pt 0in 10pt 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Put 2,000 miles on my bike this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would love to do RAGBRAI (</span><a href="http://ragbrai.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://ragbrai.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) but it’s probably not possible due to other summer plans.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take a dip in Baker Lake in New Brunswick, CA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to visit with my Uncle Bobby and his wife Collette with my mom this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great people I don’t get to see nearly enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will not complain about my post interferon curly hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I was going to be bald at one point but my hair came back thicker and with a lot of curl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sure wish mullets were still in, I could have an awesome one.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Participate in a fundraiser for AIM and LIvestrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both of these organizations were great to me in my hour of need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would love to give back however I can.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throw my support behind any effort to ban tanning beds for minors in my state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a couple of meetings with Representative Gary Cross and I think there will be more to come on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samantha Guild has been putting me through tanning bed school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where I was once just an angry anti tanning bed guy I am not an educated angry anti tanning bed guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously if you want to find out what is going on in your state or get involved in starting something she should be your first call.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I want to do this year more than anything else is just live my life and enjoy every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On December 30<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> after a 14 hour day at the office I came home and saw on a fellow bloggers Facebook page that a fellow warrior and blogger Randis (</span><a href="http://randisohnomelanoma.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://randisohnomelanoma.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">) journey had come to an end and she had been called home to meet her maker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was shocked and saddened by this news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not know Randi well, we followed each other’s blogs and sent each other a few messages but I felt like somebody had just punched me in the gut when I read the news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be honest it scared the hell out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her experience is my nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cancer free for over 5 years before it returned this April and she was gone before the end of December.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately that is not an unusual story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I lay in bed that evening I was thinking of her family and how they must be feeling and fearing it would be my family some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I thought about it the more I realized that my fate is in my hands only to a certain extent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I live 100 more years or 1 more year I just want to be able to look back to this point in time and not have any regrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us know when our journey will come to an end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not ready to go and cash in the 401K and quit my job but I do want to enjoy life more than I have these last couple of years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I expect to be here for many years but none of us know for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who are still reading this long post I say thank you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I blog to tell people how I am doing or to try and educate or inform people on an issue, other times I blog to just get something off my chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of those posts I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy New Year and let’s have a toast to a year with no regrets</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul</span></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-16023242450688107982011-12-28T21:07:00.002-06:002011-12-28T21:10:42.657-06:00Late Christmas Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKgj46b6nCo/TvvX9o3Ui6I/AAAAAAAAABs/1LAr72RieDk/s1600/IMG00361-20111223-1444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKgj46b6nCo/TvvX9o3Ui6I/AAAAAAAAABs/1LAr72RieDk/s1600/IMG00361-20111223-1444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EKgj46b6nCo/TvvX9o3Ui6I/AAAAAAAAABs/1LAr72RieDk/s400/IMG00361-20111223-1444.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No my late gift was not the bottle of scotch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to buy that for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I got the results of my latest PET scan which was done on the 23<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> and it was great news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>100% normal and NED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You prepare yourself for whatever news may come and I was prepared for whatever but was of course hoping for good news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My oncologist was very pleased and said he didn’t want to see me again for 6 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That seems like forever considering last January I was seeing him 5 days a week while getting Interferon treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blood work looked good and all my levels have all returned to normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My life is slowing coming back to me I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As of February 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> my time on the project I am working on is up and I will be off the road and back to my old job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be a big adjustment to not be traveling anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I complained about it I think I will miss the excitement and challenge of being on the project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That and being able to visit NYC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also will really miss my new friends that I have met these last two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bad news from the visit today came when I stepped on the scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was playing strong safety for the Chiefs I would be about the correct weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately I am not so I have some work to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well I am going to go crack the seal on the Macallans and enjoy a cocktail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know that I will ever consider myself a cancer survivor or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I currently cringe at that title for some reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always just think of myself as a guy somewhere between my last clean scan and my next unknown one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I got six more months of peace and I will take it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks again to my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>family for their unconditional love and support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love giving you guys good news and really appreciated all the e-mails and text messages today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>Paul<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-64734124959418344202011-11-25T22:57:00.001-06:002011-12-23T17:55:27.360-06:00Thanksgiving Thoughts<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To say I have a lot to be thankful for this year is a huge understatement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A year ago I really felt like my life was spinning out of control and to be honest I wasn’t sure I was even going to be around to see this Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just received the results from my SNL biopsy and it was positive for melanoma in my lymph nodes and this was just worse news on top of bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck a year ago my family didn’t even know of my diagnosis yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent last Thanksgiving with my then girlfriend and her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nice thanksgiving and they were all very welcoming to me for the holiday but there was so much going on it was hard to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know it at the time of course but that was actually the last bad news I would receive from a biopsy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had two more surgeries since then, multiple spots carved of me by my dermatologist, and two additional PET scans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All have been no evidence of disease or NED as we say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a stage 3 melanoma patient isn’t the most desirable of positions to be in, but it beats the hell out of being a stage 4 melanoma patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toss in my time on Interferon and it’s been quite the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t help but feel like I have had my dance with the devil and lived to tell about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I am most thankful for this last year is my family, especially my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their support has been the difference for me this last year and I can’t imagine going though this without their unconditional love and support. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My granddaughter is too young to understand but her mere existence motivates me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom and dad, brother, and sisters have been incredible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I received support from aunts and uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am truly a blessed man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also am very thankful for a new appreciation of what it means to beat cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I was diagnosed it was black and white, if you lived you beat cancer, if you died you “lost” you battle with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can tell you now I see this very differently today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody who fights this disease before getting called home by our maker is a loser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is a loser in this equation it is us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lose friends; family members lose loved ones but for those whose journey in this realm comes to an end they have beaten cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have inspired us with their courage and teach us what it means to fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their names and memories we help raise funds for research, do what we can to raise awareness, and become advocates for our fellow warriors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was surprised to hear from so many strangers during this last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My angel Tim offered encouragement, Dianne walked me though interferon treatments, Rich entertained me with this blog, Al pays tribute to his brother so eloquently, and Chelsea writes like I wish I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They share their stories about their own journey with this disease and offer encouragement and support to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep fighting like hell my friends, is there any other way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us still here we beat cancer every day by just rolling out of the sack and putting our feet on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right after I started my interferon treatments a fellow warrior in the chemo suite told me that I didn’t realize it yet but we were the lucky ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to punch him, I didn’t feel lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then later Lance Armstrong told a story in his book about somebody telling him the same thing and he had the same reaction as me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now, a year into the journey I am beginning to see what he meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously I am lucky to still be alive but it’s deeper than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am lucky for my new outlook on life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I appreciate everything a little more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things that once caused me stress just don’t anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope that never changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continue to slowly feel a little better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fatigue that dogged me all summer and fall seems to have subsided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The memory loss and other side effects from chemo seem to be getting much better and fortunately/unfortunately I have gained back all the weight I lost while on interferon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul</span></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-22403060363529048212011-10-09T21:40:00.001-05:002011-11-08T20:57:57.400-06:00Great News<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This has been such a great weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First off my mom had her knee replacement surgery on Friday and is doing wonderfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was back on her feet within 24 hours and with the help of a walker moving again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just talked to her earlier tonight and she sounded great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My prediction is that she is back shopping within 8 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was really hard to watch her struggle these last few years as her knee deteriorated but it will be great to see her bounce back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister Michelle was there and stayed with her and kept me up to date via text all weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I am sure many of you know it is so hard to be away from family when stuff like this is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She goes home tomorrow and mom and dad both sound excited for that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom has always been one of my biggest supporters even before I was diagnosed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her will and determination this weekend has been inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I ever get back home again I hope to go and see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately as it looks now it may be the week of Thanksgiving before I am home for any significant amount of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I haven’t been feeling very good lately and Dr. D confirms its still side effects from the chemo I was on which is hard to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been nearly six months since I took my last treatment but sometimes I have these stretches where I just feel like crud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mostly just fatigue but also get the body aches and some of the other side effects I had during treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have to remind myself that others would love to have my problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been very lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ventured out into Montreal some these last two days but not as much as I would have liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such a beautiful city and there is so much to see and do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I visited the most beautiful church today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was in Old Montreal and I forget the name but it was the church where the sailors would go before heading out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, there is so much to see and do here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am holding out hope that I can get to a Canadians hockey game this week but tickets are so dang expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some common themes <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you will hear from melanoma patients is that they want more than anything to beat this disease, see more money spent on research and a cure, and to prevent others and their families from going through the hell of this disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was a huge victory for people who have this disease and who have lost loved ones to melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>California governor Jerry Brown today signed legislation that makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to use tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the first state to pass such legislation and I am sure not the last. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hope is that this move by him will create such a controversy that there will be hours and hours of coverage by all the major news channels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlikely I know, but I can still hope can’t I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If tanning beds caused breast cancer they would have been outlawed years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A year or so ago I had the luxury of either ignoring this news or going off on some rant about the government taking away our rights or sticking their nose in where they don’t belong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I no longer have that luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead I have a hole where my armpit use to be and a scar that goes from my shoulder blade to my neck and the lovely side effects from months of chemotherapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a difference a year makes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was a small victory, but victories are few and far between in the world of melanoma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now find myself in the position of having pen a thank you letter to Governor Jerry Brown and for those of you who know me this will be painful but I am glad to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I tell people all the time if you want to use tanning beds I have no issue with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more than when I walk past the smoking area at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chain smoked for many years, it would be hypocritical of me to pass judgment on them now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I do strongly suggest you do however is educate yourself about the dangers of tanning beds in particular and sun exposure in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be intellectually lazy and just assume it’s going to be ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know people who have smoked for 30 or 40 years and they don’t get cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also all know people who worship the sun and go to the tanning bed many times a week and don’t get cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That doesn’t make the risk to you or your loved ones any less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also people who never smoke and get lung cancer, and there are people who get cancerous moles in places that have never been exposed to the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make an informed decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have teenage daughters I especially encourage you to spend just a half hour reading about the dangers of tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melanoma rates amount young women are growing at a near epidemic rate and the scientific research is pretty clear that links increased tanning bed use to this increase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I became aware from one of my fellow bloggers and warriors Chelsea that some sororities are actually requiring members to use tanning beds a certain amount of hours per week to keep up their tan and the houses image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Disgusting on many levels I know but for people like me who have a daughter in college and in a sorority its something else to ask about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I was thinking of what video to post with this entry into my blog I came across the beautiful version of Halleluiah by K D Lang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since this is my first blog entry from Canada it seems appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think KD Lang is so talented and much underappreciated in the states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/P_NpxTWbovE/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/P_NpxTWbovE&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/P_NpxTWbovE&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-80443557857857794502011-09-21T22:31:00.001-05:002011-09-21T23:06:58.364-05:00So Long R.E.M. And Looking Back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZcgwizQzP8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was a year ago today that I got the call telling me that I had cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a really off day for me today and I am not sure why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My memories of that day are very vivid and I can still hear the concern in Dr. Gs voice as he was telling me the results of my lab test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t planning on entering a post in the blog today but when I heard the news that REM was calling it quits this song came to mind and I began to remember how calming my sister was to me that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I was a mess when I called her and she talked me off the ledge as they say. It is my most vivid memory of that day. </span>This was always one of those songs that has always brought me happiness and sadness at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> REM was such a great band. I still remember the first time I heard Murmur on KJHK in 83. So sorry I never saw them in concert. </span>This song sums up how my year has been. I have been so lucky and I won’t even start thanking people for fear that I will leave somebody out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a run of bad test/scan results last September/October, five surgeries on or around my left arm and shoulder, and nearly five months on interferon, I have been cancer free since last November.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something I wouldn’t have bet on a year ago. I also wanted to mention to people who support the KU Cancer center that today their application for NCI designation was sent out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a huge day for cancer patients not just in Kansas City but the whole Midwest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some day we won’t have to travel to places like Houston or New York to receive the latest trials and treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, one more video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eddie Vedder wrote the words to this song while sitting on his surf board in San Diego at the age of 18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first and third verses are true stories about his own life .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The middle verse is, well creepy I guess best describes it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told the story on MTV story Tellers one night how he always thought of this song as a curse or burden of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing it did little to help him come to terms with these events in his own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As this song got popular and they began to play it in concert he said people would come up to him after a show and tell him how much this song meant to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told him stories of overcoming tragedy and that they felt lucky to be alive although they had no idea why they had survived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Military vets, columbine students,, on and on people would tell him their stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was then he realized why he wrote this song and that he began to find peace in his own life and come to terms with what had happened to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By relieving other people burdens he was able to relieve his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that spirit I want to recognize my two favorite bloggers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich who pens the blog </span><a href="http://hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;">http://hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rich you always have the best takes on events and great taste in music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Your blog has given me some much needed humor this last year. </span>Chelsea who pens </span><a href="http://adventurewithmelanoma.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Calibri;">http://adventurewithmelanoma.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chelsea you might be the bravest person I kind of know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You two, MG and Tina are the biggest reasons I started my blog, and probably the reason why I will give this thing up some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I consider you both friends and partners in this battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Many clear scans ahead for us all. This video is in HD and can take some time to load but it is worth it. The guitar solo at the end is one of my favorites and in my opinion one of the more underrated solos in rock. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Paul</span></span></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">is something wrong she said <br />
of course there is <br />
you're still alive she said <br />
do i deserve to be <br />
is that the question <br />
and if so,...if so... <br />
who answers? </span></i></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">who answers? </span></i></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TEoKTyifomU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-80873295361599077582011-09-09T20:01:00.003-05:002011-09-09T20:20:29.311-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-otBsOocnMrTtGAvo0RrgYHrUgUPYm_3eJzspIImXDVw6ivmAIAdQxMgXBwAG-BFc3uGJJdyPrtzycJO-AW8bvwXzquaqe2Xl_W2i6StYCJn-z3Fjwo8fNFuAti2KsGcbyF4vJImwyw/s1600/IMG00213-20110909-1133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-otBsOocnMrTtGAvo0RrgYHrUgUPYm_3eJzspIImXDVw6ivmAIAdQxMgXBwAG-BFc3uGJJdyPrtzycJO-AW8bvwXzquaqe2Xl_W2i6StYCJn-z3Fjwo8fNFuAti2KsGcbyF4vJImwyw/s640/IMG00213-20110909-1133.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well once again my blog is suffering from neglect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get the dreaded medical update out of the way first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My surgery August 22nd went well and I had two of my favorite ladies taking care of me for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My older daughter drove me home after I was awake enough to get into her car and on the way home we picked up my granddaughter at daycare and they came and spent the rest of the day with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some pain but nothing that a few percocets couldn’t handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jenny took good care of me and Taylor kept me entertained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just over a week later I was in a cab in Montreal when my phone rang and I saw it was my surgeon and as expected the mass I had removed showed no signs of cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I was expecting this news it still feels great to hear it officially.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rehab from the surgery is going well and I am nearly back to where I was before the surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also had my 90 day check up with my oncologist this week and it was very uneventful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything looks good and he was as happy with my lab results as I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was hoping that this would be the trip where I walk into his office and the receptionist didn’t recognize me but no luck, she still knows who I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe next time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may sound odd to most of you but it will be so nice when I walk in there and it has been so long that they forget who I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I got the flyer that I posted above from his office. It made me stop and think about what cancer cannot do to me instead of what it has done to me. Attitude really is everything. It also made me think of my former classmate who lost her sister to leukemia last month. Once again I really really hate this disease. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Sunday after surgery I headed out to Colorado to check in on my daughter at CSU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick funny story and I am about to show my age I suppose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was a co-ed dorm but assumed that it was like dorms were when I was in school where opposite sex member were not allowed on each other’s floors for the most part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well apparently sometime during the last 30 years this has changed and the floors are actually co-ed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two rooms of girls who share a bathroom, then two rooms of boys who share a bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked Sara what time I was allowed on the floor so I could come and see her room and she gave me this confused look and I now know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, she is doing well at school and I think this adjustment is harder for me than it is for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far this empty nest thing is overrated; maybe it will grow on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a great visit with her and we did escape for an afternoon in the mountains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On my last evening there we had dinner with some old neighbors from when we lived in Colorado and a daughter of one of my cousins who now lives in Fort Collins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great evening and both Bob and Sandy and my cousin Sarah made themselves available to my Sara which meant a lot to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel better knowing that she can call some of our old friends or a family member if she ever needs something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives a nervous dad peace of mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She joined a sorority this week and is pretty excited about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure how I feel about it but she was quick to point out that they have the highest GPA on campus which she knows will calm my fears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am trying to not remember my freshman year and the things I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely she has better judgment than I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am really looking forward to next weekend when I am headed to Atlanta to see my brother and his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been way to long since I have seen them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s hard to believe but I am coming up on my one year anniversary of being diagnosed with cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like I have been in the battle for 10 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the best analogy I have heard so far is that it’s like trying to jump back on a merry go round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world keeps spinning even for us cancer patients and at some point we have to jump back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now it still seems to be spinning too fast but I am getting closer to jumping on I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again thanks to all my family and friends for their support during this last surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how I would get through this without you.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul</span></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-80497145494583932052011-07-31T10:50:00.001-05:002011-07-31T10:59:32.615-05:00Good News, Some Noise, & Dylan Tune Stuck In My HeadWell the good news is that the biopsy I had done a few weeks ago has come back with favorable results. No sign of melanoma which as you can imagine makes me very happy. The "noise" as I am calling it is that they want to remove the mass anyway just because it is in the area where the affected lymph nodes were So on August 22nd I go back under the knife for more surgery and another scar from the battle. Its outpatient and I shouldn't be under for more than an hour. The shame of it is that my left arm is just now starting to feel normal from the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> lymphectomy</span> I had done in December. I don't really know how much this surgery will set that back and it really doesn't matter. Again I am so happy to have Dr. M as my surgeon. He never tires of my endless questions and always takes whatever time I want from him. <br />
<br />
I ended up getting stuck in New Jersey this weekend. I was scheduled to fly home Friday afternoon and fly back Sunday night. Continental has been having labor issues all week that stems from their acquisition with United late last year. The beef as I understand it is this. Both airlines have pilots on layoff status. The Continental pilots feel that they should recall all Continental pilots first before offering jobs to layed off United pilots. I guess this isn't what is happening. I heard a bunch of pilots bitching about it last week as I was riding the train around Newark getting my rental car. So they had a sick out this week in protest. I think this is actually illegal on their part and think it will be interesting to see what happens. I am guessing nothing. How do you prove a sick out? So my flight was coming from Louisville, but canceled due to unreported issues. I am guessing no pilot or co pilot. No biggy, they assign a different inbound flight for us to use for our return to Kansas City. The whole time flights are being canceled left and right over the PA and the line at the customer service desk is getting huge. Then the mother of all storms blows into Jersey and they pretty much cancel every flight going out that evening. My opinion is that Continental was being opportunistic and used the weather to cancel all flights so that they can use the weather as an excuse and not have to compensate people. Anyway, the last thing I want is more free flights. So I went back and got a new rental car and headed back to the hotel that I had checked out of earlier that day and checked back in. For all you Pawn Star fans I ran into Chumlee at the Budget rental counter in Newark. Pretty much just like you see on TV. Very friendly and personable guy. I spent yesterday in NYC at the metropolitan museum of art. All I can say is wow. What an amazing place. The city is just packed this time of year and tons and tons of people everywhere. I look forward to the tourist season being over so its not so crazy, just normal NY crazy. The freedom tower is coming along nicely finally and you can see it from Jersey now as you are coming in on the train. The five hours I spent sitting at the airport waiting for them to cancel my flight I had this Dylan tune stuck in my head. Like most Dylan tunes I have no idea what he is trying to tell us, but it somehow seemed appropriate. My favorite version of one of my favorite Dylan tunes. I forget where Rollin Stone had this song on there top 70 Dylan songs but remember thinking it should be higher. Am I the only Dylan geek who read that edition of Rolling Stone? <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aZ9LDBEtKK4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-26215200747753817892011-07-23T15:03:00.001-05:002012-01-07T12:47:12.416-06:00<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<div class="style1" style="margin: 1em 0in;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I really didn’t need another reason to hate cancer or any reminders about what’s at stake in this battle but I got one today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fellow warrior and blogger was taken home last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RIP Tina, your fight was not in vain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every hour somebody dies form melanoma, this one hour it happened to be somebody whose blog I followed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sucks. </span></span></span></div><div align="justify" class="style1">"Good, strong <span style="font-family: inherit;">people get cancer, and they</span> do all the right things to beat it, and they still die. That is the essential truth that you learn. And after you learn it, all other matters are irrelevant. They just seem small."</div><div align="justify" class="style1"> Lance Armstrong</div><div align="justify" class="style1"><br />
</div><div align="justify" class="style1"><span id="goog_684980390"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_684980391"></span> <a href="http://www.paleskinisin.com/2011/07/journey-has-ended.html">Pale Skin Is In</a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: magenta;">It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I let you know Tina's journey has ended. She went peacefully this afternoon, and was surrounded by family. Tina's story of her battle with melanoma touched many people, and was an inspiration to all - she will be missed dearly...</span></span></i></div><div align="justify" class="style1"></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-13527596282037971982011-07-16T21:22:00.002-05:002011-07-17T10:03:42.096-05:00I’m a cancer survivor; now what?<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/livestrong/posts/201838679868767">I'm a cancer survivor, now what?</a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/17/article-1367292-0B36BDF700000578-612_634x369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" id="il_fi" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/17/article-1367292-0B36BDF700000578-612_634x369.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></a>Click on link for story</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I really enjoyed this article and found it a great read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always makes me feel better when I realize I am not alone in how I feel or think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I commented that I could relate and felt like one of those animals you see on Nat Geo that they dart from a helicopter and then release back into the wild feeling groggy and wondering what the hell just happened to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is this expectation from people that the day you finish treatment you are “cured” and the birds start chirping, the sun starts shining, and you just float back to your old life as if nothing happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ironically a year ago I was one of those people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember when my friend Reuben called me to tell me he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was shocked at the news and kept in touch with him during his surgeries and treatments but once he finished I figured, well he is cured and should be back to his old self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was diagnosed he was the first person to call and welcome me to the club.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point of this seemingly senseless rambling is to update where I am at today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part I feel good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Physically I am still getting my strength back but feel better all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The side effects of the interferon continue to lessen and my outlook is better every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess an area where I still have a lot of work to do is anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just pissed at this disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Angry at what I have put my family through, angry at what it has cost me, angry at the toll it took on my personal life, angry at the time I have lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well meaning people tell me how I should feel now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly I feel guilty that I don’t feel as happy go lucky as they think I should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know they are right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people don’t get a second chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early on in my diagnosis one of my doctors said to me that I will most likely only get once chance to fight this disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For reasons known only to god I seem to be winning so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others, some of them better people than I for sure, have not been so fortunate and that knowledge is always with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Lance Armstrong calls it the duty of the survivors or something along those lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take this duty seriously and eagerly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am determined to support others involved in this battle, support cancer charities to whatever extent I can, and educate people about cancer and maybe by sharing my story I can help somebody. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am a huge supporter of the LIvestrong foundation and believe strongly in their purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their manifesto is nearly scripture to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am still trying to get a feel for my new reality but it does get more comfortable as time goes by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I enjoy life more than before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My visits with my children feel more special, watching my granddaughter play or hearing her tell me about what she learned at school that day brings me the greatest pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the energy that I absorb from being around her makes me happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to visiting my youngest in Colorado next month after she starts college, my next plate of sushi with my middle daughter, the next story of adventure from my son in Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to visiting my brother in Atlanta to watch my mighty Jayhawks battle the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in football this September in what I am calling the boy I wish it was basketball season again bowl, and my next visit to New York to do whatever seems like fun at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never again take for granted visits with my nieces and nephews or my sisters and brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom and dad continue to be the rocks I lean against when I need them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to roaming The Strip with my mom again when she gets her knee repaired, and taking dad to another race weekend at Kansas Speedway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to seeing my teammates/coworkers when I return to New Jersey every week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have been great therapist to me and probably don’t even know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also have bad days, more than I care to admit to, when I think about what if the next scan isn’t so favorable, what if one of my new friends who are also engaged in this battle gets bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if some clown runs me over tomorrow while I am out riding my bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to say I won’t live in fear; it’s harder to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear and anger, two powerful emotions that I struggle to keep in check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The journey continues to take twist and turns, and there continues to be highs and lows but the best part of the journey I realize is that it continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have much control over how long but I do control how much I enjoy the ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now for the more direct part of my post, the dreaded medical update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my normal 90 day check up with my dermatologist last week and for the first time ever he didn’t find anything to carve off of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No suspicious areas or problem spots to biopsy so that’s one less stressful phone call for me to wait on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>90 more days of peace and monthly self exams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also recapped my last visit since I really don’t remember being there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last visit there was towards the end of my interferon treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other news on the medical front is that I had my first needle biopsy last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just say I have had more enjoyable experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should get the results back from that next week sometime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the follow up to the follow up to the follow up to my last PET scan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jokingly told Dr. M last week that I will still be doing follow ups when I get my next scan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was able to find the spot they noticed on my scan and did the needed biopsy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. M is the nicest guy and I really feel lucky to have had him for my surgeon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moved the monitor so I could see what he was looking at and watch as he worked the biopsy needle into the mass in question and took a piece out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really was interesting to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me think of my son who is deathly afraid of needles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me it’s just another Dr Visit and two hours later I was at 30k feet winging my back to Jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t think it looked suspicious but wanted to do the biopsy anyway just to be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It has been a crazy weekend, I think I am actually home about 35 hours before I head back to the airport and return to Jersey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I love what I do and the people I work with but I do miss being home and having a more normal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that after next week I will be Gold Elite with Continental and Marriott.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty exciting</span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8448011058244451102.post-56798967989441061742011-07-06T23:25:00.001-05:002011-07-17T10:04:31.520-05:00FDA-Friend Or Foe and Tanning Bed Thoughts<a aria-describedby="Next" href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2598446&id=6195089915" id="myphotolink"><img aria-labeledby="photocaption" height="266" id="myphoto" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263767_10150249844444916_6195089915_7260790_8293538_n.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There has been a lot of talk about cancer in the news lately, maybe there always has been and I had the luxury of not paying much attention to It before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story that really grabbed me was about the FDA’s unanimous decision to no longer approve Avastin for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am no expert on either subject but it makes me sick to my stomach to hear this ruling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Metastatic breast cancer has no cure and this drug was the only option for people facing some pretty rough odds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many sides to this argument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The FDA felt that the side effects and cost of this drug were not offset by its results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much like interferon this drug was not curing people, but it was extending their lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people report amazing results from taking this drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe that it’s some conspiracy by large pharmaceutical companies who are afraid that this drug could be a cure for cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor do I believe that the insurance companies are behind this because they simply don’t want to pay for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is just a situation where business, science, government, and medicine all arrive at a crossroads at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a very uneasy place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this drug was $400 a month it’s maybe a different decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctors can still prescribe it but insurance companies now have a reason to not over it for this purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nobody expects them to cover claims for Avastin for metastatic breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bottom line of this for me is that this drug gives people in a very desperate situation hope and there is nothing more powerful than hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=690111&size=0x400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gallery Image" border="0" src="http://harvest.canadaeast.com/image.php?id=690111&size=0x400" title="Gallery Image" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The other issue that seems to be in the news a lot lately is tanning beds and their use by minors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be very clear on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I strongly support banning tanning beds for minors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dislike tanning beds for a lot of reasons and as you can imagine their link to melanoma is the biggest one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many states have passed legislation that make it illegal for minors to use tanning beds and my home state of Missouri had legislation last session that made it a requirement for minors to have the consent of their parents before they can use tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should think of minors using tanning beds the same way we think of them smoking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minors cannot buy cigarettes and they should not be allowed to use tanning beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The provincial government of New Brunswick launched a campaign that featured the picture above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think this is a great ad and not over the line at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am of the opinion that if people really understood the effects of tanning beds they wouldn’t use them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tanning beds bring in over 2 billion dollars a year in revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a staggering number but minute compared to tobacco revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chain smoked for most of my 20’s and 30’s but I never thought for a second that it was healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was raising my risk of getting lung cancer and that risk eventually lead me to quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think people who use tanning beds do so with the same knowledge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Banning tanning beds for minors is just a small piece of what needs to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ban needs to be followed up with education about all cancer risk, sun exposure included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easy to throw stones at the tanning industry but if we don’t do a better job of educating people, especially our young people, about the risk of sun exposure we would have fought only part of the battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Well that’s my pointless ramblings for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I continue to feel well and am home this week which is really nice. My youngest is out in Fort Collins, CO this week for orientation at CSU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My days of living in denial about her leaving for college soon are about over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a great 4th of July, sitting in the shade and soaked in sunscreen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came across the Facebook page below this week/ It is by the mother of a young lady named Serena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is 6 or 7 years old and a fellow melanoma warrior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has been through 8 surgeries and endured 10 months on interferon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only could take about 5 months on interferon before I had to quit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a tuff young lady and obviously a fighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep her and her family in your prayers this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can use all the positive energy they can get right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I said earlier this week on a friends post about Serena, god I hate this disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150249844444916&set=a.55657659915.61916.6195089915&type=1&theater#!/pages/Serenas-Fight/178408288887479">http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150249844444916&set=a.55657659915.61916.6195089915&type=1&theater#!/pages/Serenas-Fight/178408288887479</a></span></span></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08710883290099451412noreply@blogger.com0