As I said in my remarks after the Florida premiere of our Kilimanjaro documentary: Best. Vacation. Video. Ever.
Chapter II
In September of 2013, doctors diagnosed me with a malignant 5cm mass, discovered during a regularly-scheduled MRI (which I have as part of my follow-up from a 2001-2002 breast cancer battle). After surgery and tests, I learned that I had thymic carcinoma -- a rare and fast-growing cancer of the Thymus gland. Usually, it’s not diagnosed until it’s already spread to the lungs, heart, or other places, because it can be fairly symptomless. I was blessed, as my oncologist said, that my regular MRIs helped catch it early. My outlook would have been much worse if this had been discovered months later.
I am documenting my journey through Cancer Part II in the hopes that it will educate and inspire others who are facing a difficult diagnosis. In the days after I left the hospital, I sat down with my colleagues at Growing Bolder to share my thoughts on this new challenge. As we say -- I am Surviving & Thriving.
I’m Thankful I am upright
What a difference a year makes.
Transmitted-Received or Life’s so Circular or Everything You Do Makes a Difference
I couldn’t decide what to call this post, so I called it everything that I want, since I’m the boss. I spent the last few days in Wilmington, North Carolina to do some outreach, internal reach, and race part of an Ironman (natch) for PPD. PPD is a clinical trials development company that I’ve raced…
A Change will do you Good
I just got back from my 14th Livestrong Ride for the Roses in Austin.
But Wait, There’s More
Can I just say that consensus is a wonderful thing? We met with Dr. Giaccone yesterday at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center. He is one of the country’s most experienced oncologists working with Thymic Carcinoma. After looking at my many pages and CDs of screening results, the first thing out of his mouth was: “Option…
I’m in
So as not to bury the lead, the headline is that I’m in. After two days of an ECHO test, an EKG, full-body CT scan, PET scan, a urine test, and blood tests that required 13 vials of blood, I was accepted for the clinical trials that I want at the National Cancer Center (NCI). Today,…