The Journal of a Prizefighter

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Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

in the news
2008-02-26 22:58:00
Below are some of the news stories that I've been following during the past couple of days.The Audacity of Hopelessness by Frank Rich, I think, is a great read. Funny yet insightful.Obama's Red-State Prospects Unclear In Painful Past, Hushed Worry About ObamaObama's Kenyan RootsHillary Should Get Out Now is by Jonathan Alter, one of the most noted columnist in America and a cancer survivor.Fox News Anchor or Porn Star? Being home most of the time, I watch a lot of TV. Probably more than I should. If there's any defense I can make, I guess I can say that those hours are devoted to watching informative news analysis and the pundit talk shows which have become more and more fascinating as this unprecedented primary season progresses.Spending time flipping from network to network, I have become quite knowledgeable about the networks' various news personalities and have noticed that indeed a significant number of the female anchors and reporters are really attractive. Indeed, in...
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about commenting on the blog
2008-02-25 01:58:00
A few people have mentioned to me that the "comment" marker at the end of each post is either missing or has been replaced by overlapping yellow and green circles. I'm working to get this problem fixed soon, but in the meantime just click the yellow-green circles to comment. For those whose browsers don't show the circles, just place your mouse's arrow between the post's time and the envelope icon and click. The comments page should upload immediately thereafter. Sorry for the inconvenience.
More About: Blog , Commenting

snowing in the park
2008-02-22 22:40:00
The first major winter storm to hit NYC that dumped significant snow fall came today. The following pictures were taken at Joyce Kilmer Park (just about 3 blocks east of Yankee Stadium) in the Bronx.

another prizefighter blog
2008-02-22 21:39:00
I Made Cancer "MY BITCH!" is the latest cancer blog that I added to my list. It's by Ryan, a really great and talented guy, who is one of my many Hodge friends on the WebMagic Forum.
More About: Blog

young adult cancer workshop
2008-02-22 20:53:00
In cooperation with Cancer Care, Fertile Hope, The Sam Fund, Children's Brain Tumor Foundation, The Ulman Fund, and I'm Too Young for This, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will present a free educational workshop titled "Cancer in the Young Adult " on April 10th in NYC. Topics will include Fertility Issues, Legal Issues, Psyco/Social Issues, a Patient Panel and a Caregiver Panel.Click here to learn more and/or register.
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cancer news
2008-02-22 20:51:00
Comorbidities Affect Benefit of Conditioning Intensity for Stem Cell Transplants
More About: News , Cancer

in the news
2008-02-22 20:40:00
Ancient "Devil Frog" May Have Eaten Baby DinosaursGene Studies Confirm "Out of Africa" TheoriesObamamania Verges on Obsession I found to be both humorous and intriguing.When the Magic FadesDonors Worried by Clinton Campaign SpendingPlaying the 'Fair' CardMissile Strikes a Spy Satellite Falling From Its OrbitArab Leaders Say the Two-State Proposal Is in PerilA Plan for a New Riverfront Park Faces a Struggle
More About: News , In the News , The News

6 months out
2008-02-21 22:37:00
Despite the blanket of clouds across the NYC area last night, I went out on my terrace to observe the total lunar eclipse but I was disappointed. Though I was able to pick out the moon's reddish hue behind the thick passing clouds, it was a challenge. The visibility was just poor. The spectacular viewing that I had hoped for never really came to be. Those damn clouds. . . . One source of delight, however, was being able to identify what I think was the planet Saturn.This afternoon I listened to the LLS teleconference, "Stem Cell Transplantation: Current Trends and Future Directions," which I found quite helpful.And finally, today marks 6 months since my transplant.
More About: Months

about tonight's total lunar eclipse
2008-02-20 21:46:00
I just read a great article about tonight's much anticipated total lunar eclipse in February's Sky & Telescope magazine. You can check it out online here.The times given in the diagram above are in PST.
More About: Total , Eclipse , Lunar , Lunar Eclipse

day +182
2008-02-19 22:07:00
Earlier this afternoon, for the first time in several days I rode my stationary bicycle for the usual 40 minutes covering 9 miles. I felt good. Most importantly, I didn't experience any breathing problems. It seems like whatever is accounting for the slight heaviness in my upper chest is controlled and perhaps improving.After completing the usual cool-down stretches, I for the first time in long time (probably since beginning the GND (GVD)/SGN-30 antibody clinical trial in Chicago almost a year ago) attempted to do a couple of push ups. After the Hickman catheter was inserted in my chest in preparation for the clinical trial, I stopped my strength training exercises though I continued to do cardio workouts. I was told to use caution because upper body strength training exercises, such as bicep curls or standing barbell press, might cause problems with the Hickman line. Consequently, I figured why bother. So I then decided to just concentrate on my cardiovascular health at th...

day +181
2008-02-18 22:46:00
Since my photography shoot on Saturday evening, I've felt a slight but irregular heaviness in my upper chest. I haven't experienced any coughing, runny nose, or sneezing. Moreover, I haven't had any difficulty breathing. Saturday evening turned out to be quite cold and I made the stupid mistake of not wearing enough layers of clothing.With some wrathful strains of the flu making headlines in the news coupled with the potential life-threatening risks posed by both pneumonia and bronchitis to transplant patients, I thought it wise to let Alli know what's up. I know too many transplant survivors who succumbed not because of cancer, but because of a respiratory illness. So, I called Alli, Dr. Castro-Malaspina's wonderful nurse, this morning and explained to her what happened. From my description, she doesn't think it's anything. She went on to tell me to get rest and stay well-hydrated. If, however, the problem gets worse, I was advised to let them know.This is a potent r...

bon voyage, sis!
2008-02-18 05:56:00
My sister should be in the air on her way to the warm weather of Buenos Aires by now. Her plane was scheduled to depart from Chicago's O'Hare at 9:30 PM EST. When my parents spoke to her about 8 PM tonight, the plane's status was on-time so let's just hope it stayed that way.I won't see her again until she returns in late June after which time she should have completed her courses' final exams. I'm going to miss her. In fact, I'm missing her already. It was great having her home for so long. Her winter break was unusually long . . . almost two months in fact. But I hope she has a productive and memorable experience studying in and traveling throughout Argentina.I love you, Denise!
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please donate to the 2008 lymphomathon
2008-02-18 05:03:00
Fellow lymphoma survivor and personal friend, Laura Lehmann, is raising funds for the Lymphoma Research Foundation by participating in the 2008 New York City Lymphomathon which will take place on April 26th. The Lymphomathon is an annual non-competitive 5K walk where survivors, family, friends, community and corporate teams walk in cities across the country in honor and in memory of those whose lives have been touched by lymphoma.Funds raised will go towards funding research and providing support and education for those whose lives have been touched by Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.Learn more about Laura's wonderful undertaking and/or donate here.
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lymphoma news
2008-02-18 04:53:00
Rituximab Effective For Some Types of Relapsed Hodgkin's Lymphoma
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a few loose ends left
2008-02-17 02:31:00
There are just a few minor loose ends left before the revamp of this blog is complete. My cafepress store isn't finished yet either. Nevertheless, I hope you like the new template so far.Many, many thanks to Levi.
More About: Left , Ends , Loose Ends

new domain name
2008-02-16 19:36:00
My blog's new domain name is http://www.thejournalofaprizefighter.com but you will be connected automatically to my blog if you use the former domain, http://journalofaprizefighter.blogspot.co m
More About: Domain , Domain Name

day +178
2008-02-16 05:34:00
At 9 AM this morning, I was at Sloan-Kettering where I had a follow-up appointment with one of its dentists, Dr. Elizabeth Evitmovsva. With the six month anniversary since my transplant approaching, I figured it would be good for my teeth to be checked and Dr. Castro-Malaspina had approved today's visit at our last appointment.Dr. Evitmovsva examined my mouth and informed me that the silver filling is cracked in the second to last tooth on the upper left side of my mouth. Otherwise, everything looks good she told me. Though the call for the repair of the cracked filling isn't immediate, she cautioned me to not go longer than a couple of weeks. I could have my own family dentist do the job, she went on to say, or she or one of the other dentists at Sloan could do it. I plan to call my family dentist tomorrow in order to schedule an appointment, but before I go ahead with it I'll check with Dr. Castro-Malaspina.Following the dental appointment which concluded sooner than I had...

in the news
2008-02-15 03:11:00
HardbrawlChange Is In the Air, At the PollsSeeking Unity, Obama Feels Pull of Racial DivideUS Plans to Shoot Down SatelliteMortals Amid the Immortals, Savoring the Romance of Art Here's a nice article for art lovers and lovers alike on Valentine's Day.
More About: News , In the News , The News

day +176
2008-02-13 22:59:00
This morning I had planned to see Dr. Roberts for my weekly psych therapy session, but the weather was gray and nasty. The rain was coming down very heavily, so we decided to cancel. Since I wasn't going to see Dr. Roberts, I figured it made little sense for me to attend "Transitions: For Those Who Have Recently Undergone Autologous or Allogeneic Transplant," a monthly afternoon support meeting at Sloan-Kettering that I had already signed up for. This is now the second time that I've failed to make it to this support meeting. Hopefully, the stars will align perfectly next month.For roughly the past week, I've been thinking about changing my blog's template so after finding some interesting samples online, I've been working with Levi who created my blog's header, to come up with something. Working to keep this blog somewhat interesting and attractive is a continuous effort but I enjoy it a lot.As many of you know, the types of fruits and vegetables that I can eat at this m...

cancer news
2008-02-13 22:24:00
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has a set up its first-ever blog for patients, caregivers, and anyone else affected by blood cancers. Check it out here.On Thursday, February 21st the LLS is sponsoring a free teleconference titled "Stem Cell Transplantation: Current Trends and Future Directions." Click here to learn more and/or register.And below, are two recent reports.Second-Cancer Risk from Hodgkin Therapy Seen Reduced SubstantiallyGentler Chemotherapy Before Stem Cell Transplant Causes Long-Term Remission of Follicular Lymphoma, Study Suggests
More About: News

day +174
2008-02-11 19:14:00
Though there is not a cloud in the beautiful sky today, it is ridiculously bitter cold and very windy. Looking out the window, one would have no idea that it was so cold today were it not for the howling of the strong winds.I had hoped to go out this evening to take pictures, but it's just way too cold. Currently, it feels like 7 degrees according to the Weather Channel and this is sure to drop by the time I would be out there. This is a bit disappointing since I have my MOFTB still photography permit for today. I managed to take long exposure shots of the Harlem River Drive and Willis Avenue Bridge for the very first time yesterday evening, but midway through my shoot the sleet reappeared as well as the strong 17-20 mph wind and then, the temperature dropped significantly.So, though my shoot yesterday evening provided me with the opportunity to practice more with long exposure photography at a spot where I had never tried it before, the weather conditions weren't ideal. This...

140.6 miles to fight blood cancers
2008-02-11 18:47:00
About two days ago, I stumbled upon 140.6 Miles To Fight Blood Cancers, a very inspirational website which documents the journey of Chris Elmore and David Miller as they both train to compete in the Ironman Lake Placid on July 20th while raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. How cool is that? Their goal is to raise $100,000 for LLS.They have a blog too, which you can check out here.I wish Chris and David the very best in their amazing endeavor! This so rocks.

cancer news
2008-02-08 01:53:00
Male Patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma Face High Risk of Infertility
More About: News , Cancer

FAQ in lymphoma
2008-02-08 01:47:00
On March 4th from 6-9 PM in Manhattan, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has set up a forum titled "Frequently Asked Questions in Lymphoma: Answers from the Experts" where participants can learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions in lymphoma and ask specific questions of their own to three experts in the field.Learn more and/or register here.

cancer news
2008-02-06 21:20:00
The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmt Link) presents a Telephone Education and Support Group for Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant Survivors Coping with Chronic GVHD. Facilitated by Sandra Mitchell and Kate Castro of the National Institutes of Health, this free teleconference will take place in the spring and fall 2008 on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:15 PM EST. For more information or to register, please call Tiffany Rowe at 800-546-5268 or email: tiffanyrowe@nbmtlink.orgRegistration is now open for a free Parents of Post Transplant Children: Telephone Support Group offered by the National Marrow Donor Program's Office of Patient Advocacy in cooperation with the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link. The group will address survivorship issues following bone marrow/stem cell transplant and is available for parents/guardians whose children are beyond 100 days post-transplant and have returned home from their transplant center. If you have questions or would like to register, cal...
More About: News , Cancer

day +168
2008-02-05 19:13:00
For most of the morning, I had been watching the Giants' ticker tape parade up Broadway and at this very moment as I compose this post, I'm watching their victory ceremony on the steps of City Hall. What a sight! Wow. What a great day for the city! Go G-Men! (I was surprised to learn that Super Bowl XLII was the most watched Super Bowl ever. Impressive. Read here).So much has been happening during the past couple of days: from the South Street Seaport Museum to the Giants' Super Bowl win to the still photography permit to my medical checkup to Super "Duper" Tuesday.First, on Saturday afternoon I went down to the South Street Seaport Museum where I met up with Su and we watched the documentary film, City of Water, which is about the history and future of the NYC waterfront. Since my bridge project is related to the issue of the use and appreciation of the city's waterfront, I was very interested to see what I might learn from this film. Though only about 30 minutes in len...

hell yeah!
2008-02-04 04:52:00
Giants won! What a game! What a game! Go G-Men!Ticker tape parade on Tuesday morning along the Canyon of Heroes!
More About: Hell , Yeah

super bowl or super tuesday?
2008-02-03 18:09:00
I think I might be more excited about Super "Duper" Tuesday than today's Super Bowl . I mean, don't get me wrong. I am excited to watch tonight's game and will be rooting for the Giants wholeheartedly to beat the seemingly indomitable Patriots, but there's something about the hype leading up to Tuesday's primaries that I'm finding electrifying. I guess I'm just more of a political animal.Last week I mailed in my absentee ballot for New York's Democratic Primary. Rather than walk over to the polling site for my district (which is only about 2 blocks away), I decided to complete the process by mail so I wouldn't have to go over there wearing my surgical mask and deal with neighbors and such.Why Tuesday Won't Be So SuperWhy I'm Backing ObamaWhy Republicans Like ObamaRace Matters. So Does Hope.A Rally to Show That Yes, There Are Women for ObamaChants of Madame President in Union Square
More About: Super Tuesday

another hodgkin's prizefighter
2008-02-02 03:08:00
More Adventures in ABVD

in the news
2008-02-02 02:38:00
In Background, a Battle for Superdelegates Very interesting.The Road to Super Tuesday: Mo., Colo., Ga., Ill.The Electability ThingObama Confronts Ethnic Tensions In Bid for VotesAge, Not Race, Splits Latinos' Democratic VoiceHas Hollywood Helped Pave Way for Obama?Decline in Snowpack Is Blamed On WarmingMilitary Is Called Unprepared for AttackFunding Shortfalls Threaten Science ResearchAsteroid 2007 TU24 Passes the Earth Woah. What a relief!NASA and The Beatles Celebrate Anniversaries by Beaming Song 'Across The Universe' Into Deep Space
More About: News , In the News , The News