The Journal of a PrizefighterThe Journal of a PrizefighterYoung adult cancer survivor of Hodgkin's Lymphoma shares experiences after two stem cell transplants. Articles
can you dig it?
2007-12-18 01:31:00 This morning I had my appointment with Dr. Barker followed by my monthly round of Aerosolized Pentamidine and then, an unexpected appointment with Dr. Allan Halpern, Sloan-Kettering's Chief of the Dermatology Service.The PET scan is clean! N.E.D. Can you dig it?Yes, I'm greatly relieved by the news. Tears flowed when I first heard it. The PET scan report states "no definite evidence of hypermetabolic malignancy." Though the groundglass in my lungs remains unchanged from the previous CT scan, there's no cancer and that's the most important thing. Drs. Castro-Malaspina and Mayer were right all along. I was the one who doubted and was wrong, but I don't think I've ever been more happy about being wrong than right now.Dr. Barker and Ally, however, weren't able to pinpoint why my abdomen feels the way it does. Anxiety, the medication, and/or post-allo SCT messiness were proposed as possible causes or perhaps as Su said, they're sea horses. Well, whatever it is it's not...
day +116
2007-12-15 16:16:00 Yesterday afternoon I went over the final details of a research study offered by Sloan-Kettering over the phone with a research assistant of the team conducting this study. Presently, there is no genetic test to determine if a familial link exists in the diagnosis of lymphoma or lymphoproliferative disorders (Hodgkin's Disease, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and other similar diseases) but the hope of this study is that the information gathered may lead to such a genetic test. Interestingly, genetic tests do exist for other cancers but not for lymphoproliferative disorders. So, let's hope this study leads to come helpful answers.I answered a couple of simple questions about my medical and family history over the phone and then, now all I need to do is wait for the simple cheek swab kit that they're going to send me in a few weeks. Because my blood reflects my donor's genetic heritage and not my own, a sample of my cheek cells, which still maintain my ow...
interesting exhibitions going on
2007-12-13 18:46:00 Life's Pleasures: The Ashcan Artists' Brush with Leisure, 1895-1925 at the New York Historical SocietyWater: H20 = Life at the American Museum of Natural History More About: Interesting , Exhibitions , Eres
day +50
2007-10-10 21:13:00 This afternoon I went ahead and purchased a stationary bike: the Schwinn 112 Upright Bike. It looks pretty sweet and I look forward to using it soon.
torre's job in doubt
2007-10-09 22:13:00 I hope the Boss keeps Torre, but it doesn't look good. The end of an era maybe at hand.Ever a Class Act, Yankees' Torre Faces Final CurtainEnd of a Season and Maybe an Era More About: Doubt
first post-transplant scan results
2007-10-08 20:09:00 Today marks day +48. I just returned home from my weekly follow-up with Dr. Castro-Malaspina at Sloan-Kettering. My first PET scan following the transplant revealed no evidence of disease as Ally told me on Thursday. There is some scar tissue in the mediastinum from previous treatments, but that's it. So far, so good.With regards to those two pesky viruses, the Epstein-Barr Virus and Adenovirus, the most recent blood tests came back negative for EBV but positive again for the Adenovirus (though its strength is very weak). I was scheduled to receive Rituximab (Rituxan) to treat the EBV this afternoon following my appointment, but since the last blood test didn't show any evidence of the virus it was canceled. I'm still scheduled to receive a fourth cycle of Cidofovir this Thursday, however. It's hoped that four cycles of this antiviral drug will be enough to lay the Adenovirus a death blow. Nevertheless, I'll continue to be screened for both these viruses each week.Final... More About: Post , Results , First Post , Scan , Result
yesterday's chicago marathon
2007-10-08 20:01:00 I knew from Tammer that the high heat and humidity caused many problems at yesterday's LaSalle Bank Chica go Mara thon , but the picture given in Death and Havoc Mar Chicago Race is just frightening.
day +47
2007-10-08 00:14:00 One of the images which I downloaded but didn't post yesterday is this fantastic photograph of the Milky Way band above the mountains of Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming. I, like most Americans, as a consequence of light pollution have never seen the night sky in all its cosmic glory, which is in part why I have been so interested in visiting some of the country's rustic, remoter parts.photo by QT Luong/terragalleria.com, all rights reserved.photo by QT Luong/terragalleria.com, all rights reserved.photo by QT Luong/terragalleria.com, all rights reserved.I was introduced to the beauty of Grand Teton National Park a few years ago when I first saw Quang-Tuan Luong's gorgeous photographs of this American gem. With regards to American national parks, Glacier has long been at the top of my list. Perhaps it's of little surprise that with most of my interest focused on visiting Glacier in the future, I overlooked Grand Teton as a possible destination. So, after seei...
in the news
2007-10-07 22:39:00 In the Bronx, Blight Gave Way to RenewalNerves Exposed, Second Avenue Waits for Its SubwayWhat Sputnik Meant to a Kid Studying ScienceClinton Says She Would Shield Science From Politics For a Trusty Voting Bloc, a Faith ShakenA Nation of Christians Is Not a Christian NationWhile Steinbrenner Spends, Yankees Can't Buy a WinBabe and Josh Together, on Canvas More About: News , In the News , The News
jennifer needs your prayers and best wishes
2007-10-07 01:45:00 Friend and fellow prizefighter, Jennifer Willey, who like myself has been battling refractory Hodgkin's Disease for several years underwent an allogeneic stem cell transplant in late 2006. Since May 2007, she has been dealing with chronic GVHD, but unfortunately the problem has grown significantly worse to the point that her lungs have been damaged badly. She is terribly weak, needs a wheelchair to get around, and is dependent on an oxygen apparatus 24/7. The situation is grave. Presently, her medical team is trying ECP/Photopheresis in the hope that it will alleviate the damage caused by the cGHVD to her lungs.Please leave a comment of encouragement on her blog, Hodgkins Lymphoma Awareness - My Journey Battling Cancer. She and her family needs our support at this very difficult time. More About: Prayers , Wishes , Pray , Needs
day +46
2007-10-07 00:49:00 Last night as I watched the Yankees-Indians game, I downloaded some of the latest images from NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day. Here are some of my favorites:Unusual Cratering on Saturn's Moon, DioneThree Galaxies and a CometSix Rainbows Across NorwayOld Faithful Below a Yellowstone SkyMercury's Transit-An Unusual Spot on the SunJupiter, Vesta, and the Milky WayDust Sculptures in the Rosette NebulaDark Sky Over Death ValleyLate this morning, I traversed two more bridges: the Madison Avenue and Macombs Dam Bridges. I started off walking south along the Grand Concourse for about 20 blocks until I reached the Madison Avenue Bridge, which I crossed over into Harlem where I walked for about another 17 blocks north along Adam Clayton Powell Blvd (7th Avenue) until I got to West 155th at which I point I continued east across the Macombs Dam Bridge back into Bronx. Of the bridges spanning the Harlem River that I have crossed, I found the Macombs Dam Bridge to be most interesting so...
living now: post transplant challenges
2007-10-06 21:43:00 A few days ago I found the following podcast titled Living Now: Post Tran splant Challenges presented by CancerCare. I haven't had the opportunity to listen to it yet, but it may be helpful. More About: Halle
in the news
2007-10-06 21:19:00 What Sputnik Launched I had no idea that Charles Krauthammer is a space enthusiast. I'm so used to hearing him rant about the Democrats on FoxNews . U.S. and Russia Sign Pact to Hunt for Water on Mars, MoonChe: The Icon and the AdIce Age Sabertooth was a Pussy CatThe Hidden Dangers of Plastics More About: In the News , The News
i need a drink
2007-10-06 04:05:00 Oh, boy. I need a drink, but I can't (for an unknown number of months following my transplant)! No, I really just need to decompress. Urghh.What a valiant effort by Pettite! And Carmona did a superb job! The Yanks' offense just sucked today. The whole team just did not hit.This game tonight was so tense that my palms were sweating during those stressful innings in the latter part of the game. At moments, I couldn't take it. It was like when Rocky and Apollo Creed duked it out into those late rounds of Rocky. Oh man!I'm just bummed out right now. Let's go Yanks on Sunday! More About: Drink
day +44
2007-10-05 01:52:00 This will be a short update since the Yankees-Indians game is going on at the moment. The Yanks are behind 4-2 now in the bottom of the 3rd inning.Today marks one month since I was discharged from Sloan following my non-myeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplant.As usual, whenever I receive cidofovir it's a long day. My appointment was for 8:30 this morning, but they didn't get me started until about 10 as it takes time for the pharmacy to make the cocktail. And since the treatment is about 6 hours long, I didn't get home until about 7PM. So, it was a long day but I slept for perhaps most of the time as a result of the Benadryl.Nevertheless, Ally visited me in the outpatient infusion room and updated me on the results of my recent blood tests. She said that the most recent Adenovirus blood test came back positive though the virus' strength is apparently weaker than before, so it's a good thing that I continue to receive the cidofovir. She also told me that another bloo...
in the news
2007-10-05 01:00:00 Chamberlain Offers His Tribe Hope More About: News , In the News , The News
prizefighter blogs
2007-10-04 01:25:00 The Interanimated TimesDiary of a Soon-to-be Cancer Survivor More About: Blogs , Fighter
day +43
2007-10-03 21:49:00 Su left yesterday afternoon to spend a few days with her folks and friends in Saratoga Springs and then, she will participate in a cancer conference back here on Saturday and Sunday, so I probably won't see her until Monday at the earliest.Last night, I enjoyed watching another episode of the History Channel's wonderful series, The Universe: The End of Earth: Deep Space Threats to Earth. Speaking about the interconnectedness of the Universe, Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke eloquently about how each of us and all of life for that matter are interconnected both biologically and chemically. Each of us share the same "stuff." All the elements that help to make up our bodies, such as carbon, were formed eons ago in the deaths of high mass stars. We are made of stars. As he said, we are part of the Universe and the Universe is in us. So, we're interconnected with each other in a very literal sense as well as with the Cosmos even though watching the news can sometimes take away from the...
a question about the risk to leukemia donors answered
2007-10-02 23:17:00 I was pleased to read the following NYT article in which my former transplant specialist, Dr. Michael Schuster of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, answered the question:If a child is an excellent match to be a bone marrow donor for a brother or sister with leukemia, does that mean the well child’s risk of leukemia is higher? More About: Question , Risk , Leukemia , Dono
in the news
2007-10-02 22:16:00 Bloodied in Battle, Now Getting Their DueNameless Are Memorialized at Old African Burial SiteA Southern College to Sell Prized PaintingsReport Says Firm Sought to Cover Up Iraq ShootingsObama to Urge Elimination of Nuclear Weapons Independents May Be Crucial in New HampshireBush Convenes Climate Conference in WashingtonArctic Melt Unnerves the ExpertsNeanderthals Trekked All the Way into SiberiaMarital Spats, Taken to Heart More About: News , In the News , The News
stupid cancer
2007-10-02 17:59:00 Last Tuesday, The Stupid Cancer Comedy Show was held at Gotham Comedy Club as a fundraising event for Matthew Zachery's website, I'm Too Young For This. Su was able to make it as well as Lindsey, Kelly of Chemopalooza, and Sandy of Sanbans Lymphorama. However, I of course missed out since I'm supposed to avoid crowds or large gathering for at least the first 100 days post-transplant. Nevertheless, Ben Bailey of Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel performed that night. I saw him once do stand-up at Comedy Cellar, I think. Su and I both enjoy that show and would love to be on it. A few months ago, Cash Cab had a week devoted to shark trivia in honor of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, so why not have a Cancer Week? Maybe Ben Bailey could pick up patients from the York Avenue entrance of Sloan-Kettering and bring them to their destination. Su said she told him about our idea. Let's see what happens. Anyway, here's a slideshow of The Stupid Cancer Show.Here's a clip o...
day +41
2007-10-02 02:18:00 This morning I had my weekly checkup with Dr. Castro-Malaspina, who returned from his two-week rotation on the transplant ward. Although the last Adenovirus blood test came back negative, I'm still scheduled to have two more cycles of cidofovir in order to make sure that the virus is gone completely from my entire system. That means I'll be back at Sloan on Thursday for another long day treatment and then, again on Friday for IV hydration. The fact that the diarrhea has stopped is a sign that the Adenovirus was its likely source. My counts were fine, he said. I told him as I had done to Dr. Barker and Ally about the sore spot on my left shoulder and the occasional phantom feeling I have in my chest. He didn't seem alarmed, but said the PET scan that I took today would show what if anything is going on. I also asked him about a script for a stationary bicycle under physical therapy, but he wasn't able to comply since I am not suffering from joint or leg issues that would re...
in the news
2007-10-02 02:07:00 Papal Stargazers Reach for HeavenWatching Full Moon Rise Over the Northeast CorridorNow, a Dollar (Canadian) Is Really Worth a Dollar (U.S.)Silence, Outrage and Tears as Debacle at Shea Slowly Sinks InU.S. Is Top Arms Seller to Developing World Giuliani Inspires Threat of a Third-Party RunFinally, in the latest issue (November 2007) of Sky & Telescope Magazine, I learned about a very cool new feature added recently to Google Earth. Light pollution is a persistent problem for night observation and unfortunately, the situation isn't improving with the continued growth in urban sprawl. But at least with Google Earth's new feature, "Earth City Lights," users can view 3-D NASA night satellite imagery of the entire planet and then, zoom in searching for a nearby locale that's free of light pollution. Curious, I used this new feature to look at both Glacier National Park and the Adirondacks. The former seems to be completely free of light pollution whereas the latter has just a ... More About: News , In the News , The News
day +40
2007-10-01 03:00:00 I went for another walk in the neighborhood this afternoon. The weather was spectacular again today. Thankfully, today doesn't seem like it will be the last. According to the ten-day forecast, the weather is supposed to stay about the same for the coming days.Having stayed up late last night, I didn't feel like I had it in me today to cross the Third Avenue Bridge again, so I settled for the much closer 145th Street Bridge - a landmark that has become more familiar with each crossing. Wearing a surgical mask and gloves and protected by sunblock SPF 45, I walked leisurely with my Canon PowerShot A700 camera hanging across my right shoulder. On my way back from Manhattan, I headed along River Avenue to Yankee Stadium where I took more photographs of the Cathedral of Baseball and the area surrounding it. From the Stadium, I snapped dozens of photographs of its successor, which is located directly opposite it and scheduled to open for the 2009 baseball season. Finally, I walked...
stem cell transplantation news
2007-10-01 02:54:00 Stem Cell Therapy Takes a Toll on Sex Lives More About: News , Stem Cell , Stem , Tran
astronomy/earth science news
2007-10-01 02:47:00 Underreported: The Cassini-Huygens Space MissionResearchers Detect Hint of Oxygen 50 to 100 Million Years Earlier than First BelievedSpacemen are from Mars More About: Science , News , Earth , Astronomy , Science News
in the news
2007-10-01 02:30:00 Political Junkie: The Republican DebatesLegacy of School Segregation Endures, Separate but EqualBeneath Booming Cities, China's Future Is Drying UpThe Race Against WarmingHuman Behavior, Global Warming, and the Ubiquitous Plastic BagNext Test Asks: What Does 'American' Mean?A Rights Advocate's Work Divides DominciansTeachers' SalariesPowerful, But Not That PowerfulCurbside, We'll Never Have Paris More About: News , In the News , The News
day+39
2007-09-30 00:47:00 I didn't hesitate to take advantage of today's spectacular fall weather. With the temperature hovering in the low 70s with no humidity and a clear sky, it was superb. Having walked across the nearby 145 Street Bridge a few times last week, I decided to take a hack at the more distant Third Avenue Bridge, another one of the various spans connecting the boroughs of the Bronx and Manhattan. I've crossed the Third Avenue Bridge dozens of times by car (such as when I go to Sloan) and the distance seemed so close, but by foot it's considerably longer. Indeed, I underestimated how far I actually lived from the bridge as I was so used to reaching it by car. Moreover, I didn't take the most direct route to the bridge favoring instead to linger around Yankee Stadium where I snapped dozens of photos.According to GoogleMaps, my walk to Manhattan and back totaled about 6 miles, which you can follow here. I started at the Bronx County Court House, which is about one block from where I ...
side effects
More articles from this author:2007-07-11 15:01:00 The pink color has returned to my tongue. Just about all the blue-purplish spots are gone. There are no oral irritations and my sense of taste has returned completely. My hair continues to fall out. In fact, a lot of it has fallen out already. I'll try to get a haircut before the wedding this weekend. My hands and feet remain dry, but less so than earlier. My stool has been very dark recently. I was told that stool softeners can darken the stool. More About: Side , Side Effects , Effects 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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