The Journal of a PrizefighterThe Journal of a Prizefighter27 year old with relapsed Hodgkin's Disease sharing his experiences as he faces a stem cell transplant. Articles
celebrate livestrong day 2008
2008-05-13 18:14:00 Today is LIVESTRONG Day.This morning I attended a celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. In honor of the Ralph Lauren Center's amazing work in Harlem and LIVESTRONG Day, Ralph Lauren (a famous son of the Bronx), Lance Armstrong, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Dr. Harold Freeman, and Dr. Harold Varmus of Sloan-Kettering were there and addressed the audience. I live about 30 blocks away from the Center and despite my daily effort to keep up with all-things cancer, I myself wasn't aware that such a place even existed. So, during the days prior to this morning's event I tried to catch up a bit on its history. Opened in May 2003, the RLC is a community based center for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer for those in the community who have and still suffer needlessly, because of a lack of access to good medical care and/or health insurance.The Center, made possible by a generous gift fr... More About: Celebrate , 2008
frida kahlo
2008-05-12 00:21:00 I spent most of Saturday in Philadelphia with Barbra. While there, we visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see its grand exhibition: Frida Kahlo. Wow, what a show! Before seeing the exhibition, I knew nothing about Frida Kahlo though she's a very famous Mexican artist and the wife of the noted muralist, Diego Rivera. Had I not accepted Barbra's invitation to visit Philadelphia, who knows when I would have learned about Frida Kahlo. Both her work and personal story are compelling and I left the exhibition very impressed by this remarkable artist. If you go, I recommend listening to the audio guides which are included in the price of the tour. For those such as myself who know very little about Kahlo, the guides are invaluable.
cancer news
2008-05-12 00:18:00 "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."-Randy PauschDying of Cancer , but Full of Life Lessons More About: News
stupid cancer gala nyc '08
2008-05-12 00:14:00 I'm Too Young For This is hosting its second annual Stupid Cancer gala in NYC in June. Click the banner above for more information. More About: Gala
in the news
2008-05-11 23:01:00 The Rise of the Rest is a great read! After reading this, I'm curious to buy his new book, The Post-American World.The Upside of Being Knocked AroundPragmatic Politics, Forged on the South SideBlack Community Is Increasingly Protective of ObamaI Am EvolutionThe Dangers of the DeltasTiger Stadium Faces Partial Demolition Amid Opposition More About: News , In the News , The News
lls stem cell transplantation education programs
2008-05-10 02:04:00 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's telephone education series has two recent programs available for download in audio and text format.Stem Cell Transplantation: Current Trends and Future DirectionsAudioTextNew Perspectives on Stem Cell TransplantationAudioTextFor more information on programs about lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma, click here. More About: Education , Programs
day +261
2008-05-08 22:53:00 I just spent about the past two hours doing some maintenance work on my blog. There were a couple of links that were dead, so I got rid of those. I also reorganized a few of the categories in the sidebar as well as added a few new banners. I didn't expect to spend so much doing this but that's how it goes generally. Once I find something that needs to be fixed, then I find something else and it just goes on and on.Consequently, I haven't been able to do some of the other things that had on my agenda for this afternoon but the day is still young. The past few days I've been working with the committee to make the necessary last minute changes to the upcoming MSKCC newsletter, which looks really good.While I was down at Sloan for one of our meetings, I stopped by Rick's office where I picked up a CD consisting of the photographs that he took of my parents and me at the art show last week.Yesterday I spent some time writing thank you cards to those who purchased my photographs...
thanks mom marrow donor drive/donor garden
2008-05-08 19:18:00 The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) has launched the Thanks Mom Marrow Donor Drive . Its hope is to bring 46,000 people to the National Registry in just the two weeks surrounding Mother's Day.During this campaign, costs to join the Registry are covered for the first 46,000 who join! So please sign-up!In addition to this initiative, the NMDP has set up a new online resource called the Donor Garden . It is an online community where people can share their stories of survivorship and show support for the NMDP effort to save lives.Bloggers can help spread the word with this neat widget.There's also a version for those on Facebook.Please help to spread the word!
in the news
2008-05-08 19:02:00 Burma: How You Can HelpSupport for Clinton Wanes as Obama Sees Finish LineTV's Pundits Pronounce Judgment: It's OverPins and PandersAfter 60 Years, Arabs in Israel Are OutsidersAmid War, Afghanistan Builds Its First National Park More About: News , In the News , The News
what does one say?
2008-05-08 04:54:00 Hodgkin's Lymphoma survivor, Jennifer Willey, continues to have a very difficult time with the complications caused by GVHD following her allogeneic SCT. I just read her latest blog post dated May 6th. I don't really know what to say but to state the obvious: that I'm thinking about her during this unforgiving and unfortunate situation. However, I'm finding this to be inadequate. It has been far too difficult to come up with anything more poignant and uplifting to tell her. What does one say after reading such news?Jennifer needs our support. Please leave a comment on her blog.
alese coco - fight 2 win campaign
2008-05-08 04:11:00 Today marks the one year anniversary of the passing of fellow prizefighter, Alese Coco , who was a remarkable inspiration to me and so many others suffering from cancer, in particular Hodgkin's Lymphoma. By sharing her profound and courageous story, she gave so many renewed hope.Her family and a coalition of both impressive individuals and organizations have come together to establish the Alese Coco - Fight 2 Win Campaign , which will focus all its resources on finding a cure for Hodgkin's Lymphoma.If you're unfamiliar with her remarkable story, please check out her blog which her parents continue to update.
living now conference presentations
2008-05-04 21:40:00 Transplant survivors and their caregivers can learn about the latest post-transplant research and information at the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)'s page, Living Now Conference Presentations . The presentations are quite helpful.
in the news
2008-05-04 01:36:00 Measles in U.S. at Highest Level Since 2001Virus Kills 22 Children in Eastern ChinaThe Short End of the Longer LifeYou Name It, and Exercise Helps ItDumb as We Wanna BeAs Gas Costs Soar, Buyers Flock to Small CarsDoor Keeper on 79th St. Keeps Stories of Queens is a great story! Considering my interest in the bridges, I found it really revealing.Beijing Air Terminal Goes All Out for the GamesAngola Allows Chinese Ship to Dock, but Not Unload Arms for ZimbabweTibetan Envoys Head to China for Informal TalksPhilipp von Boeselager, Who Attempted an Assassination of Hitler, Dies at 90Iron ManOn Sunday TV, One Hot Race Fuels AnotherThe Shrinking ElectionOverkill and Short Shrift More About: News , In the News , The News
support the national marrow registry drive
2008-05-02 02:55:00 You may recall that late one afternoon during the winter, while I was taking photographs on the approach to the Willis Avenue Bridge, I was stopped by someone in their car who is a reader of my blog. I had the privilege of meeting both her and her daughter at the reception on Monday.Jeff, her husband, who was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), received an allogeneic stem cell transplant about nine months ago at Sloan-Kettering. Thankfully, he's doing very well.Inspired by the amazing, inspirational work of 12 year old Pat Pedraja, Jeff and his family are planning a bone marrow registry drive in Katonah, NY. His wonderful wife asked that I share his message with all of you.Greetings All, All-in-all I am one very lucky, very grateful camper. I am uncharacteristically humbled by my incredible good fortune with the medical miracle of stem cell technology and forever indebted to the kindness of my anonymous donor, to the talented medical team at Sloan-Kettering, to t... More About: Registry , National , Drive , Support , The National
55th annual patient art exhibition at mskcc
2008-05-01 01:58:00 Several weeks ago, I sent out the following Evite to a countless number of family, friends, and others who have been so instrumental to my family and me during my nearly five year long struggle with cancer.Dear family and friends, As many of you know, since completing my transplant for Hodgkin's Lymphoma seven months ago I've been spending a significant amount of time photographing. In addition to blogging, photography has become one of the most fulfilling activities that I've picked up since my diagnosis as I continue to find new means of self-expression and discovery. The subject of most of my photographic work has been bridges. Not the great, iconic bridges like the Brooklyn Bridge or the George Washington Bridge but the smaller ones, the little known ones: the Harlem River Bridges. The Harlem River Bridges are the 14 spans over the Harlem River (which links the Hudson and East Rivers) that connect Manhattan and the Bronx. It was by accident, really, that I becam... More About: Exhibition , Patient , Annual
miles and miles
2008-04-26 22:03:00 After two busy days, I'm taking it easy this weekend.On Thursday morning, I spent about an hour and a half with Judith Kelman, a warm, accomplished writer and novelist, editing the essay which I had written for the inaugural issue of the new MSKCC newsletter that I've been working on. It's thanks to both Eileen and Larissa that I found out about Ms. Kelman's participation in "Visible Ink," a one-on-one writing program for MSKCC patients. I'm really happy that I took their advice and saw her. The result of our very productive meeting was a much improved essay that was free of some of the clunky sentences that I had composed originally. Next week, I plan to see her again at which time we'll review it one last time.Following our meeting, I walked to nearby Hunter College's sole art institution - The Bertha and Karl Leubsdorf Art Gallery - where I checked out Re-Orientations: Islamic Art and the West in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.From there I walked east to Firs... More About: Miles
lymphoma research foundation programs
2008-04-26 21:24:00 13th Annual North American Educational Forum on Lymphoma , September 26-28, 2008, San FranciscoWebcasts and Podcasts has a wealth of helpful information about lymphoma and the treatment/research options available. More About: Foundation , Research , Programs
in the news
2008-04-26 21:20:00 50 Bullets, No ConvictionWilting Over WafflesThe Race That Wouldn't DieThe Democrats' Worst NightmareHeading Toward the Danger ZoneRush Limbaugh 'Dreaming' Of Riots in DenverRev. Jeremiah Wright - Bill Moyers JournalT.Rex Was 'Chicken' Ancestor, That IsGovernment Releases Images of Syrian ReactorSoldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to ThreatsNavy Limits Nominations to Space ProgramCandidates and the Space RaceWhat Adams Saw Through His Lens More About: News , In the News , The News
day +246
2008-04-23 19:02:00 As anticipated, yesterday turned out to be pretty long.I had woken up at dawn in order to make it up to Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan by about 7 am, but I found the sky too cloudy for what I wanted. Consequently, I went back to sleep and then, woke up again around 8:30 in the morning. By about 9:30, the sky had started to clear up but by then it was far too late for what I wanted, so I'm hoping to try again early tomorrow morning.At 11:45 am, I attended a seminar titled "All In The Family: Clinical Genetics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering" at the Rockefeller Research Laboratories Auditorium, which is across the street from Sloan's hospital. I found the seminar discussion to be quite rewarding. The panel experts - Dr. Kenneth Offit, Dr. Daniel Coit, and Megan Harlan - explained the process of genetic testing for cancer at MSKCC and the available treatments for individuals at risk for developing inherited cancers.Some of the points that I took from the seminar are: Most cancer is no...
in the news
2008-04-22 15:21:00 In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd share the first three articles.Green for a Day, but Then Comes TomorrowGas Guzzlers are a Big Hit in ChinaA Switch on the Tracks: Railroads Roar Ahead is quite interesting!Art Institutions Feeling Impact of Sick EconomyEconomy Takes Harsh Toll on Relief AgenciesObama Name Games Painful to Muslims is really disturbing.A Measure of Racism: 15 Percent? is equally frightening. More About: News , In the News , The News
my lucky 8
2008-04-21 22:58:00 Today, day +244, marks eight months since my allo transplant. In many ways I can't believe that I've made it this far already. It's amazing to contemplate really. Since I've been outside more frequently with the arrival of spring, people have been asking me how I feel and my response is simple: "I can't complain." Because I can't. I can't complain really. I know many others in similar positions who haven't faired as well so far. So, I can't complain. Thanks to my anonymous donor, there's a lot to be thankful for.Though I am far from being in "the clear," my recovery has been as best as one could have hoped. There has been no evidence of GVHD and despite the intermittent appearance of viruses - the Adenovirus and EBV - things have gone exceptionally well. I didn't get even sick at all this past winter, which is remarkable when I think about it a bit. As I continue to taper my Tacrolimus dosage, however, it's very possible that this remarkable recovery of mine m... More About: Lucky
in the news
2008-04-20 19:19:00 A Jump in Doctor Visits and Deaths in Flu SeasonAcross Globe, Empty Bellies Bring Rising AngerSach Explains 'Economics for a Crowded Planet'All Atmospherics, No ClimateOur Favorite PlanetThe Big ThirstHow the Pentagon Spread Its Message Zimbabwe Arms Shipped by China Spark an UproarSympathy on the Streets, but Not for TibetansPope Tells of Youth Under Nazis Road Map to DefeatSuperdelegates Unswayed by Clinton's AttacksHow Obama Fell to EarthFinding Your First Apartment More About: News , In the News , The News
day +239
2008-04-17 01:19:00 Sad news came yesterday that Senator Arlen Specter, the author of the newly released book, Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate, has been diagnosed with a recurrence of Hodgkin's Lymphoma after about a two year remission. Read more here.Tonight at 9PM EST on PBS, the documentary film, The Truth About Cancer, will premiere. Its website describes the film as:Part science, part personal catharsis, part character-driven storytelling, The Truth About Cancer is narrated by Linda Garmon [award-winning filmmaker], who tells the moving story of her husband's battle with cancer. Over the course of the film, Garmon returns to the same Boston-area hospitals at which her husband was treated, and exposes startling truths about survival rates of metastisized cancers, and the limited success of drugs and clinical trials. Interwoven throughout are the stories of three additional cancer patients, and their families and doctors, as they navigate the deeply personal decisions surrounding th...
lymphoma news
2008-04-14 18:04:00 Lymphoma Patients Benefit From Combined PET-CT Scanning, Study SuggestsFamily Cancer History Boosts Risk for Hodgkin Lymphoma SurvivorsFollicular NHL Responds Well to Radioimmunotherapy after ChemoNon-Hodgkin Patients Living Longer: StudyPeripheral Stem Transplantation in Treating Patients With Refractory or Relapsed LymphomaStudy of MGCD0103 Given Three Times Weekly in Patients With Relapsed and Refractory Lymphoma More About: News , Lymphoma
cancer news
2008-04-14 01:11:00 Perhaps you've heard already about the tragic death of 15-year old Alex Koehne, whose organs were donated to recipients not knowing that he had in fact died of anaplastic T-cell lymphoma not bacterial meningitis as had been thought. As a result, all of the organ recipients were diagnosed with cancer, two of whom died but thankfully, the others found the disease in time that they were able to receive the appropriate chemotherapy treatment. What a sad, tragic story. . . . If you hadn't heard about this, please click the first two links to learn more about the effects of this horrible misdiagnosis.Organ Donation Gone WrongMan Who Got Diseased Organ Transplant Thanks DonorsRacial Differences Seen in Hodgkin's DiseaseAre Minorities Benefiting From Prevention Priority?When Ordinary Becomes the Ideal is a refreshing read after all this depressing cancer news. More About: News , Cancer
in the news
2008-04-14 00:42:00 Regardless of where you stand politically, I thought this new video titled "Baracky" was both very creative and hilarious.The Aria of Chris MatthewsAdministration Set to Use New Spy Program in U.S.Syria Sees Influx of Arabic Language StudentsChina's Leader Insists Sovereignty Is at Stake Over TibetOrphan Boy Lives in Garbage Dump is just a horrifying story.Not the Descendants of Victims But VictorsLong Way HomeFish Out of Water is fascinating!San Francisco Takes Olympic Torch Off-RouteSure It's Frustrating and Expensive, But Travelers Just Have to TravelAging Jet Fleets an Added Strain on U.S. AirlinesRed Sox Fan Adds High-Jinx to Yankees Rivalry More About: News , In the News , The News
day +235
2008-04-12 20:05:00 Thursday evening I attended OMG! Young Adult Cancer Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan. I'm so glad I was able to make it. Not only was the conference's program enriching, I also caught up with friends, such as Mary, and befriended new people as well.Some of the points made at the conference that grabbed my immediate attention are:participation in clinical trials are key to the advancement of cancer treatmentlong-term follow up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors is critical and consequently, good health insurance coverage is an important issue for this groupof all the age groups, the least amount of improvement in cancer survival is between ages 25-35lymphoma and leukemia together constituted 26% of AYA cancer diagnoses between 1975 and 2000; lymphoma makes up the largest percentage block for AYA diagnoses with skin cancer coming in at second at 15%according to the World Health Organization, there are 27 kinds of lymphomaless than 10% of oncologists...
mAssKickers
2008-04-10 14:04:00 Eric Galvez, a young adult brain tumor survivor and blogger at They Call Me Galvez, has teamed up with a few other individuals to create mAssKickers, a new information resource for cancer survivors and their family. It was launched officially this past Sunday, the start of of National Young Adult Cancer Awareness Week.Back in February, he interviewed me for this website. Check it out the interview here.Eric is also the author of the book, Reversal: When a Therapist Becomes a Patient.
questions for you, my readers
More articles from this author:2008-04-10 02:00:00 As many of you know, I'm helping to set up a new newsletter at Sloan-Kettering that will focus on cancer survivors and their personal stories. In addition to having submitted an essay for the inaugural issue, I'm also working on another section which will simply ask a question and list the responses of a few survivors. So, I need your help. Any responses are most welcomed! The questions are:While during and/or after treatment, did you incorporate a complimentary approach by doing exercises, such as yoga, meditation, massage therapy, or reiki, and if so, why? Were they helpful?Did you embrace any particular quote, motto, or verse for strength during treatment?If you wish, I can list your name or your answer can be anonymous. Just let me know in your response.Thank you. More About: Questions , Readers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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