Endoscopy today

Sorry for not putting up a blog post to let you know that the endoscopy was actually TODAY. Dr. Fidanzato is terrific and since I haven't seen him in nine months his reaction to how my condition has changed is one of amazement. I kind of like that... LOL. Anyway, while he did take some biopsy samples his assessment of things visually is that my esophagus and stomach look normal and that the "mass is gone". The biopsy results may take another week.


I don't mean to gross anyone out but I scanned the endoscopy pictures of my lower esophagus (where it meets the stomach) from the procedures done in January and today. I know that none of us are medical professionals but the improvement, in my opinion, is more then obvious. The before pictures are on top and the current pictures are on the bottom. Looks much better, huh?




And as promised... here's a picture, courtesy of Gary Vencius, as we shivered prior to the start of the Covered Bridge ride last weekend.

Me, Joanne and Gary Vencius, Ingrid French, and Dan Nies

PET/CT scan results

I’ve talked with some of you regarding the preliminary PET/CT scan results so I apologize knowing that you and everyone else that is still reading my blog have been kept waiting for more complete information.

Here goes… while the scan results are not completely clean they’re not awful either. Aside from “mildly increased metabolic activity near the GE junction” there is no suspicious activity anywhere else. The radiology report recommends an endoscopy for a closer look so I have an appointment tomorrow morning with Dr. Fidanzato, the gastroenterologist that assisted with my original diagnosis back in January. I expect this appointment to be fairly brief and hopefully I’ll come home with a date/time for the endoscopy.

With that said please know that I'm feeling just fine. I have no symptoms with eating, swallowing, etc. and have continued to enjoy cycling at every opportunity. In fact, just yesterday I was with Dan Nies, Joanne Vencius, Gary Vencius, and Ingrid French at the Covered Bridge ride and thoroughly enjoyed the weather and a 32-mile ride. I may even have some pictures soon to help prove it!

The Austin Mintz's Mentschen team convenes in Texas this weekend for the actual event. Let's all keep them in our thoughts as they go out to carry the flag in memory/honor of far too many cancer patients. Our TEAM has collectively raised over $51,500!! Simply amazing. Thank you all.

Big Day

Well..... today is the big day. My first post-treatment scan and as I mentioned before I'm nervous about it. I guess it's to be expected and I know the fear is a big part of cancer survivorship, something I'll need to come to grips with. For now though it's definitely safe to say that I'm scared.

I feel fine and have no reason to think that the scan will be anything but positive. I just can't help but think that I'm this one scan and a matter of hours away from possibly being back in treatment mode. It gives me a chill just thinking about it.

After all that I've been through I'm definitely not trying to be melodramatic here. I need to vent and I've been told that there are still people out there reading this blog. So thanks for listening.... LOL.

I don't know if I'll get the results later today but hopefully by tomorrow I'll have heard something and I'll post it here as soon as I can.

Columbus Day

Today completes what has been a fun 3-day holiday weekend. Erin was home this weekend to partake in our usual Saturday marching band festivities. This worked out well since the WWPHS-South band took 1st place for Group II bands at the North Brunswick competition. And on Sunday morning I managed to get in a bike ride with members of the Austin Mintz’s Mentschen team. The ride was short at only 22 miles but it was at a decent pace and somewhat hilly (at least for me...). So, I'll view it as somewhat of an "interval" ride and definitely rate it as a good one since I felt strong throughout.

My appointment with Dr. Richards last Thursday was, as I had predicted, mostly uneventful. One item of note is that my hemoglobin has finally returned to normal range. Dr. Richards also suggested that a PET scan would be a better choice then a regular CT scan so the process of insurance approvals was set in motion. I received confirmation today that the PET scan will be on Thursday, 10/16 at 9am. I will post the results here as soon as I get them.

Sunday, October 5th

All has been going well with me. Hence the long lapse of time since my last post.

Work has been VERY busy so while I haven’t been to the gym as much as I’d like when I do get there the spin classes have been great. And I’ve been cycling outdoors at every opportunity as well. I’m handling rides in the low 30-mile range without too much trouble and rode with some Mintz’s Mentschen teammates today at Washington’s Crossing. My 28.5 mile ride was terrific.

I have an appointment with Dr. Richards this Thursday morning. I expect the visit itself to be very short as it will probably be nothing more then a quick check of my blood counts. The important thing to come from this appointment will be that the wheels will start turning to schedule my CT scan. Considering the time it takes to obtain all required insurance approvals I expect the scan will happen sometime during the week of Monday, 10/13. If you’re wondering, despite that I’m feeling well, yes, I am nervous about it.

Following are some pictures that I think you’ll like. One was taken at the Philly LiveSTRONG ride in August of me posing with the caricature of me that is on our Mentschen cycling jersey. The other is a picture of the fuzz on my head. Yep, it’s still a bit sparse up there.