Sorry... READ only from now on

I'm sorry to say that due to some unsavory comments that have been posted by total strangers in response to my entries (yep, the internet can be a big, bad, ugly place) I have decided to turn off the comments feature.

If you want to reach me please just send me email at jhm100@gmail.com or you can find me on Facebook as well.

Mintz's Mentschen 2010

Dan Nies started the ball rolling for Mintz's Mentschen 2010 and we're starting to build some momentum already. While the whole Mentschen phenomenon has meant a great deal to me I already told Dan that he's a glutton for punishment for putting the call out to all Mentschen alumni and for cranking up the engine yet again. As I've said before, I can't find a way to adequately thank Dan and everyone who has been involved with and/or supported the Mentschen. Stay tuned since there's even a possibility that we'll have an entirely new cycling jersey design. Maybe it too will be an award winner!?

Assuming that at the very least I'll be able to cover the 10-mile route I just registered for the Philly LiveSTRONG event. You can join the fun and walk/run/ride with the 2010 Mintz's Mentschen or you can support my fundraising effort with a donation to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

With that said we've already had Sasha representin' the Mentschen at the Colorado State University American Cancer Society Relay for Life just this weekend. Are my daughters incredible OR WHAT!?

Can't make this stuff up...

My fortune cookie from lunch on Wednesday.
I'm still managing to laugh about this stuff.

Third time's a charm

The waiting is over.
Amy and I discussed the PET scan results today with Dr. Richards and we’ve agreed on a plan of attack. We will be rushing to get an MRI done so that we have a baseline on the size of the lesions that have shown up on my liver and we’ll be starting chemotherapy immediately thereafter. Today being Monday this should all start to happen by mid-week next week.

We discussed other treatment options but since my cancer has proven to be responsive to chemotherapy we’re going to continue down the chemo path and utilize two drugs that I haven’t been on yet. This time around will be carboplatin and taxol. As chemo drugs these drugs have their own unique and unpleasant side affects, however, they avoid toxicity issues related to other drugs that we have already used. Anxiety leading up to the first treatment will be centered around the unknown of how I will handle these new drugs. We stopped at the drug store today on the way home to drop off our handful of prescriptions for anti-nausea drugs. But no EMEND this time around. I’m a bit nervous about that but I trust Dr. Richards and his explanation for why it’s not typically used with these drugs.

One thing that I won’t have to be concerned about is the anticipated hair loss that these drugs are supposed to cause. LOL.

My anxieties at this point are specific to plans that are now unsettled and of course all of the unknowns…. Such as, how I’ll handle the treatments, I assume that I won’t be able to risk (due to compromised immune system) going to Colorado to help Sasha move out of her dorm at the end of the semester, I don’t know what level of exercise I’ll be able to handle so the May MS bike ride, day-to-day exercise, and even the August Philly LiveSTRONG event will have to be left in wait and see status. My assumption is that 5,6, 7 treatments down the road I’ll be in remission yet again and counting on this 3rd go round with chemo/cancer to be the charm.

I’ve said this so many times before but it never seems to be enough, therefore, I’ll say it again. With bits and pieces regarding my status making the rounds on Facebook, etc. over the past few days our phone and email has been very busy. A call this evening from my high school track coach, Bob O’Dell, with words of support and encouragement just warms my heart. And the daily emails from new European friends Anne Chen and Chris MacDonald, that I met through the Lance Armstrong Foundation, have really touched me. Mintz's Mentschen is now global! And, of course, the continued cycling with Dan Nies, Stephanie Tobler, and Grace Capato complete with extra hugs this past weekend.

Thank you all.

I guess it’s safe to say that I’ll be posting here with a bit more frequency then I have been in recent months. I’ll try to keep the posts as current as possible.

Preliminary results

For those of you that might not already be aware I did receive some preliminary PET scan results and unfortunately the news wasn’t good. While I continue to feel good, even riding 52 miles on my bike Saturday, there were some spots that showed up on the PET scan that seem to indicate a cancer recurrence.

I was able to call Mercer County on Friday to get out of jury duty that had been scheduled for this week and I have an appointment with Dr. Richards this afternoon. When I spoke with him last week he mentioned that we’d likely be scheduling an MRI for another view and to confirm the PET results.

To be continued….

Still waiting....

Maybe we can all hum the Final Jeopardy music in unison?

I'm not stressed but thinking/waiting is definitely consuming some brain cycles that I can't really spare right now. LOL.

And really, PET scans!? PET scans?!

We don't need no stinkin' PET scans!!!! I feel just fine.

Milestone

While this week has other events that will wind up to be more significant milestones you know how I like to gauge my fitness level by my cycling exploits so I consider the ride that I did yesterday (by myself) to be a big one.

It's been a while since I've ridden more then 50 miles but with a forecast of good weather my plan for yesterday was to get out early and to shoot for a 60-miler. The last 3rd of the ride got a bit breezy but it was such a nice day that there was no way I wouldn't make it. As you can see below I covered 61.25 miles.


Tommorrow I have a follow-up with Dr. Dhar who is one of my two gastroenterologists. Since my PET/CT isn't until Wednesday we won't have too much to discuss but I needed an Rx renewal for Prevacid and since I couldn't get an appointment for later in the week this will have to do. Yes, the PET/CT is Wednesday. I know that most won't understand but I always look forward to seeing my friends at Princeton Radiology and, therefore, I'm only slightly nervous regarding the scan itself. Betsy, Nick, and Shane have been with me through this entire journey so to me it's very much like going to visit old friends. As I said, I know that sounds weird.

Dr. Richards is on vacation this week but I've been assured that I'll still get the results as soon as they are available. I'll post the results here as soon as I can.