After I sent the email below to my ol' buddy, Buck, from my Lucent days, I decided to do this 'blog.
Although the email really was the beginning of my documenting my journey, I went back and started at the very beginning (the discovery post) and then worked my way forward.
I worked with Buck years ago at Lucent. We re-connected through email several years ago and have supported each through numerous personal (and cycling) issues via email over the years.
Some of this might be re-hashing some earlier content. I apologize for that. But it also breaks at least some new ground. And it's a kind of round-up of info up to that date as well.
*********
7/6/2010
Email to Buck
Hey,
I haven't been riding my bike much lately. July 2nd was the first
day I'd been in the saddle in over two weeks - doctor's orders following
surgery.
The picture is of me on Independence Day weekend 2010, BACK
IN THE SADDLE. The LIVESTRONG accessories are much more
meaningful to me than they were previously. I was recently
diagnosed with cancer. Of all the ways I WANTED to be like Lance,
this was certainly NOT one of them!
A while back I noticed a lump on my throat, between my Adam's
apple and my chin... one thing led to another, including surgery for
a biopsy of the growth. On June 23rd, 2010 my wife and I were
told that I have non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
As you can imagine, my life has changed, and quickly. I am in a
staging phase presently. They are assessing my condition. The
last test is a bone marrow biopsy. They'll take marrow from both
hips tomorrow. I have a consult with the oncologist on 7/13, at
which time he'll let me in on the firmed up plan of attack. I'm
hoping there are no additional surprises still waiting for me.
If all goes as he told me last week, I'm in for 6 initial chemotherapy
treatments, one every 3 weeks, followed by maintenance chemotherapy,
those treatments less frequent. He told me the total duration for chemo
should be about 24 months. Which would take me, roughly, to July 4th,
2012.
Every campaign worth pursuing has a catchy slogan. I've decided to
name my campaign "Independence Day 2012". My thinking is that I can
rally round a firm date (understanding that the date could slide
either way a little bit) rather than a vague, open ended target.
Also, I can tie in independence from the British with my independence
from cancer... admittedly, it's a little hokey, but I think it gives me
a clear target and a goal and it's not FOREVER, it's just 2 short years.
Years ago, one of my sports heroes, Walter Payton, was diagnosed with
a terminal illness. At the time, he said something I didn't understand.
He said that being given notice that your days were numbered, rather than
dying suddenly, was a gift. I drew a total blank on that at the time...
My doctor is optimistic and confident and I'm hanging my hat on that.
He has told me that my cancer is slow growing and that, depending on
your age when it strikes you, you might not even treat it. He
did advise me to treat my cancer and I do plan to win this fight. Either
way, it has changed my life.
In the least likely of places, revelations present themselves. I can't
even begin to tell you how many people, some of them unknown to me
previously, have offered me their love and support. Friends and family
members are slipping on LIVESTRONG bracelets. It has been an
unbelievably moving and humbling experience.
I now understand what Walter Payton meant. Had I fallen asleep and run
my truck into a highway support at speed, I never would have known how many
people care about me. Cancer has presented me with an unexpected gift.
The world looked a little different after I was first diagnosed. Now I'm
starting to get my mind around this. I am not bitter and I have no reason
to be. I've been very lucky to have lived this life. Many others have not
been as lucky as I've been. Every day is truly a gift and I intend to treat
each as such. And I'll ride when I can.
With assistance from my doctors, friends, and family, my plan is to
survive and get my life back on track.
And I'm grateful for the opportunity.
Steve
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment