Heidi and preliminary CT results

How disappointing is it to be a sports fan in the Bay Area. I was settled in to see if the Dallas Cowboys could pull out a victory in the final minutes of the game and the network cuts out to Heidi (49ers vs. Broncos). Who cares about that game or can’t you pick it up after the first game ends since it was reaching its climax. When it is all said and done the result of the 49ers versus Broncos game will be a loss for both team; in other words it will end in a tie nothing nothing. Oh well back to cnnsi so I can keep up with the Cowboys (win or lose). Cowboys lose; they stunk up the field as a team; although there were some individuals that played well it is a team sport and team loss.


The preliminary result of last weeks CT scan is that there is no change, I am Stable for now.

FDA Approves Silicone Breast Implants

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the two largest plastic surgery membership organizations, applaud the FDA’s decision today to approve Allergan Corp. and Mentor Corp.'s silicone breast implants and return these devices to the U.S. market. This decision comes 14 years after the FDA restricted access to the silicone implants because of safety concerns.

“This is a great day for American women and the plastic surgeons who care for them,” said Roxanne Guy, MD, ASPS president. “Silicone breast implants have been scrutinized more than any medical device, and we applaud the FDA for making its well thought-out decision and allowing American women to make informed choices about their health care.”

Today’s FDA decision follows a lengthy process in which the agency sent “approvable with conditions” letters to the two silicone breast implant manufacturers in the second half of 2005. The approvable letter stipulated a number of conditions that the manufacturers needed to satisfy in order to receive FDA final approval to market and sell silicone breast implants in the United States. These letters came after an FDA advisory panel hearing in April 2005, in which the panel heard more than 20 hours of data presentations from the manufacturers and public comment.

Approximately 300,000 women chose breast augmentation in 2005, according to ASAPS and ASPS statistics. Nearly 58,000 women had breast reconstruction in 2005, according to ASPS. Both breast augmentation and reconstruction have been proven in numerous studies to have psychological and physical benefits for women who choose these procedures.

The ASPS and ASAPS will continue to offer their assistance to the manufacturers for the conditions set forth by the FDA related to physician and patient education. One comprehensive example of this assistance is a joint Web site, breastimplantsafety.org, which offers objective and science based information regarding saline and silicone breast implants.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery. ASAPS active-member plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. www.surgery.org.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

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Minas T Chrysopoulo, MD
Board certified plastic surgeon specializing in microsurgical breast reconstruction after mastectomy including the DIEP flap operation.
Plastic, Reconstructive & Microsurgical Associates (PRMA) of South Texas,
San Antonio, TX
(210) 692-1181, Toll Free (800) 692-5565
www.prma-enhance.com
www.look-your-best.yourmd.com

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CT Scans today

Got my latest CT scans today so I just have to wait and see which S word (Shrinking, Spreading, or Stable) the docs give me after they review the films. Just like most CT's that I have had this one did have it's fair share of drama. As I being the angry patient that I am told the nurse that I would only receive my contrast fluid for the CT through my port, they could not touch my arm or hand veins. So finally after a brief stand-off they accessed my port and proceeded with the CT scan.
Note: chemo kills your veins and you also get tired of having people dig in your arms and hands only to realize after 5/6 band aides that they should have used your port to begin with.
After the chemo I was able to eat (the fast was broken) and eat I did. I felt almost like I was at a training table:

• 2 turkey sausages
• 2 large scoops of scrambled eggs
• 2 large scoops of hash browns
• 1 slice of wheat toast
• 1 small bowl of cottage cheese
• 1 small bowl of fruit
• 1 large bowl of cream of wheat
• 40 ounces of water (to flush the kidneys from the CT contrast medicine)

Well that is it in a nutshell for today, got my chemo (rat poison) next week so we will see what the doctors have to say.

LUNCH TIME (got milk)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

The Holiday, Holiday's have been great, I can't complain. I wish my girls were with me but next Christmas we will all be together (with or without new lungs). I have benefited by the kindness and generosity of strangers (I use stranger loosely because that is what we were in each case until we exchanged names and greetings). I have enjoyed wonderful meals in the homes of my friends out here in California. Although I was not physically in Texas as the presents were opened I was able to participate via web cam so I saw all and those thoughts will keep my mind occupied as I get my cancer treatments this week and next.

YMCA / Palo Alto Daily News Article

http://www.paloaltodailynews.com/article/2006-12-21-mv-dash

Organ Donation

The dot is not enough. By dot or check mark I am referring to the drivers licence indication so many of us have on our drivers licence. The reason the drivers licence is not enough to let emergency room doctors know that you are an organ donors is that in the event you are involved in an accident your licence will not arrive at the hospital with you. After an accident you are transported to the hospital and your vital information often is being used by police or other emergency officials that arrive on the scene to work the accident. If you wish to donate organs, tissue, bone marrow.... you should register yourself online at
http://www.donatelife.net/
using this website the emergency room doctors have instant access to the organ donor registry. With organ donation time is very critical so having information at their fingertips really helps the doctors to know what they need to do with the patient in front of them.


Another note about the organ donation website is that you have control over your status meaning you can put yourself on or take yourself off as you wish; you can also pick and choose what you would like to donate.


A misconception that people have and I would like to dis-spell is that if you are registered to donate organs the doctors will I repeat will do everything possible according to your wishes (as stated in your medical power of attorney form or advanced health care directive) to keep you alive. The doctors won't let you die to simply harvest your organs they are bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm.
Hippocratic Oath

Got My Game Face On

Hanging out at the Cancer center I just finished my lab work. Now comes the doctors visit then the chemo after that. I hope my musical selection for today keeps me distant as the chemo room is really depressing.

Today's music (old school not real old but late 80's - 90's)
KRS One / BDP
Scarface
Wu Tang
Eric B / Rakim

Lockheed Martin ELife Article (Dec 2006)

nonsmoking employee shares his battle with lung cancer

Jerrold Dash, a 33-year-old staff systems engineer at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility, never smoked a day in his life. Although he did buy a cigar in 1997 when he graduated from college,it was only ceremoniously lit and never inhaled. So in February 2006, doctors had no explanation for their diagnosis of his stage four lung cancer—bronchoalveolar carcinoma. All they knew for certain was that he had been repeatedly misdiagnosed with bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia for the last five years, and his chances of surviving another five years were slim.

“I never smoked,” said Dash, “and I have always taken good care of my health. I attended college on a football scholarship and have always been an athlete, so I never imagined that I would be battling lung cancer and praying for a bi-lateral lung transplant—but that is my life now.” Although the cause of his cancer is unconfirmed, Dash believes it most-likely resulted from the secondhand smoke he was exposed to during his childhood. Dash’s assumption is supported by studies on secondhand smoke. According to the American Cancer Society, “Studies have shown that secondhand smoke causes thousands of deaths each year from lung cancer and heart disease in healthy nonsmokers.”

Although Dash has never picked up a cigarette, he is now faced with a difficult set of circumstances a nonsmoker would never expect—he is living alone in Mountain View, California, away from his wife and two daughters, where he is receiving cancer treatment and awaiting a double-lung transplant. Stanford is one of a very few number of medical facilities in North America willing to perform lungs transplants on patients with lung cancer.

During the months of his miserable treatment, Dash has had a lot of time to think about his pending lung transplant. As Dash explained, “I have come to the realization that new lungs, barring any medical complications, can heal my body, but my mind will still need some work. I am not crazy or deranged; I am just mad as hell.”

“Having never smoked, I am mad as I fight to breathe and see smokers lighting up not caring where or in what direction their secondhand smoke goes. In California there is no smoking in restaurants or businesses, however that does not stop the smokers from lighting up right outside of entrances to such establishments. It physically hurts me to have to walk through this stuff, especially when I am walking through someone else’s smoke to get into the hospital for my cancer treatment.”

There are many reasons Dash supports Lockheed Martin’s new tobacco-free policy, and he is thankful that the company is getting the word out to employees about the dangers of smoking and secondhand smoke. He wants people to hear his story, and to know from his experience how tough it is to fight cancer.

“Cancer stinks!” exclaimed Dash. “No one deserves it, but you can’t let it beat you—although the medicine will try. You have to fight for every breath because it is so precious. The doctors tell me I have cancer and looking at the x-rays and seeing the huge chemo port-a-cath that bulges from beneath the skin of my chest, I think they are half right with their diagnoses. I have cancer; but cancer doesn’t have me.”

(December 2006)

Sauce Day is comin'

Thursday Dec. 14, 2006 is another sauce day for me. I will be at the cancer clinic to score some dope (I mean get some vitamins and rat poison). I will be getting my vitamin B-12 shoot, seeing the cancer doctors, having my lab work done (to see how low my red & white blood cell counts are b/c of the chemo), and lastly I will be getting my chemo (Alimta).

This new chemo (the third different chemo drug / drug combination I have been on since March 2006) really wipes me out I feel sluggish all the time and always crave a nap. The funny thing is that even after taking a nap I am still tired. This chemo also makes me really hungry kind of like when I was playing football hungry for example (the other day I was at the hospital for some routine test and I decided to eat in cafeteria so on my first plate I got 3 large veggi egg rolls a cup of fruit a cup of cottage cheese and a large milk. I ate that in record time but I still was hungry so I went back and had the guy on the grill fix me a double cheese burger, fries, and drank a coke and I was still hungry. I did stop with that for a while.) I am able to maintain my weight with this new chemo and I am almost back to my intimidating self (weight 219), my workouts are tougher now as I have to force myself through them (not having much energy) but I have to exercise to live.

Enough rambling for now…..

Missed Graduation

I missed my graduation which was held on Saturday December 9, 2006 on the campus of SMU
Visit SMU!

I am one class and one paper short of graduation a milestone / goal I want to reach.

Congratulation to my engineering classmates SE8
Visit my SMU classmates

Life as a bachelor again

Well the honeymoon also known as Thanksgiving is over and the apartment is really quiite and lonely. Yep I do miss my girls. Their visit was great although I am bit rusty with diaper changing now since it has been several months since I changed a number 2 diaper. Fortunately I only had to do one number 2 diaper as I rode out my LC (lung cancer) card for much of visit when my daughter needed changing (I will have to make that up to my wife with something from Blue Nile soon).

Got my chemo on Monday it was a quick infusion the whole thing only took about an hour total. I haven't noticed any major side effects yet other than being tired alot and having to use the restroom often. Also it seems like my legs are fatigued; the kind of tired you get from hard track workout and doing a heavy leg workout in the same day.

It has been a long year, this time last year I had pneumonia (my diagnosis at the time) had just been promoted at work, was weeks away from the birth of our second daughter, a year away from completing my third masters degree. With all that I have been through I just wish my former primary care physician would have just owned up to the fact that they possibly should have done more test instead of quickly writing a prescription so they could get to the next patient.

No more Turkey Day

Well the honeymoon is over it is the end of Thanksgiving, I am no back to living as a bachelor since my family is on the plane back to TX and I am down stairs at the hospital wait my rat poison (aka chemo therapy). I don't know what to expect and am not worried if I am anything I am mad as heck dealing with this stuff after awhile makes you keep a chip on your shoulder (I have big shoulders thus a very big chip.) Oh well more to come later upstairs I go.

Back on the Sauce

My recent visit with the cancer docs. revealed that the current chemo might not be working so well so I am going back on the sauce (liquid chemo starting Monday). I hope this doesn't have the side effects that the first sauce provided me. There is a bright spot associated with this chemo as I will get the cream from BALCO (joke) I will be getting some kind of steroid with this sauce. I think these steroids will decrease my workout time as I will now be able to do all the cybex stations at once instead of going from station to station (gym talk); I BETTER not have any shrinkage (muscle shrinkage that is :-) )

Age Not An Exclusion Criterion for Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction in Older Women: Should Age Be an Exclusion Criterion?

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 118(1):16-22, July 2006.
Bowman, Cameron C. M.D.; Lennox, Peter A. M.D.; Clugston, Patricia A. M.D. +; Courtemanche, Douglas J. M.D., M.S.

Abstract:
Background: At present, breast reconstruction is undertaken by fewer than 10 percent of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy. Even though the benefits are numerous, this finding is even more notable among older women. Traditionally, women older than the age of 60 have been offered implant reconstruction or no reconstruction at all in hopes of minimizing potential morbidity. This practice may be due to a number of factors including a lack of patient education and information, as well as physician/surgeon bias regarding the safety or relevance of breast reconstruction in older women.

Methods: The authors undertook a retrospective study in which they surveyed 75 women (age range, 60 to 77 years) from two surgeons' practices who underwent various forms of breast reconstruction over the past 8 years. Type of reconstruction, recovery time, and complication rate were correlated with patient satisfaction, general health, and quality of life.

Results: An 81 percent response rate was obtained, yielding an average age of 66.6 years over a 3.8-year period. The overall rate of complications requiring operative intervention was 20.5 percent. When asked whether age should be a determining factor for breast reconstruction, more than 90 percent felt that it should not be. Only 16.1 percent of patients who had a delayed reconstruction stated that the option of breast reconstruction was presented to them at the time of their diagnosis, although 100 percent felt that it should have been. A significantly poorer physical health score was found among patients who experienced a complication, and lower mental health scores correlated with women who were less satisfied with their outcome.

Conclusions: The authors believe that all types of reconstruction should be an option for women older than 60 years of age and that age as an isolated factor should not deter physicians from offering these women the option of breast reconstruction.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including the DIEP flap procedure. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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One-Third of Breast Cancer Patients Unhappy with Outcome of Lumpectomy

Women with breast cancer often undergo a lumpectomy and radiation to save their breasts and avoid the need for additional reconstructive surgery. However, approximately one-third of all patients are unhappy with how their breasts look after undergoing breast conservation therapy and many would consider reconstruction, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2006 conference in San Francisco.

“I have patients walking into my office saying lumpectomy was supposed to save their breast but what’s left doesn’t look like a breast to them,” said Howard Wang, ASPS Member Surgeon and co-author of the study. “Conservation is believed to be an acceptable way of saving a woman’s breast. But many of these women are coming to plastic surgeons for help, saying it isn’t so.”

In the study, 28 percent of the breast cancer patients stated they were dissatisfied with the cosmetic result of their lumpectomy. Of those patients, 46 percent stated their physical appearance was worse or much worse after the surgery and were considering reconstruction. Only nine percent of patients who were satisfied with the outcome, however, would consider reconstruction if it were offered.

Approximately 26 percent of patients were unhappy with their physical appearance after the lumpectomy but had an improved sense of body image. Plastic surgeons believe this disparity occurred because many patients felt relieved to be free of the cancer, leading them to feel better about their bodies even though they were not happy with how their breasts looked.

According to the American Cancer Society, almost 213,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Almost 58,000 women underwent breast reconstruction surgery in 2005, according to ASPS.

“Patients should know their options and understand that just because they undergo a lumpectomy to save their breast does not mean they will be happy with the cosmetic outcome,” said Dr. Wang. “Oncologists need to work with patients to help them understand the potential physical outcomes and refer them to a board-certified plastic surgeon to consider all of their choices.”

For referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, call 888-4-PLASTIC (475-2784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org where you can also learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including the DIEP flap procedure. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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Breast Reconstruction Not as Safe For Obese Patients

Significantly obese women may wish to consider delaying breast reconstruction following mastectomy until they achieve a healthier body weight. According to findings presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2006 conference in San Francisco, women who are significantly obese are at higher risk for complications and have a lower satisfaction rate than do normal and overweight patients.

“Just because someone is overweight doesn’t mean they should not be entitled to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy,” said Elisabeth Beahm, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon, author of the study, and associate professor at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. “Feeling ‘whole’ can be an integral part of recovery from cancer, yet significant concerns have been
raised about the wisdom of doing breast reconstruction in very obese patients due to a high complication rate.”

The current retrospective study found that patients with a BMI greater than 35 demonstrated significantly increased complication rates for all types of breast reconstruction, from implants to flaps. The complication rate approached 100 percent for morbidly obese patients with a BMI over 40.

“We investigated whether plastic surgeons can safely perform breast reconstruction for these patients or if we would be depriving them reconstruction simply because of empiric concerns for their weight,” said Dr. Beahm. “We found that significantly obese patients, those having a BMI of 35 or higher, had a higher risk for complications. Our experience suggests that in many cases it may be more prudent to delay breast reconstruction until the patient has lost weight.”

The most frequent complications for obese patients were fluid collections and infection at both the reconstructive site and the flap donor site. When the flap was harvested from the abdominal area, weakness and deformity of the abdominal wall such as hernia and bulge was much more common than in normal weight patients.

“While it’s very difficult to tell a patient she needs to wait for breast reconstruction, patient safety is our primary concern,” said Dr. Beahm. “We must not compromise the oncologic imperative in breast cancer. Each case must be individualized. Morbidly obese patients need to work with their plastic surgeons and carefully assess risk factors. Patients may be best served by deferring breast reconstruction until they have achieved and maintained a lower BMI through exercise and nutrition.”

For referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, call 888-4-PLASTIC (475-2784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org where you can also learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including the DIEP flap procedure. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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Breast Implants Do Not Cause Breast Cancer Recurrence In Mastectomy Patients

Early Detection and Treatment Not Hindered, Says Study Presented at American Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting

Women interested in immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy should not worry that their implants could cause, hinder detection of, or affect treatment of cancer recurrence, according to a study presented today at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2005 conference in Chicago.

“For women contemplating immediate breast reconstruction, there is a lot of information being presented to them. As plastic surgeons, we want to help our patients feel better about their bodies without risking their safety and long-term health,” said Andrea Pusic, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and co-author of the study. “It is important for us to provide them with hard facts that show an implant does not increase the chance that their cancer could recur, delay the diagnosis of a recurrence or affect the outcome.”

In the study, 309 women who had immediate breast reconstruction with an implant were compared, on the basis of age and stage of disease, to a group of 309 women who had mastectomy without reconstruction. The incidence of local breast cancer recurrence in reconstructed patients (6.8 percent) was not significantly different from non-reconstructed patients (8.1 percent). In addition, the implants did not hinder early detection of recurrence. Ninety-five percent of recurrences were initially detected by physical examination of the breast during regular check-ups with their plastic surgeon or oncologist. Five percent of recurrences were detected through a computer-assisted tomography (CT) or bone scan.

The treatment for recurrence was not affected by the implants and did not generally require removal of the implants. In the study, only three of the 21 patients who experienced a recurrence had their implants removed after treatment, and two of those patients specifically requested their implants be removed for personal reasons.

“We are pleased to report that treating breast cancer recurrence rarely requires the removal of patients’ implants,” said Dr. Pusic. “This is reassuring information for women who choose to have implant-based breast reconstruction.”

In 2004, almost 63,000 women had breast reconstruction after mastectomy, according to ASPS statistics. The American Cancer Society estimates 211,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer will occur in 2005 among women in the United States and more than 40,000 women will die from the disease.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 5,800 Member Surgeons, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including DIEP flap reconstruction. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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Immediate Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy is Safe, ASPS Study Says

Debunking the myth that women with locally advanced breast cancer must wait until after chemotherapy to have their breast reconstructed, a study presented today at the ASPS/PSEF/ASMS 71st Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio found that immediate free flap reconstruction for women with breast cancer is safe and psychologically beneficial.

The study, which followed 170 patients with locally advanced breast cancer, found that immediate reconstruction did not delay post-operative chemotherapy, prolong recovery or hinder the diagnosis of local cancer reoccurrence.

"Losing a breast is traumatic," said ASPS Member James Watson, MD, and participating surgeon in the study. "As a board-certified plastic surgeon, I wanted to ensure that immediate breast reconstruction was safe for my patients and would make the healing process easier. The findings in this study will allow women to start healing sooner psychologically, knowing that their decision will not impede their physical progress against breast cancer."

The paper states that women participating in the study were pleased with their immediate reconstruction experience, indicating an immeasurable emotional benefit patients gain by having the reconstruction right away.

According to the findings, the majority of patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with their reconstruction and, if they had to, would have it done immediately after their mastectomy again. Also, the majority of women agreed they would recommend immediate reconstruction to a friend or colleague.

Through the study, Dr. Watson found that immediate free flap reconstruction - where a section of muscle, fat and skin are removed from the abdomen, buttocks or thigh regions and reattached in the breast using microsurgical techniques - resulted in similar complications and delays of post-operative chemotherapy to patients who delayed reconstruction. The most common postponement for patients was waiting for the wound to heal. However, the maximum delay was only three weeks, which did not have significant oncological impact on their post-operative therapy.

Also, while there were local reoccurrences of the cancer, physicians were able to diagnose the cancer's return quickly, resulting in no delay for additional treatment. Most local reoccurrences were located at the mastectomy scar or in the mastectomy flaps, which could be diagnosed by a physical exam and biopsy.

"An added benefit to reconstructing the breast immediately is that it's easier for the oncology surgeon to complete the mastectomy. Often, the breast cancer is so large or involves so much skin that the surgeon has to remove additional skin in the region, making it difficult to reserve enough tissue to close the wound," stated Dr. Watson. "With immediate reconstruction, the oncologic surgeon can eliminate more breast skin to ensure the cancer is removed and use the skin from the free flap procedure to close the wound."

Last year, more than 190,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. More than 80,000 women opted for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, according to ASPS 2001 statistics.

Access to breast reconstruction following a mastectomy has increased due to the passage of the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act 1998, proudly supported by ASPS, which mandated insurance coverage for breast reconstruction and the alteration of the opposite breast for symmetry for women who have undergone a mastectomy.

"With the finding that reconstruction right after mastectomy is safe, women can maximize their opportunity to not only heal physically but also psychologically right away," said Dr. Watson. "Before, women had to wrestle with their changed body image after losing a breast while physically recovering from their battle with cancer. Now, they don't have to delay the psychological healing process of beating breast cancer and celebrating that victory."

ASPS, founded in 1931, is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world and the foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. For referrals to ABPS-certified plastic surgeons in your area and to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, call the ASPS at (888) 4-PLASTIC (1-888-475-2784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including DIEP flap reconstruction. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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Breast Reconstruction Helps Cancer Patients Return to Normalcy, According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

"It's only a part of my body, not my life," said Lola Sawyers when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 1997. The diagnosis was not a shock to Sawyers as her mother had breast cancer.

Lynette Dilbert, whose sister died from breast cancer, was determined not to let the disease take over her life when she was diagnosed in August 2000. "I'm in charge of what I decide," explained Dilbert about her treatment.

Just eight months after Judy Tanner's husband died from a brain tumor in June 1998, she found a lump on her right breast while dressing. Devastated by her husband's death, the diagnosis of breast cancer was hard to bear, but like Sawyers and Dilbert, Tanner would not let the disease take her life.

Through research and discussions with physicians and breast cancer survivors, these women made a firm decision - after mastectomy they would undergo breast reconstruction.

This year, more than 175,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, if diagnosed and treated the survival rate is greater than 90 percent. For those women, whose treatment includes either partial or full mastectomy, advances in breast reconstruction and breakthrough legislation helps make this devastating news easier to bear.

"Strength and determination are simple words, yet they are strong terms that truly describe Lola, Lynette and Judy," said American Society of Plastic Surgeons President Walter Erhardt, MD, Albany, Ga., about his patients. "Choosing breast reconstruction is a big decision when facing this life-altering disease, but as any plastic surgeon can tell you, after breast reconstruction, survivors have a renewed sense of self-esteem and confidence.

"After breast reconstruction, no one can tell I had cancer," explained Dilbert. Tanner noted that she felt like a whole woman again. "I'm looking better than I did before," she said. "Even my co-workers have noticed a positive change in me."

Nearly 79,000 breast reconstruction procedures were performed last year, a 166 percent increase since 1992. The passage of the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 has aided this increase. The law mandates insurance coverage for breast reconstruction and the alteration of the opposite breast for symmetry for women who have undergone mastectomy. The law applies to women with group health insurance or a health insurance plan purchased through a health insurance company.

Discussion about breast reconstruction can start immediately after diagnosis. Typically, plastic surgeons make recommendations based upon the patient's age, health, anatomy, tissues and goals. The most common procedures include skin expansion followed by the use of implants, or flap reconstruction.

"Breast reconstruction gives patients the ability to feel whole again," said Dr. Erhardt. "As a plastic surgeon it's rewarding to see my patients develop a renewed confidence and love of life."

When confronted with breast cancer, Sawyers, who is known as the lemonade lady in her community because she's taken life's lemons and made lemonade, reminds woman to look at all the options. "Make reconstruction a personal choice based on what you believe and what you know," she says. "Let the final decision be yours."

"Loosing a breast is not the end of the world," said Dilbert who is active in her community's breast cancer advocacy programs. "I constantly remind women to schedule their mammograms."

Tanner strongly advises women to ask questions when choosing reconstruction. "Find out all you can about the surgeon's credentials, talk to other patients and do your homework," she reminds.

ASPS, founded in 1931, is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world and the foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. For referrals to ABPS-certified plastic surgeons in your area and to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, call the ASPS at (888) 4-PLASTIC (1-888-475-2784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org.

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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including the DIEP flap procedure. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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Breast Cancer and Reconstruction: Exploring the Options, Procedures and Perceptions

By Lisa Barclay

Breast cancer. It is the leading cancer diagnosed in women in America. This year, it will affect the lives of more than 180,000 women for the first time – and end the lives of 40,000 more. Thanks to proactive efforts like National Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebrated in October, the disease doesn't automatically mean a death sentence. However, the impact breast cancer has on the lives of its victims is arguably life altering – and not easily erased.

In this article, we will share the experiences of five women who have survived the disease, as well as the expertise of several American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) members who specialize in breast reconstruction after breast cancer. It is our hope that the information presented in this article will serve as a valuable resource in your journey through breast cancer treatment and recovery.

A Diagnosis of Cancer

Fear. Shock. Denial. These are just a few of the emotions women experience upon learning they have breast cancer. Jayne Siebold, of Hinsdale, Ill., was 49 when she was diagnosed with the disease and explains her initial reaction to the news. "When the doctor confirmed it was cancer, I remember thinking, 'They can't be talking about me, this must be a mistake.' Then the fear kicked in."

Barbara Taylor of Dallas went into physical shock. "Everyone I had ever known or heard of who had the disease died from it. So the fear I experienced initially was completely overwhelming, virtually crippling."

When Sue Kocsis of Omaha, Neb., was diagnosed she was 34 years old and the mother of three little girls. "The entire process was extremely overwhelming. It took visits to five different physicians before the cancer was actually diagnosed, so in the beginning I was relieved to know just what I was dealing with – but felt a tremendous amount of anger toward the doctors who kept telling me it was just fibrocystic disease and nothing to worry about."

The treatment of breast cancer involves a physical change to the body. As a result, it can have a profound psychological impact. "A woman's breasts are deeply rooted in her sense of femininity...her role as mother and nurturer, " says Jack Bruner, M.D., of Sacramento, Calif. "Therefore, facing the loss of one or both breasts can be very traumatic." Dr. Bruner recommends that every women diagnosed with breast cancer request information about reconstructive options from their general surgeon and seek the opinions of several plastic surgeons prior to surgery.

Reconstructive Solutions

Almost any woman who loses her breast to cancer can have it rebuilt through reconstructive surgery. And discussion about reconstruction can start immediately after diagnosis. Ideally, you'll want your breast surgeon and your plastic surgeon to work together to develop a strategy that will put you in the best possible condition for reconstruction.

There are several reconstructive options available after mastectomy. Typically, your plastic surgeon will make a recommendation based upon your age, health, anatomy, tissues and goals. The most common procedures include skin expansion followed by the use of implants or flap reconstruction.

Flap reconstruction is a more complex procedure than skin expansion. Scars will be left at both the tissue donor site and at the reconstructed site, and recovery time is longer than with an implant. However, when the breast is reconstructed with one's own tissue, the results are generally more natural and concerns related to implants are non-existent. Recovery times for both procedures range from six months to one year, or longer, depending on individual circumstances.

Skin Expansion

This common technique combines skin expansion and subsequent insertion of an implant. Following mastectomy, your plastic surgeon will insert a balloon expander beneath the skin and chest muscle. Through a tiny valve mechanism buried beneath the skin, he or she will periodically inject a salt-water solution to gradually fill the expander over several weeks or months. After the skin over the breast area has been sufficiently stretched, the expander is removed in a second operation and a more permanent implant – either saline or silicone – will be inserted. Some expanders are designed to be left in place as the final implant. The nipple and dark skin surrounding it – called the areola – are reconstructed in a subsequent procedure.

Flap Reconstruction

An alternative approach to implant reconstruction involves creation of a skin flap using tissue taken from other parts of the body, such as the abdomen, back or buttocks. In one type of flap surgery, the tissue remains attached to its original site, retaining its blood supply. The flap, consisting of skin, fat and muscle with its blood supply, are tunneled beneath the skin to the chest, creating a pocket for an implant or, in some cases, creating the breast mound itself without need for an implant. Another flap technique uses tissue that is surgically removed from the abdomen, thighs or buttocks and then transplanted to the chest by reconnecting the blood vessels to new ones in that region.

Making the Choice

Breast cancer affects women differently depending on their age, marital status and self-image, as does their attitudes about reconstruction. No matter how they feel about it, Glenn Davis, M.D., of Raleigh, N.C., stresses that "every woman should be afforded the choice of undergoing reconstruction as part of her breast cancer treatment, and provided adequate facts to make an informed decision.

Unfortunately, many women are not given the option or the information they need to make an informed decision about reconstruction. According to Christine Horner-Taylor, M.D., of Edgewook, Ky., the women who don't undergo reconstruction procedures after losing a breast to mastectomy have many reasons for doing so. "Many women have told me the reason they didn't have breast reconstruction was because their general surgeon didn't recommend it or didn't mention that it could be done at the same time as the mastectomy. If the women are older, their surgeon may have decided they don't really need to go through it," she says.

Other reasons women pass on reconstruction include their unwillingness to have any more surgery than is absolutely necessary and an inability to weigh all the options available while they're struggling to cope with a diagnosis of cancer.

When Reconstruction May Not Be an Option

Not all women are good candidates for breast reconstruction. According to Dr. Horner-Taylor, "Women who have had a mastectomy or Lumpectomy with radiation are typically not strong candidates for skin expansion reconstruction. Radiation changes the characteristics of skin tissue, causing a variety of complications ranging from excessive scar tissue development, to blood supply and overall healing problems."

Dr. Davis feels that while radiation does present some difficult challenges, it doesn't automatically rule out the possibility of reconstruction. "While each circumstance is different, I strongly believe that if there is enough good tissue to work with, reconstruction remains a viable option for most women," he says.

Dr. Bruner notes that patients that are emotionally unstable should probably postpone reconstruction. "Coping with the reality of breast cancer is an extremely overwhelming process. If a woman cannot understand the risks and limitations of reconstruction prior to her mastectomy surgery, I would recommend she wait."

Managing Misconceptions

Misconceptions abound regarding breast cancer reconstruction. "Most misconceptions are fueled by a lack of information," says Dr. Bruner.

Common misconceptions include having to wait up to one year to safely undergo reconstruction, reconstruction makes it difficult to identify cancer if it recurs, and reconstruction interferes with cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy.

"Wrong on all counts," says Dr. Horner-Taylor. "Reconstruction can take place immediately following mastectomy with little complication. In the case of implants, reconstruction may take longer if the patient has to undergo chemotherapy, but otherwise doesn't interfere with the process."

Managing Expectations

Managing patient expectations is one of the most important aspects of breast cancer reconstruction. It is important for women to remember that the goal of reconstruction is improvement, not perfection. "Be sure to discuss your expectations candidly with your plastic surgeon, and expect nothing less than total honesty from him or her in return," says Dr. Horner-Taylor. "It's always smart to get the opinions of several plastic surgeons before moving ahead."

To ensure reconstructive surgery has the desired outcome, breast symmetry procedures – surgery to the other breast – is usually also part of the reconstructive process. "Symmetry procedures either reduce, lift or reshape the remaining breast to ensure a better match to the reconstructed breast," says Dr. Bruner. He goes on to note that symmetry procedures can be an ongoing process, with periodic adjustments necessary to correct the affects of the aging process. ASPS is currently pushing for legislation to ensure women have access to symmetry procedures as part of their reconstruction treatment after breast cancer.

Dolores Glover, Siebold and Kocsis all decided to undergo reconstruction procedures – Siebold at the same time as her mastectomy, Glover 10 years later and Kocsis one year later. Glover and Siebold opted for skin expansion with implants. Kocsis decided to go with flap reconstruction.

"Breast reconstruction was the number one motivation that got me through the most difficult times of my treatment," says Siebold. "The breast reconstruction, although excellent, will never look or feel the same as a natural breast. However, not having to stuff my bra with fillers is a great relief, and I truly feel like a complete woman again."

Glover was never given the option of reconstruction at the time her cancer was diagnosed and her mastectomy performed. She was 38. "I was so busy being a mom to my two children and a wife that I didn't think about reconstruction initially. I also didn't want to endure any more pain or surgery, although my oncologist strongly recommended it," she says. However, every time she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she was reminded of her disfigurement. "I felt deformed, and that feeling never went away until I had reconstruction. I eventually did use a prosthesis, but still wasn't happy with the results." Ten years after her mastectomy, Glover finally decided to have breast reconstruction. "I'm glad I had it done. It helped me to find closure and feel normal again."

For Kocsis, breast reconstruction was a completely mind restorative process. "The day I had my reconstructive surgery was the day I took my life back," she says. She first learned about flap reconstruction through a local support group and decided to undergo the procedure one year after her diagnosis. "I liked the idea of using natural tissue for the reconstruction, and once I made the decision to have surgery, I actually looked forward to having it done." The reconstruction was a success and Kocsis is thrilled with her results. "I really feel great about my decision and the end result. In fact, my family and I celebrate the date of my surgery every year as my re-birthday." Kocsis is now active in public education efforts for breast cancer and reconstruction, writing articles, conducting interviews and giving presentations.

Davis decided not to undergo reconstruction, although she was prepared to go through with it until the day before her mastectomy. "I just decided that I didn't want to be under anesthesia or on the operating table that long," she says. And five years later, she's confident she made the right decision. "It was more important to me to focus on treating the cancer. My breasts are not that important to me, they don't define who I am as a person."

Making An Informed Decision

The decision to undergo breast reconstruction is an intensely personal one. All of the ASPS members interviewed for this article agree that the decision should be made by the patient, not by treating physicians. "It really is a quality of life issue," says Dr. Davis. "And it doesn't matter how old the patient is or if they're married or single. All women should have the option, if they want it."

The most important tool available to women coping with breast cancer is information. "Women need to get as much information as they can, from doctors, cancer organizations, support groups and other women," says Dr. Bruner. "And they shouldn't be afraid to ask the tough questions, as many as necessary to increase their comfort level with their treatment and aid in their recovery process."

To learn more about your breast reconstruction options CLICK HERE.

For more information about breast cancer, call any of the following toll-free numbers:

American Cancer Society
1-800-ACS-2345

Cancer Care, Inc.
1-800-813-HOPE

Cancer Research Foundation of America
1-800-227-2732

National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO)
1-800-719-9154

National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service
1-800-4-CANCER

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization
1-800-221-2141


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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including the DIEP flap procedure. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.

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True feelings letting my hair down

Howdy I thought it was time I be honest with you all and let my hair down about cancer, side effects, and the wait 2 and half months now for 2 new lungs.

I have alot on my mind at times, other times it is totaly blank.

I just can't live the lie anymore

Cancer doesn't cause you to lose your hair it make you aerodynamic and when it grows back it is a mess to deal with

Not everyone can have long flowing locks of hair. Don't hate on the fro it is not my fault. What should I do straighten it out or mess up the furniture with a drip drip curl?

I found Donuts and other stuff too

Hey folks I have found some donuts they aren't the best Krispy Kreme but not like the ones you get in Winston-Salem mmmMMM now those were some donuts.

I have just been trying to patiently wait for 2 new lungs since all the scares at the end of October. I have come to the conclusion that I need to be comfortable being uncomfortable and expect Murphy's Law to happen at the most unexpected times.

I moved to the pre/post transplant apartment on last week. It is a nice 2 bedroom condo just in time too as the family will be down for TurkeyDay. I do hope I get to spend some time with my wife and youngest daughter but it looks like my oldest daughter will be monopolizing all my time (she is working on an Itinerary) so far on the first day of the trip I am to:

1. take her to a movie
2. go to McDonald's
3. go to Chucky Cheese
4. go to the library
5. go horse back riding
6. go to the candy store
7. ride the train
8. read 3 books

As busy as I will be it is a good thing I am right outside of San Fran. and can quickly get to Balco for some energy enhancing (Barry Bonds) cream. :-)

I will be at the doctors office on Thursday (cancer side of the house) getting more CT's scans before I go to work. I get them as early as possible for two reasons:

1. You have to fast before a CT or PET scan and the quicker I finish the quicker I can stuff my face. Remember I found the donut place.
2. Since I know I will get stuck over and over again with a large diameter needle as they search for veins that can no longer be accessed (painful) until they decide to use my port I feel it only fair to intimidate the people doing the sticking and let them have as bad a day as I since I will be the one with sore arms and hands all day.

That's all for now.

CT results....Nov. 2, 2006

The CT scan from the other evening showed that the cancer involvement was still isolated to my lungs which was good news. I am still awaiting results from other test to see why my lab results were non-normal (it is possible that the medication is causing the lab result spikes).

Again the link to the Transplant governing body is
www.unos.org

A link to the transplant data is
http://www.unos.org/data/about/viewDataReports.asp

you will have to conduct your own query from the site a hint (you might want to search by state or region, then further narrow your scope by querying blood type, condition, age...)

Pins and Needles...

I have been on pins and needles since getting some disturbing lab results on last week. These results have me going back and forth to the hospital for additional test and lab work this week. I had a CT scan late last night (waiting for the results) and will have further lab test latter this evening.

Oct. 26, 2006 Update and more stuff....

Medical News….Updates on my condition…..
I had a routine doctors visit on today nothing major came of it and I only got stuck with the needle once today so that was good. There is some concern over some of my lab results so some medications will be adjusted and more test run in the coming weeks to see what is causing the lab results to vary. I have a CT scan scheduled for next month, eyerthing else is pretty much the same. I leave my apartment everyday with a bag packed waiting for the call (I have never been in the military so I can’t make a statement about being the first to go and last to know but, I am a father so I can make the connection here to always having to have the maternity bag packed and ready minus the good snacks that were hidden from the wife the guys know what I mean).



Random thoughts and Jerroldisms
Longest living heart and double lung transplant patient
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/nation/15806296.htm

United Network for Organ Sharing
http://www.unos.org/

Article about CT scans and Lung Cancer
http://www.cancerpage.com/news/article.asp?id=10214

I make a lot of references to sports because to me sports in many ways parallels life. Some use blogs as a gripe session to say things they would otherwise be to afraid to say in person. If you know me, you know I am not afraid to say much of anything, I still rarely hold my tongue I am now just mature about some of the content and responses that fly out of my mouth.

I with so much down time in the evenings I have too much free time to think and too much time to spend reading books of all kinds. I have even begun to form Jerroldisms and the meaning of life according to Jerrold ….

I think in life we have to great vices fear and failure. There are many different vehicles we can use to mask those root vices but in the end all roads lead back to fear and failure. These two root vices are not something we are however born with they are more or less learned responses. For example take a young child learning to walk they don’t learn fear or failure until they get a reaction from their parents. I feel that I have over the last several months conquered my fear (of death) as everyone must go sometime no one lives forever. It is in knowing that I will one day die (as an old man) that I am able to live without fear and try to take advantage of every moment I have. Failure is not in my vocabulary athletes don’t fail we might not have as many points as the other guy at the end of the game but we don’t fail.

Life is like baseball and this temporary illness is no exception, it is temporary. Cancer to me is a curve ball the pitcher has served up but, little does he know that I could always hit the curve.

I think I am going to stay the course in dealing with this cancer, I am stubborn so all I know is to fight.

Two books that are good reads if you get a chance to read them are
Coach
by Michael Lewis

Shackelton’s Way Leadership Lessons from the Great Antartic Explorer
By Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell

What's Going on with me Now Oct. 24, 2006

Howdy it has been a while since I have blogged and for that I am sorry. There really hasn’t been a lot to write about on my end. I am in a holding pattern for the lungs as things are kind of slow on the transplant front here right now. I am as a computer scientist would say in a Queue (a data structures problem so to speak) it is not a FIFO (first in first off) or a push or pop queue. All transplant patients are grouped differently as the selection criteria for the patient to receive the harvested lungs is different for our type of transplant (grouped by body ie. lung size, blood type, antigens and then need is factored in) this equation is a lot easier to figure out than the BCS (bowl championship series) equation is.

My health has been up and down the last 2 plus weeks as I had to battle a viral infection (it is pretty much cleared up now IMMO in my medical opinion). I am still hitting the gym and running out of weights to lift I think I totaled just under 35,000 lbs. lifted on the 11 station fitlinxx workout we do at the YMCA. My neuropathy seems to be getting a little better as I am noticing more phantom pains/itches in my toes (so I can almost feel my feet). The increased dosage that I am on now with my oral chemo is really doing a number on my appearance (I look like an Ugmo with breakouts and nutty buddies all over).

That just about brings you up to speed with my current situation work, school, and the gym really keep me busy. I will try to get down to the city SF more since I am feeling much better to take pictures at some of the art galleries and also take some artsy type shots of Half Moon Bay.

Oh yea I was going to blog on how tired I am of needles and techs/phlebotomist digging in my arms over and over searching for collapsed veins (thanks chemo) but I think I may have found an angle amongst the butchers. I am not a wimpy guy but after some of these needle sticks and watching the butchers dig in my arms and hand, wrist, chest, neck... I think I have felt a tear or two b/c IT HURTS especially when they encounter scar tissue. Sorry for the soapbox back to the angel I have found her and although they rotate there staff all over the hospital I got her name and told her I would find her the next time I have to get blood work done. Oh yea after first we did not hit it off so well (the angel and I) that is until I showed her all my track marks and detailed how many times I had been stuck and had needles dug into me at each lab visit (8 times on average). I also told the angel that she gets three sticks to get what she needs and if she can't get what she needs in three we are going to have problems b/c they aren't sticking me anymore, fortunately she only needed to sticks one in my chest (chemo port) and one in my hand. She latter jokingly told me I made her nervous and intimidated her, I didn't want to do either but looking back I could see where I might have made her a little nervous.

Lastly I should be making my last move to the pre/post transplant apartment pretty soon. This move will be good as I will have one less set of logistics issues to worry about after the transplant and I can really concentrate on getting things ready for my wife and daughters to come out for Thanksgiving. I plan to do all or most of the cooking (no fried Turkey this year maybe next) they will have to work on retraining me. I have unfortunately reverted back to my bachelor days of work, working out, and school minus the parties, I was everything in one or two/three loads I never knew I had a tie-dye dress shirt before. I am wearing holey socks, scratching, and belching out loud my ladies really have there work cut out for them.

I have adapted and overcome a hurdled that was thrown in my path out here; it seems that although I am bringing treated for cancer and ultimately the research vulchers want my old lungs to cut-up in their labs, I can't use the Stanford basketball court to walk laps before and after transplant (it is getting cold out here). No fear when one door closes another opens so I found a treadmill for free on my new Ebay which is www.craigslist.org and will put it in my new apartment so I can stay in shape pre/post transplant (the treadmill is most post transplant as I will be wearing a large mask to keep out germs for at least 3/4 months).

Well that is all for now, I know I promised a blog on my initial reaction upon being diagnosed and it will one day be posted but something’s (memories) I don't want to think about right now.

Have a great day

Pictures :-) I See you Loookin'

That's my beautiful family



That's Me (Jerrold)

A few poems I really Like

Equipment

by Edgar A. Guest

Figure it out for yourself, my lad,

You've all that the greatest of men have had,

Two arms, two hands, two legs, two eyes;

And a brain to use if you would be wise,

With this equipment they all began.

So start for the top and say

"I can,"Look them over the wise and great,

They take their food from a common plate,

And similar knives and forks they use,

With similar laces they tie their shoes,

The world considers them brave and smart,

But you've all they had when they made their start.

You can triumph and come to skill,

You can be great if you only will

You're well equipped for what fight you choose,

You have arms and legs and a brain to use,

And the man who has risen great deeds

to doBegan his life with no more than you.

You are the handicap you must face,

You are the one who must choose your place

You must say where you want to go,

How much you will study the truth to know;

God has equipped you for life,

but HeLets you decide what you want to be.

Courage must come from the soul within

The man must furnish the will to win.

So figure it out for yourself,

my ladYou were born with all that the great have had,

With your equipment they all began,

Get hold of your self and say, "I can."

Nothing Gold Can Stay

by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf's a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Smoker Fullback it's pain time, baby....wooooooooooo watch the cut block it's coming

Since the last blog entry I got the CT (CAT scan) results from my doctors and as expected no change. I have gone up on my Tarceva dosage to maximum dosage to see what sort of effect this increase will have on the cancer cells. There isn’t really a whole lot more to report right now I am increasing my weights in the gym and looking to do one of the many 5k races around here. I still have the illness I am fighting but every trip to the gym or mile I put in on the track leaves the doctors scratching their heads and destroys the stereo type about what a cancer patient can and can’t do. I really can’t control much right now but I can control my physical activity and quite frankly the YMCA down here needs some new weights because I have gone through all the plates and dumbbells they have and I am still hungry for more.

Oh yea I have a slight chest cold so I had to inform the transplant team so if I get the page they know what I am currently up against. It shouldn’t be a problem as long as I don’t have a fever or this cold isn’t really an infection.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this procedure and have come to the realization that new lungs (baring any medical complications) can heal my body but my mind will still need some work. I am not crazy, deranged, I am just mad as hell. I am mad when I fight for breath (never having smoked) and I see smokers lighting up not caring where or in what direction their second hand smoke goes. In California there is no smoking in the restaurants, businesses, stores… (you get the picture) however that dose not stop the smokers from lighting up right out side of entrances to such establishments. It physically hurts me to have to walk through this stuff most of the time I just get in my truck and take my business elsewhere but some places I have to patronize (i.e. library, hospital…). With this month being Halloween I am tempted to stop at one of the local costume stores and buy some sort of superhero costume so that I can shoulder tackle these butt heads outside of places where I need to go (office linebacker style). So folks pray for me that I don’t bring the pain on some random smoker it's pain time, baby....wooooooooooo!! (BTW by the way I advocate non-violence).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Tate
http://reebok.com.edgesuite.net/lastexit_terrys_world_dsl.wmv
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=terry+tate



Sorry good people that is it for now (today) I have to hit the gym to my Texas crew now that I am in California my Governor can bench more than your Governor.

My next entries will flashback to my reaction when the news was given to me and the many thoughts that raced through my mind.

Beat cancer on rep at a time. (Gym talk)

Quick Post

Pardon the interruption this is just a quick post as I sit in the doctors office waiting on the results from my last CT (Cat Scan). This will tell us how well the Tarceva (oral cancer pill) is working on my Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma (BAC).

Thanks for all the feedback I will try to update as much as possible.

I am assuming that either the results will be positive and I am showing improvement. I am making this assumption based on the fact that if I was getting worse I would have heard from my doctors as the CT was done almost two weeks ago.

Oh yea and no I did not hack into the hospital computer systems, they have computers in all the hospital rooms so we can multi-task; Silicon Valley you gotta love it. Athoriti (spelled wrong on purpose)

Hello World (My First Blog)

Hello World, You have dialed in and found my Blog an idea I have kicked around since I was diagnosed with terminal non-smokers lung cancer earlier this year (02/01/06). My goal is that through my experience (the good the bad and the down right ugly) I will be able to help someone that might find themselves in a similar predicament. The format for this blog will center around my medical condition (treatments, feelings, diet, exercise, medical myths, and medical mistakes…..). I will try to the best of my ability to censor my comments so I don’t discuss my work and my family at great length. With all that said let’s begin shall we.

I am obviously a non-smoker I never smoked although I did buy a cigar when I graduated (no honors) from college in 1997. I subsequently lit said cigar let it burn put it to my mouth but did not inhale (dry lung cancer humor). I don’t drink although I did have several beers with some of my offensive lineman, and some of the d-line, and linebackers, and d-backs (uh we drunk beers a lot freshman football um intake process). I learned from the beer drinking that I don’t have a taste for alcohol, that I couldn’t afford it (poor college kid), and that I really liked to be in control of my body at all times. For those very observant readers you might have gathered that I am an athlete track and football through college (football scholarship). The scene that I am trying to set is one that raises the question how the heck did you get lung cancer (I don’t know). I was subject to second hand smoke growing up but if that is the case my siblings would have probably gotten the same cancer (they are cancer free thank GOD). I am a medical mystery and my condition redefines what these rookie doctors learn everyday. Given that I am at Stage 4 (I am supposed to be on oxygen) well I am not on oxygen, I work out hard at least 4 – 5 times a week (reverting to my bachelor days since my wife and daughters are not here with me as I await some new lungs).

Cancer stinks it sucks no one deserves it but you can’t let it beat you (the medicine will do that) you have to fight for every breath because they are so precious. The doctors tell me I have cancer and looking at the x-rays and seeing the huge chemo-port-o-cath that bulges from beneath my skin of my chest I think they are half right with the diagnoses. I have cancer but cancer doesn’t have me.

Well that is it for this first blog my intro of sorts. I hope all enjoyed and will continue this journey with me. Future blogs will be broken down into to sections the first will be called current (containing info about what is going on now) the next will be called Flashback (random glimpse back to treatment I have had since I was diagnosed 02/01/06 and misdiagnosed from at least 2001 on; this section fill in the blanks that existed prior to starting this blog.

Warning: My grammar is horrible (I am lettered but not learned) my spelling is terrible so be forewarned. I may also become vulgar is some of my language as I am truly in the moment and giving you all my raw emotions.

GOD Bless

Action Mesothelioma Day

Action Mesothelioma Day Friday 27th February 2009 • To raise awareness about the dangers of exposure to asbestos • To raise issues facing victims of Mesothelioma (asbestos related cancer) 10.30am–12.30pm – Meeting in Cinema 1, The QUAD, Market Place, Cathedral Quarter, Derby, DE1 3AS.

Click Here For More Information

Fifth Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference

March 28, Manhattan Beach, CA.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) will host its 5th Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference in Manhattan Beach, CA., on Saturday, March 28, 2009, with activities throughout the weekend. The international conference will provide education and outreach to families, employers/employees and scientists throughout the world as part of ADAO's continuing effort to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos, ban its use and encourage research efforts to improve treatment options.

WHEN: Evening Reception with entertainer Jordan Zevon - Friday, March 27, 7 - 9 p.m.
Conference - Saturday, March 28, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Remembrance Brunch - Sunday, March 29, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Marriott Manhattan Beach
1400 Parkview Ave.
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Click Here For More Information

Free to Breathe® Lake Charles 5K

Free to Breathe® Lake Charles 5K in memory of Lisa Nolen White
Historic Garden District
812 Kirkman Street
(First United Methodist Church)
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Saturday, March 14, 2009
8:30 AM

Join the first annual Free to Breathe® 5K run and 1 mile walk in Lake Charles, LA to raise awareness and funding to assist the fight against lung cancer!
Registration Information:
$15 online by Saturday, March 7
$20 onsite on March 14, beginning at 7:00 AM
All pre-registered participants will receive a t-shirt and goody bag.

Donation Information:
To donate, create a fundraising page, or support a friend's fundraising efforts, please click here. Proceeds benefit National Lung Cancer Partnership's research, education and awareness programs.

Please visit www.FreetoBreathe.org for additional information.

Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Walk

Breath of Hope Lung Cancer Walk
Cancers Survivors Park
San Diego, CA
Sunday, March 8, 2009
9:00 AM

8:00 am - Registration Opens
9:00 am - Walk Begins
Registration fees:
Registration Fee (Adults): $25
Registration Fee (Children): $10

Click Here For More Information

Coping with Cancer Pain: What you need to know

Coping with Cancer Pain: What you need to know
Free Telephone Workshop
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM EST
Thursday, March 5, 2009

CancerCare's free Telephone Education Workshops are educational seminars for people living with cancer, their families, friends, and healthcare professionals to learn about cancer-related issues. Leading experts in oncology provide the most up-to-date information on the telephone.

Topics include:
Overview of Acute, Chronic and Breakthrough Pain
Words to Describe Cancer Pain to Your Health Care Team
Barriers to Pain Management
Medications to Treat Cancer Pain
Coping with Side Effects of Pain Management - Constipation, Sleepiness and Nausea
Quality-of-Life Concerns
Questions for the Panel of Experts

Speakers include:
Nessa Coyle, NP, PhD, FAAN - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Stewart B. Fleishman, MD - Beth Israel Medical Center
Glenn Meuche, MSW - CancerCare

More Information Click Here

Contact: CancerCare's Education Department
Phone: 1-800-813-4673
E-mail: teled@cancercare.org

First Annual Lung Cancer Walk of Southern Nevada

First Annual Lung Cancer Walk of Southern Nevada
Floyd Lamb State Park
9200 Tule Spring Road
Las Vegas, NV 89131
Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 11:00 AM

10:00 a.m. - Registration Opens
11:00 a.m. - Walk/Fun Run begins
Adult 13 or older - $25
Child 12 or younger- $10

More Information Click Here

Contact: Julie Cullina
Phone: 312-464-0716
E-mail: lasvegas@lungevity.org

2nd Annual Brittany Coppedge Invitational gymnastics competition

2nd Annual Brittany Coppedge Invitational gymnastics competition
Knightdale Gym
304 Village Dr Suite 104
Knightdale, NC 27545
Saturday, February 28, 2009

This year, Knightdale Gymnastics and Brittany's Battle have decided to make a donation from this event to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. Coach Yow was an amazing woman who fought her battle with cancer with such grace and courage. Her contributions to womens sports are numerous, her faith in God was inspirational, and her support of Brittany's Battle was priceless.

http://brittanysbattle.org/default.aspx

Hustle Up the Hancock

Sunday, February 22, 2009

In 2008 over 2,300 participants indicated they or someone they know has been touched by a form of lung disease and more than 600 were ex-smokers. Participants choose from two climbing categories--full climb (94 flights) or half climb (52 flights).

Questions? Call (312) 243-2000 x200, send an email to hustle@lungchicago.org or go to the 2009 event website