Today was my Oncologist visit to get the results from my 18 month pet/ct scan. Everything was great.
There were a few small areas that were enlarged. These lymphnodes were the same size for my last 3 scans, no new growth. They are making me get scanned again in 6 months just to be sure.
So far so good.
Click below to read the full report.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
My 18 month PET/CT Scan results!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Look at my innards!
Just loaded my PET/CT scan from today.
Everything looks good to me, but I am not trained at reading these damn things. I will not get the "official" word until next week.
There are a few little spots that are glowing though. I hope they are just my kidneys. They are glowing on both sides, hopefully nothing to worry about.
Have a look!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
18 month PET/CT scan TOMORROW!
That's right folks, tomorrow is my 18 month PET/CT Scan!
Hard to believe it has been a year and a half since I last had chemo. Hopefully I will have the same tech, I can read him like a book. After the scan I always ask him how it looked. He always says the same thing, but he can never look me in the eyes and say it when it is a bad scan.
Here's to the tech looking me right in the eyes tomorrow!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Congrats, and thanks, to Susan!
The other day Susan sent me an email with a few pics from the Relay for Life event over in California.
Every year Susan heads up the Chemo Amigos team and raises a nice chunk of cash for Lymphoma research. For this, I thank her!
I also wanted to thank her for promoting my funny cancer shirts.
She sent me a pic of the lovely Cindy (1 yr post Hodgkin's Lymphoma) wearing one of my shirts!
Susan also snapped a pic of some of our HL forum buddies - Jenny, Bob, Linda and Brian.
Again, thanks Susan!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Controversial Cancer cards from Hallmark featured on the Today Show.
Did anyone see this today?
Controversial? Are you F-ing kidding me? I guess they never saw any of my Cancer Cards!
There was some guy on the Today Show interview arguing with a lady that wrote some of the Cancer Cards for Hallmark.
His whole point was that the sender of the card was "Copping out" by sending a Hallmark Cancer Card. Seriously!?
This guy obviously never had cancer! He also thinks that cancer SHOULD be an awkward thing to talk about! This guy is nuts!
Talking about cancer is really hard for some folks. The Hallmark cards fill the void and help these people show support.
If you know someone who has been diagnosed or is battling cancer that is a bit more "off color", you might want to give these Cancer Greeting Cards a look! Visit FunnyCancerShirts.com to give them a look!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Really? She has CANCER?!
As many of you know, I am a photographer. About a year ago I started shooting classic pinup type shots.
Renee has got to be the most AMAZING gal I have shot pinups with to date.
14 years ago she was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. She has relapsed a few times since and is currently undergoing treatment at the Cleveland Clinic for her illness.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention that Renee is the mother of 5 little girls, INCLUDING TRIPLETS!
Yeah, mother of 5 that is currently fighting cancer. You would NEVER know it by looking at her pic.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Welcome to the club!
Today I had to welcome a very good friend to the "Cancer Club".
A long time buddy of mine was recently diagnosed with a very rare form of appendix cancer. When I say VERY RARE, I mean under 1000 people diagnosed per year. In my immediate group of friends, this make 3 of us that have had some wacky, rare form of cancer!
I am sure he will make it his Bitch!
Fucking cancer...
Friday, March 27, 2009
My blog was listed in top 30 Inspirational Cancer Survivor Blogs
My friend Kelly send me an email today to let me know that my cancer blog was listed in an article written about cancer blogs.
Below is a little blurb about the list as well as what they say about my blog.
Top 30 Inspirational Cancer Survivor Blogs
No matter how the doctor delivers the news, cancer is a devastating blow. Then, you have the privilege of telling your family and friends, tolerating chemotherapy and dealing with a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes letting it all hang out and facing it can be the best way to deal with an enormous obstacle. Our top 30 inspirational individual cancer survival blogs do just that, and, not only is it therapeutic for individual, it’s therapeutic for the families involved and other patients encountering cancer as well. Read on for some heavy inspiration from these highly personal journeys.
25. I Made Cancer My B**ch! – A light-hearted look at a Hogdkin’s Lymphoma survivor. Blogger Ryan Armbrust takes you through his whole cancer treatment while remaining completely positive about 98 percent of the time.
It's a very good list, and I'm not just saying that because I am listed!
Give it a look by clicking here!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
31 Ways to Prevent Cancer!
31 Simple Ways To Prevent Cancer
from Reader’s Digest
Consider this number: 10 million. That's how many cases of cancer are diagnosed worldwide each year. Now consider this number: 15 million. That's how many cases of cancer the World Health Organization estimates will be diagnosed in the year 2020 -- a 50 percent increase -- if we don't get our act together.
Most cancers don't develop overnight or out of nowhere. Cancer is largely predictable, the end result of a decades-long process, but just a few simple changes in your daily life can significantly reduce your risk.
Here are 31 great tips.
1. Serve sauerkraut at your next picnic. A Finnish study found that the fermentation process involved in making sauerkraut produces several other cancer-fighting compounds, including ITCs, indoles, and sulforaphane. To reduce the sodium content, rinse canned or jarred sauerkraut before eating.
2. Eat your fill of broccoli, but steam it rather than microwaving it. Broccoli is a cancer-preventing superfood, one you should eat frequently. But take note: A Spanish study found that microwaving broccoli destroys 97 percent of the vegetable's cancer-protective flavonoids. So steam it, eat it raw as a snack, or add it to soups and salads.
3. Toast some Brazil nuts and sprinkle over your salad. They're a rich form of selenium, a trace mineral that convinces cancer cells to commit suicide and helps cells repair their DNA. A Harvard study of more than 1,000 men with prostate cancer found those with the highest blood levels of selenium were 48 percent less likely to develop advanced disease over 13 years than men with the lowest levels. And a dramatic five-year study conducted at Cornell University and the University of Arizona showed that 200 micrograms of selenium daily -- the amount in two unshelled Brazil nuts -- resulted in 63 percent fewer prostate tumors, 58 percent fewer colorectal cancers, 46 percent fewer lung malignancies, and a 39 percent overall decrease in cancer deaths.
4. Pop a calcium supplement with vitamin D. A study out of Dartmouth Medical School suggests that the supplements reduce colon polyps (a risk factor for colon cancer) in people susceptible to the growths.
5. Add garlic to everything you eat. Garlic contains sulfur compounds that may stimulate the immune system's natural defenses against cancer, and may have the potential to reduce tumor growth. Studies suggest that garlic can reduce the incidence of stomach cancer by as much as a factor of 12!
6. Sauté two cloves of crushed garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then mix in a can of low-sodium, diced tomatoes. Stir gently until heated and serve over whole wheat pasta. We already mentioned the benefits of garlic. The lycopene in the tomatoes protects against colon, prostate, and bladder cancers; the olive oil helps your body absorb the lycopene; and the fiber-filled pasta reduces your risk of colon cancer. As for the benefits of all of these ingredients together: They taste great!
7. Every week, buy a cantaloupe at the grocery store and cut it up after you put away your groceries. Store it in a container and eat several pieces every morning. Cantaloupe is a great source of carotenoids, plant chemicals shown to significantly reduce the risk of lung cancer.
The Power of Antioxidants
8. Mix half a cup of blueberries into your morning cereal. Blueberries rank number one in terms of their antioxidant power. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are unstable compounds that can damage cells and lead to diseases including cancer.
9. Learn to eat artichokes tonight. Artichokes are a great source of silymarin, an antioxidant that may help prevent skin cancer. To eat these delicious veggies, peel off the tough outer leaves on the bottom, slice the bottom, and cut off the spiky top. Then boil or steam until tender, about 30-45 minutes. Drain. Dip each leaf in a vinaigrette or garlic mayonnaise, then gently tear the fibrous covering off with your front teeth, working your way inward to the tender heart. Once there, gently scoop the bristles from the middle of the heart, dip in a little butter or lemon juice, and enjoy!
10. Coat barbecue food with a thick sauce. Grilling meat can create a variety of cancer-causing chemicals. But researchers from the American Institute for Cancer Research found that coating the meat with a thick marinade and thereby preventing direct contact with the charring flames reduced the amount of such chemicals created. Another tip: Precook your meat in the oven and then throw it on the grill to finish.
11. Every time you go to the bathroom, stop by the kitchen or water cooler for a glass of water. A major study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 1996 found that men who drank six 8-ounce glasses of water every day slashed their risk of bladder cancer in half. Another study linked the amount of water women drank to their risk of colon cancer, with heavy water drinkers reducing their risk up to 45 percent.
12. Take up a tea habit. The healing powers of green tea have been valued in Asia for thousands of years. In the West, new research reveals that it protects against a variety of cancers as well as heart disease. Some scientists believe that a chemical in green tea called EGCG could be one of the most powerful anticancer compounds ever discovered.
13. Have a beer tonight. Beer protects against the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, known to cause ulcers and possibly linked to stomach cancer. But don't overdo it. Drinking more than one or two alcoholic drinks a day may increase your risk of mouth, throat, esophageal, liver, and breast cancer.
14. Throw some salmon on the grill tonight. Australian researchers studying Canadians (go figure) found those who ate four or more servings of fish per week were nearly one-third less likely to develop the blood cancers leukemia, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Other studies show a link between eating fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut, sardines, and tuna, as well as shrimp and scallops) with a reduced risk of endometrial cancer in women. Ah, those amazing omega-3s at it again!
15. Take a multivitamin every morning. Many studies suggest getting the ideal levels of vitamins and minerals can improve your immune system function and help prevent a variety of cancers.
16. Get about 15 minutes of sunlight on your skin each day. You've heard of the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D haven't you? Turns out we've been so good at heeding advice to slather on sun lotion and avoid the sun's rays that many of us aren't getting enough of this valuable nutrient. Researchers find that getting too little vitamin D may increase your risk of multiple cancers, including breast, colon, prostate, ovarian, and stomach, as well as osteoporosis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and high blood pressure.
The best source? Exposure to UVB rays found in natural and artificial sunlight. About 15 minutes a day ought to do it. Avoid overexposure, of course. That can increase your risk for cancers of the skin. You can also get vitamin D in your calcium supplement if you choose a supplement that contains both.
17. Carry a shot glass in your beach bag. Then fill it with sunscreen and rub it all over your body. A shot glass holds about 1.5 ounces, which is how much sunscreen dermatologists estimate you need to protect yourself from the cancer-causing UV rays of the sun. Repeat every two hours.
18. Cut a kiwifruit in half, then scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Now eat! Kiwi is a little hand grenade of cancer-fighting antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein, and copper. You can also rub a couple of cut kiwifruit on a low-fat cut of meat as a tenderizer.
19. Use a condom and stick to one partner. The more sexual partners a woman has, the greater her risk of contracting human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes cervical cancer. Having an unfaithful husband also increases her risk.
20. Cut out high-fat animal protein. A Yale study found that women who ate the most animal protein had a 70 percent higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, while those who ate diets high in saturated fat increased their risk 90 percent. So switch to low-fat or nonfat dairy, have poultry or fish instead of beef or pork, and use olive oil instead of butter.
21. Have your partner feed you grapes. They're great sources of resveratrol, the cancer-protecting compound found in wine, but don't have the alcohol of wine, which can increase the risk of breast cancer in women. Plus, the closeness such an activity engenders (we hope) strengthens your immune system.
22. Sprinkle scallions over your salad. A diet high in onions may reduce the risk of prostate cancer 50 percent. But the effects are strongest when they're eaten raw or lightly cooked. So try scallions, Vidalia onions, shallots, or chives for a milder taste.
23. Make a batch of fresh lemonade or limeade. A daily dose of citrus fruits may cut the risk of mouth, throat, and stomach cancers by half, Australian researchers found.
24. Take a 30-minute walk every evening after dinner. That's all it takes to reduce your breast cancer risk, according to a study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Turns out that moderate exercise reduces levels of estrogen, a hormone that contributes to breast cancer. When 170 overweight, couch potato women ages 50-75 did some form of moderate exercise for about three hours a week, levels of circulating estrogen dropped significantly after three months. After a year, those who lost at least 2 percent of their body fat had even greater decreases in estrogen. Another study linked four hours a week of walking or hiking with cutting the risk of pancreatic cancer in half. The benefits are probably related to improved insulin metabolism due to the exercise.
25. Buy organic foods. They're grown without added pesticides or hormones, both of which can cause cellular damage that may eventually lead to cancer.
26. Learn to love dandelions. Using commercial pesticides on your lawn may increase your risk of cancer, since most contain pesticides such as 2,4-D (linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and MCPP (associated with soft-tissue cancers). Plus, pesticides used solely on lawns don't have to go through the same rigorous testing for long-term health effects as those used on food. And, as E/The Environmental Magazine noted in a 2004 article, no federal studies have assessed the safety of lawn-care chemicals in combination, the way most are sold.
27. Buy clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. Many dry cleaners still use a chemical called perc (perchloroethylene), found to cause kidney and liver damage and cancer in animals repeatedly exposed through inhalation. Buying clothes that don't require dry cleaning, or hand washing them yourself, can reduce your exposure to this chemical. If you must dry-clean your clothes, take them out of the plastic bag and air them outside or in another room before wearing.
28. Choose cucumbers over pickles, fresh salmon over lox. Studies find that smoked and pickled foods contain various carcinogens.
29. Switch from french fries and potato chips to mashed potatoes and pretzels. A potential cancer-causing compound called acrylamide forms as a result of the chemical changes that occur in foods when they're baked, fried, or roasted. Not surprisingly, many foods with the greatest amounts of acrylamide are also some of the worst-for-you foods, such as french fries, potato chips, and baked sweets. Although the results aren't final yet, Michael Jacobson, Ph.D., executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, estimates acrylamide causes between 1,000 and 25,000 cancers per year. His agency has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to set limits on the amount of acrylamide foods can contain. The FDA is studying the issue.
30. Go for a spray-on tan. They're available in most tanning salons these days and, unlike tanning beds, there's no evidence that they increase your risk of skin cancer.
31. Call up your bowling pal and hit the lanes. A study from the State University of New York at Stony Brook found that men with high levels of stress and those with less satisfying contacts with friends and family members had higher levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in their blood, a marker for the development of prostate cancer.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
1 year PET Scan was today...
Today I had my one year PET Scan. I think things went pretty well, I will get the "Official" word next Tuesday.
I asked the Tech to burn my scan to a disc, he did it without any smooth talking on my part. I think that is a good sign. I know what my "Dirty" scan looks like, this one looks nothing like it. My first PET made my inside look like it was wrapped up in cheap-ass Christmas lights!
Have a look for yourself!
I also found out today that my shot of the Palace Theater won the grand prize for the Capture Kentuckiana book. First place out of 12,000 pics! I also sold 2 $400 Kentucky Derby pics to a customer on my photography website.
In the words of our Saviour , Ice-Cube, I gotta say it was a good day!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Yogurt Lids fight cancer?
I was watching tv tonight and noticed a Yoplait Yogurt commercial in which they are asking everyone to send in their yogurt lids as part of a fundraiser.
From the Yoplait website:
During our annual drive, for every pink lid you send in Yoplait® will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, up to $1.5 million. And we guarantee a donation of at least $500,000. So grab your friends, coworkers, yoga class or neighbors and start getting involved today.
10 cents for every lid!?
Why not just donate the price of postage directly to the Susan G. Komen Foundation? Do the simple math, one person sends one lid to Yoplait. They spent a MINIMUM of 42 cents for postage! That's over 4 times the money that would be raised!
Am I missing something here?
I'm no hippie, but it would seem that Yoplait is killing the environment as well. They want you to rinse the lid, bag it in a plastic bag and mail it.
Waste water, waste gas and use a shit ton of plastic.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
World Lymphoma Awareness Day? WTF?
So yesterday was World Lymphoma Awareness Day...
Wait one damn minute!
I had Lymphoma and did not know we had our own fancy day dedicated to us. I would STILL not know about this if My bubby Duane had not mentioned it. I guess those folks over at the Lymphoma Coalition are really doing a great job getting the word out!
From this day forward, I declare September 16th "WORLD BISCUITS AND GRAVY DAY"!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Hurricane Ike!
Hurricane Ike put the smack down on Louisville just like he did on Tina Turner back in the day. Nothing like starting a blog post with a little domestic abuse joke.
It was a very interesting weekend. Friday afternoon the house two doors down from ours burnt to the ground. I was at work and kept hearing on the radio that the "250 block of Pope St. had a huge house fire at this time". Wait! I live at 251!
Firefighters had to rescue one of the home owners and revive them in our front yard. The EMTs left all the bloody medical debris in our front yard as a souvenir. Bloody gauze and gloves everywhere.
Sunday, Hurricane Ike moved in. We had winds gusting over 80 miles per hour for 8 hours non stop. No rain though, it was a totally sunning day. Very strange.
About every old tree in the area is now laying in the streets or on a house. Our power went out around 3pm Sunday. Actually, over a quarter million homes are without power right now in Louisville. The Governor declaired a State of Emergency for Louisville. THis is the worst storm we have had since the big tornado of 1974 that wipe the city clean.
Also, the Ryder Cup starts today in Louisville. Hurricane Ike wiped out the entire Ryder Cup area. All of the corporate tents were blown through out the surrounding area. Also, a tv tower was knocked down destoying the 12th green.
HERE'S THE SUCKY THING, I am sure that all efforts are focused on getting the Ryder Cup up and running so Louisville doesn't lose the biggest source of revenue we have ever seen. The city is saying we will be without power for a week. I bet the Ryder Cup has power by the end of the day.
No hotels, no gas, no power!
All hotels are booked for Ryder Cup folks. Only 1/3 of the gas stations have gas. The majority of Louisville is without power. Traffic is a nightmare. All traffic lights are out. Cars crashing everywhere.
More details as they unfold...
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Vote for my pics in the Capture Kentuckiana project!
The Courier Journal is running a photo contest of sorts to pic images for a coffee table book. I have about 30 images entered. My most popular pics are listed below. PLEASE GO VOTE FOR THEM! You do have to start an account. Just name and email, they do not send you anything. It is just to keep the voting fair.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Please help me promote my funny cancer shirts!
I am looking for Bloggers to place my FunnyCancerShirts.com banner into the sidebar of their Cancer blogs. The site is getting a lot of exposure, sales have been great. You can feel all warm and bubbly knowing that a portion of each sale will be donated to a different cancer charity. The more shirts I sell, the more money I donate. Anything you could do to help with this would be GREAT!
Thanks in advance,
Ryan
If anyone needs help with adding the codes to your website or blog, please contact me.
Friday, July 18, 2008
New addition to Gnome Wonderland!
So the other day a package came in the mail from Wullie & Veronica. They are the Scottish couple that we met on the Hodgkin's message board, as well as in Boston for the Hodge-a-Palooza trip. (See Below)
ANYWAY, in this package was a garden gnome wearing a Celtic Football jersey. Wullie is a huge Celtic fan, to say the least.
That little guy looks quite happy in his new home!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Hodge-a-Palooza - Beantown 2008
Hard to believe that all the people below just finished kicking cancer's ass!
What the hell is a Hodge-a-Palooza?
Well, over the past 2 years I have been talking to other folks that have, or have had, Hodgkin's through an online message board.
Some time ago a couple that lives in Scotland decided to visit one of the girls that lives in Boston. The rest of us decided to crash the party.
To be honest, Jenny and I did not know what to expect. It was like an internet first date x 30! Would we have to make up some lame reason to leave after we all first met? Not a chance. This was such a fun group to be around. Mostly a bunch of shit talkers and "Good Time Charlies" like me, so that worked out great. Already looking forward to the next meet up.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
6 months clean!
Today I called my Onc's office and started bugging them for my PET scan results. I did not want to wait around until my appointment date (4 days from now)to find out if my cancer was back.
Scan came back 100% clean, no cancer. I do have some enlarged lymph nodes in my chest area that they want to keep an eye on though.
unless I develop symptoms, my next scan will be in November.
6 Month Scan
Well, I had my 6 month PET CT scan yesterday. Everything went well. I am still waiting on the results. Cancer was fun and all, but I think I could do without it again!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Since I don't have Cancer...
Since I don't have cancer, I really do not have anything to report. That is why I decided to add some of my favorite videos to my blog.
The first one I would like to play for you features the TECHNO VIKING!
This guy is whacked out on something really good, better than anything I ever took during chemo.
Watch it all the way through, trust me...
Give 'em Hell Techno Viking!
If he can't out dance you, he will just kick your ass!
Since so many people have been watching the Techno Viking, it was just a matter of time before people started posting spin off videos.
Here is my favorite!
What the hell, here's one more.
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