Long Beach!

Well, after suffering a setback last week I have emerged stronger and healthier than I have since the onset of my illness almost 3 months ago. I am tolerating the new medication well, day 4 today, and my rash, fevers, and swelling have all but disappeared, and my blood counts have returned almost to normal. Yipee!

My friend Steve called yesterday and insisted on flying us up to his place in Tofino for a few days and the time is right. I have been dreaming of running my feet through the sand once again!

The family has been incredibly busy organizing and promoting a stem cell drive through OneMatch.ca and CBS and have over 200 donors registered already!

Check out the short video and poster:

                                     http://bit.ly/GiveTIME4steve

                                                                              Poster

Temporary Setback

A series of events banded together this week to send me to hospital, but fortunately I am now at home enjoying good food, family attention, and reading on the patio.  The effects of chemotherapy, lymphoma fever, and dehydration combined to make me sick, but transfusions and medications combined to make me feel better again. I need go back to hospital tonight but should be fit for discharge tomorrow and resumption of my new chemo drug.

Fun visit yesterday from colleagues; Alan, Martin, and I came up with an escalating series of new and wacky ways to treat patients, which led Yvonne (and Kathie) to comment that we should come up with our own version of the Big Bang Theory TV Series.

Family is organizing a stem cell and blood drive and will send out more information soon.

Tour de France

Can you imagine winding your bicycle for over 200 km through little villages and climbing to the road summits of the Alps? This is beautiful, but challenging. Imagine doing this at race pace with 200 other cyclists jostling for position, and doing it every day for 21 days. This is the Tour de France. Now imagine having testicular cancer that has spread to your brain and lungs requiring surgery and chemotherapy, and recovering to win the Tour de France 7 times in a row. This is Lance Armstrong.

Every time I complete a course of chemotherapy, I feel like I have completed a Stage of the Tour de France, and am one step closer to completing the journey to recovery. My good friend Steve came by to help me along the journey. The branches of a tree had grown into the Bell satellite dish and prevented transmission of signals including the Tour, and required decisive surgery to clear the trees. Riding friend Al brought me the definitive guide to the Tour and we were able to sit down and watch Stage 6 on TV.

Zoe and Michaela baked me a nice cake to help celebrate an end to a challenging week. Thanks again for all the cards and prayers. For those wanting to do something more you are encouraged to give blood at Canadian Blood Services, or stem cells at onematch.ca.

Garden Party!

Werner came over one day and I happened to mention I was getting some overgrowth in the back yard. "Leave it to me, Steve" he assured me. Sure enough, 2 days later on my doorstep arrived a full work party with tools. And what tools! Bob was armed with a 6 foot long gas powered trimmer that made short work of the blackberry stalks the size of small trees. Werner and Martin and Jason manned the saws and trimmers on ladders and took down encroaching branches and trees. Lynn and Caroline took care of the weeds, and Zoe did photos and refreshments. What a team!

And of course there were all the final graduation festivities including the graduation banquet and BBQ which I was so pleased to attend as my energy has been holding strong since the last round of chemo. 

Zoe was stunning in her Grad dress, and her parents beaming!

Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day, but it really has been Father's Week for me.  Our son returned from McGill on Thursday, and our daughter graduated from High School on Friday, followed by a family celebration at the house. I was so proud!

Saturday was Ride to Survive, and I joined to greet the courageous bike riders like Dave and Glen (and Tobin) and volunteers as they arrived in North Delta after their 400 km trek from Kelowna infusing another $300,000 into cancer research.

And Sunday I was treated to a bike ride through the forest, and dinner out in a private Tatami Room.

This was all on the heels of the last chemo on Wednesday which left me feeling draggy. So a couple of days of lazing around are in order before my chemo boost on Wed.

Time for the Buzzcut

"Where is your bike?" asked my hairdresser. She had gotten used to seeing me arrive on my bike over the years, and even let me bring it inside and lean it up against the hair care display. As expected from the chemotherapy, my hair had been falling out over the past week.  In the beginning I managed to hold it together with generous helpings of hair gel. But the day before Caroline tried to run her fingers through my hair and lifted off a large clump, so it was time to go in and get the Cut. For a moment I had a mohawk, then it was all gone. Now it just feels cool and clean.

My parents roots in Greece come from agronomists (farmers) on my father's side, and sea captains on my mother's side. I couldn't see myself wearing a large farmers hat all day, so I chose the Greek seafarer or fisherman's hat, nicely customized for comfort by Caroline.

As far as health goes, I am feeling pretty good right now, enjoying the view and responding to emails and having meals with the family. I even finished my second novel yesterday, which is a rarity for me.  The fever has been a little more persistent than expected, but all the tests for infection are negative and the plan is to hit me with more chemo next week, which should resolve the fever. I had my BMT consult yesterday and we will be starting with tests on my brother and sister for a match. Fingers crossed.

Next week is a big family week also, with our son's return from McGill after his first year there, and our
daughter's graduation from High School. Household preparations are expectedly busy, with a visit to Costco anticipated. Continued thanks for wellwishes and blog comments...( I think you have to create a google account)

Ride to Survive

I need to put in a plug in for the Ride to Survive, an epic one day 400 km bike ride from Kelowna to North Delta to raise funds for cancer research. Over a hundred riders participate each year, many of them cancer survivors themselves, and an army of volunteers help out. Their dedication has raised over $1 million over the last few years and because all the support for the ride is donated, every single dollar raised goes directly to cancer research. Just 15 years ago my type of cancer would have been considered incurable, and now thanks to progress in research and technical skills, I am being given up to an 80% chance of complete cure. So if you are looking to support a cause that will help prevent and treat cancer probably in someone you know, this is a good one. I was fortunate to be part of it on 3 previous years. Go to http://www.ride2survive.ca/, click donate, and pick a rider to sponsor, perhaps Dave C or Erin E, friends who will be riding with my name painted on their legs this year.

I am continuing to do well, today sitting on the patio looking out at the sea as I blog this. Minor setback yesterday with a fever so I was placed on antibiotics as a precaution, and am feeling fine right now.

Lots of great support including a huge food and book card from the office,  dark chocolate and Canuck cupcakes from Kerry, Oolong Green Tea from the Yu's, and an edible fruit arrangement from the Sahota family: