As a teen dealing with cancer, I often wondered how my future would turn out. Would I end up being a “cancer” couch potato, or would I be able to accomplish things, graduate college, be a contributing member to society, have superpowers, be able to fly and fight crime. Well except for the last three, I think I’ve found my answer.
Just consider the author J.K Rowling who early on, gave up her dream of writing novels to pursue a more “practical” endeavor. She soon found herself poor and practically homeless. But what she realized, she acknowledges, is that she had an idea, an old typewriter and the support from her daughter. We all know what happened next, Harry Potter was born.
Some say adversity, setbacks and/or traumatic experiences can sometimes be a precursor for success and fulfillment? Do you agree or not? What are your feelings about it?
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
A necessary evil? - imsurvivor.com
People say cancer treatments are sometimes a necessary evil marked by side effects that can last years, if not a lifetime. It was true in my case, but that was only half the story… and half the battle.
Yes, I had the big 3 treatments; surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The tumor had to come out, it had to be eradicated. I survived, but what I was left with, were the consequences of treatment; physical issues, ongoing health concerns, and a lack of self esteem, amongst other things. I was left a shell of the man I once was, a literal couch potato.
But that didn’t stop me from returning to the way I used to be.
Enter IV’s, diet, & vitamins.
I had heard about complementary medicine and how using it in conjunction with traditional treatment was gaining attention and promise. At that time I was taken to a doctor in NY and started a weekly regiment of IV’s (mass doses of C and other vitamins) that go directly into the bloodstream revitalizing cells. This along with closely monitoring my diet (no sugar!), I immediately noticed a huge difference. My lifestyle behaviors changed for the better, my energy level started to come back, along with my motor skills. It was such a reversal, I couldn’t believe it, either could my parents. I came back to school, graduated (with my class), went on to graduate college, and today am an upstanding member of the community.
After more than 20 years of living cancer free, I’ve found that traditional treatment, although still the best single most effective treatment can be enhanced with other modalities.
Yes, I had the big 3 treatments; surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The tumor had to come out, it had to be eradicated. I survived, but what I was left with, were the consequences of treatment; physical issues, ongoing health concerns, and a lack of self esteem, amongst other things. I was left a shell of the man I once was, a literal couch potato.
But that didn’t stop me from returning to the way I used to be.
Enter IV’s, diet, & vitamins.
I had heard about complementary medicine and how using it in conjunction with traditional treatment was gaining attention and promise. At that time I was taken to a doctor in NY and started a weekly regiment of IV’s (mass doses of C and other vitamins) that go directly into the bloodstream revitalizing cells. This along with closely monitoring my diet (no sugar!), I immediately noticed a huge difference. My lifestyle behaviors changed for the better, my energy level started to come back, along with my motor skills. It was such a reversal, I couldn’t believe it, either could my parents. I came back to school, graduated (with my class), went on to graduate college, and today am an upstanding member of the community.
After more than 20 years of living cancer free, I’ve found that traditional treatment, although still the best single most effective treatment can be enhanced with other modalities.
A scary situation - imsurvivor.com
So what happens when a patient wakes up after having surgery and is unable to communicate their needs, wants or concerns? Here’s one guys experience:
I woke up after having brain surgery. My head obviously still swollen, I was able to blurt some grunt-like sounds, but clearly nothing that remotely resembled a sentence. Thank god my family was there to communicate for me when I needed. But as night came, and it was time for them to go, I became increasingly worried that if a situation arose, I would be unable to communicate my thoughts.
Well just what I wished wouldn’t happen, happened. The nurse came to give me medication. One of which I thought I was allergic to and would have a violent reaction. Still having trouble with my speech I wanted to say very clearly, “No, I think I’m allergic to that medicine, would you call my mother and just run it by her”, but all I could get out was an emphatic “no”; repeatedly, it was just “no, no, no”. The nurse asked me what was wrong, but that’s all that I could blurt out. (I felt like Lassie ther for a second. lol) It was really very frustrating and scary not being able to say what I wanted to say. So after 15 minutes going back and forth with the nurse and going nowhere, I gave up.
I guess my head was still too swollen at the time to realize the florescent red band on my foot read “allergic to medication” a hint that this stuff is probably written down in my chart somewhere.
Nonetheless, it’s was a very, very scary and downright traumatic experience feeling your life is at stake and not really being able to do anything about it.
I woke up after having brain surgery. My head obviously still swollen, I was able to blurt some grunt-like sounds, but clearly nothing that remotely resembled a sentence. Thank god my family was there to communicate for me when I needed. But as night came, and it was time for them to go, I became increasingly worried that if a situation arose, I would be unable to communicate my thoughts.
Well just what I wished wouldn’t happen, happened. The nurse came to give me medication. One of which I thought I was allergic to and would have a violent reaction. Still having trouble with my speech I wanted to say very clearly, “No, I think I’m allergic to that medicine, would you call my mother and just run it by her”, but all I could get out was an emphatic “no”; repeatedly, it was just “no, no, no”. The nurse asked me what was wrong, but that’s all that I could blurt out. (I felt like Lassie ther for a second. lol) It was really very frustrating and scary not being able to say what I wanted to say. So after 15 minutes going back and forth with the nurse and going nowhere, I gave up.
I guess my head was still too swollen at the time to realize the florescent red band on my foot read “allergic to medication” a hint that this stuff is probably written down in my chart somewhere.
Nonetheless, it’s was a very, very scary and downright traumatic experience feeling your life is at stake and not really being able to do anything about it.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Help! I can't feel my fingers - imsurvivor.com
After 2 brain surgeries, I guess the neurons haven't come back yet in my left pinky finger (they will). Feels like it's asleep all the time. lol
Hearing Loss - imsurvivor.com
I'm a cancer survivor and I have long-term hearing loss from treatment. I now wear hearing aids, and although they help a lot, it's not like they're a fresh set of 100% fully functional ears. :) So I make due as always with what I have. But damn, it can be awfuly frustrating at times.
As long as I'm in a semi-quiet situation, I usually get the gist of conversations, but I'm really at a loss in noisy environments; usually social events. Anybody out there going through the same thing?
As long as I'm in a semi-quiet situation, I usually get the gist of conversations, but I'm really at a loss in noisy environments; usually social events. Anybody out there going through the same thing?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The numbness on my right side turned out to be .... (imsurvivor.com)
This past January I was bowling and started experiencing what I thought was a stroke or heart attack. After a couple of games, I simply forgot how to bowl; forgot which foot to start off with, even how to throw it down the lane. So I just thought I needed a break, that maybe I did too much. But when my food came, I definately had trouble holding the burger in my right hand and the french fries slipped through my hands onto the floor. So at this point I knew something was definately up. I knew I couldn't drive home in this state, so I waited a couple minutes for it to subside, and it did. I thought maybe I just did too much that night. About 3 days later, I had a friend over for the game. We started talking and immediately I felt like I was talking with marbles in my mouth. Words and thoughts weren't coming to me, and it was just difficult to express them when they did. I found it hard to think of things to say. I was concerned, but it got better too and I really didn't think much of it at the time.The next day at work it happened again, and this time it was even more obvious something was going on. Not only had I totally forgot how to do my daily work, but my whole right side became numb; my fingers, my leg, the right side of my cheek, even the right side portion of my tongue.Sounds like a stroke right? Turned out to be a large tumor pressing against a very important area that controls the right side of the body.The rest is, as they say, history. It was taken out immidiately. But thank god for warning signs because the doctors told me if if the tumor had gotten much closer, I might have had some permanant damage.
Reflections - An update - imsurvivor.com
"Some times, when there's trauma to a certain area, especially the head, all the little neurons run for cover, just like when it rains and we all disperse and look for shelter. But after it stops raining we all come right back. Well, sometimes, it works the same way with all the little neurons in your head, they come back."About a year ago, I underwent surgery to remove two meningiomas. If you’re not familiar with my story, you can view it here. I also made before and after videos that you can see here, here, and here.At the time, I had much trouble with my speech, and fine motor skills. Despite the doctors’ repeated attempts in telling me that those processes will in fact come back with time, I was still skeptical.In the weeks and months that followed, I was becoming concerned because even though I was seeing some overall improvement, I just didn’t notice anything where I could clearly say this or that was better than yesterday. I kept wondering “if this is as good as it gets.”My initial surgery was at the end of January, 2008. It’s now the beginning of March, 2009 and I am very excited to say that I see major improvements with my speech and fine motor skills. It has been a remarkable journey.As I'm writing this, I can't help to think what a tremendous opportunity I have here to enlighten people who are going through stuff like this, and wondering like I did, "is this as good as it's gonna get". To you I say the body is a truly amazing piece of work. It takes time to heal, and even more time for certain processes to come back. So if you ever feel like I did, feeling like full recovery is just out of reach, stay strong for anything is possible.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
My story with cancer - imsurvivor.com
This is my experience with cancer, and although no one can really ever know what I went through, I think this 500 word description is pretty good start.Everyone has a story to tell. This is mine.
The year was 1987. I was 11, and starting the 6th grade. Exploration, independence, cliques, and social graces, were part of my everyday experience. I was a normal teen excited to start off my teenage years with a bang, but unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to go through. I was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor wrapped around my brain stem.My stay in the hospital was for the better part of 2 years, off & on. My treatment consisted of surgeries, shunt revisions, radiation, chemotherapy, and several traumatic moments. I lost my balance and had to re-learn walking. I lost my hair, and my body stopped producing the growth hormone in the process. But that didn’t stop me from coming back to school and rejoining my friends and classmates. Determined, I came back first in a wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane, and as the years went by, I was walking on my own. I took needles throughout school to make me grow taller and wore a wig to cover my bald head.My friends were a different story. I was really surprised. I remember thinking how I could always count on my buddies, and how they were going to be so excited to have me back, no matter how I looked. I should have realized things changed when only one friend came to visit me in the hospital in those 2 years. I was a pretty popular guy before the diagnosis, but after my return to school, I felt so alone. I often spent my lunch hour in the school library.It wasn’t easy, and I don’t know how I got through it, but I did. I graduated high school, went on to graduate college, became a webmaster and developed my computer skills. Currently, I hold a job with the county that I reside in and live on my own with my dog, Kingsley. I also started my own website, IMSurvivor.com, an online social network for those that have survived traumatic conditions/situations. The goal of the website is to connect people through commonality. I learned many life lessons through my experience. That’s the drive and main reason I created IMSurvivor.com. By sharing our stories of survival it may just help someone else. But my story doesn’t end here.In January of 2008, at the age of 31, and approximately 20 years after my first brain tumor was discovered, I was diagnosed with two brain masses; meningiomas. I tried to document my experince here, here, and here. The large one was removed first and the second smaller one was taken out 4 months later. I couldn’t believe this catastrophic event was about to occur all over again. But amazingly enough, I kind of knew what to expect and realized my previous life skills would serve me well in my recovery. I even videotaped my progress on this site.As I write this, I am now back at work full time once again. Thanks for listening to my story.
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