Note from Gary for 2010 Fundraising

Gary sent this note out to past supporters yesterday...as you saw in the previous posts, the care we received from Hospice was exemplary and did so much to help Mark and the entire family realize his wishes of dying at home.

Thanks all for your continued support and well wishes, it means so much to all of us...

Dear Friends, Supporters and Colleagues:

Thank you for your past support, to date you have helped me raise over $15,000 to help find a cure for cancer…the battle for a cure continues and I cannot thank you enough for your kind words and generosity in helping me with something which has tremendous personal meaning.

There is a time with some incidences of cancer when a cure is no longer possible, when comfort and love is all that is left before death. This is a difficult struggle for many people and families and as many of you know it is one my family went through this year as we lost my dad to cancer at the young age of 61 in April. We knew that there was nothing left to do; he had four alternately wonderful and painful years after he was diagnosed, but the dawn of 2010 brought with it the reality that he would likely not see another year.

At the end cancer is a very dark and insidious disease and it is very trying for the entire family unit who goes through it. We were fortunate to have the help of a local agency, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, to deal with the numerous clinical care issues and allow my dad to die at home – and even to spend a few nights in their beautiful facility, The McCarthy Care Center, where they were able to stabilize some of his pain and get him home where he wanted to be.

The work done by hospice agencies allows patients to choose their own path in death; when that moment comes when there is no fighting left to do they are there to provide care and comfort and an amazingly beautiful and compassionate manner – in whatever way you want them to.

This year, in honor of my dad, I will be raising funds for Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod through the Last Gasp cycling event, a one day 62 mile ride from Sandwich to Provincetown. I have participated in the event the past two years and donated the money myself, this year I want to make a big push to support this agency which did so much to support us during a difficult period. I continue to support the work done by the PMC and plan on rejoining the event in 2011, but this agency deserves and needs our support right now, and after I saw what I saw this year I can tell you they are tremendously deserving of that support and it will go towards providing services and care to many more patients at the end of life.

Please join me in helping this wonderful local non-profit agency that has done so much to help my family, along with our neighbors and friends in need by sending a check made out to, “The Last Gasp” to;

Cape Medical Supply, Inc.

ATTN: GARY SHEEHAN/LAST GASP

28 Jan Sebastian Drive

Sandwich, MA 02563

Alternatively you can make a credit card donation online through a secure site, by proceeding to the following address; http://www.thelastgasp.com/store/Product.asp?pid=2

Select "Donation to a Rider" from the drop down list and follow the prompts from there.

For more information on The Last Gasp, please visit; http://www.thelastgasp.com/

For more information on Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, please visit;http://www.hospicecapecod.org

Additionally we have started a foundation in my dad’s honor, for more information on the foundation please visit, http://www.capemedical.com/foundation

Thank you for your consideration and support, it is tremendously meaningful and will go a long way towards ensuring more people receive the wonderful care, support and service that this agency delivers.

Gary

The End

Cancer doesn't end with the final treatment. It doesn't leave you like a cold or flu. Cancer stays with you, through follow-ups, stress, worry, waiting. Cancer changes your perspective, it makes you stronger, prouder, tougher, and gives you a little better perspective on life.
I started this blog when I was diagnosed with cancer, 4/11/07, as a way to keep friends and family involved with what I was going through. It evolved into an online diary for me, a way to discuss what I was doing and going through, much of which had nothing to do with cancer - I was fortunate to maintain a fairly normal schedule throughout my chemotherapy and radiation.
I am leaving this blog up - in the hopes that another patient, perhaps a young man or woman, may stumble upon it someday after their own diagnosis and learn something about the process, what it's like. There are innumerable sources for scientific information out there for cancer patients, but a first person account can be hard to come by...this is mine.
My journey with cancer hasn't ended, though my final treatment was 10/2/07. My father's battle continues and my own quest to give back promises to be a life long passion. Since finishing treatment I have gotten married, had a child, and begun to examine the ways I can give back, most notably I raised over $8,000 for the 2008 Pan-Mass Challenge. I traveled to Columbus, OH to attend the Lance Armstrong Foundation's Livestrong Summit, where I connected with innumerable young survivors, learned more about how to make cancer a national priority, and was fortunate to see Lance, an inspiration to athletes and those touched by cancer everywhere.
I have more left to do, and much more to learn...about cancer and life, none of which may have been possible without life saving research or early intervention.
Please use my story - retell it, accentuating the virtue of not leaving bumps and bruises unchecked, about the power of early treatment, and the promise of a better tomorrow for individuals and families touched by this disease.
Now I get ready for the next chapter, fatherhood, and I will throw myself into it with all the energy I have, while also working to keep myself healthy and continuing to raise awareness and money to help fight this disease.
Please feel free to contact me at gsheehan@capemedical.net - if I can talk to you or a loved one about my experience, help calm nerves or ease heartache, I would be happy to do so.

Help Me Raise Money For Cancer Research

I will be riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge this August and appreciate your help in fundraising.

It's been over a year since I was diagnosed and life is going along very well right now - and very normal.

Please CLICK HERE to make a donation and make a difference.

Weekend

Still unwinding from the excitement of the weekend but thought I would post an early picture of my lovely bride and I on the beach following the ceremony.

We are extraordinarily excited to finally be married and looking forward to so many of the things our life has to offer right now.

Married

Kristina and I got married this afternoon - 80 degrees on the beach at Barnstable Harbor.
We had a great time and are so happy to move forward as husband and wife!

DONE

Tuesday morning was my final Radiation appointment, which puts me at 100% complete with my treatment process!  Kristina and I went out to dinner that night and reflected on the physical and emotional roller coaster we’ve been on since she found the lump.  We both agreed the worst part of the process was the time leading up to the diagnosis when we didn’t know what was going on and feared for the worst.  I still feel tremendously lucky to have tolerated everything so well and am blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances – it really made the whole process a lot easier to have that bubble of support around us.

I will spend some more time in the near future wrapping everything up, but I am extremely happy and relieved to be complete and sincerely appreciative for all the kind words of encouragement each of you have offered to me and my family over the last 6 months.

All the best, Gary

 

"Hello Clarice..."

They strapped me in this morning for treatment #13, of 15, so I am nearly complete. As I showed before, they strap me into a mask and onto a board to deliver the treatment, which is very Hannibal Lecter-esque. I still have difficulty swallowing but now have a solution to drink before meals which numbs my mouth and throat, which has helped some.

Kristina's dad is in town from CO for the weekend and we're going to do some relaxing and play tourist a little bit. Going to an Oyster Festival on Sunday to benefit the Cape and Islands United Way, and hope to see another victory by BC tomorrow. Pats will make us wait until Monday night to witness another domination, but it should be a great way to start the week.

As it stands now my final radiation appointment is next Tuesday at 8:50am - which then completes my cancer treatment process. Gives me goose-bumps to write that; it's been a long journey thus far, but I feel very fortunate to have tolerated so much of it so well. I still have a lot of diagnostic follow-ups, but things look very positive for no recurrence and I am excited to move on with life. My hair has begun to grow back, and life is really pretty damn good.

Enjoy your weekends, thanks for coming by and get ready to party next Tuesday - I walk out of the Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center a free man - we won't really party, but I'm sure Kristina and I will have a nice dinner and reflect on the entire experience (food will have to be soft for me to eat, maybe Italian?)

Enjoy the weekend! - Gary

Swallow This

My first side-effects from radiation appear to have arrived; difficulty swallowing. It feels like my throat is about 1/4 of the size it is normally and it makes it very uncomfortable to eat. Foods that are dry or sharp (chips, bread) are particularly difficult, and even a swig of water that's a little too big can cause some pain. In the grand scheme it's a small price to pay to have my cancer cured, but it certainly makes meals interesting.

Weekend was good, with a trip to King Richard's Faire, a win by BC and another thorough stomping by the Pats - plus unseasonable heat in the area - it all added up to a nice break from work. Had my 9th radiation appointment first thing this morning, which only leaves 6 - be done a week from tomorrow.

All else is well, hope you all enjoyed your weekends - Gary

Another Short One

The Sox lost 2 of 3 from the Yanks and appear to be heading towards a monumental collapse to end the season…at a minimum their chances to succeed in the playoffs look bleak.  Meanwhile BC and the Pats are whipping up a storm, so it’s on to football right now.

Radiation marches on, every day…I am through 4 treatments of 15 and still not noticing any side effects.  I remain busy and the once daily trip to Cape Cod Hospital for treatment has become a mere annoyance at this point.  My whole experience with cancer is something I think about in the past tense and I am looking forward to actually completing all the necessary treatments and moving ahead. 

Other than that, things are going well, keeping busy, feeling good and living life.

Hope you all are well - Gary

 

Update

Been pretty busy lately but things are going really well; started radiation Wednesday afternoon and it’s a piece of cake – you truly cannot tell you are having anything done.  Having my head locked down to the table is not all that pleasant, but a small price to pay. 

Best perk of radiation; free massages in the waiting room – part of the hospitals “holistic” approach to healthcare, and now part of my daily routine for the next few weeks.

Feel great, can’t stress that enough, and I’ve been keeping really busy…conference in Boston Monday and Tuesday, hit the Sox Monday night and watched them lose to the D-Rays, had a big event last night here on the Cape that went tremendously well, going up to Suffolk Downs tomorrow night from my grandfather’s 80^th b-day, and hitting up the Red Sox Sunday night, hopefully to watch them complete a devastating sweep of the Yankees. 

Chemo barely slowed me down, I am not going to let radiation slow me down and I am looking forward to a great September here on Cape Cod.

All the best, enjoy your weekends - Gary

Radiation

Had my appointment yesterday afternoon to get mapped out for radiation; pretty interesting stuff. They essentially put me in a CT Scan like device to get imagery and then use those images, as well as some markings they made, to map the treatment area on the computer. They put a mask on me, which is exactly like what you see here; the idea of the mask is to keep my head still while I receive treatments and also to pull my head slightly back so they can get at the area around the neck. They are trying as much as possible to keep away from the salivary glands and some other areas, because the adverse reaction from radiation in those areas is a little more severe.
I will begin radiation next Wednesday, 9/12, and am scheduled for 15 visits, which has me done on October 2nd, 2007. In the process of being there they gave me some permanent markings, tattoos, essentially...they're small dots on my chest area. Now that I'm bald and have some tats I figure it's time to buck-up and get a Harley to go along with the look.
All else is well, looking forward to starting/finishing radiation and happy to be so close to the end. All the best and enjoy your weekends - Gary

Dana Farber

Went up to Dana-Farber this morning for a second opinion on the radiation treatment and it was a quick and simple trip.  Initially I met with a resident and an intern and went over the entirety of my identification of the disease, diagnosis, treatment, etc.  It’s a little bazaar to sit in a room with people while one is actually learning about medicine, treatment, etc.  We actually witnessed this interaction, which was a little embarrassing;

Resident; “Did you have any numbness in your hands during chemo?”

Me; “No.”

Resident; “It’s a strange phenomenon, we see particularly in younger men, some hand neuropathy from the chemo,” (to intern) “what drug would cause that?”

Intern; …..silence….”The….” 

I don’t remember what she answered, but she did answer and she was wrong, but he was good about it and used it as a productive teaching moment.  I understand it is a necessary and important part of modern medicine to work in this fashion; it’s just a little weird when you’re the patient and they’re sort of quizzing each other over you.

Dr. Ng finally came in and after reviewing everything from Canaday and the PET reports basically said everything he suggested is how they would handle it there and she was very comfortable with the recommended course of treatment.  She was very pleasant and from what we understand she has been instrumental in reviewing several clinical trials currently being conducted in Germany on the treatment of Hodgkins, more specifically the elimination of some treatments, or the shortening of the treatment times.  It was comforting to get their sign-off and we were happy to know they had such universal agreement with the treatment plan prescribed here on the Cape.

At this point I have an appointment on Wednesday of next week to further plan out the treatment and make some surgical markings that will be used during the delivery of radiation, and I believe September 17^th will be the eventual start date, though that is not official.  Side effects from radiation remain minimal but could include problems swallowing, some loss of taste, thickening of saliva, fatigue, and some other surface skin issues in the treatment area.  I’m anxious to get started and work through it.

Labor Day weekend is looking good, BC football tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 (ABC) and a lot of relaxing.  Enjoy your weekends and thanks for the visit - Gary

Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum

I failed to note the event earlier, however it remains an important and relevant part of political discourse...the Livestrong Presidential Cancer Forum took place this week in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a host of Democratic and Republican Presidential hopefuls discussing their views, experiences, and ultimately their proposed solutions for Cancer. Many of the proposals were predictably vague, however the idea of making the debate more public and helping raise additional awareness is a good one and working with policy makers, particularly the possible next leader of the free-world, is a great start.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation continues to work hard to raise awareness, raise money for cures, and bring a level of pride and comfort to those struggling with cancer, their families and loved ones. I admire the work he has done to turn his own struggle into a public crusade and the effort he has spent to help improve the situation. I hope to be able to participate in LAF events in the future and look forward to seeing the foundations continuing progress.

Update on Appointments/GO SOX!

Yesterday was the big day of the month with appointments with both my Radiation Oncologist (Dr. Canaday) and Oncologist (Dr. Aviles) to first discuss the radiation process and then review the results of the PET Scan from last week. I was running a fever when I got to the radiation appointment so they sent me for blood-work...no concern as it just appears to be a little sickness, nothing related to cancer. Canaday explained the whole radiation process to me, which currently looks like a 3 week treatment process (15 visits) and should have mild side-effects, if any. I enjoyed the meeting with Canaday, who was very informative, knowledgeable, and seems to be very easy to work with.

There were no results in for the PET Scan, however preliminary indications from the physician who was reading it were very positive, with no signs of any issues at the moment. The appointment with Aviles was basically to go over those results, so without them we were essentially able to reflect on things and further discuss what radiation might be like. I am very appreciative for the care and expertise he offered throughout the process; from calling me shortly after I was diagnosed, to meeting with me bi-weekly to review things, the whole experience was very smooth and I feel fortunate to have doctors like the ones I have had the pleasure of dealing with here on Cape Cod.

Friday I return to Dana-Farber to see a Radiation Oncologist there for a second opinion, which I expect to be a non-event as the Hodgkin's plan of care continues to be very predictable. It's daunting to visit Dana-Farber, as it is a very visible and tragic reminder that not all fare so well and that my experience is far from the norm when it comes to dealing with this disease. You find yourself thankful that the resources are there, but sad that they need to be, and that so many are forced to use them.

After that I go back next Wednesday for some additional radiation planning and the current schedule looks to have me starting in mid-September, around the 17th. So, by October 5th I may well be completely done with treatment and ready to move into the monitoring program, which will last 10 years and consist of periodic scans, blood work, etc.

Red Sox Nation is fully fixated on the upcoming 3 game set in the Bronx with the hated Yanks, though this weekend brought some much needed breathing room - with the Sox now sporting an 8 game cushion in the AL East. A sweep in NY, while unlikely, would all but bury the Yanks chance at the Division and severely impair their shot at the Wild Card, which they are currently 2 games back. I am extremely excited for the match-up; no matter the difference in games, standings, etc. a Sox/Yanks series is always exciting - it will be a fun three days. Then we have BC Football starting on Saturday v. Wake Forest - 3:30, ABC which means I'll be on the couch, AGAIN.

Other than that life proceeds as normal; we had a blast on MV, very relaxing and great weather. Looking forward to another long weekend this weekend - with no plans to speak of, probably some BBQ's and a lot of beach/relaxation. Enjoy yourselves - Gary

Martha's Vineyard/PET Scan

Tomorrow at 11:30 is my PET Scan, which is a longish process (injection, wait 45 minutes, then go into scanner for 20 minutes or so) that gives doctors more detailed imagery than the CT Scan and will be a great benchmark for how things went with chemo. I won't get any results until next Monday, but I'm not nervous about the test or results as the mid-point CT showed great progress.

Friday Kristina and I will head out to Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard for the weekend...a great opportunity to relax and celebrate the end of the chemo process, and almost the end of summer. Martha's Vineyard always offers a great opportunity to wear clothes you wouldn't be caught dead in elsewhere and color schemes loud enough to scare small children. The bald look isn't really in-line with the whole island lifestyle, but the new-age prepsters out there will have to deal with the glare off my pale dome, it's the only head I have to bring.

So I'm keeping things light and happy to be feeling well - looking forward to some R&R and a great weekend; post an update next week after I get the PET results and meet with my oncologist and radiation oncologist...almost time for radiation, which means almost time to be all done!

The Game

Belated posting on the game the other night...which was incredible. I was lucky enough to get tickets on very short notice from a BC friend who interned for the Sox back in the day (thanks again Johnny) - and he came up big for us; incredible Pavilion Club seats with a great view of the game. I met up with my friend Scott, another BC comrade, at 6:30 and we headed in for some dinner and first pitch...It was really cool to see Lester come out of the bullpen and take the mound, and the fans were incredible. He pitched a great game, 2 hits, 1 run, 7 complete, but was still facing a loss when he left the game...all the Red Sox fans reading this know the rest, and yes we stayed until the bitter end. The ending was really spectacular - total playoff atmosphere in Fenway and Lowell's HR sent the place into hysterics...you almost felt bad for those poor souls who decided to leave at the end of 8 - no faith.
It was a great game and a really special night for me; to see a guy pitching who had been through much of the same process as me was really nice, and the welcome he got from the Fenway Faithful was inspiring. As a fan you loved the game, the comeback, everything, but as a cancer patient there was something a little more special, a little more meaningful. I walked out proud to be a Red Sox fan and proud to be facing and beating cancer and ready to move on with my life.
I'm sure there were patients and families across the country watching that performance who may not be so lucky, who may have lost loved ones to the disease, or who are not physically able to do the things that I am...that's why after all I have been through I continue to count myself as tremendously lucky; lucky Kristina saw a lump on my neck, lucky to be young and healthy, lucky to have good medical care, lucky to have tolerated treatment so well, lucky to have such wonderful friends and family, lucky to be ready to move on. I never thought "why me?", but when you go to a place like Dana Farber and see all the people there who are really struggling you think, "why not me?" No, I never expected to have cancer at 28 years old, but I think it has made me a better person, has forced me to rethink things, and has dramatically altered my perspective on life, health, and mortality.
So, as I stare down the barrel of radiation and look forward to the rest of my life I count my blessings and stand ready to do what I can in the future to help others who may not be as lucky as I am.

Holding Pattern

Had another great week/weekend, with plenty to keep me busy. My youngest brother Kevin was home and it was great to see him before he headed off to school at Sierra Nevada College (this is not the brew making university for Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, though I'm quite sure he'll enjoy a few while he's there). Kristina and I headed down to Narragansett, RI on Saturday to visit with some of her friends from college who have a house there for the week; we had a great dinner in Galilee and enjoyed a nice day at the beach on Sunday before heading back to the Cape in time to see Tiger pull out another major victory. Unfortunately we also got to hear the Red Sox blow another lead to the Orioles in the car - brings the spread b/t them and the Yanks to 4 games.
As for cancer related news there isn't any, and won't be any for a while; I have a PET Scan scheduled for the 22nd and then follow-ups with my oncologist and radiation oncologist on the 27th. At that point I should have some clarity on exactly how effective the treatment was, where I will go from here and how radiation will be. Personally I've been a little tired since the last treatment, nothing too bad, but just a little run down, fatigued, etc. I'm enjoying the bald thing for now and will probably keep it that way for at least a few months...Kristina shaved it with a razor last night and it's looking a lot cleaner now, I also managed to get some additional sun on it over the last few days, so it's not quite so stark white anymore.
Tomorrow night is Jon Lester's first start back at Fenway since his diagnosis and I am going to head up to witness it. I remember when he was diagnosed (remember, we had a different diagnosis, but Lymphoma nonetheless) thinking how crazy it was that such a young guy, a professional athlete no less, had been diagnosed with cancer - it was difficult to comprehend. Then when my own diagnosis came many people recognized it, or were somewhat familiar with it because of the Lester connection. I watched some of his first game back and it was really special to see him out there, less than a year after the initial diagnosis, pitching a major league game. When I heard the other day he was scheduled for the start at Fenway I felt really strong about going and seeing this amazing recovery story first hand. So, I should be there tomorrow night to witness his return to Fenway and I am fully confident that the ovation he will receive will be incredible - Red Sox fans have a lot of respect for the game and take tremendous pride in seeing one of their own conquer something that is so frightening, something they may have dealt with in one form or another...I would imagine the crowd will be cheering for Lester, and for anyone they have ever known who has been touched by this terrible disease.
So, I am hoping for a strong performance from Lester and the Sox, and looking forward to an exciting month of no treatments, and some fun stuff too...heading out to MV in a few weeks for a mini-vacation, which is much needed at this point. Thanks again for coming by and I'll try to update any relevant, and irrelevant, information over the coming weeks...Gary

O....V....A.....OVA!!

Done, complete, hasta la vista to chemo. Happy to be done and I thank each one of you for the role you played in helping me succeed - its easier to do this with an excellent support team.
Looking forward to a free month and am so happy to be done with chemo...time to celebrate, with a nap.

What a Weekend

I had an amazing weekend...woes of being tired, etc. from last week are all gone and I felt great all weekend long. Friday night was able to play some golf with BC friends who came down, then we had a little cookout and played cards all night. Saturday was the 9th Annual Holly Hog golf tournament at Holly Ridge. This year the money went to the RHCI Center for Children, and a total of $4,000 was raised to help them fund a new computer initiative for autistic children. It's a great golf tournament, with a huge focus on fun and we had a great time, even though the heat was brutal. After the tournament it was more BBQ and cards, then to the official tournament BBQ, and then back for some more cards. It was a great time and had a blast catching up with friends from BC and a pretty big contingent of folks I grew up with in Sandwich.

Sunday was softball bonanza day, with games at 9am, 1pm, and 3pm...things did not start off well as we were down a player from the get go and were forced to play with only 3 outfielders all day. This was no way to handle the playoffs, particularly considering our stunning record of success all year long. We won our first game, 11-3, which was a pleasant surprise. After the game Kristina and I headed home for an hour and she shaved my head. I simply got sick of wearing a hat and the few hairs I had left up top were more an aggravation than any sort of actual hairstyle - so I am officially bald now and I love it, no more hats, no more worrying about my hair - it's all gone now, as the picture above demonstrates. All I need is a little sun to even out the color on top of my head with the color of my face; as it is now it looks like I'm wearing a white swim cap.

So, after being shorn like a field sheep we headed back to Sandwich H.S. to see if our miracle one game playoff winning streak could be stretched to two. Again we played a man down and again we romped to a victory, 13-6. Lo and behold, the RHCI softball team, the same team that barely eked out a victory all year and finished second to last in the regular season, was playing for the championship. Our opponents were surprised to even see us show up at the game, and having handily beat us twice in the regular season I'm quite sure they were all ready to celebrate back-to-back championships. We were all pretty tired from a long day, and excited to have made it that far...at worst we were going to be second place in the league, but the stars were aligned a little differently for our squad yesterday.

It was a back and forth game with three lead changes, but we found ourselves protecting a two run lead, 7-5, as the offensive powerhouse we were playing took to batting in the bottom of the 7th. We were three outs away, and we made all 3 of them look fairly pedestrian...there it was, the Bad News Bears of the Sandwich co-ed league, celebrating in the middle of the field as league champs! We had an incredible day of fun out there and the 9 of us who showed up for what many thought would be a futile day of playoff games were rewarded with three amazing victories, and a trophy, which we will be bringing out to a local watering hole to drink from and celebrate with the rest of the team who wasn't able to make it.

Amazing weekend and it's going to be an amazing week as well...I'll get that same emotional high of victory when I walk out of chemo on Wednesday, that I experienced yesterday. Though I still have radiation to go, completing this process is an emotional victory for me, and a physical victory for my body. It was made easier by all of the incredible support I have had from employees, friends, family, and especially Kristina, who has played chauffeur, cook, guardian, and most recently hairstylist. Perhaps her greatest feats were keeping me happy and positive at the few moments I was not, and for always letting me know how much she cared and loved me - those things make a tremendous difference when faced with a challenge like cancer.

I'll end on a final note of thanks for each and every rider in the Pan-Mass Challenge this weekend, they battled heat, exhaustion and trained for months to help raise the funds needed to continue to fight against all forms of cancer and I can speak for patients everywhere when I say thank you - we appreciate your dedication, hard work, and passion for fighting cancer in the best way you can. I look forward to riding in it myself, probably in 2008, as I try to parlay my first hand battle with cancer into an effort to help others in their battle to face down and conquer this disease.

Thank you all so much for all you have done for me, I look forward to writing on Wednesday when I am 100% complete with my chemo! Best, Gary

Kick in the Pants

Maybe Chemo or Cancer is reading this blog and got a little tired of me going on about how nice things were and how easy it's been? This last treatment really seemed to get me, nothing too dramatic, but certainly much worse than its been for the last two months. My hair seems to have resumed its run for the exits as well...a sorry state of affairs on the top of my head, with some lonely holdouts left to jockey for position when I try to pull of the miracle comb-over. I've taken to wearing a hat when I can, which does mean work on a lot of days...but c'mon, things really aren't very bad at all; I've never gotten physically ill, missed very little work, and been fortunate to continue living with a very full schedule and having a wonderful summer - so, please don't feel bad if I look a little bald, or tired, this whole thing really has been much smoother than any of us would have expected.

Final treatment is 8 days away; again, I cannot wait to walk out of there on the 8th, with Kristina there to greet me and bring me home, having completed chemo. It's a milestone and I'm looking forward to heading out to the Vineyard with my fiance at the end of the month to celebrate completion, and possibly getting together with some friends in the interim to clink a glass or two and look forward to the future.

All else is well, looking forward to my dad coming home at the end of the week, I'm going to start calling him Batman as he'll be basically confined to a cave for 6 weeks or so. My youngest brother Kevin will be home for a week, starting the 6th, which will be great and I am looking forward to some golf this weekend with a big group of buddies from BC - life down here on Cape Cod is pretty good!

Enjoy your weeks and weekends and I'll see you all soon, Gary