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Monday, August 31, 2015

Another Cycle Down

Wrapped up yet another cycle of maintenance. Waiting for lab results. Berenson this Friday. Expecting all things to be stable. Tired as fuck. But that's normal. Within 10 pounds of my target weight. And the pull up challenge is on schedule. In one month, on my birthday, I have to do 10 pull ups. Starting at a base of ZERO.

And still looking for folks to join my NFL Pick Em Challenge. $50 buy in for the season. Half the funds go to our winner's pot and the other half goes to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. You still have about a week to join.  My goal is 30 participants. We're about half way there. This week, I need to push and bug people. Fund raising ain't easy, but it's rewarding for shizzle.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Two Line Update

Yesterday I wrapped up the latest cycle of maintenance chemo, which means tonight I have dex induced insomnia.

Later this week, I do my 24 hour urine and give several vials of blood for my monthly myeloma labs, which will be followed by a Sept 4 Berenson visit.

Bam.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Tackle Myeloma Pick Em League

Less than two weeks until the NFL season starts. But you still have time to join our Tackle Myeloma Pick Em league. Simply pick the winners of each game every week of the NFL season. $50 buy in for the whole season. Money is split between our league winners and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.  Follow the below link to join. Password is bloodcancer

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/pickem/2701

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

What About My Stuff

Today was day 1 of cycle 11 of my current maintenance regimin. A cycle is roughly one month. The current cycle was preceeded by 8 cycles of treanda/bendsmustine, which was preceeded by 10 cycles of maintenance, preceeded by 12 cycles of my initial foray into treanda after 3 previous drugs had no impact. Well you get the point, that's a lot of chemo.

But I feel good. I'm losing weight and working out harder. I'm coming up on 54 years old and I'd say I'm in good shape even compared to a non-cancer 54year old. Ego and narsicism keep me going. That and American Ninja Warrior, a tv competition show with incredibly fit people.  Say what you will, but the show has motivated me to kick things up a notch.

Reçently, I've been cleaning out my garage, going through my stuff. I recall a hilarious George Carlin monologue about our "stuff" from the 1970s. Spot on.  Anyhow, I was able to toss or put in the yard sale pile a lot of stuff. However, there some things I can't part with. My stacks of game programs or magazines with the Vikings on the cover or some other game or athlete...from decades ago. I have shot glass and casino chip collections that I can't part with. There are random memory filled nick knacks that I want to keep.

But for what? What do I with them? What happens when I die? Do I specify these things go in my coffin with me? Note: I really need to do a will. One thing I will absolutely specfiy is that my ashes are buried alongside the Mississippi River that bisects the Twin Cities in Minnesota, St Paul and Minneapolis. This is a must.

I mean it though. What do I do with my stuff that I want to hold on to but don't even see on a regular  basis. Do I schedule stuff visits? Don't get me wrong, I plan on being around a long time. But as a myeloma patient, I know that things can change and turn for the worse very very quickly. That mental cloud and the rigors of constant chemo and treatment put myeloma  patients in a precarious state. I know folks who have survived much longer than me and folks who haven't. At 4 plus years, I'm getting to be a surprise old timer. Looking at my condition and numbers from year one, you'd never have thought I would still be here. Some would say I am playing with house money..a gambling reference when a bettor has done so well and set aside enough winnings that going forward the bettor has nothing to lose. It's house money, i.e. the casino's money. It's a great position to be in.

So... What about my stuff? Furthermore, does it matter what I drive or what I wear or what I say? Do I have carte blanche to do whatever I want? Straddling life, death, fatigue, energy, work, home, living is a juggling act.When people ask what I did last night or over the wekkend or what I do in my spare time, I find this hard to answer. Here's what I do. I work, I go home, I do chemo, I see a lot of doctors, I rest, go to the gym and that's it. Spare energy to do anything but these core activities is limited. Not really super fun or a great conversation topic. Leslie suggests I just tell people exactly what I did or plan to do. Perhaps. 

So it's all about my stuff, literally and figuratively.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Football Pick em and the MMRF

It’s just about football season.  Excitement is in the air.  I’m super confident that this is the year the Vikings win the Super Bowl.  You heard it here first.

I’ve created a football pick em league this season. Each week, you simply pick who you think the outright winner of each game will be. No point spread. You do assign a confidence ranking… typically 16 to 1, with 16 being highest confidence.   Buy in is $50.  Half of the funds collected go the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, obviously an organization that is quite important to me.  The remaining funds go to weekly winners as well as season ending top 10.  I can’t say how much until we have everyone signed up. My goal is 100 participants.

You’re invited to play.  It’s fun, for a good cause and you can win some money.   Instructions for joining are below. Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested.
 
 
  Welcome to Yahoo Sports Pro Football Pick'em.
To join this group, send them the Group ID# (2701) and the Password (bloodcancer). Remember, it is the Group ID#, not the group name, that other people must use to join your group.
You are now ready to participate in Pro Football Pick'em. Your goal is to earn more points than other people by selecting the winner of each of this year's games.
Thanks for joining. Good luck.
 
-- Pro Football Pick'em Commissioner
http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/pickem

Berenson Oncology Success Rate

 Some reading about my myeloma specialist's success rate. A press release and an article from Targeted Oncology.