The Journal of a Prizefighter Young adult survivor of Hodgkin's Lymphoma shares his experiences after two stem cell transplants. Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 23 0 49 3116

Articles from The Journal of a Prizefighter

cancer news 2007-12-21 14:22:00 Mortality Remains Elevated Years after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Many thanks to Cliff for bringing this very recent report to my attention.Report Sees 7.6 Million Global 2007 Cancer Deaths ... Cancer

the newest member to the hall of prizefighters 2007-12-21 14:20:00 Arif's Lymphoma Diary ...

in the news 2007-12-21 14:19:00 More Americans Googling ThemselvesU.S. Urged to Keep Space Shuttle Flying Past 2010Whales May Be Related to Deer-Like BeastFinal Salute: Oldest U.S. WWI Vet Dies at 109 ...

dancing with n.e.d. 2007-12-20 17:38:00 Yep, I'm doing the dance . . . sort of.Many thanks to Stratman! ...

day +120 2007-12-19 13:58:00 This morning I visited the Broadway Bridge and photographed it for the first time. I managed to take several shots of the #1 train crossing the Broadway Bridge from the Allen Pavilion of New York-Presbyterian Hospital at W. 220th Street and Broadway before a security guard approached me telling me that photography from the Hospital campus is prohibited. He suggested I contact the Hospital's Public Relations office for access. So, that's what I did when I returned home.Public Relations seems to be supportive of my project. According to the forecast, the next several days will be partly or completely cloudy, so I'll wait to negotiate a day and time for photographing from the Allen Pavilion campus when the weather clears up.After leaving the Allen Pavilion, I walked across the Broadway Bridge to the nearby Metro-North Marble Hill Station from where I snapped more pictures. I don't think these came out very well. They're too dark unfortunately. But at least, I should be better ...

day +119 2007-12-18 19:02:00 Relieved by yesterday's wonderful news, I returned to the activity that has given me so much excitement since my discharge from the Transplant Ward about three months ago: photographing the Harlem River bridges.Here's me in front of the Triborough Lift Bridge. This is how I usually look when I'm out and about in my "Paddington Bear coat." I placed my camera on the tripod that I bought recently and set it to a 10 second timer to take this self-portrait.I spent time most of the time, however, taking photographs of the Willis Avenue Bridge late this morning and early afternoon. Thanks again for all your wonderful comments! I am really humbled by all your sincere support and love. Many thanks again! You guys are awesome. ...

can you dig it? 2007-12-17 18:31:00 This morning I had my appointment with Dr. Barker followed by my monthly round of Aerosolized Pentamidine and then, an unexpected appointment with Dr. Allan Halpern, Sloan-Kettering's Chief of the Dermatology Service.The PET scan is clean! N.E.D. Can you dig it?Yes, I'm greatly relieved by the news. Tears flowed when I first heard it. The PET scan report states "no definite evidence of hypermetabolic malignancy." Though the groundglass in my lungs remains unchanged from the previous CT scan, there's no cancer and that's the most important thing. Drs. Castro-Malaspina and Mayer were right all along. I was the one who doubted and was wrong, but I don't think I've ever been more happy about being wrong than right now.Dr. Barker and Ally, however, weren't able to pinpoint why my abdomen feels the way it does. Anxiety, the medication, and/or post-allo SCT messiness were proposed as possible causes or perhaps as Su said, they're sea horses. Well, whatever it is it's not ca ...

day +116 2007-12-15 09:16:00 Yesterday afternoon I went over the final details of a research study offered by Sloan-Kettering over the phone with a research assistant of the team conducting this study. Presently, there is no genetic test to determine if a familial link exists in the diagnosis of lymphoma or lymphoproliferative disorders (Hodgkin's Disease, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, and other similar diseases) but the hope of this study is that the information gathered may lead to such a genetic test. Interestingly, genetic tests do exist for other cancers but not for lymphoproliferative disorders. So, let's hope this study leads to come helpful answers.I answered a couple of simple questions about my medical and family history over the phone and then, now all I need to do is wait for the simple cheek swab kit that they're going to send me in a few weeks. Because my blood reflects my donor's genetic heritage and not my own, a sample of my cheek cells, which still maintain my own u ...

day +114 2007-12-13 15:23:00 boomp3.com ...

interesting exhibitions going on 2007-12-13 11:46:00 Life's Pleasures: The Ashcan Artists' Brush with Leisure, 1895-1925 at the New York Historical SocietyWater: H20 = Life at the American Museum of Natural History ...

in the news 2007-12-13 11:41:00 Mitchell Report: Baseball Slow to React to Players' Steroids UseVoyager 2 Finds Solar System is UnevenMars Rover Races to SurviveEnergy Source of Northern Lights FoundFossils of Ancient Tank-Like Mammal Found in Andes ...

caregivers' guide for bone marrow/stem cell transplant 2007-12-12 20:42:00 The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmt Link) has a new resource, Caregivers' Guide for Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Transplant: Practical Perspectives, which you can learn more about here.Click here to download the PDF version of this new guide. ...

day +113 2007-12-12 17:04:00 This morning, as planned, I had a full-body PET scan. I should get the results at Monday's appointment.In yesterday's post, I forgot to include photographs of the Team In Training jersey that my friend, Tammer 'The Hammer', sent me about one week ago. As many of you know, he completed the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training back in early October. He ran both in memory and in honor of many blood cancer survivors and I was fortunate to be one of them. You can find my name under "In Honor" on the back of the jersey.FrontBackThanks Tammer.Oh, and here's a very cute and funny video that John shared on the Hodgkin's Lymphoma - WebMagic Forum. ...

day +112 2007-12-11 19:26:00 Yep, that's me on Sunday, Day +110. My hair is continuing to grow back quite well. It's the typical baby-like hair that grows back following chemo treatment.For about two weeks now, there have been darkened, dry spots on both of my shoulders. I'm not sure if they're rashes or just a symptom of dry skin but I'll notify the medical staff when I see them again on Monday. I've noticed another one of these dry areas below my right pectoral. Otherwise, my skin looks pretty good. After showering, I apply the Eucerin lotion all over my body which I have continued to do since the transplant.I hadn't been on the stationary bike for about a week before this past Saturday. I was busy taking care of so many different things, but that's not really the full reason. The real reason is that I was a bit down wearing my pajamas inside the apartment for most of the day.On a very sad note, I learned recently about the passing of Sha-lou Soledad Biray, a friend back at Vassar who graduated t ...

cancer news 2007-12-11 19:10:00 Umbilical Cord Blood Can Help Metabolic DisordersGentler Chemo Helps Patients Survive Lymphoma ... Cancer