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| 20 SEP 2010 at 3:14am |
Randy-JAJourneyman
Posts : 1351
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Realize this is probably not the correct forum for this, but figured it would get more views here.
I had my PET scan the first week of September and was informed on Thursday, Sept. 9th that I am now a 2-time cancer survivor.
The cancer was almost 100% gone. My doctor seemed sort of shocked to say the least! The reason I have not said anything sooner is that based on my past history, I've been waiting to hear a, but....or that we made a mistake reading your PET scan, yet its been 10 days now so it must be true!
The bad part to this is that every three weeks for the next four months, and maybe for the rest of my life, I must have an Avastin (Google it!) treatment, and not only does it have numerous side effects, but it is also sort of unknown territory.
Now it will take me a good 3-4 months to get my energy level back and I've also had some negative repercussions from the chemo and radiation I've had the past 8 years. Next week I have an appointment with a sinus doctor and am 100% sure I will need to have my left sinus operated on. My teeth are also a mess from the chemo and seizure meds and will soon be beginning the process of replacement, partials, etc. The way I see it is in about six months I'll have new teeth, a new nose, new glasses and no cancer so it'll be like I'm twenty years old again.
As I'm sure you've also noticed, we've been updating the site on a regular basis again. Every week I have one day where I feel great and send Karla about 50 emails (I'm not kidding) and then she doesn't hear from me for the rest of the week as I'm usually worn out by then. I know what you're thinking, take it easy on that day you feel great and use some of it the following days, but for some reason it doesn't work like that and so I have to take advantage of that one good day.
The donations have been wonderful and when I am able I will write and personally thank everyone who donated. It has lifted a huge burden off of my mind and helped me to start getting the site back to its previous status.
We were shooting for around 3k and are currently half way there. I can't stress enough how wonderful it feels to know that our readers care enough to donate their hard-earned money to help keep the site running until I get back on my feet (although I know I never have been and never will be mentally stable, so I can't blame that on the chemo).
So if you have a couple of extra thou laying around that Paypal address for donataions is randyja@justadventure.com
I should also be able to start posting on the forum again soon on a somewhat consistent basis as some of my concentration is returning.
So thanks everone, and see you again soon I hope.
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 3:38am |
karlaAdministrator
Posts : 2593
Joined: 27 JUL 2003
Location: US, Close to the Edge
Status : Offline | What wonderful news that you've beaten the Big C a second time!! Congratulations, Randy!!
[smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif] [smiley=clap.gif]
Sorry to hear about the not-so-good stuff. Avastin does sound rather nasty. Here's hoping you'll only need it for a few months.
How great that the donations are going well! If I had a few thousand $$ lying around it would be yours in a heartbeat.
BTW, I'm always happy to get 50 emails from you in one day.
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 8:02am |
CrisGerSchattenjger
Posts : 2539
Joined: 28 APR 2007
Location: US
Status : Offline | Randy you have created and nurtured a very special place for those of us who love adventuring to inhabit and share...which makes the adventures so much more fun and deeply enjoyable. thank you and as a cancer survivor myself, i totally applaud your success and the skill and vigor of your physical self for defeating this modern sourge. I know well the toll it takes, and i send all of my very best wishes to you you and a few shekles will be on the way too
congrats and thank you thank you thank you for all you have given us and keep getting well.
Admin
3D Worlds and Game Developers
Linkedin
http://3dworldandgamedevelopers.blogspot.com
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 10:22am |
TravellerGuild Master
Posts : 4040
Joined: 3 JUL 2010
Location: US
Status : Offline | My father was a cancer survivor, and I have a good idea of what his chemo did to him, so you have my deepest sympathy, Randy. Cancer is such a destructive disease, that even if it is "cured" you often still end up pretty messed up.
I really wish I had more cash to send you, but I've had three seperate little financial shocks these past few weeks, which makes it a bit hard on the 'ol cashflow right at the moment, but will see how things are towards the end of the month.
All the best, thanks for the feedback, and I do hope you won't have to use that nasty (and very expensive) Avastin forever..
* * * Just call me Trav. * * *
“Despite my ghoulish reputation, I really have the heart of a small boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk.” - Robert Bloch
"They are not reciprocally sublated--the one does not sublate the other externally--but each sublates itself in itself and is in its own self the opposite of itself" (Hegel, from The Doctrine of Being)..."
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 1:48pm |
FnordSchattenjger
Posts : 2752
Joined: 15 SEP 2008
Location: SE, Stockholm
Status : Offline | It is good to hear that the procedure went well!
The fact that they are giving you Avastin would mean that they do believe that you are strong enough to handle it, even with all the thongs that have been going on.
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 5:16pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1464
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Great to hear, hope everything goes well and you get back on your feet soon.
Will scrape together what I can this week and send it along.
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 8:24pm |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | Excellent news indeed!
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 9:30pm |
AndromusGuild Master
Posts : 5538
Joined: 6 NOV 2002
Status : Offline | So good to hear that everything's looking great.
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 11:28pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | I hope you feel better soon, Randy, and start having more good days than one a week.
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| 20 SEP 2010 at 11:57pm |
HelenGuild Master
Posts : 3436
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | I am SO happy to hear this wonderful news.
My brother is fighting this battle right now too and its been hard this past
couple weeks but improvement is seen every day. We'll see what the next tx.( this Thursday ) brings. They say they will lower the dosage a bit so hopefully that will make a difference.
I will be able to make another small donation again soon.
Thanks for keeping us posted.
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| 21 SEP 2010 at 10:19pm |
DonaJourneyman
Posts : 801
Joined: 19 MAR 2005
Status : Offline | That's amazing news, Randy, I'm so happy for you
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| 27 SEP 2010 at 4:26pm |
Simo Sakari AaltonenSpace Cadet
Posts : 130
Joined: 23 APR 2004
Status : Offline | Hang in there, Randy.
[url=http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/album.php?u=57439][i]King's Quest[/i] & [i]Space Quest[/i] galleries (Telltale Forums)[/url]&&&&[url=http://www.adventurecompanion.com]The Adventure Companion[/url]
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| 29 SEP 2010 at 6:12pm |
GelertPrivate Detective
Posts : 492
Joined: 14 MAY 2004
Status : Offline | That's excellent news Randy. My very best wishes go out to you for a complete and full recovery.
Gelert.
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| 29 SEP 2010 at 7:38pm |
loobilooPrivate Detective
Posts : 598
Joined: 3 APR 2008
Location: UK
Status : Offline | Hi Randy, I'm glad that there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel for you! Hang on in there!
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| 4 OCT 2010 at 3:48am |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | I think it's great news (even if the other part of it isn't the best). [smiley=thumbsup.gif] Sounds like you're also up on your feet, even if it's just one day at a time. One day becomes two, two become three, etc.
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 4 OCT 2010 at 2:03pm |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | Hey look, it's Susan, the Goddess of Invisibleness.
How are you Susan. Haven't heard from you for ages. :-* Did you ... erm... get a new cat?
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| 5 OCT 2010 at 9:33am |
CulturaJourneyman
Posts : 1337
Joined: 1 SEP 2004
Location: NL, Amersfoort
Status : Offline | Although i'm 48, gaming is an everyday joy for me, and the quality of reviews and liveliness of the forums has contributed in a huge amount to that.
Randy, hang in there, I wish you all the best, and I will hope fervently for a 100 percent recovery.
Dirk-Jan aka Cultura,
Netherlands
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