Where did that month go?

It is amazing how fast that month went by since my last post. In a nutshell, I am great. Had an MRI on November 1 with the follow up on November 5. It looked good! Still a dark spot but it appears to have shrunk a little. So I will continue with the Chemo (Temodar) every four weeks. Of course, this week is a chemo week! Brilliantly, I scheduled a day long, outdoor field trip with my eighth graders this week and parent conferences at the end of the week and grades were due...

gotta go. Dinner at Wegman's!

It's Chemo Week!

Compared to other forms of chemo, these pills are a breeze. This pic is a week's worth of Temodar. I like the way the doc described these pills, like whack-a-mole. The pills are the hammers to crush the surviving cancer cells.

It's not growing, so keep going!

Marcie and I were "Team Goeke-Morey" in the Half Full Triathlon this past weekend. Pics and details to come. In the meantime, here is a video of the interview conducted by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, the sponsors of the race. BTW, I was the swim and bike, Marcie was the run.


Picture from the race here.

Most Happy Anniversary!

Tomorrow, September 13th is our 13th Wedding Anniversary!! Yay us! It is so amazing how our marriage has gotten better every year no matter the changes (3 wonderful children) or challenges.
I LOVE YOU Marcie! Here's to many, many more anniversaries!

Of course the latest MRI showed no new growth...

...why was I worried?

I was originally scheduled for an MRI in the last week of August but school starts that week. NIH was kind enough to move it up four weeks (due to timing of the temodar schedule).

Once again: NO GROWTH OR CHANGE! Some of the "golfball" is still there and probably will always be there with the assumption it is scar tissue. The only concern anyone had was the nurse who took my vitals. He was concerned that my heart rate was too low. He measured it at 43 bpm and 46 bpm. I explained that I have always had a low rate and have been cycling and swimming much this summer. I've got a race to get ready for! The docs were not concerned.

I go into the MRIs as positive as possible but it is not something one can be 100% positive about. Those doubts and fears are there, I try to keep them to be fleeting whispers. Marcie is great at keeping me up emotionally on these MRI report days. She is wonderful.

Cycling mileage is where it needs to be. Swimming mileage is there also. Just need to get faster!

I'm on a bike!

Great Saturday morning bike ride last week. Met up with Anne and Gundy who rode across country to raise awareness for Brain Cancer. It was very powerful and inspiring. Many riders came out for the parade route from Hains Point to the Capitol Reflecting Pool. Anne is a brain cancer survivor like myself. There were several other cancer survivors present and riding including BethAnn, a local traithlete. We had a police escort leading us through the streets of DC. Rode right through red lights! Felt like the President! Marcie and the girls were there to meet us. What a great cheering squad.

The speeches and guests were extremely powerful and moving. They are planning an event next year. Can't wait to take part in it.

BTW: My biking mileage is up over 30+ miles. Now I am adding hillwork. Yippee! Swimming is up also. Chemo is still there, finished another week.

More info:

BethAnn's group: TeamBT

Jeff Schanz (a very energetic cancer survivor) is big part of the Race for Hope

2000 yards in the pool today!

Planned to swim a mile (36 laps). Not sure of lap count so I went to 37 to be sure. But then I figured might as well end at a round number. 40 laps. Felt great. Longest swim in a long, long time.