[quote="Miami Mike"]: Hope today finds you feeling better. Lousy weather out here.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Today went MUCH better, shorter, vivid lightning show with windswept rain out the window as I sat in my chair listening to David Gilmour on various songs from several CDs on my mp3 player.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Well, today was disconnect day...what a great feeling to be FREE from draggin' the portable pump with the IV line going into my chest...it's one of the greatest feeling when they disconnect that thing!

So, only one month of treatments to go. I've scheduled the weeks of December 10th and 17th, which means my last treatment and disconnect will be on December 24th...Merry Christmas.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I am glad you are doing well MIke and on the white flag lap with the checker flag ahead in time for Christmas

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Thanks cvilleira...I did my first half gig since my cancer diagnosis last night in Boston an at a club with a few friends and I had a blast! I played the first two sets, then sat out except for two songs in the last (3rd) set. It was a lot of fun!

The neuropathy hasn't completely subsided since last week was a treatment week, but it was fun and gave me a little taste of what may be coming soon.

I have two cycles left...the week of Dec 10th and Dec 24th. I also agreed to play for the Dana Farber Christmas party for the "Kids with Cancer" project.

Live your life with love, laughter and music and add some positive vibes and energy and it will see you though!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

[quote="Miami Mike"][quote="cvilleira"]: Man...It is cold, damp, and rainy out there Definitely a 'three dog day'! Stay inside.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Mike, you sound great! I'm glad you're doing well. Ending treatment during the Yuletide is a great time. You'll start the New Year with this ordeal in your rearview mirror.

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"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Thanks strat58cat! Yes, the chemo part will be over. There will be some follow up (cleaning port, CEA bloodtests, monitoring, scans (CT/PET), the surgery to remove port and catheter and finally the follow up scope check in May.

I've joined the "Stand Up To Cancer" project. It's basically a project to help researchers find a cure for cancer. You can buy a star for one dollar for a loved one, I've already bought a couple. www.standup2cancer.org

I received this note from another cancer survivor who had a similiar diagnosis and is now finished his chemo :

"Mike-
Howzit. I read your "5 months" post and I can totally relate. You're in the home stretch; that last infusion of 5-FU was the hardest for me but once the pump was out, it's OUT for GOOD! Within a few weeks I was feeling much better-although neuropathy from the oxaliplatin really kicked in around the 11th round, and peaked about a month after finishing chemo. It's abating now and I'm hoping it will be totally gone in a month or two.

I'll be keeping in touch and good luck on the final rounds of chemo.
Aloha,"

So next week will be my 11th round...yes, the end of treatment is near!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Almost there, Mike, keep those positive vibes flowing. The follow-up stuff is real, but it's a mosquito bite compared to the long slog through chemo. Keep in mind the follow-up tests are just tests by a bunch of people - fallible and fumbling in the dark, trying to figure out if there's still a cancer cell. After I was all finished with my long slog through six months of systemic ABVD for lymphoma, I got some tests and went through a series of doctors all the way to a top gun from a radio-oncology lab on Sunset in LA. They all told me the treatment didn't work, that I'd have to have a bone-marrow transplant, and that I only had a 1/3 chance of living. That was on a Friday. It was a shock, but the last follow-up test that came in the following week was clean, and so they decided to wait and see. Turns out, I'm fine and now I'm well over the 5 years when the doctors say it won't come back.

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"Now, bring me that horizon."
-Capt. Jack Sparrow

Great news Mike, I hope the upcoming holidays are the best yet. Please keep us posted, much mojo being sent

So thrilled to hear you are now gigging.

Cubic parsecs of oulde-hippie bro'ly love, prayers for ginormous recovery and visions of you being massively robust and the poster-dude for vitality, ready for beach-pics, by spring!

Thanks guys and strat58cat, that is amazing!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike - glad to hear that you are feeling good enough to pick up a guitar and play with a band.

May your last two sets of treatments go well for you - you are in the thoughts and minds of many of us.

Keep up the spirit and let David Gilmour allow you to flow with the music.

Gil

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Where ever you go, there you are

1998 Ovation 1861 Standard Balladeer Natural
Taka - 2005 Squier '51 Black
Yume - 2006 Squier Strat Cherryburst
Houbi - 2008 Fender VG Strat Blizzard Pearl - won here
Fender Super Champ XD; Vox DA-5

Thanks again for the positive support...I'm leaving soon to start Round ELEVEN! I can remember thinking back in July that I'd be so glad when I got to the end.

If all goes as planned (of course, that's a big "if"), I'll finish this cycle by week's end and have the final Round 12 beginning week of December 22nd.

I don't like to get ahead of myself though...just one step at a time...and positive thinking and support...that's what got me here so far!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike,

That is outstanding news! I am very happy for you. I will continue to keep you in my prayers! Just remember, You can do all things through Christ whom strengthens you!

I am confident that you are gonna pull through this whole mess and look back and go "Man, that sucked! But that is okay, cuz I am great now!"

Keep the faith Brother!

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Bill

"Show me a crowd where the band is loud and my drunken ballet is in fashion!" Jerry Riopelle