Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: mjptexas on September 10, 2019, 03:06:47 PM
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Hello,
I had been having some difficulty with my reading and peripheral vision since the start of August. I had planned aboubt a 1,000-mille ride through the twisted sisters in the Texas Hill country over Labor Day. The BOSS was not going to let me go until I had the vision checked out.
I checked into the emergency room on Friday, August 31, and had an MRI. They did find a brain, but they also found a brain tumor sitting right on my visual processing area. The tumor was removed on Monday morning Sept 2nd. I was released from the hospital and came home Wednesday September 4th.
We received the initial pathology report on Friday the 6th. The tumor was Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), stage 4 cancer. This type of tumor can be very fast growing, and is a particularly nasty primary brain cancer. The surgeon removed the tumor.
I saw my first oncology doc on Monday September 9th, and see a second one Friday. I’m tentatively headed to MD Anderson in Houston on September 17th for additional analysis.
Chemo and radiation treatments begin in about 3 weeks. The actual chemo treatments are based on the tumor’s specific DNA structure, which is still under analysis.
So this thing will kill me, I just don’t know when. Statistically, I have 18 months, but I could have considerably more (or less) time. (I’m reworking my bucket list for the 18-month timeframe and will adjunct as I get additional information. I still have WG 2020 on my list, so I’m counting on God giving me enough time to make it at least one more time.
Fortunately my affairs are in good shape, so I just need to make sure Mrs. Prentice can take care of all the things she needs to do to forge aged when I’m gone. Having two grown daughters in town has been a Godsend.
Physically I feel fine, and I’m feeling little or no anxiety regarding my condition (the wife and daughters have that part well covered). I'm anxious to get back on two weels, but I have to at minimum wait until I can get a helmet safely on (currently have 20 stitches in the back of my head). I suspect my VESPA will see a lot of my initial ride time.
I may make an occasional post on this thread, since this is the only easy way to communicate with many of you who I consider friends I thought I would provide an update. Feel free to Private Message me anytime, and, if you pass through Austin stop by and say hi! I’ll always have a cold beer in the refrigerator.
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mike,
this is rough. hang in there (sorry for the platitude.)
there are more and more glioblastomas showing up these days.
my neighbor was diagnosed with one about 5 years ago. she had the full range of treatments and was given a conservative estimate for her longevity. she is still out and about and seems to be fully functioning. so, there's that. one of the things they told her though was that she cannot drive. she sold her car.
i wonder if the doc's will be giving you some sort of similar warnings about riding the bikes?
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Thanks for letting us know your condition...i can say...a life threatening illness can give you a life, real quick..peace
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^^^^^ What Chuck says. Death has a way of focusing your attention. :smiley: I know it has mine. Occasionally though, the Grim Reaper gets a wrong address or maybe there will be a clerical error. Keep that great attitude..
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Thats a tough call,I will say at least you told us---thats friendship---we all feel your pain,we are all in this together,talk to us :thumb:
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Here is something I can't understand.
Mind you, I have had family members die from cancer, TB and AIDS....
If the tumor has been removed why is there a need for chemo and radiation?
A long time friend died two years ago from cancer. His docs told him it would kill or cure...
Hang in there and best wishes!
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Thank You for sharing the info. I am a cancer (Bladder,) survivor. Had bladder, prostate, some lymph nodes, and the Gall bladder all removed then the chemo etc. Ive made it five years, so lets hope for the best for you also! Best Wishes sent your way.
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Don't know what to say but wishing you the best.
I lost one of my best friends to that when we were in our 20's.
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Hi Mike , great attitude you have sir :bow:
Dusty
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Sorry to hear your diagnosis, praying for good doctoring your way. I have always enjoyed your 2 wheel adventures shared here and look forward to more (even on a Vespa!).
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Mike, so sorry to hear the news. Hang in there. Your buddies are here. Hopefully you'll have many miles left to ride.
John.
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Mike, ...I'm dealing lethal cancer also right now....We'll both get our shields and swords and slay that f***ing cancer dragon! :thumb:
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Thanks for posting and wishing the best. One never know where life leads. Good news that your wife talked you into the initial exam. Timing seems to be a big deal with these things. Attitude goes a long way and you seem to have a good handle on that.
Take care,
GliderJohn
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Some years are tough - and some tougher......
Praying that you’ll have more years.
Mark
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Getting old really does suck. best wishes!
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If the tumor has been removed why is there a need for chemo and radiation?
You can't ever be sure you've gotten all of that kind of tumor, it's not a well-defined thing. You've got to go after the tendrils that get into the healthy tissue.
This would be a rough thing to wake up with every morning, wondering what it's going to do to you today. But if positive attitude has any effect, your chances are as good as anyone's ever has been!
Thanks for this testimony - no telling how many people you may help!
Lannis
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Best of luck to you Mike. I'm a 16 year cancer survivor. Or as my SIL sez, "he's to mean to die." Hope you have a better reason to keep sucking air.
I'm come to Austin and visit you if I was still tuff enough to face the Austin traffic
I'll meet you at Greens in Zabcikville when you feel up to it.
Tex
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That's incredibly rough. My granddad went from the same thing, back when I was a kid. Wishing you all the best, and I hope I get to see you at WG 2020.
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Sorry to hear , wishing you the very best outcome . Dave
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It sounds like you're a man of faith which is awesome. I have a friend that was told he had less than 18 months to live due to his melanoma organ cancer in his lung that took root in his brain. He had two operations but never doubted he'd be healed. Every specialist at Sloan Kettering told him he's foolish and that the cancer will kill him quickly, period. He told the head brain surgeon at Sloan Kettering that "you'll (the doctor) die before I will." His local cancer doctors all told him he's simply being foolish to refuse chemo radiation treatment and that he won't make 18 months.
Fast forward 8 years. My friend remains cancer free and that younger hotshot head brain surgeon at Sloan Kettering died over 6 years ago from a stroke. My friend is the second person known to survive this type of cancer. Former President Jimmy Carter being the first.
Prayers inbound for you.
YMMV
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Hi Mike -
Very sorry to read this thread....hang in there and prayers / best wishes sent from northern AZ...
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I'm in Austin too way south near Cowboy Harley and a Guzzi rider also. My wife is dealing with Cancer too so I feel your pain she had her tumor's removed around the same time you did at St David . We also going to MD Anderson soon I wish you the best of luck and hope you get back on that bike soon !
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Hi Mike:
I fashioned my Cal 1400 Custom after yours. One of the best bikes I’ve ever had.
Our thoughts are with you.
Don
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Hello Mike, 9-10-19
We all 'leave the building', in our own time. Some by the front door, some by the back.
According to your words..."Fortunately my affairs are in good shape, so I just need to make sure Mrs. Prentice can take care of all the things she needs to do to forge aged when I’m gone. Having two grown daughters in town has been a Godsend."
Clearly sir, by your actions and in your own time, you will leave... by the front door, with your head held high. Congratulations Mike, in the great game of life, you have won. You are an inspiration to us all.
Cento anni,
DougG
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Hi Mike. It saddens me to read this. Having said that, let's hope you are one of the success stories.
Well wishes and I'll keep you in my thoughts.
John Henry
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Mike...thanks for sharing, that is rough news indeed.
When you come into Houston and if you feel up for company, do let me know and we'll come down for a visit.
Near MD Anderson are some nice cafes in Rice Village and a good place to get some sun and fresh air. Would be happy to meet you there.
Hang in there!
Paul
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Best of luck to you Mike. I'm a 16 year cancer survivor. Or as my SIL sez, "he's to mean to die." Hope you have a better reason to keep sucking air.
I'm come to Austin and visit you if I was still tuff enough to face the Austin traffic
I'll meet you at Greens in Zabcikville when you feel up to it.
Tex
We'll he's not a mean man in temperament but has some real badness in him. First he can be contrary, like many Guzzi guys and he's a Texas Longhorn fan, well that's just mean man, mean.
My guess, he'll live to 100 and raz me for years.
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Peace and comfort to you, Mike.
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Well Mike,
That just plain sucks.
All I can add being a cancer survivor, although nowhere near as severe as yours, is stay positive.
Do what you can while you can.
Roll with the punches, you wont really feel sick until they start to cure you, also everyone is different and reactions vary from not a lot to not nice.
The worse thing is it removes your ability to plan for a future, look forward to things ect, chemo and radiation may also effect your reasoning and logical thought processes, but once again everyone is different.
My best wishes to you and your family.
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Sorry for your bad news. My sister had the exact same brain tumor as you and
she is doing ok 5 years later. I wish you the best of luck. You have more riding ahead!
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Here is something I can't understand.
Mind you, I have had family members die from cancer, TB and AIDS....
If the tumor has been removed why is there a need for chemo and radiation?
A long time friend died two years ago from cancer. His docs told him it would kill or cure...
Hang in there and best wishes!
Because it's not surgically curable. All glioblastoma multiforme are stage IV. It's a horrible cancer.
Mike, I don't know you but you mentioning that you have daughters touched a nerve. I have a daughter too. She'll get an extra goodnight hug tonight.
Nate
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I don't know you but you seem very positive. My best friend has the big ugly c word. They gave him 1 year to live 3 years ago. He's also very positive. Hang in there I'll send some prayers your way !!!
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Will keep you and your family in my prayers
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🙏🙏🙏🙏 Romans 8:28
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I hope you are able to accomplish all of the things on your bucket list.
Rich A
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It's not so much the length of the journey as what you did along the way. I hope you have a few thousand miles to go, but keep your attitude and make the most of what time you have. Faced with adversity, you can fight or wait to die. And fight can mean simply living your best life without fear or regrets. Positive thoughts and energy.
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Mike, I am new here and don't know any other members yet to speak of. But I am feeling like I am starting to fit in. I hope I get to know you as time goes on, all your friends here love you very much, that is quite obvious. One of my fellow riders just had a bout with the bif C for the third time. We did not think he would make it through this one, but he has. You can too. Hang in there, you can do it too.
Karl
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Not meaning to be off topic, especially with this one, but right here is what makes this board and community so great.
GliderJohn
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If Niagara Falls or the western terminus of the Eire Canal are on your list I'll gladly serve as tour glide.
Several years ago my sister was diagnosed with the worst fast moving lymphoma one can get. Given 2 weeks! by the exerts. 5 years later she's alive and well. Never surrender.
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To patronise you would be an insult, so a short comment from me.
Your bravery is an inspiration and it cannot be possible to pretend to know what to say.
The price one pays to be fully able to understand what you face is ultimately too great, but I can only hope that when I have to confront my own mortality, that I can draw from your level of stoicism.
If there’s one damn thing that I always draw from posts like these, is that I realise how trivial and trite some of the crap is, that I come out with..
Stand firm mate, your buddies here that know you personally, love you and those like me who do not, admire your guts.
There’s always something we can be reminded of regarding the beauty of life and the value of what really matters.
Good luck mate..
Peter.
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Cancer is a weird thing. People can go into remission for know reason known to science so don't allow yourself to fall into a slough of despond. Having said that your attitude is admirable and whatever the outcome it sounds like you are looking the future straight in the eye.
I will raise a glass to your good health tonight! :thumb:
Pete
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Here's to you.
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The power of a positive attitude is huge and you've got it in spades !
Best wishes to you, none of us are immune from something like this.
Glenn
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All the best to you.
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Best of luck to you. Enjoy your days. Thanks for your inspiring post.
Moto
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Wishing you love and peace.
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Tough I reckon. Thank you for sharing with us MJP.
Sarah
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Hope all goes well and we meet "down the road"!!
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Thankyou for telling us , there are many here that wont say but we are on your side and you can feel us praying for you to ride to a ripe old age.
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Pete Roper said exactly how I feel about your situation. I have had two battles with C this century. I had Hodgkin’s lymphoma stage 2, and recently stage2/3 Testicular C that metastasized into my abdomen. Lots of radiation and chemo, and here I am! Every cancer is different .
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I have some very good words for you , fight, fight , fight and then fight some more, enjoy every moment that you have.
I will not sign this to with my normal abbreviated signature I will sign my full name
Thomas Bailey
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Fellas , let's not do this , OK .
Mike knows what he is dealing with , trust me , he is a man with a strong sense of self , he really doesn't need us telling him how to deal with this , and the arguing about it . Do we understand ?
Dusty
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Peace be with you.
John
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Good point Dusty.
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Praying with you, stand brother stand.
Jack aka inditx
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Thank you for sharing mjptexas. Best wishes.
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Mike, My wife went to MD Anderson for a rare form of cancer in her neck and they were simply amazing. Best of luck to you.
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Fight, yes, but also don't give up.
Best of luck and I hope, best of care for you. If they say you cannot drive a motorcycle, there's always dirt bikes.
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Texans are tough. Hang in there.
Dave
Galveston
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Prayers for strength and healing!
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Positive thoughts all heading in your direction.
Gian4
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Sir, I just hope that if I am ever in the same situation that you are facing I will react with the same dignity and fortitude you are showing. May the the good Lord watch over you and your family........
George
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Mike, so sorry to hear about your situation. Didn't realize all this time you lived in Austin. I'm up in Georgetown and if you need a wingman when you start riding again, PM me. My schedule is fairly open. If you're ever at COTA, let me know, I'm out there a lot........Jack.
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Mike, Very sorry to hear this news.
It was only discovered posthumously, but my father had passed away from complications from an undiagnosed brain cancer;
I'm glad that you're on the game and in the game, living large and out loud.
Sending you thoughts and energy from afar.
Kelly
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MD Anderson is the best, if anyone can cure you, they will do it.
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Prayers for healing, Mike
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So here’s my current status:
We are at +17 days since they removed the brain tumor.
We spent Tuesday at the MD Andersen cancer center in Houston. Meetings primarily confirmed we are on the proper path for treatment. We will meet with them again in Mid November after I have completed the first round of radiation and chemotherapy. Discussion at that time will be around potential trial treatments vs. the standard approach.
I see the surgeon on the 24th. I’m hoping he will remove the stitches.
I begin radiation/chemo treatments on September 30. I will receive 30 radiation treatments over a six-week period, along with chemotherapy (in pill form). There will be a bout a 5-week break after that before the next round of treatment starts.
Physically and mentally I feel fine. I’ve had literally no pain and so far have maintained a pretty good attitude. My reading, which was the major symptom, has improved dramatically, which is a big relief.
I'm anxious to get back on a motorcycle, but it may be a few weeks before that happens.
That’s all for now.
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We're with you Mike, keep bringing us good news! The best to you and your family.
Paul B :boozing:
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So here’s my current status:
We are at +17 days since they removed the brain tumor.
We spent Tuesday at the MD Andersen cancer center in Houston. Meetings primarily confirmed we are on the proper path for treatment. We will meet with them again in Mid November after I have completed the first round of radiation and chemotherapy. Discussion at that time will be around potential trial treatments vs. the standard approach.
I see the surgeon on the 24th. I’m hoping he will remove the stitches.
I begin radiation/chemo treatments on September 30. I will receive 30 radiation treatments over a six-week period, along with chemotherapy (in pill form). There will be a bout a 5-week break after that before the next round of treatment starts.
Physically and mentally I feel fine. I’ve had literally no pain and so far have maintained a pretty good attitude. My reading, which was the major symptom, has improved dramatically, which is a big relief.
I'm anxious to get back on a motorcycle, but it may be a few weeks before that happens.
That’s all for now.
I am thinking you're good to go man. I'll see you in Austin at MotoGp 2020. Anyone wants to join us is welcome.
Mike's a generous guy, I'll bet he'll buy the first round. <Guzzi tightwad content>
See ya in April Mike. Make mine a single malt, even if it's from Colorado. :laugh:
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Oh f*** man I am so sorry to hear this
f***ing Cancer my wife was diagnosed with a GBM she fought it hard for 2.5 years we had great times. like nothing happened.
Other then the trips to the doctor and MRI then the damn waiting period
she pasted 2.5 years ago
damn i am sorry man take your trip do what you want to do now don't wait