The photo above was taken on April 12th, 2006.  I had ballooned up to 198 pounds thanks to Chemo drugs and Ice Cream. Good thing I did. By the end of the summer I would be at 165 pounds, but cancer free and back on my bike. April 13th 2006 I went in for surgery.  I had a tumor the size of a baseball in my left sinus pushing up my eye and rapidly growing.  The chemo from the previous two months shrank it in size, but it still had to go. I was told the surgery would take 18 hours and I most likely would not have a left eye when I woke up.  One of the last things I saw was my 7 month old daughter’s beautiful face and my family around me. A memory burned in before they turned out the lights on me for four days. I hope I always remember it.  I am actually missing the four days afterwards in memory.  I guess I was difficult so they kept me under ;) The following picture is from after the surgery. The long tube is a feed tube where they would jam calories into my stomach (can’t really call it food or eating).  The grayish tube was just there to keep the new nasal cavity open during healing. The yellowish thing is the output for the tracheotomy tube. I no longer have a left sinus or the left upper palet and teeth, but I am alive. My doctors were awesome and they literally saved my life.  I can’t thank them enough for working hard on me six years ago.  They also saved my eye which was pretty awesome to wake up to. Here is a photo from August of that same year the DAY after my last radiation treatment. It was taken in Fruita, Colorado 8-25-2006. I was weak, but dang it I rode and it was awesome. (I think I got lost on 18 road, but that is another story). So here I sit and celebrate six years after my major surgery.  I believe the old Jeremy went away and a new one was born today six years ago.   The only advice I can give to you today is: NEVER GIVE UP, NO MATTER WHAT. Have fun, Jeremy For giggles here is another picture from 9-7-2006 I rode Apex park and Enchanted forest, as that is such an awesome trail on the front range of Denver.
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The photo above was taken on April 12th, 2006.  I had ballooned up to 198 pounds thanks to Chemo drugs and Ice Cream. Good thing I did. By the end of the summer I would be at 165 pounds, but cancer free and back on my bike.

April 13th 2006 I went in for surgery.  I had a tumor the size of a baseball in my left sinus pushing up my eye and rapidly growing.  The chemo from the previous two months shrank it in size, but it still had to go. I was told the surgery would take 18 hours and I most likely would not have a left eye when I woke up. 

One of the last things I saw was my 7 month old daughter’s beautiful face and my family around me. A memory burned in before they turned out the lights on me for four days. I hope I always remember it.  I am actually missing the four days afterwards in memory.  I guess I was difficult so they kept me under ;)

The following picture is from after the surgery. The long tube is a feed tube where they would jam calories into my stomach (can’t really call it food or eating).  The grayish tube was just there to keep the new nasal cavity open during healing. The yellowish thing is the output for the tracheotomy tube. I no longer have a left sinus or the left upper palet and teeth, but I am alive.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1SIuLOS8-E0/T4e4-Vq-MyI/AAAAAAAAGoc/pYuNAwhyXRQ/s640/p1010175.jpg

My doctors were awesome and they literally saved my life.  I can’t thank them enough for working hard on me six years ago.  They also saved my eye which was pretty awesome to wake up to.

Here is a photo from August of that same year the DAY after my last radiation treatment. It was taken in Fruita, Colorado 8-25-2006. I was weak, but dang it I rode and it was awesome. (I think I got lost on 18 road, but that is another story).

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wvzJH-IJJe4/ThtLJw47IyI/AAAAAAAADfU/JyO_gy4tk4I/s640/Fruita8.25.2006.jpg

So here I sit and celebrate six years after my major surgery.  I believe the old Jeremy went away and a new one was born today six years ago.  

The only advice I can give to you today is: NEVER GIVE UP, NO MATTER WHAT.

Have fun,

Jeremy

For giggles here is another picture from 9-7-2006 I rode Apex park and Enchanted forest, as that is such an awesome trail on the front range of Denver.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9dnVMNmmgAA/ThtKM12PTwI/AAAAAAAADfI/pQ3NtpHpgFQ/s640/EnchantedForest9.7.2006.jpg

One of the things I use to say while getting radiation treatment was “Where the heck are my super powers?!?”

#random

If Lance Armstrong went to jail and Livestrong went away, that would be a huge setback in our war against cancer, right? Not exactly, because the ­famous nonprofit donates almost ­nothing to scientific research. BILL GIFFORD

I liked the article, i thought it was well done.  I read Armstrong’s book while going through chemo and it is a inspiration to read.  Do I think it helped me get through? Partially.  I credit my doctors and medical science more than anything. The book helped in the mindset to recovery along with Wolverine from Marvel comics.

As I go through life now as a cancer survivor and a cyclist that also races from time to time I do hear the comparisons.  I usually brush them aside, as I want to be remembered as a nice guy more than a Armstrong apostle.  How many times have you been yelled at by cars “get off the road Armstrong!”?

The whole Armstrong situation taints my goals for Zendoughnut a bit.  I am more likely to partner with CCA (http://www.joyrx.org/) or First Descents (http://firstdescents.org/) over Livestrong now.  I think we will see more of that from others in the future as the whole story comes out.  

Already starting to be a fun year, eh?

This XKCD comic pretty much sums up the cancer/treatment scenarios in lanes.  It is a really clever way to explain it.  I consider cancer to be that little gremlin hiding in the back of my mind even after 5 years.   I am part of the 60%. Click the image for a bigger size.
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This XKCD comic pretty much sums up the cancer/treatment scenarios in lanes.  It is a really clever way to explain it.  I consider cancer to be that little gremlin hiding in the back of my mind even after 5 years.  

I am part of the 60%.

Click the image for a bigger size.

Source: xkcd.com

team zendoughnut: Will you ride with me?

zendoughnut:

I am trying to start something, but realize it is bigger than one man and a computer with a love to ride his bike. I am trying to now start a 501c3 non-profit corporation and would like the proceeds to go to fighting children’s cancer. I think of what I went through more than five years ago and…

Source: zendoughnut

Diagnostic accuracy of canine scent detection in early- and late-stage lung and breast cancers.

Note to self: get a dog.

I signed up for the LT100 lottery today.

In 2006 I was diagnosed with Cancer in my left sinus. I had a tumor the size of a baseball rapidly growing. That year I went through Chemo, Surgery, and Radiation to beat it.

In 2012 it will have been 6 years since healing.  To celebrate I’d like to ride the LT100 as a cancer survivor for those who are not as fortunate as me.

I am just a normal guy with an extraordinary history. I would like to show others that they do not have to be a pro racer to accomplish your goals. Anyone can do it.

That is why I signed up for the LT100 lottery today. In February I will find out if I was chosen to ride.  I hope I get in, race, and get the belt buckle. 

More info on the LT100 here, I plan on using the domain zendoughnut.com for the progress of this little adventure. Go Team ZenDoughnut!!