The nursing staff.here is great. Some of the.nurses are even.more arractive.than.others. One nurse.down in the.icu even.looked.like.my neice. Strange but true. Well for the.last day and a half i have.been waling on my own. In search of food cause it has been.5 days.since I had eaten
Anything. The nurses now are keeping a close eye on me. Some one had dropped a bag of potatoe chips in the hall but by the time i got to the spot they had a cleaning crew cleaning the mess up. I even tried to sneak into the nursey across the hall looking for food. Again by the time i got to the door they got inside and had the door locked behind them
Thursday, June 28, 2012
My stay at UMC Tucson
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Post high school years
I graduate high school in 1980 . Really glad that it is over. Only had to take one final to get my diploma. The history test was a breeze. Had a girlfriend and a killer job for the times. I was taking home $600 a week working at a car dealership up the hill from my house. Things were great till my girl started harping on me about how I have the gasoline smell and grease that just will not come out of my skin.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
still there kickin and screamin
OK so here I am , I have survived cancer for 22 years now. I thought I had turned the corner since I had moved to Az. But of course that is not the way things go. I have just been diagnosed with bladder AND prostate cancer. The Drs told me that the type of cancer I now have is transitional cell cancer . Which means it had come from the little stump of the urethra that was left in my bladder from when they removed my right kidney back in 2008. They (the doctors) say they have never seen this happen before, you either get prostate cancer or you dont. Having this type of cancer in my prostate is really not normal. But then again that has been my story since the beginning. So here I am just a few months shy of 50 years old now being told that I have to get my bladder and prostate removed . The Doctors say the I could leave all alone and have a 5% chance of living 5 years or remove them all and the chances move to 80-90% chance that I live longer than 5 years. Well all I can say is that my choice was made for me long before I opened my mouth. I have a great family , Wife and 2 great kids and when I think of them I can remind myself that I am not a quitter( and 22 years fighting this proves it)
Monday is the day I travel to Tucson Az to have this radical surgery done.
More to come
Monday is the day I travel to Tucson Az to have this radical surgery done.
More to come
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Background on the type of cancer I am fighting....
Small bowel cancer starts when cells in the lining of the small bowel, also called the small intestine, begin to change, start to grow without control, and no longer die. These changes can take a long time to develop, and both genetic and environmental factors can cause them, although the specific causes of small bowel cancers are generally not well understood.
The small bowel is part of the digestive system and allows food to be broken down and nutrients to be absorbed into the body. It links the stomach to the large intestine (colon) and is divided into three parts: the duodenum, which is the part closest to the stomach; the jejunum, which is the middle portion; and the ileum, which connects to the large intestine, or colon, at its bottom. The small bowel is approximately 15 feet in length, folds many times to fit inside the abdomen, and makes up three-quarters of the digestive system.
There are five main types of small bowel cancer:
Adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of small bowel cancer, usually occurring in the duodenum or jejunum. Adenocarcinoma begins in the gland cells of the small bowel.
Sarcoma. Small bowel sarcoma is generally a leiomyosarcoma (a tumor that arises in the muscle tissue that makes up part of the intestine and most often occurs in the ileum). See the Cancer.Net Guide to Sarcoma for more information.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). GIST is a rare tumor that is believed to start in cells found in the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), and belongs to a group of cancers called soft tissue sarcomas. See the Cancer.Net Guide to Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) for more information.
Carcinoid tumor. Carcinoid tumors are classified as neuroendocrine tumors (tumors that originate in the hormone-producing cells of various organs) and generally occur in the ileum. See the Cancer.Net Guide to Carcinoid Tumors for more information.
Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma that occurs in the small bowel usually occurs in the jejunum or ileum, and is most commonly non-Hodgkin lymphoma. See the Cancer.Net Guide to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma for more information.
Statistics
Small bowel cancer is an uncommon cancer that comprises about 1% to 2% of all gastrointestinal cancers.
In 2009, an estimated 6,230 adults (3,240 men and 2,990 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with small bowel cancer. It is estimated that 1,110 deaths (580 men and 530 women) from this disease will occur this year.
As explained above, there are several types of small bowel cancer, and survival rates are different for each. The five-year survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) for adenocarcinoma that can be surgically removed is 20%. The five-year survival rate for leiomyosarcoma that can be surgically removed is about 50%.
Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with small bowel cancer.
Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2009 and the National Cancer Institute. And so far Most of the doctors who have treated me have said that I must be a freak of nature to survive not 1 but 9 resections so far to date.
The small bowel is part of the digestive system and allows food to be broken down and nutrients to be absorbed into the body. It links the stomach to the large intestine (colon) and is divided into three parts: the duodenum, which is the part closest to the stomach; the jejunum, which is the middle portion; and the ileum, which connects to the large intestine, or colon, at its bottom. The small bowel is approximately 15 feet in length, folds many times to fit inside the abdomen, and makes up three-quarters of the digestive system.
There are five main types of small bowel cancer:
Adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of small bowel cancer, usually occurring in the duodenum or jejunum. Adenocarcinoma begins in the gland cells of the small bowel.
Sarcoma. Small bowel sarcoma is generally a leiomyosarcoma (a tumor that arises in the muscle tissue that makes up part of the intestine and most often occurs in the ileum). See the Cancer.Net Guide to Sarcoma for more information.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). GIST is a rare tumor that is believed to start in cells found in the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), and belongs to a group of cancers called soft tissue sarcomas. See the Cancer.Net Guide to Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) for more information.
Carcinoid tumor. Carcinoid tumors are classified as neuroendocrine tumors (tumors that originate in the hormone-producing cells of various organs) and generally occur in the ileum. See the Cancer.Net Guide to Carcinoid Tumors for more information.
Lymphoma. Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma that occurs in the small bowel usually occurs in the jejunum or ileum, and is most commonly non-Hodgkin lymphoma. See the Cancer.Net Guide to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma for more information.
Statistics
Small bowel cancer is an uncommon cancer that comprises about 1% to 2% of all gastrointestinal cancers.
In 2009, an estimated 6,230 adults (3,240 men and 2,990 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with small bowel cancer. It is estimated that 1,110 deaths (580 men and 530 women) from this disease will occur this year.
As explained above, there are several types of small bowel cancer, and survival rates are different for each. The five-year survival rate (the percentage of people who survive at least five years after the cancer is detected, excluding those who die from other diseases) for adenocarcinoma that can be surgically removed is 20%. The five-year survival rate for leiomyosarcoma that can be surgically removed is about 50%.
Cancer survival statistics should be interpreted with caution. These estimates are based on data from thousands of cases of this type of cancer in the United States each year, but the actual risk for a particular individual may differ. It is not possible to tell a person how long he or she will live with small bowel cancer.
Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2009 and the National Cancer Institute. And so far Most of the doctors who have treated me have said that I must be a freak of nature to survive not 1 but 9 resections so far to date.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The final year in St Johns
Well the 7th grade is done , overwith and we are all looking forward to graduation.
Only Eddie Aversa is not planning to go to North Bergen Highschool. He has planns to go to St Joe's
The rest of us are heading out to the public school system. We are right now thinking about being the class of '76
I myself couldnt wait to move on. Most of the class was just looking to cut loose. The guys started growing their hair longer which was against the rules in a Catholic Grammer school but no body cared. We just wanted out.
Things that happend in 1976,
January 1976
Gerald Ford's would-be assassin, Sara Jane Moore, is sentenced to life in prison
The first commercial service Concorde flight took off
1976 Winter Olympics open in Innsbruck, Austria
Darryl Sittler sets NHL record with ten points in one game
Fleetwood Mac records Rumours, which will be a blockbuster album in 1977
1976 – Patty Hearst is found guilty of the armed robbery of a San Francisco, California bank
Apple Computer Company is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
The Gong Show debuts on NBC. And the Unknown comic is born!.
Then we were somewhat unleashed on the world!
It is June 1976, We have just graduated the 8th Grade .
We are now freshman ! I can only speak for myself but that was 8 years of my life I will never get back.
The first days of Highschool were scary I admit but once settled in, things all came together for me.
( with a little help from friends, I.E. my brother in law at the time. he know people who knew people in turn I was given a job with the town and so on.)
Next. Finding myself in High school.
Only Eddie Aversa is not planning to go to North Bergen Highschool. He has planns to go to St Joe's
The rest of us are heading out to the public school system. We are right now thinking about being the class of '76
I myself couldnt wait to move on. Most of the class was just looking to cut loose. The guys started growing their hair longer which was against the rules in a Catholic Grammer school but no body cared. We just wanted out.
Things that happend in 1976,
January 1976
Gerald Ford's would-be assassin, Sara Jane Moore, is sentenced to life in prison
The first commercial service Concorde flight took off
1976 Winter Olympics open in Innsbruck, Austria
Darryl Sittler sets NHL record with ten points in one game
Fleetwood Mac records Rumours, which will be a blockbuster album in 1977
1976 – Patty Hearst is found guilty of the armed robbery of a San Francisco, California bank
Apple Computer Company is formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
The Gong Show debuts on NBC. And the Unknown comic is born!.
Then we were somewhat unleashed on the world!
It is June 1976, We have just graduated the 8th Grade .
We are now freshman ! I can only speak for myself but that was 8 years of my life I will never get back.
The first days of Highschool were scary I admit but once settled in, things all came together for me.
( with a little help from friends, I.E. my brother in law at the time. he know people who knew people in turn I was given a job with the town and so on.)
Next. Finding myself in High school.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Mom and the teacher
It is early Oct 1974 I had just walked out on the 7th grade teacher Miss Lane . She chased me for about 2 blocks before she figured she should get back to the class. I made it about 1/2 way home ,right out side of McGuires Chevy on Kennedy Blvd was where I met up with my mom. She had stated that she had a feeling that something was going on with one of her children . She was not sure what so she headed to the school. I told her what went down in the class and with that we started back to the school. Once back at the school my mom made her way to the 7th grade class room why I was taken to the principle's office. ( this is a place I will become all too familiar with in my high school days) After I received the talk from the principle it was off to the class room where all of my class mates were out in the hall. They all were telling me that my mom had confronted Miss Lane and was having a heated discussion with her about singling me out. This conversation lasted about 1/2 hour. When my mom came out of the room, she took me aside and she told me that I should not have another issue with her. I assured my mom that I did not start this and I will not provoke anything going forward.
Needless to say the truce I had with Miss Lane did not last long. The next week I found myself having my hands tied behind the backrest of the desk. This was because I ( according to the teacher) was not taking notes for my classes in the traditional manner. you see I was a doodler. This is to say that instead of writing the words the teacher was saying my notes consisted of pictures that told the story of what we were learning at the time. She was not happy and this was the way to get back at me. The funny thing was I passed all of the tests she handed me using this method. The joke was on her.
Being in a Catholic school we were always taught to help our fellow students when we could.
We were now close to making our confirmation. Again this required a test be taken about the knowledge we had learns on the subject. I had taken the test and passed. One of my classmates Billy had been out sick the prior week. He had asked me if I could help him out with the test. I gave him the test I had taken the week before. Well Billy , genius that he was decided to take the test with my test in his pocket. Not long after I was called down the principal's office.
There was Billy , The principal and The head priest of the school. They had already questioned Billy and wanted to see if our stories matched. I stated that we were taught to help out our fellow man in need. Billy needed help so........ Well the priest was so taken aback by my answer turned to Billy and me and said for us to get back to class. Turns out he could not think of anything to say. We dodged a bullet there! We have one more year before graduation and we both tried our best to straighten us and fly right.
Next the class of 1976
Needless to say the truce I had with Miss Lane did not last long. The next week I found myself having my hands tied behind the backrest of the desk. This was because I ( according to the teacher) was not taking notes for my classes in the traditional manner. you see I was a doodler. This is to say that instead of writing the words the teacher was saying my notes consisted of pictures that told the story of what we were learning at the time. She was not happy and this was the way to get back at me. The funny thing was I passed all of the tests she handed me using this method. The joke was on her.
Being in a Catholic school we were always taught to help our fellow students when we could.
We were now close to making our confirmation. Again this required a test be taken about the knowledge we had learns on the subject. I had taken the test and passed. One of my classmates Billy had been out sick the prior week. He had asked me if I could help him out with the test. I gave him the test I had taken the week before. Well Billy , genius that he was decided to take the test with my test in his pocket. Not long after I was called down the principal's office.
There was Billy , The principal and The head priest of the school. They had already questioned Billy and wanted to see if our stories matched. I stated that we were taught to help out our fellow man in need. Billy needed help so........ Well the priest was so taken aback by my answer turned to Billy and me and said for us to get back to class. Turns out he could not think of anything to say. We dodged a bullet there! We have one more year before graduation and we both tried our best to straighten us and fly right.
Next the class of 1976
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
A cancer survivor's story
As I write this story I will have survived cancer for 18 years. I was diagnosed with small bowel cancer when I was 28. Now at 47 I would like to tell my story so others see that cancer is not the end of it all. My name is Jimi, I was born October 1962 in NYC . I was the sixth child of what would turn out to be a family of seven. We were/are a close family.3 boys and 3 girls.My sister Kathy had passed away at the age of 12 just before I was born. My parents were middle class people. My father was a captian and a pilot in WWII and was working for the NYC transit company. My mom was mostly a stay at home mom.
At the age of 3 my parents moved us to North Bergen NJ. My life was just like any other. Mostly growing up with close friends in the neighborhood . Playing stickball in the school yard and wiffle ball in the street. North Bergen was a town , just like any other town . you could go and hang out with your friends and not have to worry. I attended a catholic school . St John's in Guttenburg. most of my friends attened the local public school, Lincolin school. We as kids mostly played sports most of the year round.
We played football in the streets dodeging cars every few minutes. We even played hockey in the street, this is where I suffered my first knee injury. ( someone for some unknown reason decided to enter the dead end where we were playing. I didnt see it and at full bore skated straight into the metal bumper on the front of the car. Hockey to this day is in my blood. Although with a family and now living in Arizona it is hard to find a place and time to play. Growing up in North Bergen wasnt the worst thing that could happen to me. I graduated from St John's in 1976. some of the highlights/lowlights : Oneday in 7th grade ( mind you I was a bit of a class cut up) We were in class and my teacher Miss Lane must have been having a bad day , for some reason she starting the class and really had it out for me . Her story was that I standing on the top of the desks and reciting the Gettysburg address. This was not true and as she got on my case I proceeded to tell her "where she could get off"! I then decided I had taken enough crap from her and grabbed my coat from the closet and walked right out of class. She chased me for about 2 blocks screaming for me to get back into the class room and I would have none of that.
( Next my Mom meets the teacher)
At the age of 3 my parents moved us to North Bergen NJ. My life was just like any other. Mostly growing up with close friends in the neighborhood . Playing stickball in the school yard and wiffle ball in the street. North Bergen was a town , just like any other town . you could go and hang out with your friends and not have to worry. I attended a catholic school . St John's in Guttenburg. most of my friends attened the local public school, Lincolin school. We as kids mostly played sports most of the year round.
We played football in the streets dodeging cars every few minutes. We even played hockey in the street, this is where I suffered my first knee injury. ( someone for some unknown reason decided to enter the dead end where we were playing. I didnt see it and at full bore skated straight into the metal bumper on the front of the car. Hockey to this day is in my blood. Although with a family and now living in Arizona it is hard to find a place and time to play. Growing up in North Bergen wasnt the worst thing that could happen to me. I graduated from St John's in 1976. some of the highlights/lowlights : Oneday in 7th grade ( mind you I was a bit of a class cut up) We were in class and my teacher Miss Lane must have been having a bad day , for some reason she starting the class and really had it out for me . Her story was that I standing on the top of the desks and reciting the Gettysburg address. This was not true and as she got on my case I proceeded to tell her "where she could get off"! I then decided I had taken enough crap from her and grabbed my coat from the closet and walked right out of class. She chased me for about 2 blocks screaming for me to get back into the class room and I would have none of that.
( Next my Mom meets the teacher)
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