Warning: This post is long! This is not the usual post where I dive into the emotional aspects of my experience. Rather, this is a pretty cut and dry description of my three weeks of meetings and calls to develop a treatment plan. During my 2014 recurrence, I wrote a similar (...yet less detailed) post about treatment decisions. I received a lot of messages from patients and family members of patients who found that post helpful. This is for that audience. My hope is that this very detailed explanation of my treatment meetings may shed some light on how much information is involved in informing a treatment plan. While I share a lot of detail, I want to note that this is my experience. Every individual's situation and decisions will be unique to them.
When the can doesn’t land as far as you hoped – another recurrence
Introduction: Living with brain cancer I always told people it was a matter of "When" not "If" my tumor would start growing again. It was one of the few certainties in a journey of uncertainty. During my recurrence in 2014, my tumor extended into the motor strip making a complete resection impossible. I had to …
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‘Serendipity’…a story of friendship and support
My best friend from Indonesia, Tya, wanted to learn how to use an animation program. She chose to make her first video about our serendipitous friendship, as well as raise awareness about the National Brain Tumor Society's Boston Brain Tumor Ride. Tya is helping organize a group of virtual riders who will participate in the ride …
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Past (and current) Inspiration – Patriots Super Bowl Champions…a hopeful serendipity!
11 years ago, the Patriots won the Super Bowl just two weeks before my surgery. A year into my successful recovery, the Patriots won again. 11 years later, and just a week before I begin treatment, the Patriots are Super Bowl champions...perhaps a hopeful serendipity?! Hoping the pattern continues, and that next year I am …
Past Inspiration – Sunrise over Mt. Merapi
In the craziness of figuring out all of my medical treatments, I have forgotten to post Past Inspiration photos every Thursday. This morning as the sun was rising on my way to another appointment, my mom and I passed a snowy field covered with a thick layer of fog. It reminded me of my favorite …
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Calling all riders…join “Team Jeremy” to support brain tumor research!
Calling All Bike Riders!!! For the past 10 years, the Boston Brain Tumor Bike Ride has been a way for me to give thanks for all of the support that I have received since my original diagnosis in 2004. It has also been a way for me to give back and raise funds so that …
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Medical Update 3: On Feeling Powerless, Moving Forward, and my Treatment Plan
Since my last medical update, a lot has happened in a short amount of time. I have been writing throughout the past week about what has been going on, so instead of separating it into different blog posts, I have put it all under one post with multiple sections: Part 1: Written Wednesday, January 14th …
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#lifekeepsgoing: New York Weekend!
Despite the whirlwind of medical news, I can always count on good friends to just enjoy life and have a great time. Thanks to everyone who I met up with in New York for the amazing time, and reminding me that life does keep going.
Medical Update 2: A Big Decision
It has been quite a while since my last medical update because over the past month not a lot has moved forward, until now. In this update I will try to summarize the most recent progression in my medical situation. In addition, at the end of this post, I will provide some more detailed information for my medically …
Thank You Stuart Scott
"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live" -Stuart Scott ESPYS Speech While most of you know that I am not one of the biggest followers of sports commentary, Stuart Scott's perseverance to have …