Aloha Friends!
Mojo, my Avastin infusions. I hope I am one of the patients that enjoys hearing from their doctor that the MRI indicates the tumor is shrinking and our current therapy appears to be effective.
Yesterday my folks and I saw the movie "Milk" with Sean Penn. I highly recommend the film.
Peace and Love,
Jack Burton
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, December 15, 2008
Shoes, Picking up George Bush and walking the dogs, Struggling with insurance to get treatment
Aloha!
Throwing shoes at a person in the Middle East is a great insult and signifies the target is lower than dirt. I suppose throwing a yellow, Caterpillar Back Hoe at a target would signify the target is lower than dirt and do very real injury to the target.
On my walk today with Mojo and Salena I had a typical monologue with my two beautiful, German Shepherd Dogs. "Hurry up, go potty, good dogs. We get to breathe the fresh clean air together one more day, together, good dogs. How lucky are we to experience icy rain together this morning. Good Boy, Mojo! Way to make a big, steamy. Let me get my doggie poopy bag and pick up poopy. Boy,. Is "the decider" ever stinky, good girl? Best I clean up this mess, good dogs before us three or America is linked to King George and the stink stays on us even after 15 seconds of vigorous hand washing. Let's clean up the poop good dogs.
I have been struggling with my insurance company to get cancer treatment. I am in an HMO type program and not all providers take the insurance so I need to jump through burning hoops soaked in gasoline trying to get providers "pre-certified" so treatment is paid for. It is not like we are developing new technology, building the new technology, and testing the new technology, in order to get humans to the moon by the end of the decade, I am just trying to get health care paid for.
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
Throwing shoes at a person in the Middle East is a great insult and signifies the target is lower than dirt. I suppose throwing a yellow, Caterpillar Back Hoe at a target would signify the target is lower than dirt and do very real injury to the target.
On my walk today with Mojo and Salena I had a typical monologue with my two beautiful, German Shepherd Dogs. "Hurry up, go potty, good dogs. We get to breathe the fresh clean air together one more day, together, good dogs. How lucky are we to experience icy rain together this morning. Good Boy, Mojo! Way to make a big, steamy. Let me get my doggie poopy bag and pick up poopy. Boy,. Is "the decider" ever stinky, good girl? Best I clean up this mess, good dogs before us three or America is linked to King George and the stink stays on us even after 15 seconds of vigorous hand washing. Let's clean up the poop good dogs.
I have been struggling with my insurance company to get cancer treatment. I am in an HMO type program and not all providers take the insurance so I need to jump through burning hoops soaked in gasoline trying to get providers "pre-certified" so treatment is paid for. It is not like we are developing new technology, building the new technology, and testing the new technology, in order to get humans to the moon by the end of the decade, I am just trying to get health care paid for.
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Brundle Fly Hairs Be Gone!, Supreme Court/Fifth Amendment
Aloha,
I had a good visit with my University of California, San Francisco Medical Center docs and nurses on Friday. The 30 or so sutures were removed from the right side of my scalp. It hurt a little. Not as much as a very, very, very, long mountain bike ride but it was not as fun getting the sutures removed but it was fun. Yeah! I get to have sutures removed and practice, long, even, relaxing breathing while a stranger removes sticky, crusty, thick sutures from my scalp! How lucky am I!
I will be starting a new intravenous treatment probably next week. It is a combination of Avastin and CPT-11. The side effects can be severe but then again, Avastin and CPT11 have not met me before. I am optimistic and I am looking forward to getting on my bicycle and whooping up on some cancer and side effects.
Well, you probably read the news about the U.S. Supreme Court reviewing the Bush Administration decision to hold "persons" indefinitely without accusation or trial in violation of the 5Th Amendment, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-scotus-terror6-2008dec06,0,2479002.story. That George W. Coward Bush sure knows how to create more bad guys faster than we can kill the bad guys, http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment05/ .
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
I had a good visit with my University of California, San Francisco Medical Center docs and nurses on Friday. The 30 or so sutures were removed from the right side of my scalp. It hurt a little. Not as much as a very, very, very, long mountain bike ride but it was not as fun getting the sutures removed but it was fun. Yeah! I get to have sutures removed and practice, long, even, relaxing breathing while a stranger removes sticky, crusty, thick sutures from my scalp! How lucky am I!
I will be starting a new intravenous treatment probably next week. It is a combination of Avastin and CPT-11. The side effects can be severe but then again, Avastin and CPT11 have not met me before. I am optimistic and I am looking forward to getting on my bicycle and whooping up on some cancer and side effects.
Well, you probably read the news about the U.S. Supreme Court reviewing the Bush Administration decision to hold "persons" indefinitely without accusation or trial in violation of the 5Th Amendment, http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-scotus-terror6-2008dec06,0,2479002.story. That George W. Coward Bush sure knows how to create more bad guys faster than we can kill the bad guys, http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment05/ .
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!, Appointment, Brundle Fly Hairs, Dogs Dogs Dogs
Happy Thanksgiving!
My follow up appointment with my doctors is not until December 5 and we will find out the recommended treatment at that time. I will als get the "Brundle Fly Hairs" removed from the right side of my head at that time. I have not exhaustively counted them but I have counted twenty seven stitches.
Every day I walk my dogs I tell them audibly how lucky are we to breathe the crisp, autumn air together for one more breath and perhaps we get to pal out togetherfor an entire day. How lucky am I and my dogs (Mojo 11 years old) and Salena (13 years old) to be enjoying the moments we have left together. Attitude is very helpful especially when saying, "I get to pick up Mojo's poop again today! I am so lucky. Good boy Mojo. Good poopie boy!". "Come on boy, let's walk. Power it up!"
Happy Thanksgiving,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
My follow up appointment with my doctors is not until December 5 and we will find out the recommended treatment at that time. I will als get the "Brundle Fly Hairs" removed from the right side of my head at that time. I have not exhaustively counted them but I have counted twenty seven stitches.
Every day I walk my dogs I tell them audibly how lucky are we to breathe the crisp, autumn air together for one more breath and perhaps we get to pal out togetherfor an entire day. How lucky am I and my dogs (Mojo 11 years old) and Salena (13 years old) to be enjoying the moments we have left together. Attitude is very helpful especially when saying, "I get to pick up Mojo's poop again today! I am so lucky. Good boy Mojo. Good poopie boy!". "Come on boy, let's walk. Power it up!"
Happy Thanksgiving,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
Monday, November 24, 2008
Movie Review, Joy, Update, Dogs, Edward zipper head
Aloha,
I would like to give you all a reason to click on this site. I know I make fighting cancer look as exciting as watching grass grow but your support helps me in this fight.
I watched the movie "Bucket List" with Jack Nickolson and Morgan Freeman with my folks' the other night. The movie deals with some mature topics so I recommend the movie to adults and advise parents to do their parenting and see if the movie is appropriate for your child.
The movie touches on some big questions we answer in life. One of the pearls I took away is, "Have I experienced joy in this life and have I helped others experience joy." My answer is a resounding, "Yes!".
I feel joy walking my dogs to go potty every day. I have a little trick I use on myself for the mundane daily task. I tell myself, "I get to walk my dogs in the sun, one more day, and I get to pick up their potty. How lucky am I? My dogs turn 13 and 11 years old in February and March respectively. I have been fortunate to have learned and retained some very good, dog training, dog care, dog medicine, advice from breeders and dog trainers that I still use. Mojo and Salena and I will work on some of our distance commands like "down stay" and "sit stay" today. German Shepherd Dogs are smart and periodic reminders make them feel good and make these important, life saving, commands reliable.
I need to follow up with my neuro-onclologist before being released back to work. We will be starting a new treatment, that may include poison, (chemo-therapy). I should get the final pathology early this week.
My goal is to keep my body going long enough to help find the cure to this mystery that is Glioblastoma Multiforme (most malignant form of primary brain cancer). I believe we can find a cure. I am reaching for the effortlessness in the effort. I am living strong and believe satisfaction lies in the effort.
I find it funny how one's life can change very quickly. I feel like "Edward Zipper Head" which is a play on the Johnnie Depp movie, "Edward Scissors Hands". I feel good and maybe by living a relatively healthy life style it has helped with the cancer treatments. I get some comfort believing that to be true. I have not been on the bicycle yet but Mojo and I have done a mile plus long walk at a gentle pace. I figure I have my whole life to get in shape for the next Livestrong bike ride which may be this June for me in Seattle, Washington or in San Jose, California. I would like to head out to Austin as well and visit my good friend, Dave McKnight who was so gracious to put me up in his home with his wonderful family, near Austin.
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
I would like to give you all a reason to click on this site. I know I make fighting cancer look as exciting as watching grass grow but your support helps me in this fight.
I watched the movie "Bucket List" with Jack Nickolson and Morgan Freeman with my folks' the other night. The movie deals with some mature topics so I recommend the movie to adults and advise parents to do their parenting and see if the movie is appropriate for your child.
The movie touches on some big questions we answer in life. One of the pearls I took away is, "Have I experienced joy in this life and have I helped others experience joy." My answer is a resounding, "Yes!".
I feel joy walking my dogs to go potty every day. I have a little trick I use on myself for the mundane daily task. I tell myself, "I get to walk my dogs in the sun, one more day, and I get to pick up their potty. How lucky am I? My dogs turn 13 and 11 years old in February and March respectively. I have been fortunate to have learned and retained some very good, dog training, dog care, dog medicine, advice from breeders and dog trainers that I still use. Mojo and Salena and I will work on some of our distance commands like "down stay" and "sit stay" today. German Shepherd Dogs are smart and periodic reminders make them feel good and make these important, life saving, commands reliable.
I need to follow up with my neuro-onclologist before being released back to work. We will be starting a new treatment, that may include poison, (chemo-therapy). I should get the final pathology early this week.
My goal is to keep my body going long enough to help find the cure to this mystery that is Glioblastoma Multiforme (most malignant form of primary brain cancer). I believe we can find a cure. I am reaching for the effortlessness in the effort. I am living strong and believe satisfaction lies in the effort.
I find it funny how one's life can change very quickly. I feel like "Edward Zipper Head" which is a play on the Johnnie Depp movie, "Edward Scissors Hands". I feel good and maybe by living a relatively healthy life style it has helped with the cancer treatments. I get some comfort believing that to be true. I have not been on the bicycle yet but Mojo and I have done a mile plus long walk at a gentle pace. I figure I have my whole life to get in shape for the next Livestrong bike ride which may be this June for me in Seattle, Washington or in San Jose, California. I would like to head out to Austin as well and visit my good friend, Dave McKnight who was so gracious to put me up in his home with his wonderful family, near Austin.
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
It is great to be home!, The Emperor's clothes, Little things, Final Pathology next week, Partying with Einstein, More Later this week
Aloha!
I was released from the hospital yesterday and went to a good friend's home in Danville, California with my father. We had some excitement as my clothes were lost for several hours. As we were pulling away from Walgreens down the block from the hospital with my brown bag, prescribed drugs, we received a call that my excellent boots, jeans, tie died socks, black leather belt, and shirt had been found! I was stoked!
I had a wonderful surgery and both my neuro-surgeon and neuro-oncologist were beaming and glowing with how well I seem to be healing and fighting this cancerous beasty. The little things are important to me like making my health care workers feel good about their important jobs and having my own clothes.
We should get some final pathology results early next week and I will share. Now this cancer has not been "cured" but maybe I will help unlock the puzzle. I hope we can unlock the puzzle next week but a realistic scenario is for me to keep on tapping into the goodness around me, practicing staying mentally, physically, and spiritually fit, and journeying into the unknown giving my healthcare professionals time to work with all the data and variables.
If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? Albert Einstein
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. Albert Einstein
I will write later about my most excellent hospital experience later. I am taking it easy and actively, relaxing my brain. It is good to be in Nevada City with my folks and dogs who were well taken care of while I was fighting cancer in the hospital. I may write a little story about whow the fight is going using allegory and military tactics to describe how I see the battle unfolding. Livestrong! Thank you for the support! It means very much for me and gives me power for the fight!
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
I was released from the hospital yesterday and went to a good friend's home in Danville, California with my father. We had some excitement as my clothes were lost for several hours. As we were pulling away from Walgreens down the block from the hospital with my brown bag, prescribed drugs, we received a call that my excellent boots, jeans, tie died socks, black leather belt, and shirt had been found! I was stoked!
I had a wonderful surgery and both my neuro-surgeon and neuro-oncologist were beaming and glowing with how well I seem to be healing and fighting this cancerous beasty. The little things are important to me like making my health care workers feel good about their important jobs and having my own clothes.
We should get some final pathology results early next week and I will share. Now this cancer has not been "cured" but maybe I will help unlock the puzzle. I hope we can unlock the puzzle next week but a realistic scenario is for me to keep on tapping into the goodness around me, practicing staying mentally, physically, and spiritually fit, and journeying into the unknown giving my healthcare professionals time to work with all the data and variables.
If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? Albert Einstein
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. Albert Einstein
I will write later about my most excellent hospital experience later. I am taking it easy and actively, relaxing my brain. It is good to be in Nevada City with my folks and dogs who were well taken care of while I was fighting cancer in the hospital. I may write a little story about whow the fight is going using allegory and military tactics to describe how I see the battle unfolding. Livestrong! Thank you for the support! It means very much for me and gives me power for the fight!
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
Friday, November 14, 2008
The art of slow
Aloha!
I am ready! Livestrong!
I enjoyed practicing the art of slow this morning. I gathered post surgery stuff like drugs, pictures, and stuffed animals, Tibetan hope beads, and books. I also filled out an advanced directive and specified all my pieces and parts are well used and have no warranty with them either explicit or implicit. I can get annoyed at tedium but I practiced enjoying putting the little doo-dads together this morning.
Well, I have surgery scheduled at 11 AM Pacific Time and will sign off for now. I will try to get a hold of a laptop after surgery and update people of my conditions. Morphine! I may have a fun post.
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
I am ready! Livestrong!
I enjoyed practicing the art of slow this morning. I gathered post surgery stuff like drugs, pictures, and stuffed animals, Tibetan hope beads, and books. I also filled out an advanced directive and specified all my pieces and parts are well used and have no warranty with them either explicit or implicit. I can get annoyed at tedium but I practiced enjoying putting the little doo-dads together this morning.
Well, I have surgery scheduled at 11 AM Pacific Time and will sign off for now. I will try to get a hold of a laptop after surgery and update people of my conditions. Morphine! I may have a fun post.
Peace and Love,
Jack "The Comet" Burton
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