I have malignant salivary gland cancer

Fuck shame. Seriously. It is worthless and you don't deserve it. Do what you need to do to get through this, anything that helps you find some peace of mind.

 

Brother, you're human. Be human.

Shame hate sadness rage self-pity courage fear love loneliness and a thousand other feelings are going to pass over and under and through you.

Let them pass.

You're human. Be human.

Time redeems us all.

 

Just got back from doctor. Good news and bad news. Good news is spinal tap was clear for cancer in spinal column and brain. Bad news is full body PET scan showed it has metastasized to my hips and the spine itself. So definitely gonna need chemo, meeting oncologist on Tuesday to map plan.

Not the best news, but not the worst. Just knowing something is better than the not knowing of the last few weeks. They cant do anything about eye, but they think that tumor is benign but inoperable.

Whatever, we'll get through it.

Happy Labor Day. Going to the US Open on Sunday, afternoon session, and sitting in the first row behind the camera well/press row. Got tickets from wife’s boss. So life doesn’t completely suck. Look for me on camera. I’ll be the guy in the eye patch lol.

 

Thanks for letting us know.

 

I saw this image today, of your great-grandfather and Jack Dunn watching Babe Ruth sign his first professional contract.

Godspeed, my friend.

 

I have a copy of that photo too. Thank you

 

Hopefully you can focus on the good over the bad. All the best to you.

 

Hang in there, Boogie, your spirit is admirable and inspiring.

 

Hang in there Boogie, and wishing you the best.

In honor of your trip to the U.S. Open:

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/Rz-wQRbL8IU

 

Hoping for more good news and a great time at The Open!

 

We are pulling for you, man!

 

Well, finally have the immediate plan in place. Getting five rounds of high-dose radiation on the top of my neck/spine starting this Friday and ending next Thursday because it’s in the most dangerous area. First time they mentioned possible paralysis, so fuck.

They’re not touching the spot lower on my spine that is closer to my lungs, hoping the systemic immunotherapy of Lenvatinib I am starting Thursday will shrink that tumor and the other ones throughout my body. Besides, they wanna save the option of torching my lungs till later.

Went to ophthalmologist today about my left eye palsy and he said my eye lid being closed is a good thing, that the muscle/nerve is not degenerating, which is good because I can’t see a neuro-ophthalmologist until December bc of backlog. So once we get through the radiation and the drugs — 3 to 6 months — maybe we can operate on the eye.

So, pins to knock down, a plan in place. I shudder to think where I’d be at mentally without the support of my wife, my rock, and my daughter, only 15, and my family, friends, and folks here who have seen and heard me at my worst.

Thank you for your support and prayers. We’ll get through this. Meanwhile, gonna get back to writing fiction and the like, channel this somehow without degenerating into navel-gazing.

Boogie.

EDIT: I am so fortunate and grateful to have amazing healthcare coverage because I’m in a municipal union. The immunotherapy is like $25,000 a month or something and my co-pay is $0. The only co-pay I have to pay is $15 for the anti-nausea. I couldn’t imagine the hell people go through who aren’t as fortunate.