Game.Set.Match.

This is my last post folks unless I get more cancer in the future, but that's not happening. I went in for a colonoscopy a few weeks ago and the results were negative for any other cancer in my intestines. Now granted the tumor I had was at the end of that tract right before daylight, if I may be so bold, so I didn't expect the doctor to find anything. He didn't. He said there was a small polyp, but it wasn't cancerous and he said "See ya in 3 years!" So with that news I think it's a good time to close the book on this journey of mine through the treatment, surgery and recovery. My wife was totally supportive. She is one hell of a woman. My Mom was totally there for me too. She even created the undercover for me to wear! I still wear it! I am feeling pretty damn good too by the way! Guess I had a good team working on me there at Integris Medical Center! My surgeon Dr. John Carrey was the shit! He was a nice guy, good disposition. I was cracking jokes through the whole process with him and he talked straight with me. I think that helped alot. My oncologist, Dr. Janbay jumped right on the tumor when it was found and prescribed a treatment plan that worked! I was lucky though. Now granted my attitude probably helped a little, but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those two. So even though they will never see this blog I want to give them a big THANKS!! I should thank their parents for putting them through school! I am back playing guitar too! Just had my first show with BLACK JUNE REVIVAL the other night. Man it felt soooo good to be up on a stage tearing it up! It had been well over a year since I had played for people and it was badass! Everytime I felt myself standing still too long I would remember what I went through and it would motivate me that much more! Getting close to cashing that final life check can do that for ya! Need motivation? Get cancer people! it will change the way you look at life. For real. So I bid all of you a bittersweet farewell! Thanks for keeping up with my ramblings! if you have any questions, know anyone going through this shit and need someone that "keeps it real" to talk to hook them up with this blog and have them get in touch with me! My email is garyleebecker@yahoo.com. Find me at facebook too under the same name if you need to! That's all folks! i am outta here! Take care! Asta la vista Baby! Ciao! Adios! And don't forget my mantra....say it with me...FUCK YOU CANCER! Peace!

Hows it going folks?

Good afternoon everyone! The scope of my stomach showed nothing but acid reflux!I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be a big deal anyways. So there ya go! I have also completely become one with my colostomy bag. I am pretty used to it now. I still haven't gotten on a regular eating schedule though so my "movements" come when they want. There are some people with colostomys that irrigate their bowels every morning and just wear a little cap over their stome for the rest of the day, but it takes something like 45 minutes to do the whole process. I don't have that time in the morning so I just do my thing and let my body do its business as it seems necessary! Because when the poop wants to come it just does! I am not going to alter my schedule for this stuff! I have already done PLENTY of altering! My eating habits will remain the same. Now granted I don't want diarrhea of any kind while I have this bag so I will avoid anything that might lead me down that dirt road! Jaurita and I are doing great! She really earned some points with me this past year. I guess I will keep her! Now I still work 9-5 at Mini Ha Ha Bingo, but going through cancer treatment has me seriously rethinking just where I want to spend my work hours for the rest of my life. I have played guitar in a rock band. I have all the memories of that adventure! Good times! Poor as hell, but good times! Now I like the money from my job, but it's not fulfilling in any REAL way ya know? I am surrounded by alot of customers who are negative and bitter and after what I have been through I just don't get them at all! Life is short and working there is not the most positive experience on a daily basis so something has got to change! I just am not too clear on what that is exactly yet! But I am looking around and seeing what my options are! Winning the lottery is always a possibility! Then we could see some of this big old world before I make my exit, stage left! Remember when I got my port replaced? Well last Thursday my oncologist suggested we just get it taken out on April 22nd! Yeah I can have my chest back! Now Jay can snuggle on me withought a big old lump of metal poking her head! Let ya know how that surgery goes in a couple of weeks!

New Port ...no not the cigarette!

What's up guys and girls? Just checking in and updating you on the latest news from around my globe! I got a new port put in this afternoon. Seems the old one sprung a leak! Niiiice! Hopefully the chemo that may have leaked out will work its magic in my chest to ensure that I never get breast cancer! I found out that my port was made in Mexico.....really?!?.....Mexico?....Do I want to know what the factory looks like and what they're paying them to make equipment that's going into my body to save my life?..at least it wasn't Taiwan! Nothing against my Mexican OR Taiwanese brethren, but a "Made in the U.S.A." or a Rolex insignia would've been a little more comforting!
The chest is a little bit sore. They were able to place it in the same spot. I didnt know until I got there, but there was a chance that they would implant it on the opposite side! Great dueling scars! Get me naked and it looks like I've been in a knife fight already! : ) Chicks dig scars and everything sure, but I didn't want anymore added to my collection ya know?
Here's some interesting news on the UNDERCOVER DESIGNS company my Mom started up. She has booked us a booth at an Ostomy Convention in Reno, Nevada in August. Looks like she means business! You can't stop my Mom when she has an idea about something! Here's the story for those that don't know.....After returning home from my cancer surgery last August I was stuck sleeping on my back. ONLY on my back. No sides. No spooning with the wife. Nothing but flat on my back to the point that my heels would go numb from time to time if I didn't move them around! It was a small torture that I had no choice but to endure.
In the mornings when I would get up that damn colostomy bag would swing on my side like a monkey from a chandelier! I am not kidding! If there was any waste in it from the time I was sleeping you could feel the tug on your skin from the weight of the bag. It felt kinda gross! I knew it was necessary, but what could be done about this? My Mom heard my complaints. I was probably just acting like a little boy who was whining to his Mother, but she heard through that and started to go to work on her sewing machine designing the first of several prototypes of a cover to wear around my waist. She'd send one fed ex, I would wear it and give her the pros and cons. She'd re-design it and the process would repeat itself. She was unstoppable! She was doing all of this for me! It's a great example of a Mothers love for her child . She was even out here when I was initially diagnosed so she's been through it with me on a few levels people.
One day she had an epiphany that maybe all of this can be of some good. Life hands you lemons, you make lemonade ....kinda philosophy I guess. So now we are going to bring this cover to the masses with no asses! That last lined just spilled out of me! Pure genius! Damn! I should be writing for a sitcom I am so quick-witted! Anyways, back to the business of UNDERCOVER DESIGNS. I am heading out in the next few weeks to do some footwork. Going to knock on some doors and make some apointments to try and see if there is a market for this product. I wear it almost all of the time and I swear by it! It keeps everything close to my skin. I can wear a tight tshirt and you couldn't even tell I was sporting a bag of poop on my hip! I think it's pure genius on my Moms part! Guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree!
I have my stomach scoped tomorrow for signs of cancer. I think the bad port just released chemo in my body and thats why the scan looked funny, but we shall see. No worries folks! If it is cancer it's early, early ,early stage. Again no worries! Another post tomorrow to tell ya how the scope went. Good or bad tune in tomorrow!! Love a good cliff hanger! : )

It is time to get the ball rolling!

Been another minute since I have posted! Thought I would let everyone enjoy the Holiday Season with their families and stuff! Really though I just haven't had much going on to really post about! Sure, life has been going on as usual, but nothing really related to the cancer, ostomy, etc.. Then I went in for my latest PETscan and guess what? New stuff to talk about! lol! Sickness is a motivator of sorts I guess!Pelvic area is fine. Head and chest are fine, but the docs are telling me that there is, and I quote, "increased activity in the fundus and proximal body of the stomach, with maximum SUV of 7.3" In English please?! lol! First I have a small tennis ball sized tumor in my ass and now I have a Range Rover in my stomach causing earthquakes?!? What the hell is SUV? Bottom line is that they want to throw another camera into another orifice and check things out. Last time they did that the reviews weren't too good! Siskel and Ebert gave my ass 2 thumbs down when they saw it! Hopefully the stomach isn't going the same way! I say screw it, attach the bag to the side of my throat and the food will go straight from mouth to bag! Cut out the middle men in the equation! Their slacking on the job it seems anyways!Maybe because I worked them to death over the last 20 years! Being on the road sure didn't make for the perfect diet of wholesome goodness! Oh well. The scope is on March 14th. I'll keep you updated! New news on The UNDERCOVER business my Mom has started up! I use her covers practically everyday and it looks as though we are on our way to mass producing them for the ostomy public! It is sort of like a thin, cumberbund (is that spelled right?) that holds your bag close to your body. It just makes me feel better knowing it's staying in one place and not bouncing around! I can wear dress shirts tucked in if I want. Because to be honest, and you ALL know I am blatantly honest, I thought I was doomed to a wardrobe of X large t-shirts for the rest of my life! Well that is not the case! With the "undercover" I can wear whatever I want, whenever I want. My Mom kicks serious ass folks! What other person would go and design something from scratch to help their child? She's a hell of a lady. Love you Mom! See you at the convention in August, if not before! Talk to you guys later! I have a foundation guy coming over in a few minutes to take a look at my house. The ass is slipping on my abode as well I guess!