I am a caner warrior - again. These pages are my journey - an my attempt to help. I have been fighting cancer for fifteen years, and wish someone would have been there to help me when this journey began - so this is my attempt to help anyone who is walking the same path.
I am currently battling colon cancer that has metastasized to my lungs. Check my "updates page" for the current news. The prognosis for this round is not so good - but who listens to those - I am an individual that is going to beat this!
Donate to the Lance Armstrong Foundation
I Have Cancer - What Now? ; Fighting through the first days!
Twice before I have dealt with this. In 1990 I had testicular cancer. It was found early, and after surgery and radiation, I was cleared of the disease. It is the same cancer that Mark Hammill (the skater) and Lance Armstrong (bicyclists) were diagnosed with.
During the summer of 2002, round two began, when a tumor was found in my colon. The tumor has been removed, things look fair, as the tumor had entered the lymph nodes (Stage III or Dukes 2C). Prognosis is around 65% for survival.
Early detection played such important part in my survival in 1990, and had things been a little earlier this time, things would be a lot easier (chemotherapy started in August 2002 - finished in January 2003).
As I mentioned, the colon cancer returned in August 2004 in my lungs, and I am currently undergoing chemotherapy to get rid of it!
If you have just been diagnosed with cancer - please read my new page - I Have Cancer - What Now? ; Fighting through the first days! More tips and advice from someone who has been there for someone who has just found out they have cancer!
If you have the time, you can read "I am the Tree", dedicated to others like me who are dealing with cancer. I also believe I could not do anything of this without my loving family, and the presence of God and Jesus in my life. I write a lot, and if interested you can read those writings at Faith, Healing and God.
I also decided to add a page about my dream, what would I do with a million dollars, or find someone to sponsor such an adventure. It would be called Psalm 23; A RiCaL Retreat. A place for cancer warriors to spend a few days after they have completed treatment.
Below are a number of links to cancer awareness sites on the internet. Know what you may be facing. I will be adding new sires and information as time goes on. There are lots of websites listed on my Cancer Links Page.
I am also writing about my experiences with this disease. You can read My Journey Through Cancer (it is an ongoing work). It is not a major literary work, or anything spectacular - just one more way that I might be able to help someone else gain some knowledge. The unknown is always the worst. I have had and do have some great people who help me understand what is happening and will likely happen...
I am also have an updates page (for those who are interested) about my current treatments. Hope this helps someone (and it is proving good therapy for me as well). On the Treatment Page you can get a quick glimpse of what it is like in treatment.
I am also working on a better Links Page - which I hope to let everyone know what I think are better links and websites, and which may or may not provide information.
Anyone may contact me with questions, comments or support. I have been through this three times, and was much more prepared this second and third time (experience does help), and have recovered quickly (from surgery) due to preparation (mentally and physically). Contact me if you would like to.
God Bless All. Rich
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Links Page Faith, Healing and God My Update Page
L.A.F. Donation Page I Am The Tree Treatment Page
L.A.F. My Journey Through Cancer RiCaL Home Page
Back to the RiCaL Home Page Back to the RiCaL Wood Flutes Page
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revised 2/2/05