Just gloating for a minute

[rubiranch]

This is the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Salt Lake City.
A place I have been visiting since November 2011. Between treatments and volunteering I'v been here over 100 times at 400 miles round trip each visit.

I have been traveling there every other week since Jan doing volunteer work. Best job I have ever had.



​​​​​​​My daughter Andrea flew in from Medford OR on Sept 25 to help me celebrate my one year anniversary being cancer free on the 26th.



We celebrated by providing a very nice Italian lunch of two different lasagnas, garlic toast, salad and drinks.
Tiffany, the Nurse Manger of the two clinics that I have spent the most time reserved this beautiful conference room for us to serve lunch.
She also had Huntsman's catering provide chafing dishes and one young lady to help us serve a very nice lunch to over 60 doctors, nurses and staff from both clinics.

It was advanced stage IV metastatic melanoma. Metastatic meaning it has spread to other organs.

I'v had tumors in my brain, a cracked rib, pelvis, abdominal wall, the side of my head and face, a ping pong ball size tumor in my lung and one by my left kidney. I had an adrenal gland removed and last year it spread to my stomach muscles.

Making it one full year without a single re-occurrence puts me in the 5% club.

I am truly grateful for everything they have done for me.

​​​​​​​

This past Saturday I was honored by being asked to share my story at a Melanoma Patient Symposium with other doctors and patients held in an auditorium at the Huntsman Cancer Research Center.

Life is good my friends.

Be grateful for all of the good things that you have in your life.

 

[snuffy51]

Only thing I can think of to say is AMAZING.

 

[ameridaddy]

Ooo-rah!!!
Congratulations on winning your fight, and then giving back!

 

[Firesticks]

Thank you for posting. They can not operate on me so it is radiation and chemo then hope for the best. A very big congratulations to you.

 

[woodsltc]

Congrats on your 1yr milestone.......and here's wishing you many, many, more milestones in the future for you to celebrate with family and friends.

God Bless !!


Don

 

[bigwheelzip]

Congratulations for fighting the good fight. I hope your future screenings keep coming up clear.

I'm sending Andrea a prayer and a big hug for being there for you, and for the worry she carries.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Thanks for sharing your story, and a heartfelt congratulations.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I applaud you for both beating cancer and volunteering to help others.

I earned my survivor's ribbon 4 years ago. Welcome to the club.

 

[16thVACav]

Congratulations on surviving cancer, and for giving back so generously!

 

[6518John]

Congratulations!

And I want to see pictures of the lasagnas!

 

[italiansport]

Congratulations: You have truly been blessed!
Jim

 

[ancient-one]

I am a two time melanoma survivor but have not had the problems you faced. You are giving back to those who helped you and that is great. You are a good man.

 

[vonn]

Nice to hear a cancer story with a good ending! Good luck!

 

[CLASSIC12]

Congratulations, it sure takes courage to fight that disease.

I did business with the Huntsman group (in chemicals). One executive told me that Jon Huntsman's goal was to grow his company enough to reach a cap value of $ 10 billions, then sell it and find a cure for cancer. Looks like his people and clinic are doing a great job.

 

[rubiranch]

Thank you for posting. They can not operate on me so it is radiation and chemo then hope for the best. A very big congratulations to you.

I'v had 3 surgeries and 6-7 radiation treatments and 4 different types of chemo including both intravenous and oral.

Its amazing what the come out with all the time. They have made amazing strides in treatments that target specific cancers and kill them.

We never know what they will have tomorrow.

Wishing you the very best with your treatments.

 

[rubiranch]

Ooo-rah!!!
Congratulations on winning your fight, and then giving back!

Thank you. I love my volunteer job.

I try but I'll never be capable of expressing my true gratitude to soo many.

 

[rubiranch]

Congratulations for fighting the good fight. I hope your future screenings keep coming up clear.

I'm sending Andrea a prayer and a big hug for being there for you, and for the worry she carries.

Thank you soo much for thinking about my daughter.

This is the third time I'v done one of these appreciation lunches and she has come in from Medford for all three.

I have 4 daughters, 2 have jobs and the other one was out of town.

They are who I live for. And my 13 grandkids.

 

[rubiranch]

I applaud you for both beating cancer and volunteering to help others.

I earned my survivor's ribbon 4 years ago. Welcome to the club.

Thank you very much and huge congratulations to you too.

I love volunteering. I was a volunteer back in 2013-14 and then again Jan of this year.

They generally make you wait one year after your last treatment or the lose of a family member but due to a couple recommendations they grandfathered me in.

There are times when the end of the day comes I feel that I was the one who was helped the most. Its an amazing place to work.

 

[rubiranch]

And I want to see pictures of the lasagnas!

Sorry for the bad picture. This was taken March 2017 at my first appreciation luncheon.

I should have taken a couple but I spent too much time talking. LOL

My son-in-law manages an Italian Restaurant that is celebrating their 50th year in the same location.

He went in at 2:00 AM to prepare the food. He fixed both meat and veggie lasagnas.

 

[rubiranch]

I am a two time melanoma survivor but have not had the problems you faced. You are giving back to those who helped you and that is great. You are a good man.

Its been an experience for sure.

I try my best to make sure they know that they are greatly appreciated.

They have a tough job.

 

[rubiranch]

Congratulations, it sure takes courage to fight that disease.

I did business with the Huntsman group (in chemicals). One executive told me that Jon Huntsman's goal was to grow his company enough to reach a cap value of $ 10 billions, then sell it and find a cure for cancer. Looks like his people and clinic are doing a great job.

John Huntsman was an amazing person who wanted to eradicate cancer completely.

He has invested over $2.5 billion into the Huntsman Cancer Institute and left another $1 billion in a foundation to further its cause.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJEaTRPtvpE[/ame]

Here's a short video that talks about what kind of a hospital he build.

Since this video they have added another $14 million addition for the research of child cancer with plans for another huge expansion.

This is truly a remarkable place with amazing people filling the halls.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Thank you soo much for thinking about my daughter.

This is the third time I'v done one of these appreciation lunches and she has come in from Medford for all three.

I have 4 daughters, 2 have jobs and the other one was out of town.

They are who I live for. And my 13 grandkids.

The family has it the toughest.
I came to realize that during these fights with cancer, I was busy making decisions and being treated, the medical staff were busy doing what they do, but the family was helpless, worrying about me and the unknowable.

You've a wonderful family and been blessed many times over. May it always be so.

 

[ameridaddy]

Rubiranch, I surely don't want to steal your thunder or barge in on your glorious day, but I thought I'd mention that I'm 9 years cancer free as of last May, and one of the things I remember vividly is that first year clean announcement from my doctor. I felt as though I was born again, given a new life. I walked about in wonderment all day. I hope you feel that way too!

 

[rubiranch]

The family has it the toughest.
I came to realize that during these fights with cancer, I was busy making decisions and being treated, the medical staff were busy doing what they do, but the family was helpless, worrying about me and the unknowable.

You've a wonderful family and been blessed many times over. May it always be so.

I kept my girls on top of everything. I didn't want to make things worse for them but I felt that they needed to be aware of what was going on rather than keeping things from them.

They are awesome. I never dreamed I would be a lucky as I am to have them in my life.

They were behind me every decision 100%, except for the first clinical trial I signed up for. Two of them weren't too happy that I was letting them inject me with drugs to see what would happen.

I was grateful that I had been given the opportunity to possibly make someone else's life better. Not something everyone gets the chance to do. Once I explained that to them they were behind me too.

Life is good.

 

[rubiranch]

Rubiranch, I surely don't want to steal your thunder or barge in on your glorious day, but I thought I'd mention that I'm 9 years cancer free as of last May, and one of the things I remember vividly is that first year clean announcement from my doctor. I felt as though I was born again, given a new life. I walked about in wonderment all day. I hope you feel that way too!

Oh Heavens no you're not stealing my thunder - you're adding to it by letting others know that cancer's *** can be kicked.

Good on you and congratulations!!!!

I was the one who told my doctor the cancer was gone. She asked me how I knew that because she hadn't even looked at my scans yet. I told her I just knew. She looked at my scans and turned around with a huge smile on her face.

I love that woman more than she knows.

That was a big day for both of us.

 

[joeintexas]

It truly is wonderful to hear cancer success stories like yours. Congratulations on winning that battle. I am still in mine, going on 3 years chemo and radiation, could not have gone this far without family and friends support and a wonderful medical team. My hats off to you and anyone who is determined to beat that monster. Life is good. It's worth fighting for.

 

[rubiranch]

It truly is wonderful to hear cancer success stories like yours. Congratulations on winning that battle. I am still in mine, going on 3 years chemo and radiation, could not have gone this far without family and friends support and a wonderful medical team. My hats off to you and anyone who is determined to beat that monster. Life is good. It's worth fighting for.

It looks like you're winning too and that's awesome.

Gratitude and attitude goes a long way when fighting cancer.

 

[rubiranch]

I don't know how many of you have ever watched this DVD. Its about how you attract and bring good into you life.

Its not magic or a cure it just reminds you to be grateful for the good you have in your life and to stay positive.

You can buy a copy from Amazon or if you sent me your address in a private message I would be more than happy to send you a copy for free.



A few years back I received SRS, Stereotactic Radiosurgery - a direct beam radiation treatment for the tumors in my brain. They molded this mask to fit my face and bolted my head to the table so I couldn't move during the treatment. It was a fascinating experience.

Later that evening while having dinner with a gal I was dating she looked at me and asked, "why are you in such a great mood?".

I asked her why I shouldn't be in a good mood. I'm always in a good mood.

She said, "you have cancer in your brain, look at everything you are going through!"

My reply was how awesome it was what they had done for me today. It was simply an amazing experience.

She asked if I had ever seen the Secret and I said no. She told me that my attitude and being soo positive follow what the talk about. So I bought a copy and watched it. In fact I'v watched it several times.

Not all of it applies to me and some of it I question. The bottom line is there is stuff in there that has helped me to stay positive when I needed to be.

Thanks for all your kind words and support.

I don't mean to sound soupy or anything like that but I am soo grateful to be here and soo grateful for all the good I have in my life.

 

[Sevens]

Fantastic story!

 

[cherrypointmarine]

You give those of us going through tough times a hand reaching out to grab on to . About 2 months ago I went to the dermatologist , living in Florida we go every year . At 60 , I feel I have been lucky so far . This year , she found a spot on my cheek she didn't like and did a biopsy , A week later I get a phone call , it came back that it's cancer . I just finished my first 6 weeks of applying Fluorouracil to the area twice a day . I get six weeks off , then another six weeks of the stuff , then another biopsy . If you don't know what the stuff is , it basically burns the skin , leaving a wound that is pretty nasty . Anyways , it's good to hear a story like yours , it gives one hope . And it's great you're giving back . I do by taking my Aussie to the VA center as a therapy dog .