Game On

I got my scan results yesterday. I'll cut to the chase to avoid stringing you along because I'm sure you've been awaiting the news. 

It looks like I've got a bit of disease left over in my belly. This time, we're poised and ready to get rid of it for good. I wouldn't actually call this a recurrence. What I'd say is that these cells were never really gone, are quite weakened, and don't add up to much disease. 

This is good news. Although we all wish I could've been "one and done" with one very aggressive treatment plan of chemo/surgery/chemo, it's not too realistic to think that I would be completely done with this disease given how freakin' much of it was in my body about a year ago. Think about it like a cheeseburger (ironic example from this vegan) -- you know when you take the burger out of the wrapper and there are still little cheese remnants stuck to the packaging (ahhh, I used to love those)? You've basically got the whole burger in your hand (and eventually down your gullet), but there are still some remnants of it hanging around the wrapper.

That's exactly how I'm conceptualizing this sprinkling of "the cancer." There isn't a lot of it, and what is there is not the kind of "supercharged" cancer you'd expect. The PET scan results show that this disease is confused, weak, and moving much, much slower than strong, "healthy" cancer cells would be moving. Dr. Lenz actually said this fact was "astonishing." I give all the credit for this achievement -- basically stopping a once-aggressive form of cancer in its tracks without any chemo for months -- to my diet and fitness regimen. I am strong, fit, and filling my body with only the best, most nutritious foods and supplements. 

My new chemo cocktail is called FOLFIRI, and I start on Monday. It's almost like the first day of school (where did I put my old school Trapper Keeper?), and I'm just as excited for it. As long as chemo goes well and keeps these foolish, masochistic cancer cells in check (which it will), I'll spend some quality time with Sugarbaker in early January. After he does his thing, I'll check back in at Norris and get enough FOLFIRI to send this cancer packing for good.

So how am I doing with all of this? I've gotten this question a lot in the under 24 hours since I've learned about my new battle with cancer. 

I'm doing great. Honestly. I'm excited to start treatment and to finally squash this punk. I'm totally healed from February's surgery, I'm coming off a solid break from chemo, and I've got a smidgen of disease in there especially compared to what used to be in my belly. I'm amped about helping other patients get through their treatment while I get through mine, and I think this will only help the advocacy work I plan to do with The WunderGlo Foundation. I'm going to stay put at O'Melveny and I can't wait to continue doing my job while chemo does its job. 

I've been told that I've inspired people and I know I do. I know that my family, friends, and colleagues -- the people I love the most -- have been and are the most profoundly affected and inspired by what I've done over the last year. It's an incredible gift, being able to inspire my loved ones and having the ability to deeply enrich their lives. This new battle will give me the opportunity to do even more for the people I hold so dear -- to remind them about the important things in life, to make them laugh and cry, to help them live their lives in super-HD. Obviously, battling cancer is a physical and emotional struggle. But this single reward of helping my loved ones had made and will continue to make the journey so incredibly worth it.

I am resolute and ready to do this, standing hand in hand with Dr. Lenz, Dr. Sugarbaker, Will, my parents, my family and friends, O'Melveny, Duke, Stanford Law, and all of you, dear readers. I promise to you and to me that we will prevail. 

This time around, we know exactly what we're dealing with and exactly what needs to be done. This time around, I'm stronger, smarter, and healthier. 

This time around, cancer is the underdog - not me.