These photos were taken on my last day of treatment;

An X-ray usually subjects a person to about

2 rads of radiation; Each day for 6 weeks my

Brain was subjected to about 200 rads, just shy

of a lethal dose, still it did burn my scalp, I lost

my hair and who knows what else it did to me.

Nevertheless, I Thank You all at the Cancer Center

from the most sincere parts of my heart.

May 23, 2010 - It has been quite a while since I posted, I'm sorry about that, but the fatigue finally set in about the last week of my radiation and continues to plague me well after my final treatment (May14th). I am getting some energy back, but it is a slow go and I'm not sure if I need to battle the fatigue or let it run its course. My fear is that by the time the fatigue runs its course, I will not have much in the way of muscle and energy to know when it's over. Nevertheless, I'll figure it out.

As I said, my last day of radiation was May 14th. That was also the last day of this round of chemo. I get a 28 day break, then start up for 5 days, 28 off, so on and so on.

First, I want to thank all those who provided me transportation to and from the Cancer Clinic. I realize that it may not have been a lot for any of you to have made the contribution, but it really was a sacrifice no one had to make and in return it provided so much help to my family, especially Nora. To whom so much is owed. She wouldn't want me to say it like that, but it is true. Although we share our lives and agreed a long time ago that our bond was for better or worse, I don't think either of us contemplated something like Brain Cancer at age 56. And to make a bad situation even worse, the administrative nightmares involved with insurance, Social Security, Disability Payments, and even a former client that lacks the least bit of semblance of compassion, all of which has taken a toll on Nora. So, to all those who assisted in my transportation, Thank You. And, I'm not forgetting those who cooked and delivered meals to us either. I never had such a variety and such wonderfully tasting dinners. This was above and beyond the call, I Thank all of You.

Finally, there are those who sent cards, some are still coming in, and prayed for me, for my recovery, and for my family, I want to thank you. However, don't stop now, please. I will need all the help I can get and I don't care what the denomination, if any at all. When it comes down to it, prayers are silent, singular and personal, with no barriers of language , race, creed or culture. Positive energy is what I need. Thank you.

And, before I forget, thank you to the staff at the Cancer Center. You have all been fantastic. I actually began looking forward to going there for treatments. First, because I felt as though I was involved in doing something objectively and directly to fight this evil thing. But, I realized also that it was because you folks made it such a comforting and friendly place to go to, to have my brain shot with basically a lethal dose of radiation. Thank you, and a special thanks for taking the pictures for me.

So, on June 9th, I will be going to USC for the initial registration for the Clinical Trial of the NovoCure Device. Here's a good place to begin a prayer for me, since 1 in 3 will not receive the actual device, what say we pray that I'm one of the 2 that does. I will also be given an MRI on that date. This will be the first after my radiation treatment to see if it was effective, or how effective and will determine where they place the electrode sensors. Then on the 14th, since I will be one of the 2 that gets the device, I will go back down for a week during which they train me on how to shave my head, remove the device and replace it. After that, I will go back down either once a month or once every two months, I'm not clear on that part.

Unfortunately, because we don't have Universal Health Care, or as some would like to claim, Socialized Health Care, the Clinical Trial requires that all subsequent MRIs be conducted at USC. Now, my insurance, Kaiser, also requires that I receive MRIs every two months, but they will only pay for them if done at a Kaiser facility. USC won't accept the Kaiser MRIs and Kaiser won't pay for the USC MRIs. They are quite expensive. So, I might fall victim to what's known as collateral damage, in other words I might die because people in this great country of ours are so afraid of the term "Socialized" anything. In fact, as you can imagine, I have done a lot of research on the topic of Cancer in recent times, and discovered that in all likelihood we would actually have discovered a cure for Cancer if not for the likes of recalcitrant politicians and, I use the term loosely here, "citizen/patriots" such as Glenn Beck, Hannity and Rush Limbaugh. They have consistently argued against government involving itself in charities and spending the necessary funds to support research that would have undoubtedly led to a breakthrough cure. Of course, Beck earned $38 million last year; Hannity something similar and Limbaugh even more (Limbaugh, by the way, was the one who claimed he received excellent medical care in Hawaii, without realizing Hawaii has a Socialized HealthCare system). They could easily take care of themselves.

Before anyone begins to suggest that I might have brought this on myself by neglecting my health, smoking my pipe or what have you. Read up on the literature. The type of brain tumor I developed is not caused by anything but bad luck. People that don't smoke get it, people that do smoke get it; People that eat organic get it, and those that drink pesticides get it. It is simply a a cell gone bad for no other reason than shit happens. But if I can't find a way to cover the costs of the NovoCure Device, which may or may not work, and I still beat this, it will be of no help from those "super citizen patriots" who make millions from whipping up a frenzy of fear amongst those who benefit most by yelling "Socialism" every chance they get. What is wrong with socialized healthcare? What is wrong with having a cure for Cancer?

Enough of my ranting. I Will Beat This.

(Nora just proofread this for me and she says I sounded unusually angry; Well, I am. But for ignorance we could have had a cure for cancer by now; but for the fear fomented by the greedy I would be able to receive the NovoCure Treatment without stressing about funding. Why shouldn't I be angry?)