Back into the breach!

It is 11pm Thursday October 21, 2010 and I am 8 1/2 hours away from another stint at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I was last at Sloan August 12th, where Dr. Guido Dalbagni and his surgical team removed roughly 20% of my left kidney and eradicated my renal cell carcinoma This time, Dr. Vincent Laudone will operate a surgical robot to do laparoscopic surgery to remove my prostate gland. I, along with my surgical team are confident that this will end the prostate cancer that was detected back in July.

One can't underestimate the impact of friends, colleagues and co-workers when it comes to the mental state of cancer survivors. Friends who came to visit, colleagues who welcomed me back to work, family who recommitted their love for me, all this has been priceless. Knowing that I had to re-enter the hospital in a month, the warmth, welcome and affection recharged my determination making this re-entry a lot more tolerable.

I could name names of those who had particular positive impact on my psyche. Of course there are my two Patricias who have fulfilled my childhood dream to have a home filled with women who love me. There's Dave and Shayna who came by every other day to make sure I walked at least a mile to regain my strength. My co-worker and partner Tim Peek with his special blend of intellect and inspiration, My Boss Alex who makes me light up every time I meet with her, John and Naomi on the job who are superior team leaders led by David, who is warm and wonderful. Tiran, Finn and Jacqui who are my extended family. Talking about family, regularly hearing from the big and little sisters Bev and Geri kept me connected to my roots. Then there are all my wonderful friends on Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook. My underground tribes of Kostume Kult and Disorient gave some awesome events that made me feel so creative and alive! All this and more make me look forward to opening my eyes 13 hours from now when my surgery is scheduled to be completed.

You know, after I recovered from the renal cell operation, I felt a love and appreciation for everyone I encountered. I say "hello" to everyone who catches my eye and smile with sincerity and meaning. I look forward to chatting with Drew DiCamillo, my partner in pain who helped get me through that first round at Sloan. This operation, though less invasive, is more difficult to physically overcome. Through either evolution or divine providence, we were created almost perfectly with all of our bodily functions well laid out and engineered on a level that only godly intellect could conceive. A radical prostatectomy strongly inteferes with that order. It challenges whether my mind can muster the godly work to repair and compensate for what I am about to lose. I take solace in knowing that I am not alone. That I have all of you.So I ask, if after this procedure, if I appear a little "off" please be patient. I can assure you that after this cancer is removed, I will be better.