International TUMORS SUCK! Day 2011

Counting all different ideas drifting away

Past and present they don’t matter

Now the future’s sorted out

Watch her moving in elliptical patterns

Think it’s not what you say

What you say is way too complicated

For a minute thought I couldn’t tell how to fall out

Phoenix, 1901, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix 2009

I tried to do my part in celebrating and spreading awareness about International TUMORS SUCK! Day on October 25th by passing out stickers to friends and faculty at my high school. Last year most of the teachers declined the opportunity to wear a sticker and support the mAss kickers of the world, probably because they disliked the use of the word “suck.” But, this year I think that the teachers recognized the fighting message within the campaign, and they came up to me and other students asking where they could get stickers! It was nice to see such a wave of support from my school – people had fun taking pictures with the stickers and some have kept the stickers on their blazers, covering my high school's official seal haha. Most high school students don’t have to stop and spend time to think about how tumors/cancer affects their lives or others; I choose to, and am lucky to be surrounded with such supportive friends and family members who agree that TUMORS SUCK! I have a pretty cool plan for a photo next year, but it’ll take about 40 people to pull off what I have in mind..stay tuned!

What is Hawktober? By Matt Cotcher

Hawktober is a brand new organization that shows some attitude while raising brain tumor awareness: Hawktober was officially formed in 2011 and features supporters wearing Mohawks every October to bring more attention to brain tumors, those diagnosed with them, and survivors.

I like to say that supporters ‘Rock da’ Hawk’, because it conveys the spirit necessary to combat such an intimidating diagnosis. Patients, survivors, family and friends are showing off Hawks in support of the movement. In our first week, Hawktober has rallied support from coast to coast and even in Australia!

Hawktober was founded by a pair of guys that have taken survivorship to a whole new level – one they like to call ‘thrivership’. Certainly we understand the importance of raising awareness; after all, my diagnosis came as a complete surprise. It required such quick action that learning about the tumor, surgery or recovery wasn’t a viable option.

One of Hawktober’s goals is to give people what is often lacking in the drama of a life-altering diagnosis – more information and a better understanding of treatment options. With all the technology and information available, Hawktober will help folks that find themselves in similar situations be better prepared.

HISTORY

One of our co-founders, Eric Galvez, has been passionate about raising brain tumor awareness since his diagnosis in 2005. In an ironic twist, Eric went from being a physical therapist to having his coworkers provide him with therapy after undergoing surgery and radiation.

After rehab, Galvez started the Tumors Suck campaign and subsequently mAss Kickers Foundation. Then one of his friends, Al Chan, suggested the idea of rockin’ hawks to promote brain tumor awareness. I met Galvez online in 2007 while researching survivorship. Then, earlier this year, Galvez shared the Hawktober backstory with me and encouraged me to run with the idea. And just like that, Hawktober is rockin’ da Hawk around the globe!

THE 2011 CAMPAIGN

At the time of this writing, "Hawktober 8^th", we’re only one week into this year’s effort. Between a rapidly growing Facebook page and an interactive website, it’s been a fun week of collecting photos of supporters Rockin’ da Hawk!

The organization is based in Austin, TX where Floyd’s 99 barbershops is supporting the effort. Each week in Hawktober, Floyd’s is featuring “Mohawk Monday” where supporters receive free Mohawks.

Beyond Austin, there are already supporters from Massachusetts to California clipping, shaving and styling their way to support family, friends and themselves in the spirit of Hawktober.

THE FUTURE OF HAWKTOBER

While I’m encouraged and overwhelmed by the amount of support Hawktober has received, I recognize we’re just getting started! Certainly, mohawks are attention-grabbers and we plan to use that to our advantage as we work to promote our goals and awareness.

Beyond fun pictures of supporters that Rock da’ Hawk, I’m always open to exploring partnerships with other related organizations. Awareness, whether it’s of brain tumors or breast cancer, is a responsibility that we all share, and Hawktober is always happy to help in the job.

In addition to promoting awareness and our patient support efforts, once we attain our 501(c)(3) status, we will target partners that research causes of brain tumors. I firmly believe that we need to direct our efforts towards finding causes in order to help find cures. With the variability (tumor type and location) of brain tumors, every ounce of support is needed and appreciated!

Matt Cotcher

Co-Founder, Hawktober

Thriving since 2007

[Guest Post] Fighting Cancer With Physical Fitness

By: David Haas

Most people are aware of the health benefits of physical activity. Exercise controls weight, fights disease, improves mood, boosts energy, promotes sleep, sparks sex life, and is often just plain fun. Despite all this, exercise -- even going for a short walk -- is usually the last thing someone with cancer wants to do, whether they have a common and very treatable cancer like skin cancer or a rare disease like mesothelioma exercise can help.

Coping with an initial cancer diagnosis -- followed by the harsh treatment of surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy -- can destroy a person’s sense of control. The physical, psychological, and emotional barriers of cancer can overwhelm patients. Cancer fitness programs aim to break the barriers for cancer survivors, giving them back a sense of control. And the research on fitness for cancer survivors is promising.

Current Research

One Canadian organization, the Alberta Heritage Foundation For Medical Research (AHFMR) has funded research on the effects of exercise on cancer survivors. Led by Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed, the study centers on patients who have completed their last cancer treatment but remain on long-term hormone therapy.

Culos-Reed’s study, which examines patients with breast and prostate cancers, focuses on the relationship between exercise and emotional factors like stress, depression, and personal control, as well as physical factors like bone density. The primary goal is to change the cancer survivors’ lifestyle and improve their quality of life.

Past Research

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), extensive studies have been conducted on the relationship between exercise and various types of cancer. Colorectal, breast, endometrial, lung, and prostate cancers are just a few examples. The research suggests that exercise has a protective effect, reducing the risk of certain cancer types. Physical activity has also been shown to positively affect metabolism, inflammation, immunity, and other factors. Generally speaking, exercise enhances a patient’s sense of overall health and well-being and improves quality of life.

Fitness Benefits

Exercise offers many of the same benefits for cancer patients as for the general population. And it does not matter whether someone is facing highly treatable skin cancer or mid-stage mesothelioma treatment. Mild or moderate activity is possible for just about anyone, and it can help patients better cope with treatment or after-care.

Along with weight and diet, physical activity is a key component of energy balance. It can greatly influence a cancer patient’s ability to fight the disease and treatment side effects. Doctor-approved fitness activities, from cancer treatment center programs to personal exercise plans, can go a long way in giving them back a sense of control and well-being.

Tribute blog - Erich Zeeb!

I've been roaming around,

I was looking down at all I see

Painted faces fill the places I can't reach

You know that I could use somebody

You know that I could use somebody

Someone like you and all you know and how you speak

Kings of Leon, Use Somebody, Only by the Night 2008

My tribute is to Erich Zeeb, a super star mAss kicker who is almost twice my age with half of my maturity ;). Erich was diagnosed with a thalamic astrocytoma on July 5, 2008 and thrived through chemo and gamma knife surgery. He has taught me to never take anything too seriously or worry about what might happen. He currently lives in Colorado Springs where he trains at the U.S. Olympic Training Center for the Modern Pentathlon (Fencing, Swimming, Equestrian Jumping, Shooting, and Running). Erich has promised me numerous times that he’ll send me tickets to watch him in London at the 2012 Olympics hehe and I’m going to hold him to it. Sometimes he calls me his inspiration, but he is the real inspiration for getting back on track to participate in the Olympic Games after treatment and kicking mAss.

A life changed for no known reason,

A plan that had to be altered because of the season;

The season of cancer,

A time for the man to let the leaves fall.

The man received chemo and gamma knife,

The improvement was alright;

The man's doctors rocked,

Unfortunately, the treatments almost cleaned his clock.

Could the man handle this season of his life?

Could the man handle why he was faced with such adversity for no reason?

Could the man accept that the nurse helped his mother pick out the hearse?

Could the man fight against the temptation to ask his mother tosmuggle a gun inside the hospital within her purse?

Autumn ended just as fast as his life tried to dial one last call.

As he went to press the button to say goodbye, someone picked up; someone better than us all.

The call was to a friend from above,

Someone who knew that this man was full of love.

As family members planned a funeral,
The man sacrificed Heaven for just one more chance at being a juvenile!
A man with a brain tumor,
A man who rallied against a stormy season of his life and inspired me to fight for a cause.

Inaugural Stupid Cancer, TUMORS SUCK! Tea Party

Stupid Cancer, TUMORS SUCK! Happy Hour 2011

Inaugural FD First Wave Camp 2011

This past week was amazing!  I had the privilege of participating in the inaugural First Descents Surf camp (First Wave) in Santa Barbara last week.  2 years ago, I participated in my first White Water Kayaking Camp in Glacier National Park, Montana.  I was hesitant to participate in another First Descents camp because I was afraid of tarnishing the memories of my first FD experience.  I was completely wrong.  New memories and adventures were created with a new group of friends in a new exciting adventure.

Before my surgery in 2005, I was just starting to get into a new hobby, surfing, in a new city with new friends.  I'd wake up early to go surfing before work, and found myself so relaxed the whole day.  A few months after I established my routine, I was diagnosed with a golf-ball sized brain tumor between the brain stem and cerebellum.  The new hobby that I was just learning to love was suddenly taken away!  Within a month I had:

1. an eight hour brain surgery,
2. an eight day visit to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit with 5 days in a medically induced coma,
3. a six week stay in the rehab unit at the hospital I used to work,
4. brain radiation treatments five days a week for eight weeks, and
5. physical, occupational, and speech therapy with my former coworkers.

Since then, my life has taken a completely new direction from the plan I had since graduating from Physical Therapy school eight  years ago.   I'm very grateful for the new direction my life is taking me, but I sometimes wonder how things might have turned out if didn't need to take this new direction.  I have surprised many people (myself included) with some of the things I have been able to accomplish.  Publishing articles/books, going on national book tours, public speaking at universities/colleges/hospitals, and starting a nonprofit organization were never in my wildest imagination.  The brain tumor hit me pretty hard, but it didn't knock me out!  (It's my turn to counter punch through MKF!)   I hate to admit it, but the brain tumor was the spark that ignited a new fire in me.  I've also learned to appreciate all the little things in life!

I still miss the old activities I use to do.  The tumor took away so much.  Surfing is one of the few things that connects me to the "old" me.  I have met so many amazing people on this journey, but the people who inspire me the most are the survivors I have met on all my travels!  Every person I've met that has attended a First Descent camp (campers, staff, and volunteers) has a unique energy about them.  It's an attitude that is hard to describe, but easy to recognize.  I have met so many amazing survivors in these camps!  I have heard so many incredible stories of triumph that it is humbling being there to witness a fellow survivor's own personal triumphs.  To see it on their faces is an incredible feeling.  I unfortunately could not paddle out to the lineup myself, but the experience of being out there has given me something to shoot for.  Just knowing the journeys my fellow campers had to endure and watching them catch their first waves was so inspiring to me.  Watching someone do something they didn't think they could do is incredible.  Seeing the smiles on their faces coming out of the water with a look of confidence reminded me of my own experiences catching my first wave.  The feeling of riding a wave is nothing short of incredible.  The speed, the freedom, the fact that you are being propelled by pure energy that no human created is pretty cool when you think about it.  It made me smirk seeing the "awe yeah, I did that" look on everyone's face as they confidently walked back to our spot on the beach. I'm still improving physically, but it's taking much longer than I expected.  I look forward to the day that to will be able to paddle out to the lineup and catch my first wave on my own.  Give me some time to figure out how to do it... I can't wait to join my new friends on a wave.  ;P

originally published on www.ericgalvezdpt.com on 9/20/11