Don't hit your head :)

Rode outside yesterday for the first time since the brain work in December, remember one thing and learned another.
Pete and I took the cyclocross rides out on some nice single/double track, it was a great time. Made 99% of them and decided to cruise down a steep boulder into a rock pit that thought differently.
The stones at the bottom took me and the right hip out pretty well but my bike was not damaged, priorities here.
Later on, cruising through a field, managed to catch the front wheel in a rut. Over the bars and into the grass headfirst, slid a few feet and stood up to see stars.

Weird, stars everywhere, faded after a few and we rode home from there, fun to explain to the doc tomorrow after treatment. She mentioned something about brain being swollen from radiation treatment, easy workouts, safety, etc. at our original appt.

Regardless, it was great to be outside and I'll be doing it again next weekend, just a bit more slow/safe.
New Fisher Parogon should be in this week, Madone 6.9 for the road is coming in as well, cannot wait to get out on these!
Learned a lot from watching Pete, his smooth riding much better in many cases than the bomb through dh attitude I have.

Hair, the good old days

Going through some things yesterday, found an old photo album.
This one is pretty embarrassing but what the heck, must have thought I was Frampton back then and he still has more hair.

Bob Eazarsky on the far left, Darrin Waterbury in the middle and wise a** on the right, forget what was said to get the obnoxiuos point at the # plate and myself stunt. See Darrin occasionally, have not seen Bob in about fourteen years.

A friends dad took this photo, never heard the end of it, August 4, 1985 back when I didn't know anything (too much alice cooper "18"). This was in Guilford, CT at one of the best courses ever designed, Footeland BMX was the name, run by the Landon's and it just kicked butt!

BMX definitely helped later on when bunny hopping during cyclocross races or potholes on the road.
Still have my old race bike from the eighties, can't ride it now unless clipped in. Funny, because hopping on a picnic table when younger was not a big deal with open pedals, I must be aging.

No complaints

In an out of Grand Central everday helps one realize that there is not much to complain about. I stop for coffee often and one day accidently sat near the "yeller" as I have titled her.

She tends just to yell about bad service at the station, expense of product, on and on, it is hard to zone out when you sit next to her. SHE IS LOUD.

My poor mother found out this week when "yeller" went off about "nobody knows how to do their job" while standing directly behind her.

Life is pretty good, family, friends, racers and sponsors support and are with me through all the bs. Some people not always as lucky, I appreciate the help offered without ever having to ask.

This year, more than just the fundraising events, some good time donation will be put in also.

Met Lance

I had just walked in the door today after my radiation treatment, was tired and about to take a nap when the phone rang. A friend from the hospital called to tell me that Lance was going to be there later today to speak with patients and family.

So I hopped back on Metro North for another ride to NYC a half hour later.

Lance Armstrong did give a small speech today at Sloan Kettering and I found it very helpful. The positive attitude he carries towards fighting cancer was great to hear in person and very inspiring for all patients there to hear it.

I did the geeky thing afterwards, had him sign my '08 Gary Fisher catalog and a good friends jersey. Talked a bit about cycling, he will be racing the Trek 9.9 SSL mtn bike soon. Would liked to have talked more, but could not hold the line up any longer with bikes/racing chat. :)

He is a great guy with a positive attitude, doing the right thing and helping fight cancer.

Great week

Had a positive week during my treatment. Two of the specalists working with me are avid cyclists, leads to some interesting conversation and makes time fly.

Have not ridden since last sunday, getting used to this schedule has been a bit harder than anticipated. Think I actually may be a bit whooped from the two weeks of treatment at this point also but refuse to deal with that.

Road frame in and it will be built up in a few weeks, have a photo up in a few days, new camera on its way.

Radiation Therapy, 6 down 27 to go. :)

Here are a few photos from a radiation therapy session. The mask makes sure that no head movement occurs and helps prevent damage.
Treatment is going well just makes you a bit tired, try to sleep on the train back, then hit the computrainer when I get home.















Only 27 more sessions, then training, race season, fund raising and work can go back to full time.
New bike orders made today also, can't wait to start building them when they arrive. Gary Fisher 29er Crew is where I hope to be this season. Know all the details in a few weeks.
All I can say is that racing the Superfly this year should be a blast!

Radiation/riding again.

Treatment started on 1/18. I had been sent in the previous friday just to be fitted with a Hannibal Lecter like mask and they make the real one from that. Need the mask so your head doesn't move, don't want to radiate the wrong section.
Doctors had to take photos of that and they are pretty amusing, trying to get copies from the hospital to post.

Actual therapy is not a big deal at this point, 5 minutes of radiation beam shooting into the head at different points and then you go home. Seemed to take away a bit of appetite, so climbing well shouldn't be an issue this season. :)
This is a Monday-Friday treatment for the next six weeks and then I am finished.

Still waiting for test results from the Fish study (for 1p/19q deletion). This will give more answers on re-growth and all the other bull****.

Training is cool, just easy riding for now, lots of miles on the computrainer for the next two months. Give my head time to fit in a helmet properly.

On the real plus side I am ordering the road bikes and Fisher will be sending out the '08 bike soon also! Cannot wait to get out there and race.

Thanks for all the support.
Mike

Treatment day

Got the word from Sloan last week on treatment. I head in on wednesday to be setup for radiation therapy. It starts friday, six weeks and it's all done. They removed all tumor that could be seen and this treatment will destroy any remaining cancerous cells.

It should clear things a few years and give them time to invent an easier treatment that will beat tumors, grow back good brain. :)

Got permission to ride again, hook up the bike and computrainer tomorrow, should be fun after six weeks off.

Battenkill-Roubaix'

Registered at noontime for this one! Should be in half a** shape within four months, depends on when I am allowed back on bike.
Probably delayed bike return a bit on wednesday when I decided to easily shovel and chop the driveway ice away. Picking the shovel up and heard something go "pop" in my head. Doc told me that just pushes healing time back!

Now forcing myself to go easy and not do anything too physical or fast.

Need to be ready for race season.

Patience is a virtue I'll start working on now.

Back from Sloan Kettering

Hey everyone,

I missed the last few weeks of New England cyclocross prepping for surgery and then spent last week in NYC at Sloan getting it done.

Back home now, no complaints, only issue is no riding for at least a month and for some reason I have a headache. :)
Attached this photo from post surgery, people kept asking, so here it is.

Far as the tumor, it upgraded to a cat III which is actually a positive thing. There is more treatment available in this form than the previous, lucky to be around this day and age.

All you need to do while at the hospital is swing by the kids section, any and all complaints about yourself get tossed out the window. Children are amazing with their strength and positive attitude when it comes to all of this.

Feel I've learned more from them about survival in some ways than the doctors and hospitals.

Already planning next season, heading back out for UCI masters worlds in Pra Loup, France, no time to hang out doing nothing here.

Thank you for all the support,
Michael Patrick