Why HR 3699 Is Important to Garth

I would not consider myself a political activist.  I vote in every election that I am eligible.  I think seriously about my votes and what they entail.  I don't post politically charged things on Facebook becuase that isn't the type of person that I am. 

There is a bill in the House of Representatives (HR 3699) that has special meaning to me. 

I was diagnosed with kidney cancer in November 2011.  I have undergone a successful surgery.  I am, to the best of my doctor's knowledge, cancer free right now.  You may not know that most kidney cancers don't respond to chemotherapy or radiation treatments.  We rely on two things, surgery and drugs.  The drugs that are under development have some success.  I currently don't have to take these drugs, but many kidney cancer patients do. 

HR 3699 is sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Committee member Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) – endangers our access to federally-funded research.  That's right.  You and I could spend our tax dollars funding research that becomes secret.  That's not really fair.  It is not moral.  As someone who may need to rely on things that come out of such research, I am sickened. 

I urge you to do two things. 

1) Read about this bill. 

A Link to an Article in the Scientific American

A Link to an Article on CARE2.COM

2) Please contact your representative in Congress.  I have.  If you don't know how, please go to www.congress.org and that site can help you send a letter or an email.

There are 1.5 million new cancer patients each year in the USA.  Don't let us down. 

By the Numbers - Kidney Cancer & Garth

Directly from the American Cancer Society Website:

Although many kidney cancers are found fairly early, while they are still confined to the kidney, others are found at a more advanced stage. There are a few reasons for this:

• These cancers can sometimes become quite large without causing any pain or other problems.
• Because the kidneys are deep inside the body, small kidney tumors cannot be seen or felt during a physical exam.
• There are no recommended screening tests for kidney cancer in people who are not at increased risk.

Let's narrow this down:

• About 1.6 million new cancer cases were detected in the USA in 2011.
• About 60,920 new cases of kidney cancer (37,120 in men and 23,800 in women) will occur.
• About 13,120 people (8,270 men and 4,850 women) will die from this disease.
• The average age of people when they are diagnosed is 64.
• Kidney cancer is very uncommon in people younger than age 45, and it most often occurs in people 55 and older.
• I am 42!
• Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in both men (#6) and women (#8).
• My tumor was 13cm at it's largest point.  That's over 5 inches! 
• My cancer was removed in December 2011. 
• The average growth rate for kidney cancer is less than 1cm per year. 
• Do the math!
• Kidney Cancer Risk Factors CLICK HERE

How in the heck did this happen to me??

Prayer Shawl

I received a gift of a Prayer Shawl today.  I was moved to tears.  It's warm.  It was knitted with prayers for my good health. 

It's a nice brown with three green stripes.  It fits this sick Irishman well. 

My First Shirt!

I received my first Star Wars shirt in the mail today!!

It's a classic design.  There was no return address, but I suspect I know the donor and I am deeply touched. 

I love you and thanks for your support!

Why are people donating Star Wars Shirts to me? CLICK HERE

Specialist Appt

VA Urology was able to get me in the very next day to see Dr. Timothy Bradford.  VA Urology sat me up with online registration so that I wouldn't have to waste a lot of time in the waiting room. 

I went through a similar process as with my GP.  There were samples, needles, and comments of "this could be nothing, this could be something."  I already knew the laundry list of potential causes. 

We ended the visit with a brief discussion that a CT scan was warranted. 

I sat with the scheduler, Nicole and made an appointment for the scan.  I only had to wait two days. 

Little did I know that Dr. Bradford and Nicole would become close colleagues of mine in the near future.