Cy Ball — Music

This just appeared in the ACOR.org listserv for carcinoid cancer. I am publishing it in honor of “Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day” which is tomorrow Saturday November 10. It was put together by Jeff Drifmeyer, another victim of the disease. WHAT IS CARCINOID CANCER? ‘Carcinoid’ refers to neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) that arise in cells that [...]

In the past week, two things have reminded me of how much I owe to Laurie, my wife, and how much all cancer victims owe to their caregivers. I had the good fortune to read this: Cancer and Perspective: Hindsight is 20/20 by Cameron Von St. James. His wife is a victim of mesothelioma, another [...]

Last night we returned from eight days in Scotland.  As usual, we had a fun trip. Often it was rainy and cold, but that’s what you get in Scotland in October. The first couple of days were spent in Edinburgh.  We walked the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace at the base of castle hill to [...]

My brother Larry is visiting here in Colorado.  He is from Kentucky and has visited before, but this time we have had a chance to do more touring than before. We had a wonderful ride on Tuesday to Georgetown in the mountains.  We took the narrow gauge train ride there. It has been years since [...]

Today I my oncologist about the carcinoid tumor.  There is nothing but good news at this time! The CT Scan and the blood tests all indicate that I am stable.  There is no growth in the existing tumors and no new tumors are detectable. We have decided that I will continue to come in for [...]

I just returned from 4 days camping and fishing in Wyoming.  Two friends and I camped for two nights on the North Platte River.  It was wonderful weather and the fishing was pretty good.  It was sad how low the river is because it is such a dry year. The third night we stayed in [...]

Had my quarterly CT Scan Last week. The results are good! Existing tumors are stable and no new tumors have appeared. Every 3 months, we cross our fingers and wait for the results, knowing that someday they will not be good.  It is certainly distracting. The heart procedure is still working except for the bicycling.  [...]

This morning, I had a procedure known as a “cardioversion“. This is a procedure in which the doctor shocks the heart much like you see on TV except that, in a cardioversion the purpose is to make the heartbeat get back into rhythm. At this time, it appears to be a success.  The atrial fibrillation [...]

I just received news from the cardiologist’s office that the pumping function of my heart is fine according to the echocardiogram.  Well within their parameters. Also, the Nuclear Stress Test indicates that there are no blockages in the veins and arteries. As I told you in Cardiac Stress Tests, they were concerned with my heart’s [...]

We met with the cardiac specialist today.  He is actually a specialist in Cardiac Electrophysiology.  In essence, there are a number of options for my treatment.  A pacemaker is actually about last on the list. This is not what the original cardiologist led me to believe: “Walk Don’t Bike” The list includes several other possibilities [...]