I see the checkered flag waving as I approach the finish line with speed I never knew I possessed...I can hear the roar of the crowd as I wave in victory to acknowledge it and to show appreciation for the support...Nothing in front of me to catch, and nothing chasing trying catch me...

THE RACE IS OVER!!!

The PET Scan, taken on Wednesday August 5, as well as a kidney ultrasound taken on July 31, reveal what I thought and hopes it would:  this my friends is the Declaration of Independence, for inside of all that doctorspeak is merely this:  

THERE IS NO CANCER!!!

Words to describe this feeling are beyond reach.  Imagine, me speechless.  We faced the demon once again and backed him down.  We stared the SOB dead in the eye and not only made him blink but made him turn around and run away with his tail between his legs.  Without you, none of this, and I mean NONE, is possible.  The strength and courage that I have had to rely upon through all this is directly from the support you and all my other friends & relatives have so unselfishly given to me.  WE have won, and all of us have reason to celebrate.  Forgive me, but I've already started!!!

I've paid my dues,
Time after time.
I've done my sentence,
But committed no crime.
And bad mistakes,
I've made a few
I've had my share of sand kicked in my face -
But I've come through.

We are the champions, my friends.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end.
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers,
'Cause we are the champions of the world.

I've taken my bows,
And my curtain calls.
You brought me fame and fortune and everything that goes with it - I thank you all.
But it's been no bed of roses,
No pleasure cruise.
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race -
And I ain't gonna lose.

We are the champions, my friends.
And we'll keep on fighting till the end.
We are the champions -
We are the champions
No time for losers,
'Cause we are the champions of the world.

My sincere, heartfelt congratulations. You have faced a difficult situation with grace and dignity and those who have observed this have all emerged as better people.

Thanks, doc.  Aside from winning the battle, obviously, my objective truly was to try and show folks that the words "cancer" & "chemotherapy" are necessarily synonymous with "death".  I hope that my sharing the story helped to accomplish this.

It is the news we all have been hoping for.

especially in the face of such a formidable foe? You truly are a champion. Congratulations, Carlton. That's fantastic news.

Thanks, Joe.  I was like Walter Cronkite when Apollo 11 landed on the moon - "Wow; Oh Boy!!!  Wow!!!"

We stared it in the eye, made it blink & turn around and walk away with its tail between its legs.  I must add that we kicked it in the ass as it left.

You are one hell of a survivor!!!

S

Thank you.  Thank you all.

Great News! Good for you!

Thank you; the taste of victory, particularly after a hard-fought battle against a tough opponent, is sweet indeed.

-- Modified on 8/8/2009 5:52:59 PM