Getting Gangster on Cancer

I've just finished making the rounds here at MDA. I wasn't able to see my main oncologist today; however, I did communicate with him through his nurse and did have second-hand conversations with his nurse practitioner. I do know that he is aware of my current progress and has cleared me for the second and final dose for Round 10. I'm starting to get used to this type of distant communication with my doctor. It's not to my preference but I realize this type of informal communication is a byproduct of choosing to receive care from such a large health organization. I see it as the equivalent of health-care via corporation. I've hedged my medical bets by continuing to see my original oncologist on a regular basis for a second opinion. Perhaps it's just my bright-sided perspective, but I get the feeling he has much more of a personal interest in my case. After all, we still have a standing bet and I plan on making good on my wager very soon. Vegas here we come.

Fortunately for me, a man so far into this cancer race, my posture remains confident, my head held high, my smile contagious. I think back to the fall of 2003, a simple yet equally ambitious time in my life. It was my last semester as a student at the University of Texas and the end of a special era. I would soon be exiting my roll in academia and was very eager to assume a new roll as an IT professional in the 'real world'. More importantly, I would achieve something no other Mexican had accomplished before in my extended family, earn a degree from a higher institution. It would only be a few months before I would move back to my hometown, Houston, and start my first post-degreed job as an IT analyst and consultant for a small consulting firm.

My fellow 'gangster' and roommate decided to take a job at a local and even smaller company in Austin that he'd been interning at. We both considered ourselves lucky for landing good jobs before walking stage. Despite the stellar reputation of the McCombs School we were still feeling the effects of the so called 'dot.com bust' and both the financial and information economies had taken a severe hit. This was heavily reflected by the amount of new-hires companies were taking on at the time.

So, I'm now waiting in the chemo line, feeling pretty strong for being in the middle of the 10th consecutive round of aggressive chemotherapy. But I know I'm going to have dig deep now and find strength in new places. I am comfortable with my current strategy to remission for now, and I am even more committed to my cure. But it is not strategy I need to alter at this point in my fight. I've been in consulting too long to not know the difference between a strategic and a tactical change. In short, I have faith in my current strategy. It's time to change my tactics. It's time to have no mercy on a single cancer cell. It's time to get "Gangster" on this cancer!

Vatos Locos Forever! - We were able to buy everything for our costumes at Wal-Mart

Hook'em!!! Halloween 2003 - 2 of the brightest vatos and business school students at UT ;-)

Telling the sweet receptionist at MDA how gangster I'm about to get on my cancer today.