Pouring the Foundation

I’ve been slowly laying the bricks for what will become the next chapter in my life. As many folks know, I’ve been working very closely with the cancer community for many years. And my plan is to do even more in the coming months and next year. I’ve recently acquired a couple of additional certifications which will allow me to connect with patients on a more personal level. Stay tuned for some more cool things coming. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from patients out there. What would you like to see in the exercise world? What do you need? What’s lacking? What would motivate you to get moving?

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ACS HEALED & West Chester U

I recently appeared on a webinar discussing exercise and cancer. This was a collaboration beteen The American Cancer Society and West Chester University. The entire segment is 30 minutes long and I come in at 9:35.

Click HERE to watch!!

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Movement Sports Magazine is BACK

Many of you know that for years I wrote for a multisport publication called Liberty Sports Magazine, which later evolved into Movement Sports Magazine. Movement Sports fell onto some tough times and needed to take a little break but I’m happy to report that we are putting the band back together as the new Movement Sports. Expect a soft launch in the coming weeks! Stay tuned!

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Interview with Pat Croce & ACS

I recently did another brief inspirational video with Pat Croce for the American Cancer Society’s HEALED initiative. You can check it out HERE!

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Cancer Exercise Specialist Certification

I committed to doing a thing. Many people know that for the last 16 years I have been volunteering to mentor and consult cancer patients on a variety of topics including fitness and exercise. And this is something I will continue to do. To add further value to this, I enrolled in a Cancer Exercise Specialist certification program which is conducted by the Cancer Exercise Training Institute, in partnership with the American Council on Exercise. I’m looking forward to gaining some valuable knowledge which will only help both me, and the patients I engage with. Stay tuned for more!

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ACS DetermiNation

Greetings!! I am most stoked to let ya’ll know that I am going to be lending my energy, motivation, and expertise to the American Cancer Society’s DetermiNation program. This is a program that offers training and support for people to participate in running and cycling events while raising valuable funds and awareness for their mission. I had a great call with their leadership team and am looking forward to adding value wherever I can. Check then out HERE.

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Happy Diagnosaversary

5CD483D0-FB12-4266-BFB3-B6D760260E8BWell here we are again… another February 24th. On this day in 2006 my wife and I sat in the office of an oncologist we had just met as we tried to wrap our heads around the diagnosis he had given me: chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This is the one date that is imprinted on my brain more so than any other disease related date. More than my remissiondates. More than my relapse dates. My initial diagnosis date of February 24th, 2006 will never be forgotten.
But I’m not here to dwell on anything negative and I’ll be brief. I bring this up simply to acknowledge its relevance in our lives and to stand tall knowing that I continue to fight the good fight and I continue to win. 11 years of living with a chronic cancer has taught me a lot. It’s taught me a lot about myself, about disease and drugs. It’s taught me a lot of about life and how it is in a constant state of change and movement. Nothing ever sits still. It ebbs and flows. You’re on top of the world one minute and then you may bottom out the next. It stinks, and then it’s awesome again. A giant pendulum constantly swings back and forth and brings us all along for the ride. Understanding and accepting that as a universal truth is ¾ of the battle. The ability to savor the highs and buckle up for the lows is the key to a peaceful existence,
But I’ve also learned that with the right perspective and mindset you usually end up on top. And if lived with an open heart and an open mind, this life is pretty stinking unconditionally awesome – without question. I never rolled over with this disease. I figured out ways that I could make this disease work for me and not against me. And while it is a “disease” and it is a vicious adversary, I think I’ve done a pretty good job of finding silver linings and making it count for something. I think I’ve found ways and reasons to turn my relationship with the adversary into something positive.
To everyone who has touched my heart along the way of this journey, thank you. To all of the caregivers and professionals who have cared for anyone in this community, thank you. To the warriors who are no longer with us, you didn’t “lose” this fight. You made an indelible mark in this word and dealt blows against the disease. The world may have lost you but you didn’t lose the fight. We’ll carry the torch and forge on with you, for you, and because of you and you will forever be with all of us.
FC
Happy 2/24. Life is good.
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ACS HEALED

I was recently a guest of Pat Croce’s on the American Cancer Society’s initiative HEALED. The full segment is about an hour long and I come in at around the 25 minute mark. You can check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNw9oZyIiPw

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Welcome Calquence

My new weapon of choice in the ongoing battle against chronic lymphocytic leukemia. My last med was quite effective for about 3 years but then started yielding some undesirable side effects so we opted to move on down the line in treatment options. In my 15 + plus years living with this, I’ve now been through the following oral and IV (54 infusions) medications: fludarabine (Fludara), rituximab (Rituxan), Decadron, Prednisone,
bendamustine (Bendeka),
ibrutinib (Imbruvica), and now acalabrutinib (Calquence). And while that may sound like a lot, I’m extremely grateful that I do indeed have options available to me. You’re up #calquence and #AstraZeneca! So far, so good on this and hopefully this will be a long term solution. But if not, I rest assuredly knowing that other options do and will exist thanks to the incredible work being done in the #bloodcancer community. #cancer #leukemia #cll #survivor #livingabove #patient #patientadvocate #patientadvocacy
IMG_7089My new weapon of choice in the ongoing battle against chronic lymphocytic leukemia. My last med was quite effective for about 3 years but then started yielding some undesirable side effects so we opted to move on down the line in treatment options. In my 15 + plus years living with this, I’ve now been through the following oral and IV (54 infusions) medications: fludarabine (Fludara), rituximab (Rituxan), Decadron, Prednisone, bendamustine (Bendeka), ibrutinib (Imbruvica), and now acalabrutinib (Calquence).
And while that may sound like a lot, I’m extremely grateful that I do indeed have options available to me. You’re up #calquence and #AstraZeneca! So far, so good on this and hopefully this will be a long term solution. But if not, I rest assuredly knowing that other options do and will exist thanks to the incredible work being done in the #bloodcancer community. #cancer #leukemia #cll #survivor #livingabove #patient #patientadvocate #patientadvocacy
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The Patient Story Interview

Here is the finished product of the 5 part interview I recently did for @thepatientstory. The 5 segments track my 15 year journey from initial symptoms all the way through to the targeted therapy treatment I’m currently on…. and all 54 rounds of chemotherapy treatment in between. I usually struggle a lot with listening to my own interviews but I think the team did a nice job with this project.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW AND READ.

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"Be the change you wish to see in the world " - Gandhi
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