#71359 03-12-2008 03:38 AM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 199 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 199 | I think this is an incredible feat - if you haven't read about Lance MacKay and his comeback from oral cancer, it's a very inspiring story. Mackay was diagnosed with throat cancer right after the 2001 Iditarod, and underwent surgery and radiation treatment. He actually was supported by his doctors in the 2002 Iditarod, but had to pull out as he still had a PEG tube and his supplements kept freezing! He is also an incredible dog lover and lives for his dogs... Here's a link to his website http://www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com/About.htm
Ginny M. SCC of Left lateral tongue Dx 04/06,Surgery MDACC 05/11/06: Partial glossectomy with selective neck dissection. T1N0M0 - no radiation. Phase III clinical trial ("EPOC" trial)04/07 thru 04/08 because tests showed a 65% chance of recurrence. 10 Year Survivor!
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | That is inspirational indeed. I've been a casual observer of the Iditarod for years and have always marveled at the sheer physicality and endurance required to compete in this event, let alone win it.
-- Leslie
Last edited by Leslie B; 03-12-2008 04:00 AM.
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | I am aware of this race. I have studied all about him because I am the proud owner of a Siberian Husky. Beautiful with ice blue eyes and a very humorous personality. They are great fun and alot of maintenance. Imagine a whole kennel of them. This man is to be admired for his spunk and courage. I love this story!
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I was speaking with someone that has run the Iditarod about Lance just yesterday. I believe it is probably the 2007 he won since March 26 isn't for a couple more weeks.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 199 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 199 | Actually, he won the 2007 AND the just completed 2008 Iditarod - here's a link to info about his latest win http://iditarodblogs.com/news/2008/03/12/double-trouble-mackey-wins-again/
Ginny M. SCC of Left lateral tongue Dx 04/06,Surgery MDACC 05/11/06: Partial glossectomy with selective neck dissection. T1N0M0 - no radiation. Phase III clinical trial ("EPOC" trial)04/07 thru 04/08 because tests showed a 65% chance of recurrence. 10 Year Survivor!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | I have been following it and yesterday it was a close race w/ Mackey and King (a 4 time winner). What a true inspiration to everyone here! He shows us that there is a good life waiting for us all after oral cancer.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | I put last years story in the news section of the web site and got a really nasty letter form some lady in Florida that had taken a vacation to Alaska, learned (in one week) everything that she thought she needed to know about the subject, and sent me a multipage letter and brochures from an organization that she started on her kitchen table when she got home about how poorly the dogs are treated.... and how some of them die during the race. She really got in my face about it all, and I said hey, I'm just putting up a story about a cancer survivor. Well you can read it on the bottom of the original story, stated nicely since she writes nasty letters to everyone that deals with ANYONE that publicizes or promotes the race. That would include us. A dilettante in Florida has it all figured out.... http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/news/story.asp?newsId=2007
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Brian,
I too am an animal lover to some extreme and I admire your addition.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 199 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 199 | Well, since I started this post I must chip in... I am a huge animal lover, esp dogs. Most of my charitable donations go to the HSUS and to a local pet adoption charity here in town. I am sure that some of these dogs may not be treated as well as they could be by some of the owners. However, I think we could find that to be true of anyone who competes in a grueling sport (even some humans). However, I still admire Lance Mackay and his determination and also his outspoken love and admiration for all of HIS dogs.
I guess it's all about balance, and some people don't seem to have that...
Ginny M. SCC of Left lateral tongue Dx 04/06,Surgery MDACC 05/11/06: Partial glossectomy with selective neck dissection. T1N0M0 - no radiation. Phase III clinical trial ("EPOC" trial)04/07 thru 04/08 because tests showed a 65% chance of recurrence. 10 Year Survivor!
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