They Call Me Galvez

Last week, I got to attend a documentary at the Pacific Arts Movement Spring Showcase about Harana.  It reminded me of my days in college when we would get a bunch of guys together and sing to unsuspecting girls we had crushes on.  We would surprise them at their dorm rooms, the library, restaurants, etc.  The point was to put the spotlight on them and make them feel special.  We called ourselves “58 Woo”.  I actually have a rare 58 Woo recording here:  58 woo medley at 58 green 5 year reunion after party.  We were such cheese balls back then!  hahaha!

It got me involved with a multi-cultural co-ed a capella group at the University of Michigan, 58 Greene.  I took A LOT of slack from my brother for doing for doing something other than sports.  Sounds like an episode of Glee right?  Being in that little a capella group got me to appreciate things outside of my comfort zone!  Stepping outside of my comfort zone back then probably prepared me for another transition into my new world of “tumor thrivership”.  Almost all of my interests and hobbies were taken away from me, so I had to adapt.  A lot of people have trouble adapting to the challenges of their new reality after a tumor/cancer diagnosis.  It’s not an easy transition.  Some people need help.  Of course, I’m having fun finding people who want to help newly diagnosed tumors/cancer patients AND their loved ones navigate this difficult transition.

58 Greene had their 20th anniversary recently, but sadly I wasn’t able to attend.  I look forward to coming back to Ann Arbor in the future to see the latest incarnation of the group perform.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the first Integrative Oncology Conference, sponsored by the UC San Diego School of Medicine.  Integrative Oncology discusses the complex relationship between tumor, host, and dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors, and what can be done to foster an “anti-cancer” diet and life style to help rectify imbalances and reduce the drivers of cancer.  I was accompanied by Monika and Arilda.

I went in with an open mind because part of me believes there is a link between Western and Eastern medical philosophies.  In traditional Western society, it is commonplace to have concrete measurable evidence to explain how and why things work.  Holistic Eastern medicine principles are much harder to explain.  I was trained in more “traditional” Western medicine.  Eastern Medicine is abstract and difficult to quantify.  After a quick online review of a few peer reviewed publications on “non-traditional cancer treatments”, it seems to me that that diet modification and yoga have substancial objective/ “scientific” statistical measures then other complementary /alternative medicine practices.   The benefits of Quality of Life (QOL) scales / surveys have been studied extensively and it seems that QOL is a very important measure in Eastern medicine research.  These studies are very reliable with specific tests/ questionnaires addressing of QOL.  This is very important because I think QOL is an “applied” research measure.  I found the conference very interesting because there are more studies popping up on “Eastern medicine” albeit with very small sample sizes.  I see very big potential for the application of diet modification and exercise prescription as modalities to assist in management of post tumor/cancer treatment “thrivership”.

Personally, I still don’t fully understand “Eastern medicine”.  I’ve always been the curious student that wants to know “why”.  I’ve started doing research on the benefits of diet and exercise.  That makes sense to me.  My mentors in Physical Therapy school looked at the benefits of a moderate intensity exercise program in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.  They determined it is safe, and actually can be beneficial to survivors.  Ironically, I had radiation therapy after my brain surgery.  I felt very prepared for everything I would be up against based on what I was exposed to in school.  Exercise remains a very important aspect of my life.  I see potential for post treatment exercise programs to be implemented in cancer centers to assist in recovery.  I will make clear that post treatment exercise must be monitored in the cancer patient population!  This already occurs in the post cardiac surgery and post orthopedic surgery population, so I think that post tumor/cancer surgery would benefit from a monitored exercise/rehab protocol.  There are too many benefits of post treatment exercise to outweigh the monitored risks.  I think that the social aspects of a post treatment exercise group could become another type of “post treatment support group.”

These were the topics discussed at the conference:

• The Role of Diet in the Development in Cancer
• Dietary Prevention of Cancers of the Breast, Prostate, and Colon
• The Chinese Medical Approach to Cancer
• Dietary & Mind Body Combined Intervention
• Naturopathic Therapeutics for Cancer
• Use of Integrative Medicine in Pediatric Oncology
• Biofield Therapies in Cancer Care
• Cannibus in Pain and Palliative Care
• Overview of Integrative Modalities in the Support of Cancer patients
• Self Expression to Promote Cancer Wellness
• It Takes a Village to Cure a Cancer:  The Essential Role of Community in Cancer Care.

“Integrative Oncology” is a very new field in the tumor/cancer realm, but the potential for application is very high.  “Thrivers” are unique individuals looking for ways to improve upon themselves.  With more evidence based resources and education, the potential for the use of “Integrative Oncology” practices will only grow.  This new way of fighting tumors/ cancer is about to raise some more eyebrows.

58 Greene 1996-97

A lifetime ago, in college at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, I actually sang in an a capella group,  58 Greene.  This shocked many of my friends from high school and family because in high school, I was a big jock.  This weekend is the 20th anniversary of the creation of 58 Greene.  Many of my friends are meeting up in Ann Arbor this weekend for the 58 Greene reunion and concert.  I wish I could be in Ann Arbor to attend, but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule.  I’ll have to say being a “Greenie” was one of the most unique things I have ever done and helped me overcome my shyness and fear of public speaking.  I definitely stepped outside of my comfort zone, but I learned that you cannot grow without challenging yourself.  I never felt nervous on stage with them.  They had my back, and I had theirs.  This translates well into the world of “tumor thrivership”.

I wasn’t the best soloist, but I had a lot of fun doing vocal percussion and adding base to the harmonies.

Here is a sample of one of my favorite 58 Greene medleys.

Dance Mix III: The Sexual Anthology

I’ll never forget performing with that little group.  I’ll probably never sing on stage again, but it was an experience I’ll always treasure!

Last week mAss Kickers Foundation had the opportunity to speak to Social Work Students and Social Work faculty at the University of Hawaii – Manoa. 3 tumor/cancer thrivers shared their stories and resources that they utilized to pass on to their patients. Marc Rodriguiez, Hannah Hansen, and Eric Galvez presented their unique and often times humorous perspectives as young adult survivors turned “tumor/cancer thrivers.” Survivorship is only the first step in recovery from these diseases. It was determined that each individual survivor will move on to “tumor/cancer thrivership” at their own pace. “A Thriver” is someone who gets an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis and REFUSES to let it control their life.  They become LEADERS in the fight against all forms of tumors/ cancer.

Along with the speaking engagements at University of Hawaii, this group of thrivers had the opportunity to take in a few sites in Honolulu and experience the authentic Hawaiian cuisine. The Honolulu zoo, Dole Plantation, and of course the beautiful beach on the west side of the island were a few of the sites they were able to visit in their short time on Honolulu. Future trips to speak in Hawaii are in the works to talk about “thrivership” life after an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis.

Later this summer mAss Kickers Foundation has plans to go to Tokyo, Japan and Manila, Philippines to speak to future physicians and tumor/cancer patients about “thrivership”. Stay tuned.
More trips are in the work next year!

12 Days of Kick mAss 2012

On the 12th day of Kick mAss my doctor gave to me…

• a patient research seminar in San Diego,
• a charity kickball tournament in San Diego,
• a paintball benefit in Michigan,
• INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY an international awareness campaign, and
• NEW EVENTS: a survivor speaking tour to Hawaii and the Philippines/Japan
• attending select cancer conferences
• a US Healthcare colleges/universities lecture tour

Last weekend, I got to hang out in Miami.  I’d only been there twice before and had a great time.  The first I went there was in college for spring break… a fun time!  The second time I went was for a wedding a few years ago… again a great time!   Miami has to have the fittest population in the US.  I have yet to see an obese person in Miami. It is a good-looking city.  Everyone I saw there was dressed up or fit!

My trip started on Friday night.  A buddy of mine,”Podo” from First Descents Surf Camp last year picked me up and we went straight to a pub to meet up with some of his friends for a late dinner and a drink.  It is always great meeting other people with ties to the mid-west.  I’m convinced that mid-westerners are the most down-to-earth people to hangout with!  On Saturday, “Podo” took me to South Beach.  I couldn’t get “Ice Ice Baby” lyrics out of my head.  ”A1A Beach Front Avenue!”  We met up with some more of his friends to watch Alabama-Georgia in the SEC Championship game.  By the time we left, it was dark out!  I’m always surprised how early it gets dark in the winter.   We ended up watching the B1G Championship game/Anchorman to close out the evening.  Traveling from the west coast to the east coast always messes up my sleep schedule!  I always want to Sleep in!  On Sunday, we went to the Dolphins-Patriots game.  We had to get a wheelchair from the stadium because the mAss Kicker Mobile II broke down.  We had “RockStar” seats for the game: field level, easy access to tunnel, unobstructed views… can’t beat it!  After the game, we didn’t want to deal with the hassle of finding his friends in traffic so we got Cubana Sandwiches and watched more football.   We met up with some more of his friends for “Sexy Bingo” at The Standard in Miami Beach.  It was pretty cool.  This was a well needed relaxing trip!  Now I can focus on planning an awesome 2013!

I just discovered another thing I can do!  Just recently I’ve been venturing out of my place on my own.  I discovered public transportation to get around San Diego, but things didn’t click for me until recently.  The trolley station is becoming a very viable option for me.  I prefer the trolley over the bus because boarding the bus is a lot of work!  The driver has to deploy the ramp, manually strap down the scooter, and I have to maneuver the scooter in a small space trying not to hit any passengers!  There is a trolley station close to my place, so I started getting curious.  When I first moved to San Diego, I would hardly be at home!  Ever since my surgery, I’ve been cooped up at home!  Public transportation has given me a way to go where I want to go!  I’m rediscovering the city of San Diego from a different point of view.  Very different because I actually have to plan everything and take into account bus/ trolley schedules.  Luckily the schedules are online and easy to access.

Well, anyways, I figured out how to get to downtown San Diego at night.  This is HUGE because night time is the time when I would actually be able to hangout with most of my friends!  To me, traveling at night was essential to feeling like a person again!  I missed the night life, so I traveled down town by myself to go to a Movember 1/2 Mo-Party.  When I left my place in the mAss Kicker Mobile, it was already dark.  It had been forever since I have gone anywhere by myself at night!  It was kinda intimidating because if some thing were to go wrong, I wouldn’t know what I would do… I had my phone, so I figured that help was only a phone call away.  I convinced myself that I was really going to do this!  When I left, I was a little nervous and kinda excited at the same time. On the trolley I planned my strategic scooter route though downtown San Diego.  When I got off, I looked up and saw a place that looked familiar but intimidating at the same time.  I rode by a large group of homeless people averting all eye contact to avoid any conversations.  Eric, focus on the mission... I was extra careful with cracks and curbs in the pavement!  Curbs and cracks in the pavement were my top priorities.  I’ve tipped the mAss Kicker Mobile at least 3 times carelessly ascending ramps AND broke the brakes in the last mAss Kicker Mobile while “jumping” a curb.  My heightened senses tensed my entire body and made me really jumpy. Every little squeak or sound was amplified 20 fold!  When I finally got to the Mo Party, I was greeted at the door by my old friend, Ron Donaho, editor of the San Diego Bugle.  After our brief conversation, I made a B-line for the bar and had some wings and a beer to unwind.  Then I realized after about 30 minutes sitting at the bar by myself that most of the people I used to hangout with are no longer in San Diego or are married with kids!  Billy Joel’s Piano Man popped in my head… hee hee hee… then I thought I got this far I’m not going to live in the past.  Time to make new memories!  After watching the Movember raffle and hanging out at the bar, I decided to explore my old stomping grounds in San Diego’s Gaslamp district.  Many of the places I used to frequent were gone.   Then I realized it’s been 7 years since I’ve “been here!”  It could be fun rediscovering San Diego from a different perspective!  The night train could take me to a land of new adventures.  Stay tuned…

OCTOBER 25, 2012  SAN DIEGO, CA USA.  At Taste and Thirst, in the heart of San Diego’s Historic Gas Lamp District, a dedicated group of tumor/cancer survivors celebrated the 2012 International TUMORS SUCK Day. They created a unique happy hour to celebrate another year of living and wanted to recognize their personal supporters with a “Thriver Toast” dedicated to the unsung heros in the survivorship journey:  our family, our friends, and our fellow survivors.  It takes a special group of individuals to step up or step in when someone they know is facing an intimidating tumor/cancer diagnosis.  These unsung heroes deserve recognition because they fill a role that is sorely needed, but seldom formally requested.  They are the ones who watch their friends and loved ones become weak from treatment, yet still are there to pick them up or support them!  They see survivors at their weakest and most vulnerable, yet care enough about them to stick around.   It is because of them that tumor/cancer survivors can evolve into “Tumor/Cancer Thrivers.”  They are the unsung heros in the journey to “Thrivership.  They deserve recognition!  WE CAN’T THANK THEM ENOUGH FOR STICKING AROUND AND BEING THERE FOR US!

International TUMORS SUCK Day is a day to celebrate life AND the people who make life worth living.  ALL TUMORS SUCK, BUT WE DON’T!  Thanks for sharing this day with us!  We look forward to celebrating it with you in 2013!  Keep October 25 open next year!  Organize your own Tumors Suck Day event next year.  Say thanks to YOUR amazing ”mAss Kicking” posse!

I didn’t get to post as much as I would have liked this past month.  I’ve been getting extremely busy.  I restarted physical therapy at SHARP REES-STEALY to get a different perspective on my personal rehab.  It reinforced the fact that my “core” is not stable.  The strength is there, but that is a moot point if I’m not stable.  Proximal Stability before distal mobility!  We are working on isolating the core muscles because they are easily overlooked/ neglected.  The problem is that I find those exercises boring.

Anyways, a friend of mine took the reins on a mohawk brain tumor awareness campaign, Hawktober and I’ve been helping to promote it.  The first week we got a few people to rock hawks.  We think mohawks represent the fighting attitude it takes to rally people to fight these horrible diseases.  A mohawk definitely grabs people’s attention!  With a mohawk, you can see easily the battle scars on our heads from brain surgery!   To honor our Breast Cancer sisters, we decided to do pink highlights to show our support for breast cancer patients since October is also breast cancer awareness month!  We actually went up to Hollywood to do the pink highlights.  I decided to honor my aunt that passed away from breast cancer by dying my mohawk pink!  A few of my friends dyed pink highlights in their hair to honor their breast cancer sisters!  BIG PROPS to Floyd’s 99 Rock N Roll Barbershop!  They have been extremely helpful in promoting our efforts!   On Thursday night we will be celebrating International TUMORS SUCK Day.  This is a day we created to celebrate life!

Over the last few years, we have met tumor/cancer survivors from all over the world from North America to Australia to Africa to Europe to Asia.  To unify the international battle against all forms of tumors/cancer we created a day when everyone can voice their displeasure with ALL FORMS OF TUMORS/CANCER.  INTERNATIONAL TUMORS SUCK DAY was created to express this sentiment.  All that it requires is printing out the logo and posting a picture with it on facebook.  It is easy to participate.

1.  Print out the TUMORS SUCK LOGO. 

2.  SHARE A PICTURE OF THE TUMORS SUCK LOGO ON THE TUMORS SUCK FACEBOOK PAGE.

Please support our efforts to make tumor/cancer survivoship a global issue!   CONSIDER making a small donation or becoming a leader and joining us in this epic battle.   PLEASE HELP US FIGHT ALL FORMS OF TUMORS,  BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY PASS THIS PAGE ON!!!  THIS CAMPAIGN IS BEING LEAD BY A SMALL BUT PASSIONATE GROUP OF TUMOR/CANCER SURVIVORS!  WE CANNOT FIGHT THIS BATTLE ALONE!!!  PLEASE JOIN US IN DECLARING “TUMORS SUCK!”

About mAss Kickers Foundation:

MISSION STATEMENT

mAss Kickers Foundation (MKF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA, USA, which provides support and motivation to all newly-diagnosed patients, family, and friends affected by tumors or cancer.  MKF serves this mission through its website, fund-raising, and select events throughout the year.

VISION STATEMENT

To be the first website newly diagnosed tumor/cancer patients and their loved ones visit for information, inspiration, and a “pugilistic attitude” after getting an intimidating diagnosis.  A unique “mAss Kicking Community” will be formed to unite ALL affected by tumors/cancer to battle these horrible diseases.

Proceeds from the funds raised will be dispersed to tumor/cancer research organizations

On 10-25 in San Diego, CA USA we are putting together a Tumors Suck Day Happy Hour at Taste and Thirst in the historic Gas Lamp District.  Please come celebrate life with us!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS!