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Questioning the status quo, and RAISING the standard of HIV prevention in America since 2002.
HIV, Cancer And Me: My personal journey 
August 2014 Bronx VA Hospital: It is brought to my attention that the 9cm lump sticking out of my left pelvic area is a tumor, it is also brought to my attention that I have cancer in BOTH lungs and my right leg - behind my right knee and my right ankle. My first day for radiation treatment begins on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at the Brooklyn VA and will continue daily until December 3, 2014. There are NO support groups for this here in New York City, NY - until now.

This is my personal journey that I am sharing with you.

​To be honest, I am not upset with being HIV+ since 1983 and not on meds until 1991, and I am not upset or scared that I have cancer or a 9cm tumor. I AM PISSED OFF TO NO END that Dr. Howard Leaf of the Manhattan VA Hospital, 23rd Street, New York City, NY knew about my cancer (KS) since it was first reported in May 1996. Yes, the "good" Dr. Howard Leaf knew about this but took no action for almost 20 years. THAT is something to be upset about. 

My Cancer: Kaposi Sarcoma (KS)
My tumor caused my left leg to swell: Edema

Today, Thursday, October 16, 2014 is Day One and I will post daily / weekly updates here. I am also constructing a Face Book page and Twitter account for those interested in sharing their stories and offering empowerment. Like I stated above, there are NO support groups for HIV+ gay men who have cancer - Lynnette Ford (Managing Director at GMHC) 212.367.1056 lynnettef@gmhc.org  threw me out of her office telling me that GMHC has no services for me, and told me to go to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center instead. So WHY would GMHC beg for more money to help serve "the community"?

After 30 years of HIV I THOUGHT I WAS "The Community". I guess GMHC thinks otherwise. 

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More images to come, click on thumbnail to enlarge.

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RECENT UPDATES:
10/20/14

HIV, CANCER and ME

NEW Face Book group available NOW! Share your story and empower others. I will post DAILY TREATMENT updates there. 

This new group is the first of it's kind in America and will be the foundation for countless other copy cats for decades to come.

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Left side pelvic area. This is what a 9cm tumor looks like. For any questions, comments or concerns contact Dr. David Schwartz at: 718.630.3605 or email: dschwartz@metropolitanradiation.com
Front marking used for lining me up for treatment, three total. A simple tattoo that did not hurt, then outlined with a sharpie marker and a round clear sticker placed over it. As you can see, the right leg is bigger than the left.
Left side markings. There are three markings total to line me up with the machine for the treatment, which lasts only 15min. I lay on a table, remain still and the machine rotates 180 degrees around me.
Right side markings. Note the tumor sticking out just to the right. For any 'professional" questions, comments or concerns regarding my treatment, please contact the Department of Radiation Oncology directly at: 718.630.3605.
First a biopsy of the tumor, then radiation treatments. Followed by weekly doctor visits for progress updates.