POZ4POZ.com
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
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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