Fearless Blog

Hi Friends! It’s Dave here, your Fearless Guest Blogger. Here’s the post-surgery update (written on Tues night 9/14/10). We’ll try to post some photos, etc later in the week.

First, thanks for all the great family pictures, inspirational song suggestions, and love & support! They are really making a difference and keeping a smile on Jen’s face (yes, my lovely wife is still smiling even today…especially after she presses the button to get a dose of pain meds!)

Coming into the surgery today, we didn’t know exactly what to expect. The last couple chemotherapy regimens haven’t done the job so we knew that even if they removed all the tumors today, there was a high probability that the cancer would return.

Therefore, even though we were hopeful that today’s surgery would be a positive step in the fight, we all knew that at some point we’d still need to find a medication to kill the cancer cells or keep them from growing. In this vein, you might have heard Jen mention an upcoming …

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I am approaching the final days before the big cut-up #6. I was beyond touched by how many people responded to my request to send in “tough” songs to prepare me for Tuesday’s surgery. The play list that I created is a testament to the amazingly diverse group of friends that I have…I was rocking out to everything from 80’s rock (Metallica) to Hip Hop (LL Cool J and Heavy). And who would have thought that I can tolerate some country once in a while?

I picked a selection of the songs and made a “physical tough” playlist for you to copy if you’d like. There’s something in here for every musical taste and I guarantee that you will get a great sweat! Sorry if your song was not chosen, I was trying to narrow it down to a “top 30”. Here goes…

Hold Back the Rain – Duran Duran 

Fighter – Christina Aguilera

Not Afraid – Eminem

Alive – Goldfrapp 

Sunshine (Georgie Anthem Radio) – Georgie Porgie

Let it Rock – Kevin …

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Dave and I rented a house in Long Beach Island, New Jersey for the week to celebrate my mom and dad’s 45th anniversary. It has been 5 years since all 8 of us (my parents, my brother, sister-in law, nephews and Dave and me) spent a vacation together and we were so looking forward to it. We got a great house with a pool, Jacuzzi and enough bedrooms for everyone. The weather forecast was great and we arranged the week so that Dave’s parents would visit for the first few days, Dave and I would have a day or two to ourselves, and then my family would join for the last few. It was a perfect way to celebrate the end of the summer!

All I had to do before heading to the beach on Saturday morning was to get chemo on Friday. Everything was running smoothly and we were about to begin my treatment when I shared with my nurse that I was starting to experience low-level abdominal pain and …

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Hi everyone,

The last few weeks of summer have been crazy with lots of chemo treatments and getting ready for vacation! Dave and I rented a beautiful house in Long Beach Island, New Jersey for the week leading up to Labor Day. We are going to have Dave’s parents join us for the first few days and my family (mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law and nephews) join us to wrap up the week.

I don’t like to jinx things but the weather forecast is phenomenal. I am really, truly looking forward to getting away. I have been putting on my fearless face but the last few months have been challenging for me. I am just tired and can’t wait for some distraction and R&R.

We have some big tests when we return…all on our anniversary of course! I promise to write about the week away and provide any medical updates in the coming weeks. For now, I am happy and living in the moment!

While I am away, I thought you might want to read …

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Cast Your Vote for Jennifer Goodman Linn in the 2010 Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame By Clicking Here. PLEASE VOTE 1x a DAY EVERY DAY THROUGH AUGUST 20th
I have the greatest friends in the world! We decided to take our message to the streets and last Friday over 20 close friends became ambassadors for getting the JENERGIZER inducted into Energizer’s Hall of Fame! PLEASE remember that we have only until THIS FRIDAY 8/20 at midnight vote. So spread the word and keep voting! Check out the amazing pictures we took and enjoy the funniest video to date!

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The dates are now set for Cycle for Survival 2011! In addition to expanding the events in New York City, Chicago, we will be heading to Roslyn, Long Island as well! Cycle 2011 will be the biggest ride against cancer ever! So mark your calendar and save the dates!

Dates:

Saturday February 5th: Chicago @ Equinox The Loop (morning and afternoon shifts)

Saturday February 12th: Long Island @ Equinox Roslyn (morning shift) and NYC @ Equinox Fifth Avenue (evening shift)

Sunday February 13th: NYC @ Equinox Fifth Avenue and Graybar (morning and afternoon shifts)

As a little treat we decided to let you behind the scenes to see what really happens at a Cycle for Survival meeting. Enjoy the video below and PLEASE remember that there are only 5 days left to induct me into the Energizer Hall of Fame so keep voting until midnight, Friday 8/20!
Cast Your Vote for Jennifer Goodman Linn in the 2010 Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame By Clicking Here. PLEASE VOTE 1x a DAY EVERY DAY THROUGH AUGUST 20th

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Cast Your Vote for Jennifer Goodman Linn in the 2010 Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame By Clicking Here. PLEASE VOTE 1x a DAY EVERY DAY THROUGH AUGUST 20th

Cancer Patient Gives Back in Cycle of Gratitude

By SHELLY BANJO

Jennifer Goodman Linn has one main mantra: Just keep going.

After being diagnosed in 2004 with sarcoma, a rare form of cancer, the former Nickelodeon marketing executive vowed that if she survived she would do something to show her gratitude.

This year, the 39-year-old looks to surpass $5 million in funds raised for rare cancer research at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center through Cycle for Survival, a relay-style indoor team cycling event she and her husband, David, founded in 2007. Last year, 600 riders participated and raised $2.5 million.

As an avid cyclist, she says it was spinning classes that kept a semblance of normalcy in her life. Says Ms. Linn: "I might have cancer but cancer doesn't have me and the minute I change my life for the disease it wins."

After seven courses of …

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Cast Your Vote for Jennifer Goodman Linn in the 2010 Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame By Clicking Here. PLEASE VOTE 1x a DAY EVERY DAY THROUGH AUGUST 20th

This has been a very long week. I am physically and mentally drained from all of the Dr’s appointments and the chemotherapy. The good news is that my white counts were up and I was able to get treatment on Tuesday. The frustrating news is that the latest CT scan revealed that the chemo is not working as well as the Dr’s had hoped.

I met with my oncologist on Tuesday and I was switched to a new regimen (my 7th!). I met with my surgeon on Thursday who agreed with the plan and confirmed that he could perform surgery shortly if the chemo doesn’t work. Since surgery is really a short-term solution, we are all hoping to find some sort of chemo cocktail that will work at some point.

There are also new trials being developed all the time (many developed from Cycle …

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Cast Your Vote for Jennifer Goodman Linn in the 2010 Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame By Clicking Here. PLEASE VOTE 1x a DAY EVERY DAY THROUGH AUGUST 20th
When I look back over the past 6 years, the worst parts by far have been the moments when I don’t have a clear plan. Being the type-A personality that I am, for some reason plan = comfort to me. When I mentor other cancer patients, I always tell them that the first few weeks are the hardest. Not only are you dealing with the overwhelming adjustment of living with a disease but often, the Doctors don’t agree and 2nd and 3rd opinions become more stressful rather than less stressful.

I remember early on in my diagnosis, we were deciding between two doctors/two hospitals. Although both completely agreed with my diagnosis and with the treatment plan, one Dr. told me basically that I had to be a “boy in a bubble” and severely curtail my work life and personal activities. The other Dr. …

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Cast Your Vote for Jennifer Goodman Linn in the 2010 Energizer Keep Going® Hall of Fame By Clicking Here. PLEASE VOTE 1x a DAY EVERY DAY THROUGH AUGUST 20th

The first thing I thought of when my Doctor rejected me from chemo last week was not “I hope I don’t get sick.” Or “I hope the cancer isn’t spreading.” It was, “I hope this means I still get to go see my college girlfriends this weekend for our reunion getaway weekend!”

Every year or so, my Duke girlfriends and I pick a destination and meet to reminisce about old memories and create new ones. This is no easy task because among the 6 of us there are 14 children (OK, one of our friends has 7 which really tips the scales), 5 husbands and a ridiculous number of miles. No one lives in the same city. We fly from San Francisco, San Diego Charlotte, Nashville, Boston and New York to be together. Over the years we have met up in Las Vegas, …

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