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Good Morning Everyone! Heading out to UCSD for the PurpleStride Car Parade to raise awareness and funds for Pancreatic Cancer. Some of you know my story - I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in 2014 when the fatality rate for this cancer was 94%. I have since had multiple recurrences for my metastatic (stage IV) and I’m in remission for the third time. Here is my story If you would like to learn more about me and/or support my campaign.
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Hang in there, Robert and keep on giving it hell.  A small number of my friends are dealing with PC here on the East Coast and all fighting the good fight against a pretty heavy foe.  Good doctors and good treatment regimens are the key and you look like you're ahead of the curve.  Keep fighting, and you have my deepest respect and support.  And I wonder how many of those blown off hearts will be found along the I-5?

Gordon

Last edited by Gordon Nichols

Just popping in to say hello to all 'ya all. Miss you guys. I had CT scans a few weeks ago and got the results from my oncologist yesterday and so far I'm still NED and there are no signs of progression. It's been almost 18 months since my last surgery (left lung lobectomy). As a matter of fact, I've been able to watch the metastatic progression in my scans through each re-occurrence (two times so far) which occur roughly every 18-24 months. But I'm lucky to have undergone surgery each time to resect (surgery is vary rare when cancer has metastasized). 18 month of no progression is pretty good. Which means the original clean up work done in my pancreas seven years and again 3.5 years ago looks like it worked. Hopefully I chased down the last of the tumors. We shall see. Have a great weekend all!

Ernie,

It’s been a while - time certainly flies. C does suck but cyclist treat it like it’s just another hill. I hope your recovery is uneventful. Sounds like we both know the secret to surviving. Pedal that old Wisconsin made Schwann and the others too. I bought a FS Enduro and recently a Gravel bike. I ride about 75  miles a week which is probably equivalent to 125 road miles. Heading out for a gravel ride through RSF and Lake Hodges  now and will roll through C&C on the way back.

-RD

Hey Guys! It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’ve been dealing with many things and one of those things is my pancreatic cancer. It returned last year in my right lung and liver area. I’ve been on chemo for seven months now. The plan is to shrink it prior to surgery to resect. It’s the same plan of action which has kept me alive all throughout my three previous occurrences - going back to 2014.

That said, my doctors want to edit the DNA of my white blood cells to target the solid pancreatic tumors. This is a new direction for cancer research. The current treatment for non surgical patients is really archaic and barbaric and has been the same for decades. This new therapy is called CAR-T (which has been around mostly for non solid cancer tumors) and it looks promising. I would be one of the first patients to receive this therapy in the US for pancreatic cancer and I will keep the doors open for surgery and other treatment methods open however - I’ve been lucky thus far. But CAR-T could potentially ‘cure’ or at least give cancer patient long lasting immunity. Which is something current drugs and therapy does not.
That said, I said good bye to my original Kirk Duncan Vintage Speedster as I need to focus on priories. It sold it to a good friend of mine who is an air cooled VW and Porsche fanatic. We went for a drive up the South Coast Hwy this morning and stopped for coffee before he drove it home. The Speedster will sit along side his ‘65 912 just like it sat next to my ‘69 912 in the garage the past few years.  He agreed to offer the car back to me for the same price I sold it to him if my situation changes however!

For the last eight years I’ve been heavily involved in my 501c3 of choice - PanCAN. Every year we raise between 5M - 10M dollars to advance pancreatic cancer ‘The King of All Cancers’ research to develop treatment methods and therapeutics that yield better patient outcomes.

So far, my personal fundraising efforts have surpassed my goals and the campaign is doing very good. But, if anyone here feels so inclined to donate, please reach out to me and I will provide a link to my fundraising campaign. I do not know if it appropriate to actively solicit donations by posting a link on this thread.

Take care everyone, and if I come out on the other end if this episode like I did the previous three times, I’ll be back - most likely with a Spyder. I’ve seen so many fabulous builds here. This community is truly amazing and I’ve been blessed that you’ve allowed me to participate and somehow contribute - a little bit.
-Robert
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Last edited by ZFNHSN

@ZFNHSN

Robert, his name was Conrad Zukowski.  Best damn power systems engineer and car builder - Ever!  

Well known in the New England Hot Rod and Cobra circles as one helluva good guy to have in your corner.  You wanted a period correct and modern-capable wiring system in your Rod?  Let Conrad help.  Want a trusty “Shotgun” rider on those long trips to the Nationals and Regionals and west coast Grand National Roadster show?  Conrad was always ready, usually riding with Dennis O‘Brien in the “O’Brien Truckers” ‘34 panel truck full of show merch.  

We’ve lost so many veteran Hot Rod people in the past two years I have honestly lost count - over 20, just for me, including Angela Rose Lane - and we all celebrate those who’ve been stricken and manage to fight back.

So I celebrate YOU, Robert.  Keep fighting and get that Speedster or Spyder back!

@edsnova posted:

Well-rated charity & easy to kick in a few bucks. All the best to you, again, Robert. United Knuckleheads of SOC are in your corner.

Yes! PanCAN has been given the highest ratings for non profit charities in the areas of Finance, Accountability and Transparency going back to 2005. Almost every dollar is used to support pancreatic patient services, research, grants and public awareness and I'm happy to be involved.

Thank you Ed for your donation! Much appreciate Sir!

~RD

@LeadPedal posted:

It’s a good cause to be sure. I lost my dad to Pancreatic cancer. No serious illness his whole life, never in the hospital. Diagnosed and was gone within a year at 67.

@LeadPedal I'm sorry about your dad. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. I hope I can advance research to find a cure and/or better drugs and treatment methods that yield better results. Sometimes being a Guinea Pig is a good thing.

~RD

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