The Zipperleg Chronicles - Fighting cancer with style!

Another Day at the Spa…Posted on Thu, Jan 10, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

It’s a good sign when your oncologist enters the room smiling. The Hulk has done his SMASH thing and we are seeing good results on both tumors. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have shrinkage!

We’ve been through two rounds now, and are starting to get the hang of this new drug regimen. Basically, I go in for treatment all day for three days in a row, which is funky. But they give me some really great steroids, so by the time I get home, I’m ready to Paaar-tay! I get to kick up my heels for Day One and Day Two, but by Day Three I’m feeling a bit slower. Then on Day Four (because I don’t get the steroids any more) I crash like a Ford Explorer driven by a chipmunk. After that, I sleep like a cat for two to three days. After my nappy-time, I’m ready to rejoin the human race until my next treatment three weeks later! Overall, compared to last year, the crash is harder, but it doesn’t last as long – I see it netting out as a win.

My super-ninja cousin John flew out from Seattle to keep me company for my last treatment – hence the steroid-fueled partying! And John, saint that he is, was kind enough to do all my drinking for me. He, Kristin and I came up with some new names for all of my various medical appointments. My chemotherapy shall now be referred to as my “Day at the Spa”, my MRI and CT scans will be known as my “Modeling Photo Shoots”, my oncologist is now my Talent Agent, and surgery will be my “Deep Tissue Massage”. It makes my iCalendar look both more relaxing and professionally exciting. Wow! Looks like I’m ready for Pilot Season!

Fun fact: somehow, the last sizing for The Nameless Tumor was mis-reported. It was actually larger than we were thinking, but now it’s back down to almost as small as we thought it was before. Go figure. Just reminds me that sometimes it doesn’t matter where you are as much as which way you’re headed. For me, I’m heading back to the spa again in a few days! They know how to mix up my cocktail just right: shaken, not stirred. With a splash of saline.

We have had a lovely holiday. We spent New Years Eve dancing it up with Izzy, Kristin’s mom Joy and our friends, then drinking sparkling cider by the glow of the fireworks in Central Park, laughing at the insane runners as they did their yearly Midnight Run.

Thank you all for all your love and support through this tough time. It never fails to lift my spirits. Our motto for this year is “No More Cancer to be Seen in 2013”!

Love, Luck and Health,

– Ben

About the Author

An actor trained in physical theater, living in New York City, livin' the dream. I am married to an amazing woman without whom I'd probably be dead by now, and step-dad to the irrepressible Izzy! I sculpt masks, I juggle, I act, I design graphically-type-stuff, and when offered the choice between two evils, I take the one I've never tried before. I listen, I fly planes, I bike to the beach, I am a tea brewing ninja, I design new board games with my daughter, and I tell stories... too many stories. And while I used to be trying to learn to juggle my work, living in this city, my dreams, my wife, but now I am reminded every day they are all one, all my life, and every day is one more day I get to live it.