Saturday, May 4, 2013

Pre-Fight Commentary


Pre-Fight Commentary         Friday May 3rd, 2013

(crowd continuously cheering)

Thanks for joining us live from the Boston MGH Hospital. I’m Mario Floretti, and I’m Ordabis and have we got a fight of the night for you. 

Mario: That’s right, Ordabis, we sure do. For all of you fight fans out there, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the seventh most common cancer in the US, according to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Ordabis:  An estimated 529,222 people were living with (or in remission from) NHL in 2012 and about 70,130 people in the United States were expected to be diagnosed with NHL last year.

Mario: Statistics show that from age 20 to 24 years, the rate of NHL is about 2.4 cases per 100,000 people. And from age 60 to 64 years, the rate increases to 45.7 cases per 100,000. And from age 80 to 84 years, the rate increases to 118.7 cases per 100,000. Even though Anthony doesn’t have an age group, it does demonstrate the outreach of this disease.

Ordabis: You know Mario Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma accounts for about 1 of every 3 cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and an estimated 10,000 deaths result from DLBCL annually in the United States. DLBCL is usually aggressive, marked by rapidly growing tumors in lymph nodes, spleen, liver, bone marrow, or other organs, so talk with your doctor folks if you think you have any of the warning signs.

Mario: That’s right, Ordabis, and there are over 60 different types of Lymphoma too.

Ordabis: Looks like the fighters are getting ready to make their way down to ringside.

Mario: I got the chance to talk with Anthony and Team Tarallo in the dressing room and this guy is all fired up. He told me that he discovered a pebble sized lump on his jaw line back in December of last year and thought nothing of it. After an ear and sinus infection in January, he noticed a bean sized lump on his neck while shaving and went to the doctor right away. This guy doesn’t mess around Ordabis.

Ordabis: It doesn’t sound like he’s giving the disease a chance to take control.

Mario: True, but he said that this lymphoma hit his body fast and has been attacking his system aggressively. He showed me the incision mark where they removed the shallot sized lymph node, so this disease isn’t playing around either.

Ordabis: He’s got a fantastic team of doctors and nurses working in his corner. Did he make any mention of progress that he’s made?

Mario: As a matter of fact, he did. He said that his PET scan showed two small dots that were remaining after the lymph node biopsy. His doctor did a bone marrow biopsy that resulted in the lymphoma spreading there as well. According to his doctor the chemo should take care of the spread of this disease into his bone marrow and the radiation treatment should take care of the remaining findings in his neck.

Ordabis: Well, Lymphoma is no joke and we know that a lot of people don’t take it seriously when it comes to discovery. Most people just think that a lump will just go away, when in fact it can react very aggressively in weaker and older age groups.

Mario: That is so true. More people need to listen to their bodies so they can catch things like this ahead of time or in enough time to catch it before the disease really has a stronghold over your system.

Ordabis: You’re exactly right, Mario. What else did Team Tarallo have to say?

Mario: The doctors said that he is healthy enough to undergo some aggressive treatment.  He’s built a great team of coaches, attitude coordinators, herbal and TCM healers, motivators, and quite an impressive prayer team as well. Here’s what Coach Martins said earlier today:

Coach Martins:  You can’t go wrong with the right game plan.  Even though Anthony is inexperienced, that’s what makes him so dangerous.  He has no fear.  Our job is to rein in that raw energy, keep him focused and ready.

 (crowd continuously cheering)

Mario: He plans on fighting this disease to the death and you should see the game face on the kid, he means business. 

Ordabis: Here they come now, folks. They’re bringing the fighters out of their dressing rooms. You know Team Lymphoma refused to comment when I tried to interview them. They sure are a motley crew with nasty attitudes to boot. You should see the game faces on these guys!

Mario: There’s Team Tarallo! He looks great!!! The doctor said he’s strong as an ox and I interviewed him and I gotta tell ya he’s got the smell of one today. This boy’s got some lead in his pencil.

Ordabis: What’s up with that robe? Where did he get that thing? He looks like a mad hatter.

Mario: Team Lymphoma is headed in now. You’re right Ordabis, what a motley crew. They even walk like gangsters. I sure hope he’s ready for this cause these guys look nasty mean.  (crowd continuously cheering loudly) (bell continuously ringing) There is something going on down in the ring. It’s a real melee! 

Ordabis: Wow! This fight has started before it has begun. This is really going to be one hell of a matchup.

Mario: I just got word from ringside. Apparently, Anthony ran over to the other corner started shoving the coaches of Team Lymphoma around. What a spitfire this kid is! He is on fire! Listen to that crowd.

Ordabis: No doubt in my mind, Mario, this fight is going to be good! If Team Lymphoma thinks they’re going to blast through this guy they have another thing coming folks! Let’s join Bruce in the ring for the official announcement.

(crowd cheering wildly)

Bruce: Laaadies and Gentleeemeeen, Let’s get reaaadyyy to rummmbleee… Welcome… To the Boston MGH Hospital… This bout is scheduled for 15 rounds of Chemotherapy… 

Bruce: Introducing the fighter to my left, making his debut fight out of Boston, Massachuuuseeetts. Let’s hear it for Aaannnthonyyy Taraaallooo!!! 

Bruce: And, introducing the fighter to my right… Fighting from within, with an impressive record of hundreds of thousands of wins resulting in death over its career… Millions of losses due to the amazing advancements in cancer treatment research… Let’s hear it for Teeeam Lymphooomaaa!!! 

Bruce: And, introducing your referee for this bout Jesus Christ.

(Jesus waves both fighters into the center of the ring)

Jesus: I want a nice clean fight. You’ve both been briefed in the dressing room. Listen to my commands at all times and return to your corner at the sound of the bell. Touch gloves and return back to your corners and wait for my instructions…. 

(crowd cheering wildly)

Mario: Both fighters are refusing to touch gloves and are in a hatred fueled stare down!!! These two just don’t like one another.

Ordabis: We’ll just have to see how well he does in this round with Rituximab and Chemo!!!

Jesus: (pointing to Team Tarallo’s corner) Are you ready?!? (pointing to Team Lymphoma’s corner) Are you ready?!? Let’s bring it on!

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Chemo Chronicles

I've created this blog to help keep all of you up to date with my progress, daily events and rants. In order to post a comment you need to select Anonymous from the pull down menu or use one of the other accounts from the list that you may have.

On 4-11-13 I was diagnosed with stage 1 DLBC NH Lymphoma (Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin). I had a lymph node in my neck removed for biopsy that yielded these results.

My lymphoma is in an aggressive stage and my team of doctors considered me as Stage 2 Aggressive and recommended an aggressive treatment plan of chemotherapy and radiation. The duration of my treatment plan is 16 weeks and it starts on 5-3-13. That's not a whole lot of time to prepare.

Going through this treatment is a fight. That’s what I’m doing, I’m fighting and I don’t want any boo hooing in my corner. I don’t want any pity or any ‘I’m so sorry’, or ‘You poor thing’. If you want to boohoo and cry, that’s fine, but I don't want to hear it. If you want to stand behind me and my team and rally for me then that’s what I need. This disease intends on kicking my ass if I can't stand up and fight.

I’m depending on my team to keep my fighting spirit up high, and not let it fall down into a depressed state. When is the last time you watched a boxing match and the coach in one corner yells over to the coach of the other corner ‘Why'd ya have to hit him so hard for'. That isn't what happens. The coach slaps his fighter in the face a few times to snap him out of it while screaming in his face 'What the hell are you doing out there. You're leaving yourself wide open. Stay out of reach of his jab and stick him with the counter when he comes in. Now get in there and Fight!'. That's what happens!

So what is my game plan... First and foremost whatever the doctors tell me to do. I need to maintain my acid/alkaline balance. I'm going to get back into my Pi Gu practice and start an acupuncture and Tong Ren regime. I'm going to focus my attention on studying for exams during my hospital stays and maintain my Kali/Arnis training until I'm unable. I'm going to remember everyone before me that has undergone this type of treatment and the knowledge they've shared to give me strength. I'm going to reach deep within myself and get ready to endure a pain like I've never known. I am going to show love and adoration toward my team and respect their judgments.

I'd prefer visitation to be limited to coaches on my team. Non-coaches I'd prefer that you support me through this blog or email throughout the duration of my treatment plan.

If you would like to be a coach on my team I'd love to have your support. Please email me.

What would I expect of my coaches. The ability to not take my crap, to keep me humble and get me back in check if I become a moody SOB. If I start cracking up and lose sight of my game plan I need help to get back on track and keep my head on straight. When I'm sick as a dog and I will be I need Spirit more than I need comfort. When I think I've had enough, I need my ass kicked cause it ain't over til its over.

We are more stronger together than we are alone!
Weakness is not a sign of strength; it’s a lack of it!


Anthony


Team Tarallo Current Roster

Head Coach:
Yours Truly

Assistant Head Coach:
F Martins

Cornermen:
Team Tarallo (NH Branch) (Strength & Conditioning Coordinators, Personal Advisory Team)
Team N DeCola (RWS Fight Plan Coordinator & Conditioning Coordinators, Personal Advisory Team)
D Blake  (Fight Coordinator &  Motivational Counselor)
M DellaGrotte (Tactical Team, Fight Coordinator and Motivational Counselor)
R DellaGrotte (Tactical Team, Attitude Adjustment Counselor and Fight Coordinator)

Coaches:
C Tarallo
F Tarallo (Attitude Adjustment Counselor)
J Blauvelt (Attitude Adjustment Counselor)
Indio (Motivational Counselor)
S Douglas
A Abrams (Mentor & Motivational Counselor)

TCM & Herbalists:
Tom Tam
Arthur
Guro P Freedman

Spiritualism and Prayer:
G Pachas
B & TNT Tarallo
A Timolien
Indio

Additional Therapies:
Tong Ren
Pi Gu
Tui Na Massage
Tai Chi Dao Yin