COMM Post--Sometimes dreaming helps create future realities

I received a positive comment from one of the most accomplished doctors who treated me back in 2000, Dr. Larson. Dr. Larson was Professor in Residence at the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He was also co-director of the university's Gamma Knife Program, a position he held for 16 years. In addition, Dr. Larson was clinical chief of Long Hospital Radiation Oncology, co-director of the Cyberknife Spine Radiosurgery Program, director of the Cyberknife Body Radiosurgery Program and principal investigator in the Brain Tumor Research Center. He is current Co-Medical Director, Gamma Knife Program, at the Washington Hospital Healthcare System, in Fremont, CA.

“Cancer On My Mind is an original narrative of a brain tumor patient’s thrilling journey of survival or death. After receiving his diagnosis, Walter uses positive thinking to battle his talking brain tumor through six hours of awake motor mapping brain surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Great doctors and nurses, amazing medical treatments and drugs, and family members and friends can help defeat cancer. This book shows that a cancer patient must rely on a strong body, and resilient self-esteem, to survive the daily fatigue and doubt of surviving cancer. Walter reverses the helpless attitude some brain tumor patient’s feel by working during his chemotherapy treatments, escaping reality by walking many miles throughout San Francisco, and maintaining a “never give up attitude” after six hours of brain surgery and throughout his 36 weeks of exhausting chemotherapy treatments. The talking tumor narrative is an ingenious perspective, and allows the reader and cancer patients into the evil psyche of cancer, the heartless potential messenger of death.”

I read the screenplay treatment written by Allen Amundsen and the content is awesome. Allen is a very talented and imaginative writer. He makes my book jump off the page. The talking tumor has been transformed into the Strange Man, who appears in my mind, in my dreams, stressful moments, and while I laying the MRI tube visualizing snorkeling on the beach, to relax during a hour and 15 minute long scan. My Mom is portrayed as a strong woman, who encourages me to hang tough and I will beat cancer.

Overall, I am amazed how Allen has adapted my book into a 16 screenplay treatment complete with flashbacks, a character who i make mends with, puking, six hours of awake motor mapping brain surgery, and chemotherapy. The Strange Man and I battle each other other, mano y mano, hand to hand, and trash talk each other like a hero and villain, in a good versus evil movie plot.

I am going down to Steve's house on Saturday, to shoot some pictures in a photography studio for my book cover. Steve turned me on to a computer artist, Jerry from Indiana. Steve showed me some of his work on his web page and it is insightful, imaginative, and surreal. These are elements that I would like to have in my book cover. Jerry and I talked on the phone today and made some headway on some ideas for the book cover.

I emailed Tim some brain tumor web sites and a few Lance Armstrong videos, I would like to post on my Cancer On My Mind web site.

I am still waiting for a few more positive comments for my book.

All in all, full steam ahead.

Oprah here we come.