I’ve been quiet for a bit, but here’s the big news: when I started round three of infusion, I took a PCR test. (For those following along, this is the ultra-nerdy test that can sniff out even a single cancer cell, the same test that confirmed I had leukemia in the first place.)
Well… the PML-RARα fusion gene didn’t even bother to show up.
We’ll still finish out the last five weeks of treatment, but at this point it’s just to make sure the fusion gene is dead dead. Not “mostly dead.” APL will receive no quarter.
Of course, there’s still a lot of work ahead. I want my body back—cardio, muscle mass, and energy have all been ransacked over these last eight months. But now the road is finally about rebuilding, not just surviving.
And part of that rebuilding is bigger than me. I’ve signed up to compete in a jiu-jitsu tournament on February 28th, almost one year to the day I was diagnosed. I’ll be fighting (literally) to raise money for cancer-related charities through Tap Cancer Out.
If you train, sign up to roll. Raise $250, and your entry is free
If you want to support, sponsor me here.
If you’re cheering from the side, hell yes, that counts too. Attend the event live for the possibility of seeing me get beaten up. Every bit helps.
Because this isn’t just a tournament.
It’s a declaration: I’m still here. I’m still fighting.
No Quarter,
~Tyler
It's great new, Tyler!