I just found out I have a tumor on my left retina.
Could be something that metastasized from my bladder cancer 2.5 years ago. Not sure as they are still trying to figure out where it came from.
At any rate, it looks like I'll have to undergo plaque radiation to treat the tumor (most likely will damage the vision in that eye).
Worst case (at least for the eye) is removal?
Would other racers not want me on the track as I may be a danger (no peripheral vision on the left side)?
As long as you are not a danger to yourself or others, they will let you race. There is nothing in the rules that would prohibit you from competition.
QuoteI just found out I have a tumor on my left retina.
Could be something that metastasized from my bladder cancer 2.5 years ago. Not sure as they are still trying to figure out where it came from.
At any rate, it looks like I'll have to undergo plaque radiation to treat the tumor (most likely will damage the vision in that eye).
Worst case (at least for the eye) is removal?
Would other racers not want me on the track as I may be a danger (no peripheral vision on the left side)?
you`ve got mail! ;D
My brain only uses my left eye. I do not have depth perception.
QuoteI do not have depth perception.
Is this a hinderance or advantage.
I would think both... a hinderance because you have to re learn things... an advantage because you now work harder to compensate!?!
Maybe kinda like when you loose one sense the others compensate for it?
Best of luck to you scott, let me know if there is anything i can do to help out!
tim
QuoteIs this a hinderance or advantage.
I choose "C".
Never had it, don't know what it is or isn't.
Binocular depth perception might only be relevant for close up work. I hate ping pong.
However, as distances increase, judgement of distances do not rely on binocular vision.
I've grown up with it like that. How one would work with it later in life, I don't have answers. It can be done, obviously.
Life is short. Race. I don't think the rules would prohibit you from racing. I've seen a guy racing with no right arm. They let him compete.
If you've only recently lost your vision in the one eye, you might want to do a track day first. Start in a slow group, and see how things go. Move to faster groups as you get acclimated. I'm thinking it will take some practice to figure out what the hell you're doing. But by God, work it out.
I wish you all the luck in the world. You're in a hell of a spot, but by merely asking this question, you've proven that you don't intend to just lay back and take what you're handed. Many people would give up, but you are obviously no quitter. You sound like the kind of guy I'd like to be friends with!
This probably won't help, but I lost a contact lens while racing. I rode 15 minutes with one eye closed and finished the race. I was slower, and had a blinding, nausia inducing headache when I stopped. But I was able to do it. My guess is that it will be hard at first, but you will eventually be able to adapt.
I coach for Sportbike Track Time. I'd love to help you if I can. This spring, I'd be happy to meet you at an STT track day in the midwest. I'll run with you, dog you up the side you can't see, and generally make your life miserable. I'm used to having students run me off the track, so it's no big deal! ;D Once you get used to me, you can take on the fast guys again!
I've raced with 1 headlight since 1969.
No one asked, so I didn't tell.
I was shot in the head while hunting when I was 12, bullet still in brain etc. Lost left eye etc., 6 months in hospital, theropy etc.
It took a full year to learn to walk again, equilibrium etc., Dr.'s said no more football, running etc., the next year I started back on the mini bike, took lots of time and getting used to.
Depth perception was biggest problem, but Motocross and wide open spaces helped.
Drag Raced for many years, needed turn at end of strip.
Started Road Racing in 1981, {FGPRA} then AMACCS in 1983-86, many 6hr. Endurance races, including Paul Revere 250.
Ran Tug Boats for 10 years then back with CCS in 2002.
When one gets used to a thing, it gets easier, one becomes more precise, one is more motivated in every aspect of everything, especially Road Racing.
I won a Regional Championship last year in Am. Super Twins, and 3rd. in Am. F-40, {in arguably the Fastest Region in the CCS Nation.}
You are a Racer, able to overcome what ever comes next, all things are possible, no matter what.
I don't think I've ever been an obstical to anyone on the track, always give room inside and out, unless it's a real battle and I'm passin you and your little bike too.
Hope all goes well.
Hey Scott,
Give'em Hell Man!!
Take care of Biz 1st, then do what you want.
Good to see that you are looking for feedback from any who may have experience.
Keep your heart and spirits in the right place and the rest will follow.
Good Luck Man, Get'er Done!!
We'll see ya at the track.
pvd
Thanks for all the support everyone. It really means a lot to me.
I'm not one to air my personal issues on a public forum, but I really needed to know the answer to this question! :)
I want to race really bad and if I would be considered unsafe (well, more than right now anyway), I wouldn't want to make someone feel uncomfortable with me on the track due to my possible condition.
I figure if the make me go through chemo again, I want to get started ASAP so I can be recovered for the season! LOL
;D
TommyG, I replied....
Hmmm...Can you teach an old dog new tricks???
I know you love the sport enough to make it work for you Scott. I have faith in you. ;)
QuoteLife is short. Race. I don't think the rules would prohibit you from racing. I've seen a guy racing with no right arm. They let him compete.
If you've only recently lost your vision in the one eye, you might want to do a track day first. Start in a slow group, and see how things go. Move to faster groups as you get acclimated. I'm thinking it will take some practice to figure out what the hell you're doing. But by God, work it out.
I wish you all the luck in the world. You're in a hell of a spot, but by merely asking this question, you've proven that you don't intend to just lay back and take what you're handed. Many people would give up, but you are obviously no quitter. You sound like the kind of guy I'd like to be friends with!
This probably won't help, but I lost a contact lens while racing. I rode 15 minutes with one eye closed and finished the race. I was slower, and had a blinding, nausia inducing headache when I stopped. But I was able to do it. My guess is that it will be hard at first, but you will eventually be able to adapt.
I coach for Sportbike Track Time. I'd love to help you if I can. This spring, I'd be happy to meet you at an STT track day in the midwest. I'll run with you, dog you up the side you can't see, and generally make your life miserable. I'm used to having students run me off the track, so it's no big deal! ;D Once you get used to me, you can take on the fast guys again!
Thanks Chris... I've heard of the legend, but not met the man. I've seen vid of you crashing at Gateway.. and remember seeing your leathers at the last Blackhawk.
Hope we meet next year.
QuoteHope we meet next year.
Count on it!
;D
Um, I think you'll be fine. In fact, it may keep you from looking at your brother on the starting grid when you should be watching the flag!
Seriously though, hope things turn out ok for you.
QuoteUm, I think you'll be fine. In fact, it may keep you from looking at your brother on the starting grid when you should be watching the flag!
LOL!!! ;D That was quite the start that day! Too bad you didn't get to see what happened in turn 2! hehe..
QuoteSeriously though, hope things turn out ok for you.
Thanks Scott. Are you going to be out there next year?
We a have a couple guys who run our trackdays who are blind in one eye. One in the right eye, the other in his left. We always wondered what would happen if they went into turn 1 side-by-side. So far, nothing interesting to report.
Dont let it slow you down at all.
i know one of the amatuer ama womens champions (shes liek 12 on an 80) is totally def and mute. so if she can race and beat everyone esle, i think u could prob do it. this kinda reminds me of seabiscuit.
QuoteI just found out I have a tumor on my left retina.
You have any more information on this?
Decisions? Thoughts? You doing ok?
QuoteYou have any more information on this?
Decisions? Thoughts? You doing ok?
Dave,
Had an MRI this past Monday. I have a followup today with the another specialist. I should know more today on what actions are going to be taken. I believe the MRI should give them a better idea if the tumor originated in the eye or got there from my previous cancer. The original doctor said it looks to be metastatic (not good).
I'm doing pretty well. I did a lot better with the news of my bladder cancer. This is just a little too close to the brain (not that there's much there to harm :)) for my comfort level, so that has me a bit freaked out.
I haven't had a lot of time to research eye tumors, but from what I have found, there seems to be (in most cases) a direct link from the eye to the liver.
Hmmm
Had a scare a few years ago. Had no balance, lost a lot of hearing in one year. MRI, etc., but no cancer or anything.
Keep in touch. Said a prayer or three for you. I'll send more...
Keep your head up Scott!! you already beat it once...you'll beat it again!! ;)
R1:
I don't think I'll be racing next year. Sold the F4i and my wife and I had a baby three weeks ago. I think I'll take a year off, let the checkbook recover, and be back in '07 with a new bike.
But, I'll be at some ofthe races for sure just to hang.
QuoteR1:
I don't think I'll be racing next year. Sold the F4i and my wife and I had a baby three weeks ago. I think I'll take a year off, let the checkbook recover, and be back in '07 with a new bike.
But, I'll be at some ofthe races for sure just to hang.
Sure, sure Scott... must've been getting kind of close to getting enough points to go expert!
;D Just kidding!
Just got back from doc. He had nothing much new to say other than to refer me to yet another doctor. So, I hopefully will find out more info on the 12th.
Thanks again for all the well wishes everyone.
If YOU felt comfortable on the racing surface, I would share the track with ya any day.
until I get beat by a guy with only one eye, then it would piss me off! J/K ;D
If you do lose it, I think you should wear one of those pirate patches, and fly the Jolly roger on your bike!
Then change your login to "Willie the one-eyed wonder worm" 'cuz everyone loves Willie!!
Good luck bro. Needless to say, we're all pulling for you.
A friend of mine started racing last year w/ CCS & WERA... He has vision in only 1 eye and does great...Very trustworthy... ;D And he runs UL... :o
I wish you all the best...
QuoteIf you do lose it, I think you should wear one of those pirate patches, and fly the Jolly roger on your bike!
Then change your login to "Willie the one-eyed wonder worm" 'cuz everyone loves Willie!!
Now this goes along nicely with an inside joke we have going on Mr. r1! hehe
QuoteNow this goes along nicely with an inside joke we have going on Mr. r1! hehe
AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!
Update:
GREAT NEWS!!!
Saw the specialist today. He seems to think it is a benign growth! :):) He plans to keep close tabs on the eye (checkups every 3 months).
I'm very happy with the news and it's a huge relief!
Thanks for all the support everyone!
:DGreat News Scott,
see you at the track!!!
Happy Holidays
Paul
Polar-Optics
PHUCK YEAH!!!!!!! GOD IS GOOD!
Oh, that's great!
Is there anything more that you can do? Have you looked at alternative diets or anything to try and combat it?
Thats great news for sure Scott!! Very encouraging! We're all hoping for the best! Merry Christmas! ;)
QuoteOh, that's great!
Is there anything more that you can do? Have you looked at alternative diets or anything to try and combat it?
Dave,
The doctor just seemed to indicate vigilant monitoring of the growth.
It's funny, I read somewhere that eating sunflower seeds was a great risk reducer to contracting bladder cancer... yet, I still ended up with it (and I practically live off of seeds)! ??? Of course the type I had is extremely rare (only somewhere like 300 cases ever reported). So maybe that diet isn't applicable to my particular case.
I asked my oncologist about diet. He indicated that diet has not proven to be a link to cancer. I'm not so sure about that. Cancer is so unpredictable in my opinon. I've read about akaline vs acid forming foods. Not sure if there is any truth in all that or not.
With so many things out of our control constantly bombarding our bodies (microwaves, TV, cell, radio, radar, EMP) is that causing us to be more suseptible to cancer?
One thing I was asking my oncologist about a PET scan, he said you ingest something sweet and the cancer cells are attracted to it. I have pretty much lived off nothing but soda my entire adult life. Might that have something to do with it... I don't know. To me it seems so nebulous as compared to something like cigarettes (with their known carcinogens).
Do you think Diet matters Dave?
Again, thanks to all of you praying for me. Evidently it worked! :)
Can't wait to get back on the track next year!
And the schedule change for BHF actually helped me! LOL :)
QuotePHUCK YEAH!!!!!!! GOD IS GOOD!
I concur!
QuoteIt's funny, I read somewhere that eating sunflower seeds was a great risk reducer to contracting bladder cancer... yet, I still ended up with it (and I practically live off of seeds)! ??? Of course the type I had is extremely rare (only somewhere like 300 cases ever reported). So maybe that diet isn't applicable to my particular case.
eh...I just eat lots of foods with preservatives in it so I don't have to get botox. hehe
QuoteWith so many things out of our control constantly bombarding our bodies (microwaves, TV, cell, radio, radar, EMP) is that causing us to be more susceptible to cancer?
You'd think the radiation from those devices would help fight off the cancer! hehe...at least that's what I'm hoping! Either that or you should start putting your cell phone up to your ear and not your eye! Goober.
I'm so please that you are healthy Scott...but I'm really bummed about the pirate thing. An eye-patch isn't going to do it for me anmore...I was looking forward to the real thing...I'm a bit sick!
QuoteDo you think Diet matters Dave?
I think it might more than we think.
It gets real messy really quick.
My mom died of cancer. She was a nurse, so to help her out, they, my mom's doctor and nurse friends, gave her vitamin B shots to perk her up a bit during chemo... Well, apparently, she said sitting in the hospital, it sounded like cancer likes B vitamins.
i read Atkin's book on low carb diets. He has a section there on cancer. If we follow you sweets thing, not only do they like sweets, but they like carbs, period. Makes cancer go goofy.
Go buy a can of chili and it's loaded up with corn meal, carbs. Lots of filler potatoes, carbs, in soups. Corn stuff in just about everything for filler 'cause it's cheap, and it sets off your body in seach of more carbs..."I'll have just one more french fry..."
And with cancer now apparently overtaking heart disease as the number one killer....
When my mom was taking chemo, there was some research being done on the use of shark cartilage. We got some, and I got the book. Read it, and the basics were that the shark cartilage, when broken down, was a large molecule that would load up the capilary feeding points to the cancer. Cancer needs blood for supply of food, energy, etc. Protiens are big too. Put the two ideas together and one might be able to say that having more amino acids and protiens in one's system might have an affect of ruining those pathways that cancer needs to survive.
I had a minor scare compared to your gig in 2002. I had no balance, my right ear didn't work really well, and we didn't know what was going on. I thought that there was a possiblity of cancer, and i was waiting for an MRI. Kind of got me back into low carbing. After about seven months of having really, really poor balance, the hearing thing, I only have a dull ringing in my right ear that is only bad when it's quiet.
Try racing with one eye and no balance and one ear...LOL!
Sunflower seeds are loaded with protein...
Go figure.
QuoteUpdate:
GREAT NEWS!!!
Saw the specialist today. He seems to think it is a benign growth! :):) He plans to keep close tabs on the eye (checkups every 3 months).
I'm very happy with the news and it's a huge relief!
Thanks for all the support everyone!
Damn Scott, that is great news. Glad to hear you'll be ok. :)
Hopefully I'll be gettin a 750 early this Spring. I go on full time at my job on Monday so I should be able to scape together some $ by then. I'll see you at the track. ;D
QuoteDamn Scott, that is great news. Glad to hear you'll be ok. :)
Hopefully I'll be gettin a 750 early this Spring. I go on full time at my job on Monday so I should be able to scape together some $ by then. I'll see you at the track. ;D
Thanks Eric. Congratulations on the new job! Is it in IT?
I'm also glad you're getting a 750 again! No MW classes for you! ;)
QuoteThanks Eric. Congratulations on the new job! Is it in IT?
Oh yeah, still working at the same company WWT, just going on full time now.
QuoteI'm also glad you're getting a 750 again! No MW classes for you! ;)
I was thinking about gettin a 1k cuz I'll run the bike on the street too, but I heard speedballer is gonna get one. I want no part of being on the track the same time as that guy. ;D
QuoteI was thinking about gettin a 1k cuz I'll run the bike on the street too, but I heard speedballer is gonna get one. I want no part of being on the track the same time as that guy. ;D
LOL, I'll actually believe it when I see him racing again.
Is Chris going to race next year too? If so, we'll have to hook up. So far, I plan on doing BHF in may, VIR in June, Gingerman in July, Hopefully the BHF in August and of course Gateway in Sept. (funds permitting).
Damn! I threadjacked my own thread!
QuoteIs Chris going to race next year too? If so, we'll have to hook up. So far, I plan on doing BHF in may, VIR in June, Gingerman in July, Hopefully the BHF in August and of course Gateway in Sept. (funds permitting).
Yeah, as long as nothing drastic pops up he should be racing too. We'll definately have to do some road trips. The few races I've done have only been at Gateway which sucks, I'm looking forward to getting some tracktime elsewhere....funds permitting.
QuoteDamn! I threadjacked my own thread!
It happens.
;D
Scott, good to hear that you should be ok, looks like I will continue to be slower than you :(
Anyway IF my bro gets a bike (big if, he still owes me money) we'll definately have to caravan up to a couple races! I think I will actually race next year instead of trrack days.
Chris
QuoteScott, good to hear that you should be ok, looks like I will continue to be slower than you :(
Anyway IF my bro gets a bike (big if, he still owes me money) we'll definately have to caravan up to a couple races! I think I will actually race next year instead of trrack days.
Chris
Chris, good to hear from you.
Looking forward to racing with you guys.
I should have room in the trailer for at least one extra bike. I'll probably be camping at the venues next year.
Did your buddy that's in the Guard with you tell you I ran into him playing paintball last month?
QuoteAnyway IF my bro gets a bike (big if, he still owes me money).
I think you have that backwards...
you owe
me money.(//URL)
QuoteChris, good to hear from you.
Looking forward to racing with you guys.
I should have room in the trailer for at least one extra bike. I'll probably be camping at the venues next year.
Did your buddy that's in the Guard with you tell you I ran into him playing paintball last month?
John said he ran into someone that knew me, but he couldn't remember who it was. I assumed it was you.
I wanted to go with those guys, but I'm a bit injury prone when paintballing.......
As for gettting a bike to the races.....Eric can drive me :)
Chris
QuoteI think you have that backwards...you owe me money.(//URL)
I think you're retarded......you owe me a motor.......
Chris
QuoteMy brain only uses my left eye. I do not have depth perception.
same here., but with the right eyes used only.,
dave
I agree with Chris - race.
Learn your limits progresively in a controlled fashion, but I say go for it.
I - like many - admire your moxie and wish you the best - on and off the track.
Now sic 'em!