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IAMA five and half year cancer patient and am battling a disease with no cure. Instead of worrying about a cure for myself, I started a non-profit to find one for others. AMA!
On September 10, 2010, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Synovial Sarcoma. This very rare form of cancer forced me into six months of continuous chemotherapy and two months of radiation. On March 28, 2011, the day my port was removed from my chest, I was considered cancer free. Since then, I has had 4 relapses of this cancer all containing within my lungs.
Through the hundreds of doctor visits, countless blood work, over 20 hospital stays, and nearly 10 surgeries, I have never worried about myself, but always cared about the people around me whenever I had the chance. As a cancer patient, I never saw himself as "sick." During my years of battling cancer, I have been able to raise over $50,000 for non-profit organizations such as Make a Wish; but that gave me the idea to find a cure for my own disease. I began by making a video, and a website and eventually I launched my non-profit for Synovial Sarcoma. The need for more research to find a cure for Synovial Sarcoma is a pressing reality for me and other young adults who fight this fight.
I'm here to answer any questions you have about my fight, the disease in general, or how my "normal" life is on a day to day basis. The first link in the proof is my video, detailing my story and my goals to continue this fight. If you could watch it and share, that would be a huge first step in getting the word out there about my foundation and others like it.
My Proof:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN36vZnHRjY http://imgur.com/7BS7th6 http://www.ocregister.com/articles/volleyball-665714-school-vorenkamp.html https://www.facebook.com/tim.vorenkamp/posts/1037435102956719?pnref=story http://liveforothersfoundation.com
Daabevuggler1 karma
Do you think the level of fitness you have maintained as an athlete has helped you during your fight with cancer?
Timvorenkamp2 karma
Any fitness helps every person, but I believe it did help in recovery from surgeries and treatment.
Timvorenkamp1 karma
Everyone of course is scared about something like this. But to be honest, I'm not worried about what my life's outcome will be. To me what is important is that the world sees how cancer can change a person's life, but in a positive way, just as a I explained in my video.
haffbaked1 karma
So you were deemed clear of cancer 4 times and it came back each time?
Any point where you were considering giving up?
Timvorenkamp3 karma
No never. For me giving up meant that I had given up also on the people that were supporting me. I never gave up because I knew that I had the best support I could ever ask for, and still do.
ruess1 karma
Thanks for sharing this and for your attitude of generosity and wanting to change the world despite extraordinary adversity. What are your financial goals fit your non profit? Basically how much do you feel you need to raise to get stuff moving?
Timvorenkamp1 karma
Our financial goals are as much money as possible. Not only does it take a lot of time to get a drug approved, tested and sent out to patients, it costs even way more money. So please donate and spread the word of our organization!!
Timvorenkamp1 karma
I had a lump on the side of my leg. My symptoms were pain when you bumped into it. Its very strange how they diagnose something like this.
joshanaitor1 karma
What is the one thing you hate hearing when your sick or going through your chemo?
Timvorenkamp1 karma
One thing I hated hearing was people constantly asking if I was doing okay. If im not doing okay, I would tell them, I hated being bugged about my health on a daily basis
Timvorenkamp1 karma
I tried that diet for a bit, but I didn't think it helped. The choice and amount were very limited. Today I'm feeling fantastic. I've been wanting to do something on reddit for a while, so my friend is over helping me with the AMA.
DrSayer1 karma
Did your doctors give you Doxorubicin? If so, what time did this happen around? This is the best possible form of Chemotherapy for synovial sarcoma.
I've actually got a colleague who works with sarcomas and told me to ask this.
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