Harry Anderson

Information Journal Guestbook

Hi, I'm Harry and I am doing quite well thanks to all the support from friends, family, my employer and the internet!
I had always had a bad lower back, it seemed to get much worse the 18 months prior to finding out I had a sacral chordoma in August of 2007. Nine months prior I had had an X-ray and my doctor felt it was just wear and tear from an extreme lifestyle (snow skiing and waterski racing at 90+mph) My first good luck was as a buddy said "at least it's not 1967".
My next bit of luck was a local neurosurgeon in Reno I already knew and felt good with happened to have experiance with Chordoma in medical school. I wasted no time having him do very good surgery removing the 92mm chordoma properly, leaving it up to him doing what needed to be done (up to S-3). Not the best.
Just prior, a few folks contacted us from the Chordoma Support Group. I found out about Loma Linda Proton Beam, which I was blessed once more in getting and what a great experiance. I meet so many wonderful people. Miss you guys!
I seemed to stumble through and make the proper discisions, opted out on colostomy, knowing how well I healed. I managed to ride my bike to most of the 40 Proton treatments every night. I was never going to let this bump in the road get me!
I completed Proton treatment Thurs. Feb 14, 2008 and was back at work on Monday after more than 4+ months, but did have to dig through more than 9 feet of snow when I got home to Lake Tahoe! My first back to life test.
As I recall, just as I got back someone said they saw a story on a guy on the news with the same cancer. Turned out to be Josh Sommer and it made me feel special in a good way. Once again it seemed I was alive at the right time!
The first few months were tough, but I seemed to turn the corner in August of 2008.
I continue to ride my bike, started snow skiing in 2008-09 too! I have a very demanding job at 8200' working on Snow Cats for Squaw Valley Ski Corp. I skied about 10 days this year so far(2010) as good as ever. Everything is goal it seems these days. Just prior to the Olympics I flew to Whistler on business and can still ski with the best of them, at 53 Too! Flying was a big thing for me.
I continue to get better and better. No one has any clue there is even anything wrong with me. Of coarse I have my issues, but I seem to do quite well. It's all in the additude I feel that is so important.
I have to thank all those who do so much for us. Please accept my sincere "Thank You" Take Care, Harry

Help all those less fortunate than myself.