By Stephen D. Rappaport.

I lost my cycling fitness overnight. Having ridden 100+ miles a week for years, I struggled after two, breathing hard, short of breath.

I couldn’t go on. I returned home, taking the flattest way, even cutting through a neighbor’s yard to avoid the 10-degree grade to my hilltop home.

The fatigue, I thought, might be related to a recent medication change. My doctor stopped that, but my energy and ability never returned. He ordered a blood test. He called the next day.

“You’re not going on vacation tomorrow. You’re seeing the head of blood cancers on Monday.” “Can’t it wait a week?” “No!”

Monday came. The doctor seemed nervous. He didn’t know me but had news to break. He told me plainly: “You have leukemia. Where do you want to be admitted?” [Read more…]