During my personal disclosure of being diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma cancer well meaning persons have offered their ‘lucky charms’ to insure success in my battle. No, I have not received a rabbits foot or four leaf clover pendant, but holy water, prayers, zodiac signs, and a variety of numerology patterns have been suggested or offered. I have always been fascinated with numbers and today the confluence a number and an event are noted.

From my earliest days of Little League, prep school sports, college basketball and baseball and on through my two summers of playing in the Cape Cod league I chose my uniform number carefully. It evolved that there was a certain number that became my favorite. Virginia Theological Seminary Biblical studies taught me about numbers and their significance. For example, when we read that Moses was in the wilderness for 40 years, Jesus in the desert for 40 days, and Noah’s rainstorm lasted 40 days and 40 nights we begin to ask the inevitable question; what does the number 40 represent? 40 in the Bible essentially refers to a long time because no one actually knew how long each of the three events lasted. My number of choice has always been 22. It represents to me good luck and good fortune - a lucky number that has appeared at unusual times in my life. And once again….

Today is the 22nd, and the last day of my chemo therapy treatments. I was originally told that since my cancer grew slowly within me it would probably be slow to disappear. 8 rounds of 3 days per month treatments were scheduled, yet at the end of five rounds my PET and CT scans were negative – here is a time when negative is actually positive. This sixth round, which I did question, has been called precautionary and designed to zap any little wayward cancer cells that might have escaped detection by the PET scan. I was not too excited about a sixth round, but deferred to the experts. Today closes out what I hope and pray will be the last day of my life experiencing the drip, drip, drip that has become a marker in my life.

I did not wear a lucky tie, carry a lucky penny, or even avoid stepping on the cracks in the sidewalk of the St. John’s Medical building which houses the Angeles Clinic, but I did come on time, complain little, focus on eating super foods, and trust that the lucky charms and prayers of others, and my good numbers would carry the day. Knock on wood, my good fortune continues.

Unless there is an outcry of dismay over losing yet another web offering, I will defer to others to carry on the message of prevention, alternative healing methods balanced with sound western medical practices, as I focus on a continual modification of lifestyle choices.

One man’s battle with cancer is over. It may return. If it does I will begin anew on several fronts, including resurrecting The Kreitler Compact. Mantle cell lymphoma is known to recur and challenge folks with new presenting problems. If that happens I will address once again the efficacy of new and old strategies. In the interim, which I hope is until the age 99, my thanks, my love and my appreciation goes to each of you who have offered support in your own way.

Why I got cancer in the first place is a mystery that I will try and unlock. Why I was cured of cancer is no mystery but a clear affirmation of the power of cooperative efforts on many levels. Prayer, positive thinking, healthy food choices, the right combination of drugs, sleep, family and friends encouragement, long distant vibes, a crack medical team, and a power beyond all of us is the answer.

Thanks for walking this 6 month sojourn with me. I could not have and did not walk along.

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