Blood, Boobs and Balls: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cancer But Were Afraid to Ask Special Guests: Mike Vail, Sarah Shapiro and Tom Glasgow

This episode of FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ is unlike any other thus far. The Buzzards have three special guests that give us their personal accounts of their experiences with the Big C: Cancer. From the harrowing ordeals of chemotherapy to the darkly humorous side effects and oddball experiences the three guests share with wit, warmth and a funny bone.

 

First up, Pete interviews Mike Vail and his detailed wrestling match with leukemia. After a few days of noticing that he has tiny round spots on his lower extremities (called petechiae - pronounced puh·tee·kee·uh) Mike decides to have them checked out only to discover that he is merely a short time away from a potentially fatal situation. His ordeal sets up a best case scenario that only the right hospital, staff, medical insurance and the love of friends and family could provide. You will instantly fall in love with Mike and his no frills "can-do" spirit that many other folks in his shoes would merely go straight into the abyss. Mike stares and laughs right at it.

 

Roger interviews Sarah Shapiro and her breast cancer odyssey. She is a woman with no real ego or who suffers from vanity but makes the one decision in her life that she wishes she had done differently - a decision based on her one true moment of body awareness. Her candid conversation is filled with a no-nonsense approach to her treatment, ailments and bodily functions that will have you laughing as much as feeling compassion for a person that no one in their right mind would ever wish any ill-will upon. This is a solid gold story about a solid gold woman.

 

The final interview has George talking to Tom Glasgow as he regales us with his split second bout with testicular cancer. Every possible piece of toilet humor you could think of is, of course, mined for twelve-year old comedy gold but, in the end, that's all due to Tom's super trooper mentality.  He was faced with having cancer, the doctor said what needed to happen and in a matter of days, without a moment's hesitation, he got it handled. The most interesting coincidence about his situation is that he already went through the ordeal with Mike Vail, who is one of his closest friends. After witnessing what his friend went through he had no choice but to face it with cold certainty and a goofy Tom Glasgow face.

 

Cancer is a disease that affects us all in one way or another. No one alive will live free and clear of its all-encompassing reach. We here at FIVE DOLLAR BUZZ wanted to share three stories of people we know and love who fought cancer and maybe their stories will help those going through it or those who know someone close to them going through it.  There are nuggets of wisdom and true advice in their shared experiences; what they did right and what they feel they may have done wrong. Listen to them. And remember to always stare at the darkest moments of your life and crack a smile (or crack a beer like the Buzzards do but only if your doctor says it's okay).

 

If anyone has a question or wants advice from any of our guests on this episode or has any questions or comments about other episodes or has potential topics or guests for future episodes please email us at FIVEDOLLARBUZZ@gmail.com. We'll get back to you right away.

 

Much love to our listeners and always remember to put the towel under the door, have the citrus ready and....well, George will fill in the rest...