JakeCast

From Nils’ (Plakespear)-

In 2003 I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, which further testing revealed had spread to my lymph nodes. I underwent several surgical procedures, as well as a year of Alpha Inteferon treatment. During that time, a group of freinds and strangers from the internet raised a bunch of money, and sent me on a ski trip to Utah. It was my first trip out west, and it transformed my life. I spent most of 2004 exhausted from the medicine, working when I could at a ski and bicycle shop, which allowed me to make some money, but due to my illness I had to put my career in video production on hold. In the fall of 2005, things were looking good, when a CAT scan revealed a mysterious spot on my right lung. This turned out to be another melanoma. I had surgery to remove this lesion in April of 2006, and I am now in the process of recovery. Further scans this summer revealed that the Melanoma was spreading through my lungs. I spent a lot of the summer being treated with Interleukin II, a very exhausting treatment. Unfortunately, it was not successful, and I will soon begin a regimen of a trial vaccine. However I am not letting this control my life. I continue to ride my bike as much as I can, and am looking forward to a winter filled with skiing. I will relocate to Mt. Snow, VT for most of the winter, which will serve as my basecamp for adventures throughout the Northeast and Quebec. I also have several trips planned Out West. And I continue to write, create, and work on my documentary film “Normalcy”, which tells the story of myself and other cancer survivors and how sliding down snowy mountains helped us to kick cancer’s ass. Cancer picked the wrong guy to fuck with.