Chuck Williams, BB1, takes another jab at Cancer, slowing the tumor down to a stop

 

Chuck and Penelope headed to UCLA, December 14th, not knowing what was going to happen. A phone call the night before warned that his insurance had not authorized paying for a second Thera Sphere treatment. Which is a big deal.  One treatment is $80,000. However, that didn't stop our Champ. He told them he'd be there at 8:00 for a scheduled MRI. 

After the MRI, BB1, got word that his insurance authorized the treatment.  He met with Dr. Gnomes, his Surgeon and she was pleased with the results of the MRI.  She was finally able to get a clear picture of his first Thera Sphere treatment, almost 4 months ago. 

The first treatment blasted the liver tumor with billions of radiation balls, but the surgeon had been unable to decipher if she'd hit the mark because the picture was too foggy.

She had told Chuck to go and enjoy his trip to Zion in August, with Penelope, in his Motor Coach and give the liver time to settle down. He did, but the side effects were rough for the first 3 weeks.

Now that the liver has calmed down, she  was able to get a clear and it was good news. 

The Surgeon, had hit the tumor in the bulls eye.  She was thrilled.  The Thera Sphere had stopped it's growth and a second treatment was unnecessary at this time.  She want's to see Chuck in 3 months  for another MRI, and at that point, if there's any changes, a second Thera Sphere treatment will be discussed.

Chuck at the Lakers Game  recently with his brother Jim

Chuck is over the moon.  He feels pretty good, except for his Popeye feet and legs. The edema is still an issue and has slowed him down. Which, if you know Chuck, is out of sync with his normal "in the ring, dancing feet."

"I'm like normal people now." he said, "I'm used to being more like Superman, even at 67."

So, that's it.  Chuck can enjoy Christmas and head to Arizona for the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Show, in January and then hit Vegas for a few laps around the track.  

Merry Christmas Everyone.  Chuck thanks you all for the love, support and prayers on his behalf. He truly believes that's what is getting him through his ordeal with Cancer. 

 

The Power of Prayer, Good Vibrations and a strong support group helps Chuck Williams, BB1, go to the next round with Cancer

NEWS FLASH:

Just when Chuck, BB1, was down for the count, he got up and won the second round with Cancer.

It's been touch and go with Cancer the last three month,s since Chuck, BB1, had his first Thera Sphere treatment at UCLA. The first blow came when his MRI, was unable to give his Oncologist the information she needed to move forward, because the picture was too cloudy to read.

Following the treatment, Chuck's body filled with 18 lbs of edema and he was unable to fit in his clothes or shoes. He was concerned. But, his indomitable Spirit kept him focused on his life and he headed to Zion, with Penelope for rest and relaxation.

He didn't feel well. He couldn't sleep and was in pain. But, he never stopped believing he could win the battle.  When his blood tests came back they showed high liver numbers, he was told that if the numbers didn't go down, there would be little more they could do. His Liver would continue to fail. Chuck refused Chemo Therapy as an option, and refused to stop believing he could get those numbers down with mind over matter.  Miraculously, he seemed to will them down... except for one. 

The most important number, the bilirubin, remained at 2.1.  It had to be below 2, to continue the second Therma Sphere treatment. So he waited and he kept his Spirits up. Then, last weekend, he and his brother, Jim, drove Chuck's, Motor Coach to Palm Springs to see his old friend, Mike Love, of the Beach Boys, in concert. Mike arranged for him to park the Coach in VIP parking and he and Jim got a beautiful Jr. Suite at the Hilton Hotel. The concert was inspiring and Mike as always made Chuck feel like a Star. 

On Monday, November 21, just as he pulled into his driveway, the phone was ringing. It was the Doctor.  "Chuck," she said, "your bilirubin is under 2 and we can proceed".

Today, he got a call scheduling his next MRI, on December 14. and the second Thera Sphere treatment will follow at UCLA. The Miracle continues. Chuck can only have three treatments three months apart. If all goes well he will have number three 90 day's later.  And, if this happens, there is a 75 to 90% chance the treatments will work and the 2 tumors will back off. extending his life.

Chuck asked me to thank everyone who has sent prayers, comments on his Facebook group page and just wished him luck and good vibrations. He said, he believes, that all of you are part of the miracle that has given him this green light. He sincerely appreciates your love and support. He also believes that none of this would have been possible with out so many people wishing him well.

Keep the well wishes coming and with God's Will, Chuck will come through his second Thera Sphere treatment, with flying colors and he will win yet another round in the ring with Cancer.

Stay tuned for more good news next month.    

Cancer takes a few more Jabs, but, BB1, Chuck Williams continues to get up and fight

Chuck has been taking a lot of jabs from his opponent in the ring lately. After his last bout with the Cancer treatment TheraSphere August 17th, the Doctor wasn't happy with his liver numbers and suggested the liver needed to calm down for a month. With that Chuck and Penelope headed to Zion in his Mercedes Motor Coach and set up housekeeping for a week. They had a restful and relaxing time together and came home feeling great. The main side effect of the TheraSphere has been pain 24/7, which medication has kept in check and edema. Chuck gained 18 pounds of fluid weight and his normally lose jeans are too tight to wear. He now wears sweats. Yesterday the Doctor ordered water pills and hopefully the water and his liver numbers will come down, so he can have a second TheraSphere treatment on September 30th.  Chuck's still dealing with fatigue, but he's finally sleeping a little better. His old Chuck sense of humor is in tact and so is his appetite. So, he's still strong enough to go another round with Cancer in the ring.  

More will be revealed after September 30th.  Pray for a full recovery and a miracle.

Chuck Williams, BB1, hasn't given up hope beating his liver cancer and either should we

Here is the latest update on BB1, Chuck Williams in the ring with Cancer:

Jim and Chuck Williams,

He returned to UCLA on Wednesday, the 31 of August, for tests and scans to view the tumor and the effects of his TheraSphere treatment done a month ago. The Doctor was concerned because his liver numbers were higher than she hoped. She told Chuck to go on his road trip to Utah and enjoy being in Zion Park.  She wants the liver to calm down and believes that in the next 6 weeks, perhaps his numbers will begin to drop. However, she also discovered another tumor next to a blood supply vein, that will need to be zapped with TheraSphere radiation bubbles as well. The last zap sent over 90 million radiation bubbles into the original tumor. He can only have three zaps of TheraSphere, so let's hope the next one produces the effects Chuck needs to see.

Chuck isn't sleeping well. He's in pain, both in the area of his liver and in his shoulder and back. He's been asked to give up protein and concentrate on Carbs, because they're easier for the liver to break down. He's fine with eating that way.  He's still up and at em everyday.  He's happy to be packing up his Mercedes Motor Coach, and heading to God's Country, with his girlfriend, Penelope for some rest and relaxation. It takes a lot to take Superman down.  

We will know more in a month to six weeks, so stay tuned for further updates. When you think of BB1, imagine him racing at Speed Vegas. He will be stopping off there to do a couple laps, before heading to Zion. May the force be with him.

Chuck Williams gets well wishes from Beach Boy Al Jardine before going into UCLA on July 22nd for Cancer treatment!

 

Gene, Sharrie, Ann, Chuck

On July 8th, BB1 went in to UCLA to have part one of his Cancer Treatment done. It was a great success. They were able to cut off the blood supply to the tumor with no negative results. Now the big test comes this Friday, July 22, when Chuck goes in for the real deal.  The Doctor will insert radioactive balls into the tumor and hopefully blast them to kingdom come. There's a 70% to 95% chance on the procedure working. There is no % on the treatment until they apply it to Chuck. Everyone else is no longer with us.  It's still to early to have an accurate % and we don't know how often Chuck will repeat the treatment just yet.  Please send "Good Vibrations Chuck's was this Friday and pray he comes through a big winner.

Here is a wonderful email I received from Chuck telling me about a phone call he received from Beach Boy Al Jardine. Al's words really lifted Chuck's Spirit and made him feel like a million bucks.  Maybe two million.  

Al Jardine and Chuck Williams, BB1

Cuz.  I just got a call from Beach Boy Al Jardine. He has heard the news through the Beach Boys network probably Mike or Bruce. He and Brian and Al's son Adam who is on Tour with Brian all wished me well on my up-coming procedures. It made my Day to hear The Beach Boys are a part of my A-Team support and Love group.

To me that means a lot. He also told me tonight when they perform he will try to send some Good Vibrations my way and a perfect song would be any song because he knows the Love I have for all the songs The Beach Boys have.

So true and REEEEEL. He is in talks with people that want to start a Radio Station and told me that he thought I would be the best DJ for the Beach Boys could ever have----I agreed.

I will call you from the "W" Hotel when I get down there on July 21, 2016, at check-in time and I get situated in my Suite the Hotel calls it the Wonderful Suite pretty cool that is one of my favorite songs from SMILE 1965-6. Hope All Is Well  XXX/OOO   BB1

PS...
In regards to the picture posted:  We are all standing in front of Chuck's brand new 1976 Jeep Cherokee that he bought from his salary at The Shoe Inn that Chuck owned and operated for three years and sold Concert tickets to bring in more sales another Brilliant and Profitable Idea by Chuck. The store was located in the Montecito Village close to Chuck's Estate and his Parents Estate. He gave the Jeep to Nancy Chuck's younger sister for her Wedding Present in August 1976 she was moving to Colorado and needed a 4 Wheel Drive Vehicle. Chuck already had started his Car Collection and owned Three Cars plus had all the access to his Friend Mike Love's Cars who Mike put Chuck in charge of his Collection while The Beach Boys were on Tour. He actually restored Mike's 1962 Bentley S2 and his 1949 MG TC. The MG TC ended up on The Beach Boys Album Cover "ENDLESS HARMONY" soundtrack to a Beach Boys Story dedicated to Dennis and Carl Wilson. The Shoe Inn was early for its time and shoes sales were flat in Montecito so Chuck came up with Marketing of selling Concert Tickets through his Shoe Store and this was before Ticket Master Chuck even had the Idea of using The Beach Boys song "Take A Load Off Your Feet" that The Beach Boys gave him permission to use at no cost because he and Mike had become such good Friends. He was producing all the Shows at the Santa Barbara County Bowl. His first Show at the Bowl was in 1973 with The Beach Boys you could say he was a bit ahead of his time. Needless to say Shoe Sales took Off. All the customers got a one on one lesson on The Beach Boys and came in to meet Chuck and learn how Chuck worked with the most popular Band in the world at the time and bought Shoes at the same time. His Dad thought it was a Brilliant Idea. The Shoe Inn was Noel's Idea for Chuck to work in sales. Chuck wanted something different of course. He pulled it off without hurting his Dad's Idea. The rest is History.

Update on Chuck Williams. BB1's progress with Liver Cancer

Chuck, Anne, Sharrie, Gene 1976

BB1, Chuck Williams will be going to UCLA next Friday, July 8th, to begin the process of preparing him for a new treatment called TheraSphere^®.   If all goes well, he will start the TheraSphere therapy on July 31.  Send him Good Vibrations, Prayers and Well Wishes, that he is one of the lucky ones to push Cancer back for a long time.

 TheraSphere is a liver cancer therapy that consists of millions of small glass microspheres (20 to 30 micrometers in diameter) containing radioactive Y-90. The product will be injected into Chuck's liver through a catheter and be delivered directly to the tumor via blood flow.

If the tumor responds, by shrinking after the treatment, he will be repeating it every three months for as long as he lives.  This will cut into his road trips in the Coach to not more than two weeks at a stretch. He still hopes to continue racing in Vegas and has ordered a new yellow Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, that will arrive in October. Chuck at 66, has always landed on his feet.  I pray he's lucky and is blessed with many happy years to come.

 

BB1's Cancer is not curable at this point. There is a 50/50 chance that it will shrink and prolong his life

 

The Alfa and the Cobra

 written by Chuck's girlfriend Penelope

Finally we have action! They freaked him out by calling him the night before (Tuesday) & said that he was not eligible for the medical appointment. They called too late for him to respond (closed), so we went down anyway (I got up at 4:30). Went there and waited 40 minutes while they cleared him (he did have coverage) for his appointment and finally met with Dr Gomes (elegant fingers and thankfully a cut & dried, extremely intelligent woman surgeon) after a half hour consultation with the aide. The aide had him sign the waiver (in case they punctured a vein and/ or killed him during the “test drive” and/ or actual procedure, whereby on the first, they determine by a needle threading up the groin vein into his liver veins with a tiny cord, remove the needle & thread after directing a tube is inserted to the sites (different veins leading to stomach and lungs from the liver) to determine if there are stints (weakness, etc) with a tiny camera.

Apparently, the procedure includes closing off those stints with some glue. That is the “dry run”. The actual procedure (lengthy name) requires some sedation and takes 6-8 hours (outpatient also, like the “dry run”). They then direct tiny glass beads into the tumor that are radiated and hope that it shrinks the tumor.

It is a 50/50 chance that it will shrink.  A month after the procedure, he goes back again to have another ultrasound to determine if it works. She says that it is 50/ 50 on his chances and that the cancer is treated as a disease and not curable at this point. The objective is to stabilize/ shrink the tumor. It appears that due to his cirrhosis, he is not a viable candidate for liver transplant, although they keep trying to squeeze more money from him, by setting up other appointments with heart doctors, etc.

So we do not know when the first appointment (dry run) is occurring, hopefully within 10 days. The actual procedure is dependent upon appointment availability and if any cancellations occur.

BB1 races to the finish line with an amazing attitude, though no liver transplant is approved at this junction, but, he's not looking back

Chuck, Anne, Sharrie and Baby Georgia in the Snugly

Latest update from BB1. After demanding an answer from the powers that be, he finally got his voice heard. "Why should I wait for two months for answers?" he said, "I could croak before they schedule the surgery."  With that one word, "croak," he got their attention. 

Chuck has always been persistent and in this case it has served him well. The surgery is scheduled for July 17th. That's the good news. The not so good news is, there will be no liver transplant at this point, but it's not out of the question. It may be possible in a year and a half. But, shrinking the tumor is priority right now . The diagnosis he first received from his Santa Barbara Doctor was wrong. The Doctor told him the tumor was 3 centimeters, it's actually 7 centimeters and they can't remove it if it's over 5.  They also said his liver numbers were good, they're now downgraded to fair.

So, the plan of action is... They will go up his groin up into his liver and with a instrument that will melt the tumor and keep it from spreading. He will be in the hospital for three days and may have to do it again if necessary.  If he does nothing he has two years to live, with this plan of action they will manage the tumor and hopefully Chuck will live a long time. 

The Hep C and cirrhosis can't be stopped, but the tumor can be halted so that's what he's facing now.  In the mean time he's heading back to Vegas and will enjoy his Motor Coach and his racing at Speed Vegas until he has to come back to Santa Barbara. 

With all the stress BB1, is facing right now, his love and passion for the Beach Boys is still in full swing.  Look at the PR he pulled off for the Speed Vegas Grand Opening. He got Mike Love to the track and in the car to take this great picture.  He also, while racing, asked Mike's permission to promote Speed Vegas. Here's the results.  Not bad Cuz.  You're still the GREATEST!!!

CELEBRITY SIGHTING

THE BEACH BOYS' MIKE LOVE GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL
AT SPEEDVEGAS 

WHO:

Mike Love, co-founder and member, The Beach Boys

WHAT:

Love drove the track in a brand new Corvette Z06 at SPEEDVEGAS. Love experienced the most thrilling driving experience that Las Vegas has to offer driving multiple laps around the brand new Formula One-inspired track.

PHOTO LINK:

Click here to download photos.

PHOTO CREDIT:

SPEEDVEGAS

ABOUT SPEEDVEGAS:

SPEEDVEGAS is the new, award-winning 100-acre motorsports complex. Guests at SPEEDVEGAS experience the world’s most sought-after muscle cars and exotic supercars from Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, Corvette and more. The $30 million SPEEDVEGAS experience features an impressive 1.5 mile (2.4 km) Formula One-inspired racetrack comparable to top circuits in the world and includes 12 sweeping turns, 20-degree banked turns, 60 feet of total elevation change and a half-mile straightaway. In addition, the 20,000-square-foot, 2-story welcome center features indoor and outdoor observation decks, food and beverage selections at a well-appointed café, meetings and event space and much more. SPEEDVEGAS is located at 14200 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89054, just minutes south of the world-famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign (Exit 25 on Interstate 15).

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Marina Nicola/Erika Pope

Vox Solid Communications

mnicola@wearevoxsolid.com, epope@wearevoxsolid.com

(702) 586-2137, (702) 249-2977

#      #     #

A liver transplant may be denied BB1, because of the Cannabis policy at UCLA

After 4 day's at UCLA last week, undergoing a battery of tests on all his organs, BB1 came out with an A+ report.  That's the good news. The bad news is, because he's used cannabis on a regular basis since 1972, and the residue remains in his body for 6 months, he may be denied a liver transplant. That's UCLA's policy on Cannabis...Needless to say, Chuck has stopped the Cannabis, in hopes of reversing any negative outcomes. He is still waiting for the final Doctor's reports and the decision on the liver transplant.  Although the cards seem stacked against him, he's still got that "Good Vibration" going on and when Mike Love called and invited him to Vegas last weekend to see the Beach Boys concert and have dinner with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, he was in his Motor Coach at 4:09 Saturday morning and arrived in Vegas by 10:30. 

After setting up his coach at Speed Vegas racetrack and did a couple laps in the Ferrari and Lamborghini, before getting a call from Mike asking him to pick him up in the Motor Coach, at the Martin Condominiums, a huge expensive place on Dean Martin Drive where he's staying. 

Chuck and Mike parked the Coach right where Mike and the band parks and headed into the soundcheck.  "The band has a new team," Mike said, "I want BB1's opinion of the new harmonica, flute and sax player," he said. Chuck was stoked and for a while forgot he had liver cancer. Mike knew his buddy of almost 50 years was hurting and gave him a great piece of advise..."Just Don't Back Down." he said.  Afterwards they went to dinner just one on one. 

Mike asked BB1 if he'd like to move into the two bedroom condo with him for a couple days. Chuck was in his own suite, while Mike was in the other. It was the best time Chuck ever had with Mike and the next day they went to the new track, Speed Vegas, and Chuck took Mike for a spin around the track. The Beach Boys are still the most popular band around from the 60's. They celebrated having 200 sold out audiences in a row while in Vegas and Mike told BB1, that he considered him one of the Beach Boys.  "Not too cool!!" Chuck said.

 While Mike an Chuck hung out and reminisced their history, Mike came up with a great idea.  "How would you like to do the Beach Boys in a concert for the grand opening at the new track"  

"One last concert?" Chuck said, "Like the Last Supper," he joked around.  Mike was serious and Chuck, who produced a few Beach Boy concerts at the Santa Barbara Bowl in the early 70's into the 80's, was roaring to go. "I'm ready to do a really big concert at the track with all of the great car songs the Beach Boys are known for," he said.  Mike also mentioned how much he loved Chuck's Motor Coach and thought it would be a great idea for Chuck to drive him across country to future Beach Boy concerts.  Chucks into it!!!

As soon as Chuck gets word about the thumbs up or thumbs down  liver transplant I will post it asap.  Keep those Good Vibrations going for BB1, he has a lot of livin to do.

BB1's persistence overcomes the red tape devil and win this round

BB1, Chuck Williams with Mike and Jackie Love

After taking blow after blow from the medical establishment, going through the process of red tape, BB1, wins the round in astonishingly fast time. What would normally take months to be scheduled into UCLA for testing, he accomplished in just 6 weeks... because of his nonstop insistence on being heard.

On April 25th Chuck will head to LA and stay in a hotel near UCLA to begin a three day probing process.  By the end, he will have a clear picture of where, when, what and how the liver Cancer surgery will take place . With high spirits he surrenders to the Doctors and heads to Las Vegas for the month of May. He says he'll be hanging out with the Mike Love and the Beach Boys and do some racing at the new Speed Vegas Racetrack.  

Side note: Mike Love is writing a new book, "Good Vibrations," featuring a chapter called "Santa Barbara."  He's sending a writer from a top publishing house to interview Chuck.  The chapter will spotlight BB1 during the time Mike lived in Santa Barbara between 1971 and 1975.  Chuck ran the Santa Barbara Bowl during that time and headlined the Beach Boys on several occasions.   Sounds like a fun fun fun chapter. 

Chuck Williams, BB1, hopes to out race Cancer, get back on the racetrack and win

1983

Talked to Chuck, BB1, today, he took another punch from the process. "The frustration of dealing with red tape is the worst part of the process so far,"  he said. "the Paperwork, the questions, the different admin people reminding me of my dire situation, it's @#%&4#."

I asked him if he's able to rise above it and just do his life.  "I wake up in the morning," he said, it's a beautiful Spring day in Santa Barbara and I can't wait to get going. Then I remember I have Cancer. I forget everything and I wonder if it's growing...and will I ever get my life back."

It's a daily struggle to keep his mind off his Cancer now. Chuck say's he plans to keep his May reservations at the new Las Vegas car racetrack, Speed Vegas. He still hopes he can buy the new racing Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and race on the track. But for now, he has no real control over his future. It's hard for him to trust that the insurance company will ever get the red tape finished so he can get into UCLA and have the tumor removed. 

"I don't want a liver transplant," he said, "I just want them to take the tumor out.".

Stay tuned as BB1 is in the Ring with Cancer.

Only Superman can survive what lies ahead for BB1 and his fight with Cancer.

BB1 whips out his Superman - Man of Steal cape, after a telephone call about his upcoming Cancer Treatment. "It will change me" he said, "I feel confused, but I'm going to fight."  So, in the ring he goes with his deadly opponent.

The disturbing news was: They may get into the liver and find it's worse than expected. They may decide to take the tumor out, but he may still need a Liver Transplant. Chuck doesn't want to go in that direction. But, knows he has to do what ever it takes to beat Cancer.

One of the main questions asked by the Doctor, before being accepted for a possible Liver Transplant was, "How do you think you contacted Hep C?

When BB1 was a 15 year old kid, in 1964 he and a couple of buddies were in his friends garage making a pipe bomb to pull a prank, and it accidentally exploded in his face. Anyone else would have had their head blown off, but with quick reflexes, he turned his head and the metal hit and lodged in his chin. Blood was flying everywhere. The car windows were blown out. But, BB1 was still standing!

Wrapped in a sheet around his head he drove himself back home where his mother took one look at the blood and rushed him to the hospital. That's where the Hep C came. It was about the blood and though there was no transfusion, something happened that might not have happened today.  It sat dormant until 1999, when BB1 took a major fall and broke his ankle. After tests were made, the Hep C appeared. For the last 16 years he's had scans to test the liver with no bad results.  In September, the cirrhosis had turned to Cancer. Now only Superman can survive what lies ahead.

Stay tuned for more details BB1, fights for his life. Can he beat death? Can he come out holding the World Title? Will he hold the belt over his head?  Like the Beach Boys song goes,  "God only knows."

Round One, BB1 takes the first blow!

 

Last September after 16 years of testing every six months, a spot appeared on Chuck Williams, BB1's liver. Six months later the spot had grown and he was told he had Liver Cancer, caused by Hep C that had turned to Cirrhosis of the Liver then to Liver Cancer. The shock was devastating. BB1, was scared but like the "Greatest fighter in the world," Muhammad Ali, he vowed to go into the ring with the big C. The news was bad, but BB1, gathered his team and headed to UCLA. After reviewing the situation, the Doctor gave the round to Chuck. The Cancer was isolated and contained at the top of his Liver. Meaning he had a good chance to beat it.


His family gathered around him last weekend to support him in his battle. His attitude changed from hopeless to hopeful and everyone believed if anyone could beat this rap it will be BB1


Chuck heads to UCLA soon to get the game plan and start a Hep C, eight week cure. After that surgery will follow and "Game On!"


Stay tuned for blow by blow reports.