Medical after cancer

Chas,
I will not make any comments on your particular situation, the medical folks
have those answers.

But almost 9 years ago I started a fight with a particularly mean type of
cancer. After chemo, surgery, radiation and a metal implant to save my
femur from breaking at a later date, my orthopedic oncologist wrote a letter
to the FAA saying he could see no reason to keep me from flying. (this was
about 6 months after chemo/ 4 months after surgery/ 3 months after chemo/ 1
month after the metal implant). I ride a bicycle also, and my doc was
particularly adamant about the metal implant.

The right chemo was picked, my doc was fabulous with his knife, and the
radiation polished off the rest of the critters. Lots of CTs, MRIs, bone
scans etc. made the record stack way over max gross weight.

All medical records went to the FAA along with the doc's recommendation. In
a very short time....something like 6 weeks after my AME visit, I had a
"special issuance" 3rd class medical under FAR 67.401 signed by the FAA head
doc from OKC. It was only good for a short time (~5 months), but at the end
of that time, after the FAA saw I was getting checked every 3 months by my
doc, they issued a full year 3rd class medical.

I have to admit, dealing with the OKC FAA office was a breeze. I just had
to get all the paperwork and my oncologist doc's set of letters to the FAA.
After several special issuances from OKC, they came back with a letter
authorizing my normal AME to grant me another year extension after passing
the normal 3rd class physical. Sometimes my AME could hand me the paper,
sometimes it came from OKC, but in the past 8.5 years I was without a valid
3rd class for only a few days (usually because I did not get my act together
early enough and send in the required documentation to OKC about 2 months
before my medical expired). Of course, during initial diagnosis, chemo,
surgery and radiation my medical was invalid. But once my local docs wrote
the magic words, the FAA did its job. I'm still very impressed and
satisfied how the FAA handled my case. Yes, I believe the AOPA can help,
but I just called OKC and got all the details myself. They were very
accessible.

After 5 years, I got another letter from the FAA saying I was now eligible
for a standard two year medical and did not need a special issuance under
67.401. Last 2 medicals were standard, and I just keep giving them the
normal list of medical practitioner contacts like you have been doing at
your previous physicals.

If you desire, you may email me privately (removing the ".cutout" will get
you my valid address).

I wish you the best in your fight. I know that everyone here will be
pulling for you. You are among LOTS of friends.

Best Regards,
John Severyn

"Chas" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks for the cite. I hadn't gone to the FAR's yet. At first read it
appears that a) I'm grounded from my SEL activities and b) my pursuit of a
glider rating this spring may also be on hold although the wording in
61.53b is a lawyers delight.

Definitive thing is get cured and that is of course my focus.
Consideration of FAA view is however a welcome distraction.