Walsh `feels good’ after treatment> Maine hockey coach battling cancer, returns to work

University of Maine hockey coach Shawn Walsh was feeling a little “queasy” but he said he felt “much better” than he did a couple of days ago.

Walsh, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in June, returned to work and had a meeting with his new players on Monday in Orono followed by his team’s mandatory three-mile run and team meeting Tuesday.

Walsh has just completed the first of two 20-day immunotherapy cycles at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA and returned home over the weekend. He will begin his second and final 20-day cycle late this month or early next month.

Following the second cycle, tests will be conducted to see if the immunotherapy has eliminated or shrunk the tumors.

“It’s so nice to be back. I feel good. My jump is back,” said Walsh. “Everything has gone well.”

His 20-day cycles were comprised of three intravenous drips per day for five days; a 10-day recovery period and another five days of intravenous drips.

The medication from the drips is designed to shock the immune system into destroying the remaining cancerous tumors under his breastplate.

Walsh was forewarned about the side effects and said “it was as tough as they said it would be.

“After every dose, I got a terrible case of the chills and they had to put hot blankets over me,” said Walsh who also later spiked a fever of 102 and had his heart rate jump to 162 beats per minute for an hour and a half.

A resting heart rate averages 60 to 80 beats a minute.

Vomiting, fatigue and dry, itchy skin were among the other side effects he suffered.

He said the first day after the first five-day cycle had concluded, he took a very brief walk in the backyard of actor Kurt Russell and his longtime girlfriend, actress Goldie Hawn. Walsh and his wife, Lynne, stayed at their home.

The second day, he walked for 12 minutes and, by the fifth day, he went for a one-hour walk. The next day he played golf with Russell and former Bear Bob Corkum, who will start his second season for the Los Angeles Kings later this week.

“It’s amazing how quickly you recover and regain your strength. That’s encouraging,” said Walsh.

Walsh said Russell and Hawn have been “wonderful to us.”

Russell, who lists Rangeley as his hometown and still has relatives there, met Walsh during the NCAA Frozen Four in Anaheim, Calif., in 1999. Walsh invited Russell and Hawn’s son, Wyatt, a goaltender, and a friend of his (Gavin Scott) to participate in their practice session before Maine’s title win over New Hampshire.

One of Walsh’s first orders of business was the meeting with his newcomers and he said it went “very well.

“I told them what it means to be a hockey player at Maine. I wanted them to know there are certain behavioral standards,” said Walsh who added that his excitement about being back coupled with the completion of his first treatment cycle behind him made the meeting a special one for him.

“It was one of the most rewarding speeches I have ever given because it felt so good to be talking to a team again,” said Walsh who alsfelt so good to be talking to a team again,” said Walsh who also outlined his situation and treatment schedule for his players.

Colin Shields, a freshman forward from Glasgow, Scotland, said he was surprised how upbeat Walsh was considering his ordeal. He said the meeting was “really positive” and inspirational.

“He told us what he was going through and how he was going to fight it and be stronger than ever. He was so enthusiastic,” Shields said. “His desire to win is so great. He gives you that hunger to succeed even more. You realize that everything can be taken away so you want to seize each day and improve.”

Walsh added, “If, in a small way, what I’m going through will help toughen up our team, that’s great.”

Walsh said his doctors have told him to “stay active” and that certainly won’t be a problem for him.

“My golf clubs are ready,” said Walsh who is looking forward to working with what will be a youthful Maine team this season.

The Bears will start dry-land training today and take the ice on Sept. 24.

“September is always the best time of year in hockey. It’s an exciting time. The freshmen are here. They’re all excited and you get caught up in it,” said Walsh. “We’ve got so many newcomers and I’m also looking forward to seeing the [veteran] players I expect to take big steps this year.”

The team will run in Sunday’s 5K Terry Fox Run in Bangor designed to raise money for cancer research. Walsh said he won’t be able to attend due to a previous commitment.