Author: Dan

Four Years Since Diagnosis

On By DanIn Diagnosis, Prostate CancerLeave a comment

It’s been four years since sitting in my urologist’s office and hearing those life-changing words: “You have cancer.”

It’s been quite the journey, and this blog has helped me get through it.  Sometimes, I think that I should stop blogging and close that chapter of my life, but that chapter will never be closed.  I don’t obsess about having had cancer, but I don’t shy away from the topic either.  Increasing education and awareness is important, and I’ve been on a quixotic mission to do just that, one reader at a time.

Obviously, I’ve decided to continue blogging, otherwise I wouldn’t have moved my blog here to its new home.  I hope you find it to be a little easier to read and navigate than the original on BlogSpot.

On an unrelated topic, today is Veterans Day, so I wanted to pause to thank all of my fellow veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices.  And for those who celebrate Thanksgiving, I wish you a happy time with family and friends.

Month 47 – DNA Blood Test Might Identify Status of Prostate Cancer

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer, ResearchLeave a comment

So Prostate Cancer Awareness Month has come and gone, and hopefully more than a few men got smarter about prostate cancer or, even better, got screened by their doctors.

Here’s an interesting development in the research that may help better define the effectiveness of treatment options:

DNA Blood Test Might Identify Status of Prostate Cancer – Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF).

As far as my own situation is concerned, I’m just living life with my new normal.  Really, there haven’t been any changes for better or worse, so not much to report.

Month 46 – Views on Cancer Awareness

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

Okay.  Buckle up.  I’m climbing on my annual cancer awareness soap box.

Seeing pink on the the Chula Vista Fire Department’s Facebook page today made me see red.

I want to see powder blue.  Especially in September.

Why CVFD would post this during National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is a bit perplexing.  (Actually, not really.  They just want to get a jump start on fundraising with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)

One in seven of those male firefighters will face prostate cancer, and they apparently choose not to acknowledge it; they choose not to spread awareness; and they choose not to fight something that can directly impact themselves.

Why?

I’m not a marketing guru by any stretch of the imagination, but the Susan G. Komen Foundation certainly has turned its cause into an empire through effective and ubiquitous marketing.  Everywhere you turn, there’s a freakin’ pink something-or-other reminding you of the scourge of breast cancer and the need to cure it.  Hell, watch an NFL game next month and you’ll see 300-pound linebackers wearing pink shoes.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not downplaying breast cancer at all, nor am I condemning the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s success.  In fact, just the opposite.  Prostate cancer awareness teams have to take a page from the Foundation’s marketing playbook.  But it may be more than a marketing issue.

Is there a stigma associated with prostate cancer that prevents people–men–from talking about it?

If so, how do we eradicate the stigma so that we can eradicate the disease?  How do we get men to realize that it’s not only okay to talk about prostate health, but we should go out of our way to talk about it.  There’s nothing embarrassing about it.

Do we show them stories like this reporting the death from prostate cancer of San Diego’s Bishop Cirilo Flores, who was diagnosed in April and died in September?

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/06/diocese-bishop-flores-death-catholic/

It’s not all doom and gloom.  The Prostate Cancer Foundation and others like the Safeway Foundation have been more visible with their efforts to increase awareness, even since I was diagnosed almost four years ago.  That’s good.  But we need more.  Much more.

And this little blog with its almost 15,000 clicks isn’t going to change the world of prostate cancer awareness by itself.  (Although I will keep tilting at that windmill…)

Time to climb down off my soap box.  Thanks for letting me vent.

Manhood for Good
Finally, lest you think I’m bashing our firefighters, especially today, I’m not.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for what our first responders do, day in, and day out.
Remembering 9/11

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and even thought there’s been a lot in the news lately about changes in screening and treatment options, it’s still critical that men educate themselves about prostate cancer.

I had no clue that I would be introducing “cancer” into my vocabulary nearly four years ago, but I did.

It happened after a digital rectal exam during a routine physical that I had put off for a couple of years.  That day changed my life and was the beginning of this journey.

Please take time in September to talk to the men in your lives about this important issue, and ask them to learn a little more about it.

Month 45 – Living Life

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

Wow.  I was so busy living life that I forgot to post earlier today!

That, perhaps, is the best indicator of how things are going a little more than 3.5 years out from the surgery.  Sure, I still have little hiccups along the way (occasional stress incontinence and some sexual function issues), but life is good.

So I’ll try to do better next month and be a bit more punctual in my posting.

Month 44 – LARP at 42 Months

On By DanIn Incontinence, Prostate Cancer, Side EffectsLeave a comment

On July 4th, I was three and a half years out from my surgery, so I added a new page:

Life After Radical Prostatectomy – 42 Months Later

It’s pretty much a reflection of my new normal, so please check it out.

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Interestingly, about a week ago, I had three consecutive nights where I was running to the bathroom to pee about 4-5 times each night.  I’m not sure what was up with that, but it made for some cranky, sleep-deprived days afterwards.  I wasn’t drinking any more than I normally do, so it wasn’t as though there was extra fluids to process.  Odd.  Oh well.  Back to sleeping through the night.

Life After Radical Prostatectomy: 42 Months Later

On By DanIn Life After Prostatectomy, Prostate CancerLeave a comment

So it’s been three and a half years since my radical prostatectomy.  How am I doing?

Continue reading “Life After Radical Prostatectomy: 42 Months Later” →

Month 43 – June Prostate Cancer Fundraising Activities

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

It’s been a pretty normal month since my last update.  That’s good.  That means there is life after a radical prostatectomy.

But as far as this month’s blog update is concerned, I got nuthin’.

There are, however, a couple of major fundraising activities going on in June to support the Prostate Cancer Foundation and its research.  And because those activities are ongoing or are about to happen, I’m going to publish this post a few days earlier than normal.

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The first is the PCF Home Run Challenge, where you donate either a lump sum or a specified amount for each home run hit in 98 MLB baseball games between June 9th and June 15th, Father’s Day.

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Once again, the Safeway Foundation, part of the Safeway grocery store operation, is supporting prostate cancer awareness during the month of June.  Give what you can if you shop at Safeway or Vons.

Month 42 – PSA Results

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

It’s funny.

I didn’t even think much of getting my blood drawn for my six month PSA test on 30 April.  Just went in, got stuck, and went on my merry way.  No biggie.

Or so I thought.

Afterwards, I was checking my online health record twice a day looking for the results.  Hurry up and wait.  I guess modern technology has all made us wanting instant gratification, and when we don’t get it, we get upset.

Once a cancer patient, there’s always that little cloud of “What if?” hanging over your head.  I don’t get nearly as worked up about waiting for the results as I did for my first post-surgery six month check, but it’s still there.

So the results?  Still undetectable!  🙂

I actually have my appointment with my urologist on Tuesday to officially go over the results.  I’m sure we’ll talk about incontinence and sexual function, too.  [Edit 5/16/14: The urologist doesn’t want to see me for 8 months instead of the usual 6 months.  Next PSA: January 2015.]

Oh.  And Happy Mother’s Day to moms everywhere–living and departed.

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Note the new contact form to make it easier to shoot me an email if you have any questions about my experiences.

 

Month 41 – Biological Update

On By DanIn Incontinence, Prostate Cancer, Sexual Function, Side EffectsLeave a comment

We’re going to jump right in with this post…

BIOLOGY AHEAD
 
My niece and her three and a half-year old daughter came to visit for their spring break, and we were able to get out and do a lot of fun things together. By the second day, my niece was chiding me about how many times I was going to the bathroom, and that got me to thinking, “Am I going more than usual?” Or was it just her perspective.

In retrospect, I probably was running to the bathroom a tad more frequently. Mainly because we were on the go, outside in cool air a good chunk of the time, and I never knew where the next bathroom might be, so I took advantage of using the ones nearby. (And, no, I’m not talking every 20 minutes. It was every couple of hours.)

As I explained to my niece, it’s more that I have the urge or sensation that I need to go, than I actually do. When I get to the bathroom, not much comes out. Fortunately, the urges aren’t the, “Oh my God, I need to find a bathroom in the next 30 seconds or I’m going to pee in my pants,” kind of urges. But they’re there and they’re telling my brain it’s time to go when my bladder really could last a bit longer. That can be frustrating.

And on the sexual function front, I’ve been quite pleased there. I’ve had much better erections (near 100%) in the last month–all without chemical assistance. Not bad for having only one nerve bundle. As I’ve said before, be patient; let nature do its thing.

So that’s it for this month. Quick and simple.

Late update: I’d encourage those recently diagnosed to read a comment left by another reader, J.R., on the “Life After Radical Prostatectomy – 36 Months Later” page.  It’s an interesting perspective, and I tend to agree with him.  Losing sexual function is more difficult to adjust to than many people, including myself, thought it would be.