Author: Dan

Month 40 – State of the Science

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer, Research1 Comment

So I’ve been hopping on the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s website a bit more recently, just to keep myself abreast of advances in research and what’s happening in the world of treatment options.

Each year, they host a Scientific Retreat with doctors, scientists, and researchers from around the world, and they discuss what’s currently happening in prostate cancer research.  Here’s a link to the 2013 meeting’s events and topics:

State of the Science Report

It provides a summary of what was presented and discussed in each session, much of it in medical mumbo-jumbo over my head, but there was one session’s summary that caught my eye on pages 85-87:

Session 13: Measure Twice, Cut Once—What is the Proper Role for Surgery in Prostate Cancer 2013?

Obviously, having had a radical prostatectomy, it’s an interesting read for me (not that I can change anything at this point).

I have to admit that there are days where I’m not so sure that I would make the same treatment decision if newly diagnosed today, given the recent advancements in the forty months since my diagnosis.

Don’t get me wrong.  My quality of life, post-prostatectomy, is quite high.  My stress incontinence issues are a minor nuisance, and my sexual function issues would be a bigger factor if I were in a relationship, but I’m not.  I guess I’d be happier if I were 100% in both departments.

So I often weigh those nuisances against the larger picture.  With each six month PSA check-up that comes back “undetectable,” I have peace of mind knowing that the cancer is no longer inside me.

The question becomes one of trading one set of concerns for another.

If I opted for some other treatment option and was 100% continent and had 100% sexual function, I’d be happy in both those departments, but then would I be trading that happiness for worrying every day that the cancer cells left inside me (even though they’ve been treated with chemo, radiation, hormones, or something else), are one day going to go crazy and ultimately do me in?  I don’t know.

It’s a tough call, and a very personal choice.

Again, I made my decision and am living with its consequences.  But the key word is living.

Month 39 – Encouraging News on Ability to Determine Aggressive Prostate Cancer

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

For those who have been regular readers of this blog, I hope you like the new layout.  Things were getting a little too cluttered, so I added a new column just for the blog’s administrative links (left column) and kept all the prostate cancer-specific links in the right column.  It should make it a tad easier to navigate.

*     *     *

Well, I’m past the head cold that I had and back to normal activity without pads.  I will have to admit, though, that even after the worst of it passed, I seemed to be a little more leak-prone for some reason.  But that’s calmed down, too, thankfully.

*     *     *

There’s encouraging news about having a better ability to determine whether prostate cancer is the aggressive type that can kill you, or the less aggressive type that can be observed under active surveillance.  You can read about that in the previous post (re-blogged from the Prostate Cancer Foundation site).

This is important.  It will help avoid over-treatment of prostate cancer, subjecting men to some of the side-effects of a treatment regimen that they may not have needed in the first place.  Of course, men will still have to overcome the thought of living with cancer inside them, always wondering if and when it may spread into something much more difficult to deal with.

 

New Look

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

Welcome to the new look of my blog.  That foggy, misty background was getting a bit too depressing–there is life after prostate cancer, after all–so I decided to do a little mid-winter housekeeping and clean up the appearance and layout of the blog.

Enjoy!

Month 38 – Back in Pads (Temporarily)

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

First, happy 2014! A new year, and a new beginning.

January 4th marks three years since my radical prostatectomy, so I’ve added a new page: “Life After a Radical Prostatectomy – 36 Months Later.” You can access it from the link on the right side of the page.

As far as last month’s post is concerned, I’ll keep the blog going every month for now, and play it by ear as the year progresses. Thanks to those who offered words of encouragement, either privately or through comments.

Finally, another birthday has come and gone since last month’s post, which is just fine by me.  They’re only numbers, and it sure beats the alternative.  🙂

Remember, the American Cancer Society’s motto is that they are “The Official Sponsor of Birthdays,” and they’re a great resource to use.

BIOLOGY (AND PHYSICS) AHEAD
 

Okay. It’s been a while since I’ve used that little warning symbol.

On a return to visit my family over the holidays, I managed to pick up a head cold as a nice supplemental Christmas present. Of course, with most head colds, there’s sneezing, coughing, and just plain misery.

It’s the sneezing and coughing that reintroduced me to Newton’s third law of physics: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Big time.

Let’s just say that every big sneeze and violent coughing up of mucus that had drained into my throat or lungs, caused enough urine to leak out the other end that I found myself back wearing pads for the worst days of the cold. Not fun.

So my advice to you is to keep that package of pads handy for just such situations if you still suffer from stress incontinence. (I still have a package of the standard men’s pads that Depend put out, but now I see they have smaller, thinner pads, too. It may be worth giving them a try.)

Life After Radical Prostatectomy: 36 Months Later

On By DanIn Life After Prostatectomy, Prostate CancerLeave a comment

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

Continue reading “Life After Radical Prostatectomy: 36 Months Later” →

Month 37 – Value and Future of this Blog

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer, Social Aspects2 Comments

Finally.  November / “Movember” is over!

I’m glad to have supported the cause, but I’m even more glad to be rid of that itchy, two-toned beard and moustache!  (My moustache and the top half of my beard were a reddish-brown, and the rest was snow white.  Ugh.)

*     *     *

I have to admit that I’m struggling over what to write for this month’s update.

When I began this blog three years ago, it was meant to be an easy way for me to keep family and friends informed of what was happening immediately after the diagnosis.  I figured that I would let the decision be up to them to follow along, rather than me fill their email in-boxes with something they may not have felt comfortable reading.

Over time, the mission of this blog was to educate others about prostate cancer from the perspective of just one person who went through the diagnosis and one treatment option.

This blog served both purposes quite well.

But I always wanted the blog updates to bring something of value to its readers, and that’s where I’m beginning to stumble a little.

Is it of value to you to hear month after month that nothing has changed?  If it is, then I have no problem continuing monthly updates.  But if it’s not, then perhaps it’s time to shift to “as needed” updates–update the blog when I hear something in the news about prostate cancer that’s of interest, or if something changes significantly with my own status.

Perhaps I’ll let you, the readers, answer that question by completing the poll at the top right of this post.  Or, if there are specific things you’d like me to address in my monthly updates, leave a comment in the comment section below.

Don’t worry.  I can’t see myself abandoning the blog altogether or taking it down.  I’ve put to much energy and soul into keeping it going, plus I know that it’s been a good resource for some newly diagnosed guys along the way.

I’m open to your constructive comments and feedback.  What do you want to read about in these monthly updates?

 

Three Years Since Diagnosis

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer3 Comments

Three Years

So it was three years ago yesterday that my urologist confirmed what my gut had been telling me for 5 weeks–I had prostate cancer.  Kind of hard to believe that it’s been that long ago already.

Looking back on the experience, I didn’t realize how much it would impact others.  My sister had a melt down when she heard the news.  Friends that I thought would be there for me couldn’t even bring themselves to be in the same room with me, let alone have an open discussion about cancer.  And acquaintances that I barely interacted with prior to the diagnosis became my staunchest supporters.

The biggest lesson that I learned was that I, as the cancer patient, would have to take the lead and guide those around me through example as to how and when it was okay to talk about the diagnosis.  People were afraid to bring up the topic or simply ask, “How are you doing?” for fear that it would send me into a tizzy.

So for those of you reading who may be newly diagnosed, remember that even though it’s primarily about you, it’s also about everyone you come in contact with as well.  Look at the world through their eyes.  (Or, perhaps, even how you yourself acted when you learned that a friend or family member was diagnosed with cancer.)  And, if you do have a close friend or family member who can’t be there for you, don’t push it and don’t judge them.  Accept it and move on.

Latest PSA Results

My latest six month check-up shows that my PSA remains undetectable (<0.03 ng/ml) which is great news, of course.  No signs of little cancer bugs.  Next check-up: 13 May 2014.

More Men’s Health Awareness

To promote men’s health awareness as a part of Movember, Matt Lauer and Al Roker had DRE prostate exams done live on the Today show (don’t worry, you don’t see the actual DRE being performed):

Matt Lauer and Al Roker have prostate exams

It’s great that we continue to increase awareness, but I really wish the men’s health community would be more consolidated and more focused in its efforts.

My local grocery chain highlights prostate cancer in June; there’s National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, and there’s Movember in November.  Perhaps it’s good that there are year-round activities, but by being somewhat disjointed, we lack the higher profile and oomph that the breast cancer awareness campaign has.

*    *     *
Finally, for those readers in the U.S. about to observe Thanksgiving, I hope you have a great holiday with family and friends.

Movember

On By DanIn Prostate CancerLeave a comment

I forgot that November is “Movember.”  Men grow moustaches to support awareness about men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health.

You’re supposed to start the month clean-shaven on 1 November and grow and groom a moustache through the end of the month.  Moustache-growing teams raise money to support cancer research and men’s health.  You can read about it here:

Movember

It’s been decades since I last tried growing a moustache, and when I did, the light blond whiskers on my upper lip were barely visible, so you really couldn’t tell it was there.  Maybe I’ll give it another shot this month and see what happens.  I’m guessing it may be more gray than blond, and will still be barely visible.  Oh well.

Month 35 – No News…

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

…is good news.

I really don’t have anything to report this month.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada.  Nichts.  That’s good.

The only thing that I can offer up is the little trip down memory lane.

It was three years ago this week that I went for my routine physical and my doctor felt the mass during the DRE, kicking off this journey.  It was an unnerving day that began a whole series of wait-and-see events–appointments, tests, waiting for results–and trying desperately not to let my mind try to get too far ahead of the facts.

Other than that, everything else is pretty much status quo.

Next month’s update will be on 12 November instead of the usual 11th.  That’s because I’ll get my next PSA results on the 12th, and I thought I’d just consolidate the updates into one.

Keep your fingers crossed…