Month 52 – Less PSA Testing; Rise in Prostate Cancer

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

Wow.  It didn’t take long for this to happen.

You may recall that in 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), recommended abandoning PSA screening of any men of any age.  (In 2009, they recommended no screenings for men over 75.)  Now there’s early research showing a 3% per year increase in intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer cases.

The article, Did PSA Test’s Decline Spur Rise in Prostate Cancers, cautions that this is only one study, but that there was a measurable difference since the change in USPSTF guidelines:

Between 2011 and 2013, the study authors noted a 3 percent per year increase in the percentage of prostate cancer patients who had a PSA level of 10 or higher at the time of their diagnosis. PSA levels of 10 or more signify intermediate or high-risk prostate cancer.

Further studies, of course, are needed to confirm these findings.  But if they are confirmed, this could be quite troubling.

The rationale behind eliminating PSA screening was that too many men were being over-treated and suffering life-long side effects impacting quality of life, when they could have lived a relatively normal life with a slow-growing cancer inside them that would have never killed them.

If I were starting this journey today, I’d want to have the formerly routine annual PSA tests and then scrutinize my treatment options very carefully.  I would not want to wait until I became symptomatic and discover I have a PSA of 10 or more on initial diagnosis.

*     *     *

As far as my personal status is concerned, I continue to lose weight (now 23 lbs. / 10,4 kg since 1 December 2014), and my occurrences of stress incontinence continue to decline.  (The were pretty infrequent before, but even less so now.)  Sexual function seems to be about the same or just a tad better.

Month 51 – Weight, Incontinence & New Screening

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

Last fall, I could feel my clothes getting a little tighter, but every time I stepped on the scale, it showed me right at my usual weight.  But when I went to the doctor and stepped on his scale, I was startled at what it read.  Bottom line: My scale was inaccurate and I had managed to creep up to my heaviest weight ever.  It was a real wake-up call.

I have to wonder if my weight was impacting my stress incontinence.  It seemed as though I was having more incidents of it than normal.  Sometimes, I simply attributed it to being tired, because I do know that when my body is tired, the incidence level goes up.

I’ve made a concerted effort to lose weight.  Since 1 December 2014, I’ve managed to lose 17.9 lbs (8 kg) and I feel much better and my stress incontinence has returned to what it was before.  I’m still well above my optimal weight, so I’ll keep at it to see if I can continue to lose weight and hopefully make improvements.

I know this is all anecdotal, but I’ll keep monitoring it and discuss it with my urologist during my next visit (which isn’t until September, so hopefully, I’ll have lost some more weight by then).

*     *     *

The Prostate Cancer Foundation recently reported the findings of a study that uses MRI technology in conjunction with biopsies and ultrasounds to be able to better distinguish between high-risk and low-risk prostate cancers.  This is exciting news.  If proven out, this could minimize overtreatment of patients with low-risk cancers, and allow those with high-risk cancer to be treated more aggressively.

Month 50 – Four Years Cancer-free & Cancer Death Rates

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer, ResearchLeave a comment

Okay, I’m the first to admit, that’s an odd combination of topics in the title.

First, the good news: My PSA remains undetectable four years and three days after that prostate was plucked from my body.  My birthday was this week, so still being cancer-free is a great birthday present.

I got my latest results online this afternoon, and I have an appointment with my urologist on Tuesday.  We’ll see what she has to say about the frequency of monitoring.  This result was at an eight-month interval; prior to that, I was being checked every six months.  Who knows… Maybe she’ll say come back in a year.  (Honestly, I’m not sure how I would feel about that.)

Aside from that, my sexual function issues and mild stress continence remain the same as before–no real changes to my “new normal.”  I’m generally okay with that.

Oh.  I haven’t had time to create it yet, but look for a new page on the blog, “Life After Radical Prostatectomy – 48 Months Later” coming soon.

*     *     *

As you can tell from my last post, I’m focusing a bit less on the physical aspects and a little more on the emotional aspects of being four years out.  I never really threw myself into the dating pool after the surgery, because I had it in my mind that I was “damaged goods” and that no one would want to deal with that.  It’s taken me quite a while to beat that thought into submission, and I’m ready to try.  Who knows what will happen.  I may get rejected 9 times out of 10 once the person learns of my issues, but it’s the one person who says that it’s not a problem that will likely be the best one to hang onto.

So dating is one of my New Year’s resolutions, and the other is to lose some weight.  I really think that’s been a contributing factor in some of my stress incontinence issues.  Since 3 December 2014, I’ve lost 11.5 lbs / 5,2 kg.  Not bad considering the amount of food thrown at me during the holidays.  Will power.

*     *     *

On a different note, the Prostate Cancer Foundation recently published a story talking about the decline in cancer death rates over the last 20 years.

Jemal also noted that during the past two decades, deaths from colon and prostate cancer have been nearly cut in half, and breast cancer deaths have dropped by a third.

“Really, it’s due to screening, as well as improved treatment,” he said. “It’s really remarkable.”

One thing that will be interesting to see is how the death rates are affected by the recent changes in prostate cancer screening guidelines.  I hope that there’s not a reversal in that trend as a result.

Month 49 – Dating After Prostatectomy?

On By DanIn Prostate Cancer, Social AspectsLeave a comment

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas isn’t that far off.  The holidays are upon us.

Normally, I’d travel to see my sister and her family back in Chicago for the holidays, but this year, my new job has me working over Christmas and New Year’s, so I’ll be staying put.  Alone.

Sure, I’ll spend time with old and new friends, but it’s still not quite the same as being with family.  That brings me to this month’s topic.

I was single when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and I’m still single now.  While I would like to be in a relationship–to create my own family–I keep getting hung up on the, “Who would want to date a guy who has difficulty getting it up and can’t ejaculate” thought.  Because of that, I haven’t bothered to jump into the dating pool.

Sure, sex isn’t everything in a relationship, but it does count for something in most.

The other confusing thing to me is when in the dating process to tell a potential partner that all the bells and whistles in the sex department don’t work as they should.  Early?  Late?  After you jump into bed?  “Surprise!”  I don’t know.  (Feel free to post any thoughts in the comments section or send me an email through the Contact Me page!)

I guess perhaps the best thing to do is just throw myself into the pool and see what happens.  I may not need to say anything until I see that things are moving in the right direction but before they get too serious.

–     –     –

On the physiology front, I’ve had a couple of days since my last post where my body apparently got pretty tired and it didn’t take much to set off my stress incontinence–even just standing up from a chair.  That was a bit disconcerting, but I really think my body was just telling me I needed some more rest.

I’ll be going for my next PSA test the first week of January, and should get the results by the 13 January.  (I may delay next month’s post a couple of days to get them.)  This will be 8 months from my last PSA, so hopefully all is well.

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.