Pink isn't the only Cancer

I had my monthly Chemo care shot yesterday. Took just shy of an hour from arrival to getting the shot. Never took this long before.

The check in clerk asked me if this was my first time – NO!

The nurse said the same and then, several times, used the same explanation of why it took so long. Each time my frustration increased.

Not my first time, I fully understand the process and being spoken down to is wrong. Nurse apologized often but would have been much better if she had just left it at that.

Well I feel better having vented but hope my sending them a note on how to improve is takes seriously and implemented.

Hoping for better times for everyone.

In early September this year I had relatively major surgery on my left hand. Up until then the pain limited me some what for activities. Being left handed but ambidextrous I was able to do things.

During the recovery period, still ongoing, I was limited to my right hand only. Oh sure, was able to modify how I did things but in actuality this was a big step dowards a disability in what I could do.

This progressively improved but still was limited. My respect for the disabled has grown immensely. Not that I had not understood but now to a small degree I was living it.

As an update this past week I was given a soft brace, ahead of what I had been told AND been able to use the hand more but not the thumb for much at all.

Woth it? Yes! Not fun? Yes also.

More to follow next week after seeing the doctor.

Remain Positive!

I would like to voice this: There are many things in our lives, day to day things, tasks, friends, family, and loved ones that help us manage to, hopefully, enjoy our living. Any that have been diagnosed with Cancer are tossed a knuckleball to our being. We have heard a death sentence. Some of us have been told that twice separated by years or even decades. What those around us often fail to understand is that each of us pull inward at first, scared & confused. Then some move through the steps toward acceptance.

Those around us have a roll in our path to acceptance, treatments, and healing. In my case I have an amazing wife, friends, and medicals. They have supported me, listened, and encouraged along the way. Some treatments & medications change us. We might be difficult, moody, quiet, angry, or plain different.

Understanding all this should help our supporters. Recognize that Cancer does change us a little, some, or a lot. Each of us is different just as each Cancer is different. I am very Blessed to have a wife and friends that are very understanding and supportive.

Remember this: Cancer is just a word; NOT a sentence!

i met with an new doctor, to me, and received great news about my recent MRI!

Simply put there is not any sign of Cancer in my Prostate!

The MRI on my Prostate was on the 31st of August, results were planned to be given to me on Sept 2nd but they were not ready. OK, given my metal hip I guess I can understand this. Maybe?

Fast forward to September 10th and the results show up in my electronic reporting system. Huh? To top this off, simply put the report is not clearly stated. I had to do some significant Googling of terms.

In fact it stated, several times that nothing showed up stating “no lesions are identified on this MR to suggest clinically significant prostate cancer, greater than or equal to Gleason 7.”

Given I started this adventure with a Gleason 9, highest/worst is 10 anything below 7 is kind of nice. Still Cancer but “Gleason Scores of 6 or less describe cancer cells that look similar to normal cells and suggest that the cancer is likely to grow slowly.”

So, not bad. “Since the Gleason 6 lacks the hallmarks of a cancer, it is a pseudocancer, not a health risk; does not progress to become a health risk; needs no detection; and needs no treatment.” In fact this is an amazing Gleason for the Prostate!

Kind of out of order but the Gleason Score is made up of two numbers, each no more than five. Five very bad, three or less not bad. These numbers are from the biopsy and represent what was found in the samples twice for each sample. Add them and the highest number, even if other samples are less is the Gleason Score.

From what I read the results show no concern for tumors in my Prostate!

Up date 0/15/2020

Got a call setting up an appointment with the Urologist that offered the MRI. Next week Wednesday. Wonder what he will have to say!?!

Short & sweet: Four nights in the recliner and finally tonight back in bed. Thumb pain manageable but some times a sharp level 8 pain in my thumb. Four and five times in a couple of minutes. OUCH! Then gone.

I can use my fingers mostly but had to work at it to get them uncurled. PT starts Friday.

Well worth the procedure, all will be much more like 20 years ago.

I have yet to hear the outcome of the MRI from a week ago. Maybe tomorrow, Tuesday.

Choose to be Happy and you will be Happy!

You might know that I am a positive attitude guy, but having just had surgery on my left hand my resolve to be positive has been dented.

Down to one hand, in a manageable level, but unable to feel anything was disheartening. For 24 hours after getting cut lose from out patient the arm was nothing but dead weight with no control or feeling.

I am able to function one handed but some things are hard and one not easily possible.

Now 48 hours later pains but tolerable. Sleeping lots, get up for bathroom, eat some then rest or doze. Similar to when knees replaced but hampered with one hand, not my primary hand but since ambidextrous able. Has given me a greater respect for those with one functioning hand/arm.

Well the positive outlook is gaining and pounding out the dents as usual.

Remember ‘as you think: you are’ so be positive!

My days are now full of “got to do things“. Like all people there is a time limitation for projects. Weather, seasons, materials, and the never ending time.

The time limitation can be how much time it takes to do things or in my case now a hard and fast end time because of surgery on my hand to fix the bane of age – Arthritis!

I have lots of pain in my left hand thumb that wakes me at night, shocks me during the day and limits my ability to open anything requiring twisting or pulling apart.

So I have a hard time limit, the end of this month, on projects and prep work for fall.

This in some ways is a great distraction from Cancer. My ongoing treatments have it knocked down, so far, and under control.

But Cancer never really leaves your mind, it is always there in the background. Every new pain, every time things change, anytime you feel off you think is this C?

However in my case I rarely think these things because, well, I refuse to have Cancer impact my life all the time. But I get tested often, see my doctors often and am proactive relating to my health.

I seek tests for my Cancer that might not be offered and I get tested for the newest C in all our lives, Covid, and try to take care of myself as my Primary Care doctor suggests..

One thing to remember is that all the medicals you deal with are human and have lives outside their profession. Doctors, PA’s, NP’s, nurses all have family and friends just like you. Interact with them as you would like to be interacted with.

Be nice to them they have your best interest at heart, Thank them for that.

Before I share my thoughts on our lives today by posting a blog from my other site “My Odyssey with Cancers”, I would like to offer some insight on this Blog site and my decision to post much more often.

I am of the age that is “at risk”, over 70. I also have a medical condition that places me “at risk”, Cancer! BUT I have none of the other “at risk” conditions and according to my doctors an very healthy other wise. Almost too much to handle? Nope, not really!

Full disclosure: this Blog title is the same as the book I have written about my experience with Prostate Cancer. In it I share my thoughts and fears from before diagnosis up until my remission. Many men do not do this and “Pink isn’t the only Cancer” book will help that man’s partner understand what he is going thru.

Enough of the blatant hawking of my book that is available at Booklocker.com in all digital configurations plus paperback. If you contact me I should be able to give you a discount coupon. Oh, and Amazon has it also.

Now on to my Post from my other site:

Roller Coaster

Each and everyone of us has good days, bad days, and the changes that normally occur in everyday life. For those of us with Cancer that starts a deepened cycle of that roller coaster when we first hear the dreaded C word.

That begins the roller coaster of thoughts, emotions, and fears.

What I am commenting on is not that coaster but the ones we all are being pushed onto with covid and all that goes with it.

Shutdown, social distancing, loss of personal contact, lost ability to see smiles or frowns, and handshakes, are just a few ways to express the dynamic changes that are the down on the coaster we have been placed on.

Schools closed, sports canceled, High School Seniors having their last year having their slammed shut, college graduates having the same but add in no jobs to go to.

Families that cannot connect with their sick, elder, or dying loved ones. Those dying loose all the comfort of contact with loved ones, those in Nursing Homes feel it deeply when they don’t see and touch family.

All these are the down of the roller coaster and are dramatic. So what might be the up of this coaster?

Certainly faith. Belief that things will get better, relishing in the little things that we do have. Our spouses, family we share a roof with, friends we are close to are the Up.

But for many there is Faith. The difference is that Faith is in a higher power, a sense of purpose and of more that just ourselves. You can assign the term that fits you but Faith is stronger than faith.

I wish you all the Up on your roller coaster and strength to overcome the downs.

Goes without saying that I have been distracted so because of Covid and NY State’s reaction to it.

None the less I need to get this off my chest. My Prostate Cancer has returned. Mildly, but showing signs of return in a rising psa. Not at the scare level but increasing none the less. Actually just a bit above 2.

Had a biopsy scheduled then canceled due to pandemic then finally did have it. No malignancy found but still the lymph nodes area is common for prostate Cancer so radiation was scheduled.

In fact I have been through two of the five treatments to date. Must say that the process is a bit weird. The treatment area is the lower left side, in the seam of the front of the leg and belly. Required a CT Scan to target the area and put marks on me for locating the radiation beams. Marks adhesive tabs, and some small tattoos. All done with female nurses and lowering my pants and underwear.

Those involved, more than 2, are very aware of patient modesty. Given all I have been through modesty is at the bottom of the scale but I appreciate their approach. They also don’t need to see another chubby old man’s parts – that I get!

Next week I expect to start my 18-24 months of ADT with a 6 month shot. Whoopie?

I will be posting again sooner.

Thanks for stopping by.