Monday, November 23, 2020

An actual Prostate cancer post.

   Earlier today I did a rant. I just needed to vent my frustrations in a safe environment. Thank you for tolerating me. As long as it has been since I wrote anything you deserve more. 
   I had an oncology visit in late September and all was well. PSA was still undetectable and my lungs were clear. It seems weird to talk about lung metastasis when dealing with prostate cancer. 
   I have been having dreams lately. Strange dreams. Rising PSA dreams. I have also notice a weaker stream  when urinating. Put the two things together and it brings a certain amount of anxiety. I am okay. Although difficulty urinating is a symptom of prostate cancer it is also a symptom of BPH. It seems I have survived long enough to develope symptoms of growing old. It is a bitter sweet emotion. I am happy about my continued success at beating the crap out of cancer (Thank you God) but I am getting arthritis in my knees and shoulders. It’s harder to do the things I love. I just know I have to keep myself as fit as possible. I turn 57 in a couple weeks. I want to continue to water ski and wake board and ride snowmobiles. 
   I started taking flow max a few days ago and my symptoms are beginning to subside. I feel a little mrw at ease. 
  We moved. I went into it a little in my previous rant but it was in the context of frustration and anger. We are in our forever home now. We bought a beautiful home on 6 acres with a creek and it is a quiet forested location. It is near our summer and winter recreation area and we honestly couldn’t be happier. Mandy even let me buy a tractor. Someday she will actually let me drive it. I think she likes it more than I do.
   I have been stage 4 for 14-1/2 years. It’s really hard to believe. I am being allowed to see my dreams come true. I feel so blessed. Life is really a wonderful ride. Her are a few pics. 






Wednesday, June 3, 2020

It’s been a while! Sorry!

I’m really sorry to all those who follow this blog for the length of time between posts. As I’ve said before it is difficult to write when there is nothing new to write about. As for my health, I’m doing fine. It has been eight months since I restarted treatment and the cancer has once again been put to sleep. My latest PSA was undetectable a month ago. Once again I have no libido but that is to be expected and Mandy and I are able to work through it.
   Today I participated in a market research study. Although the name of the treatment was not revealed I am making an assumption that it is Relugolix. Relugolix is an LHRH inhibitor much like injectables such as Lupron but in pill form. It is one small pill taken daily. At present I do not know if they have completed the phase 3 trial but I know the FDA has released it under the right to try act.
  If the promises hold true, this is a wonderful advancement for men with advanced prostate cancer. The medication acts quickly reducing testosterone to castration levels in as few as 15 days with no testosterone flare. The medication was well tolerated with side effects similar to injectable LHRH inhibitor’s including fatigue, joint pain, 54%,  diarrhea 12%, constipation 12%,  and hypertension 8%. Best of all with this medication there was a 54% reduction in cardiovascular incidents. Most men who went off this medication experienced a testosterone rebound within three months. I will not go so far as to say this is a game changer yet but it is definitely a step in the right direction.
   On a personal note. When Mandy and I got together one of her most cherished possessions was a1978 V.W. Camper van. We were poor and hard up for cash. I talked her into selling it. Last week I repented for my sin.   




Meet Sunshine. She is a 1972 V.W. Transporter and she is as close to mint condition as I have come across. I cannot believe how much these things have gone up in price but I promise you it was worth every penny to see my wife’s face light up.