Cancer blog 3

I apologize that I haven’t updated everyone on what’s going on with my prostate cancer. Honestly, I’m trying to wrap my head around this whole thing. Nobody ever expects to hear those 3 words; “You have cancer”.

Anyway, I went back to the University of Nebraska Medical Center last Thursday to go over the MRI I had the week before at Bryan Hospital. I saw both doctors that I saw up there previously.

They both told me that I should have had the MRI done up there because the one from Bryan was blurry. They also said that the whole group of doctors there had viewed the MRI and were of one mind. The cancer has spread beyond the prostate capsule.

They also brought up a new term; at least one that I hadn’t heard so far in regard to my situation. Stage 3. That one rocked me a little, but having read up on it, I now realize that the term just refers to how large the cancer is and if it has spread. In my case, I know that it is growing, and I need to get going on treatment.

Doctor Enke then asked me a strange question; at least I thought so. He asked if I took fish oil! I said yes, and I had for years on my personal physician's recommendation. He proceeded to inform me of 3 studies that had shown a probably link between fish oil consumption and prostate cancer in men! WELL!!! I quickly removed that from my daily supplement regimen in a hurry!! I guess it's possible that taking the fish oil may, repeat MAY have led to or sped up my getting prostate cancer!!!

Now; the treatment plan. Friday, I started a medication to pretty much kill my testosterone. I have to take it for a couple of months before they can start the radiation treatments and then keep on it for 2 ½ years. I asked about side effects and Doctor Enke said “Well, you’ve seen all of those commercials for low testosterone, right?”. I was honest and told him that when they come on, I flat tune them out. He said “Good!” and proceeded to fill me in.

The side effects are as follows:

1                Fatigue. Hell, I’m 65 years old and worked for 53 years of my life. How much more tired can I get???

2                Hot flashes. Well, he actually said that for men they like to refer to them as ‘Power surges’. He also said that if I suddenly break out in a sweat for no reason, I’ll know why. His suggestion? Get a personal portable fan!! He did tell me that there are medications available if it becomes too unbearable. Listen, Doc; thanks to the gene that I inherited from Mom, I sweat in the wintertime!!! I’m used to looking like I just stepped out of the shower.

3                To put it politely, this could be called “Limp noodle syndrome”. I’ll just leave it at that!

4                 Weight gain, especially around the belly. Well, I’ve been working on losing weight so that I can get my knees done. They’re both bone on bone and need to be replaced. I guess I’ll have to work even harder on that.

They asked if I was going to get the treatments done up there and I told them I hadn’t planned on it for 2 reasons. Linda can’t drive because her doctor won’t allow it and the cost of travel back and forth 5 times a week for 8 weeks would be prohibitive. So, they set me up with 2 more doctors to take over from here. I go back to see another doctor up there September 6^th. He is their radiation treatment specialist. They said that he may recommend a different medication to replace the new one they started me on; this other one is fairly new. They also said that the co-pay on it could be as much as $1400 a month!! Let’s see, if I sell everything that I own, including my sons’ inheritance, I can probably afford a few months. WOW!! Anyway, I will worry about that if and when it happens.

This coming Friday, the 31^st, I go see Doctor Staves down here at Bryan to talk about the radiation treatments. I will update you all on that and future developments as they occur.

Again, sorry for the delay, but this is a little worrisome right now. I may have to lean on my sons a little more, but I ain’t dead yet and don’t plan to be any time soon. I can still do my jobs, and I will.