O-Dark-Thirty

  My new medical team includes a young man who is my "Navigator" which is a nice term meaning he is my point man. I finally sent him the message from my previous post  "Now the doctors have both the CT and the bone scan. We have no idea what it means. So on a scale on 1 to 10 (again) with one being "meh, I've seen worse" to 5 with "it's all treatable" to 10 with "better finish reading that book" what are we looking at?" Tyler sent me a great response: Good morning Vince, I’m glad Dr. P was able to respond so quickly regarding your other questions. Unfortunately, it would be hard to place you accurately on the “bell curve of survival” at this point. Though we have the data from the CT, Bone Scan, and PSA, your procedure with Dr. P will give us the final piece of the puzzle. When the pathology department examines the tissue they won’t just be looking to confirm prostate cancer, they will also be looking for how aggressive the canc...

This one will be a little long, because there's a lot of information. Heads-up. So eventually I did receive responses from my Medical team.  My surgeon for the TURP procedure later this week sent the following: First, Hello. Sorry we have to meet like this. But I can promise we are going to take great care of you And you will be asleep for the entire operation.  ----------------------- 1. I'm running a low grade fever probably due to a kidney stone. Those are new for me, but I'm catching on to the lower back pain and pain migration. Is this an issue?   NO, you do NOT have kidney stones. I reviewed your Ct scan and your prostate is large but no kidney stones. It is probably from the tumor that is giving you back pain. As the hormone treatments start to work that should improve in the next 6 weeks or so. I would take tylenol for now.  2. Something might be off with my left testicle. There's a small mass that I don't recall before. What do we do about that? I can e...

So the results from the bone scan are in. Here's the text. There are multiple foci of abnormal tracer uptake in lumbar vertebral bodies and thoracic vertebral bodies as well as focal and fusiform abnormal tracer uptake in the bilateral ribs. Focus of tracer activity centered at the left sacroiliac joint is present as well as a small focus of abnormal tracer activity at the right aspect of the sacrum. There is an additional focus of abnormal tracer activity at the right proximal femur. Abnormal tracer activity is also present at the lower sternum and at the manubrium. Small focus of abnormal tracer activity is present at the right proximal humerus. It's some sort of special language doctors use and I sure don't know what any of it means. I sent a note to my new favorite doctor: Yeah, me again. Thanks for always talking with us, Doc. So the latest question concerns the bone scan. We have no idea what it means. So on a scale on 1 to 10 (again) with one being "meh, I'v...

Darling is heartbroken, and there is nothing I can say to give her comfort. I understand. During her treatment for breast cancer in 2012, I was at wit's end. I barely recall that year. To think of living in this world without her brings me to the edge of despair. I think that's where she is, and I can do nothing about it. She has begun to gather a village about her, which she will need if my cancer worsens. In her case, since we moved to Michigan nineteen months ago, her people are a virtual and multi-location village, though none (right now) are local. She activated prayer requests from (literally) around the world. I know, regardless of what happens with me, these prayers will provide her the support she needs when she needs it. She does better some days than others. This morning she awoke with a song on her heart, and that gives her comfort. "Great is thy faithfulness" indeed. For my part, death holds little fear. Does that sound trite? Pain, however, I fear a grea...

This bit is personal, and might not be suitable for everyone to read. You're warned. A few months ago I noticed my bladder wouldn't entirely empty. Going to the bathroom at night became a bit of an issue. Like a guy, I put it off until I couldn't. My doctor (Dr. W) confirmed my prostate was enlarged (yeah, figure that one out for yourself). He then ordered a blood test for PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). Doctors get concerned if the PSA is above 4.0 ng/mL. When I lived in Pearland in 2017, my PSA was 4.1. The urologist there said it wasn't worrisome, but we could keep an eye on it. On May 11, 2021 my PSA was 97.35. I called him and asked if there was a misplaced decimal. He sent me to my (new) local urologist, Dr. C. After ten days of Cipro, Dr. C tested it again. On May 27 my PSA tested as 103.2. This is pretty much a guaranteed cancer in my prostate. The first step in the ensuing process is analysis. On June third I had a pelvic CT with contrast. Yeah, I had to drink...