Monday was my monthly oncologist appointment here in Kansas City. It went rather well, in fact I'd almost say it went great!
Dr. V provided new prescriptions to try to help with managing the side effects. The first is an appetite enhancer. I wish it had been prescribed for me initially when I started experiencing the nausea. The first dose seemed to help with dinner last night, I took the second dose before lunch today so should have an indication soon if it is consistently effective. Last night it really helped with nausea. I am hopeful that it will be the same today. The doctor is understandably concerned about my fatigue and weight loss due to the on-going nausea and intestinal issues. With not many treatment options, Mary and I are doing our best to stay positive and make informed decisions. The doctor is very compassionate and open to helping us choose the right path.
The other three scripts were for potassium (mine is low!), another type of medicine to try as an option to combat the nausea, and a refill on another drug I take to help me to sleep.
I also received an update on my PSA, the last three measures were:
Dec 5: 1,961
Jan 3: 1,317
Jan 30: 1,799
Those are rather wild swings and we are trying not to focus on the PSA, although it is rather difficult to ignore a number that high. We continue to try to focus on the good news from Boston last week after the bone and CT scans, with increased shrinkage in the tumors in my bones and the CT scan showing that the organs are still clear. We have very much to be thankful for!
January 31, 2012
January 27, 2012
The Cake Gets Bigger
Today is my 49th birthday. Frankly, I wasn't sure I was going to make it, seriously.
The first birthday post I publishedin this blog was in 2006:
http://prostatecancerat42.blogspot.com/2006/01/were-going-to-need-bigger-cake.html
Although a number of names would need to be added to the acknowledgment portion, I likely could have re-posted the entry word for word this year and the message would have been then same.
It's a weekend of friends, family, relaxation and celebrating 49. It also marks the beginning of all the sorted milestones, initial diagnosis, first scans, official diagnosis and the beginning of living with this dreaded disease. I'll do my best to mark each of these with a post.
For now, HBD2ME!!
The first birthday post I publishedin this blog was in 2006:
http://prostatecancerat42.blogspot.com/2006/01/were-going-to-need-bigger-cake.html
Although a number of names would need to be added to the acknowledgment portion, I likely could have re-posted the entry word for word this year and the message would have been then same.
It's a weekend of friends, family, relaxation and celebrating 49. It also marks the beginning of all the sorted milestones, initial diagnosis, first scans, official diagnosis and the beginning of living with this dreaded disease. I'll do my best to mark each of these with a post.
For now, HBD2ME!!
January 24, 2012
A beautiful day in Boston
Yesterday, I flew up here to Boston in order to have updated CT and bone scans. Both procedures were uneventful, except once again, the CT fluid acted like a barium enema. I'll leave it at that. Needless to say, my afternoon in the hotel room pretty much sucked.
Last night it was pouring down rain, so I just went to an Italian restaurant connected to the hotel and picked up dinner to go. Between not being in my own bed and the residual effects of 150mg of Prednisone, I slept like a baby, with colic! The good news is my appointment was not until 1:00 PM, so I was able to sleep a little later this morning to make up for my lost sleep.
I ran into my friend Ralph from New Jersey. It was nice to see a familiar face and catch up with him. He is in the same trial, and currently on the same dose (75mg). He is also
experiencing the same side effects as me,: lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, etc.
We'll touch base later this week to compare the outcomes of both our appointments.
I went over everything in detail with Dr. S and he recommended we change to a lower dose (50mg). I told him I'd like to see the bone scan first. When we compared yesterday's scans to those taken in August, it was incredible to see the contrast and a relief to be able to see how much the tumors have gone down. Even comparing the scans to those just taken 9 weeks ago, there were very noticeable reductions. Some of the reporting from the pharmaceutical company lags behind but what they did have showed a 42% overall reduction from Aug thru the November scans. After yesterday's it might be 50%. After seeing these, we agreed to lower the dose to 50mg. The doctor was very certain all the side effects would lesson by doing so.
I return to Boston again in 6 weeks just for an appointment to meet with the doctor, and then 6 weeks later I will return for the same routine as this week to have updated scans.
There was snow on the ground when I arrived yesterday. Right now it's 55 degrees and
sunny! Somebody sang 'Life is good today', and I agree - it sure is.
Last night it was pouring down rain, so I just went to an Italian restaurant connected to the hotel and picked up dinner to go. Between not being in my own bed and the residual effects of 150mg of Prednisone, I slept like a baby, with colic! The good news is my appointment was not until 1:00 PM, so I was able to sleep a little later this morning to make up for my lost sleep.
I ran into my friend Ralph from New Jersey. It was nice to see a familiar face and catch up with him. He is in the same trial, and currently on the same dose (75mg). He is also
experiencing the same side effects as me,: lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, etc.
We'll touch base later this week to compare the outcomes of both our appointments.
I went over everything in detail with Dr. S and he recommended we change to a lower dose (50mg). I told him I'd like to see the bone scan first. When we compared yesterday's scans to those taken in August, it was incredible to see the contrast and a relief to be able to see how much the tumors have gone down. Even comparing the scans to those just taken 9 weeks ago, there were very noticeable reductions. Some of the reporting from the pharmaceutical company lags behind but what they did have showed a 42% overall reduction from Aug thru the November scans. After yesterday's it might be 50%. After seeing these, we agreed to lower the dose to 50mg. The doctor was very certain all the side effects would lesson by doing so.
I return to Boston again in 6 weeks just for an appointment to meet with the doctor, and then 6 weeks later I will return for the same routine as this week to have updated scans.
There was snow on the ground when I arrived yesterday. Right now it's 55 degrees and
sunny! Somebody sang 'Life is good today', and I agree - it sure is.
January 18, 2012
Winter's got a hold on me
As I mentioned in my last post, I had this big plan to blog a lot this year. I’ll eventually catch fire and start to post more, but for now, winter’s got a hold on me and I just don’t feel very creative or motivated. I can't complain about the weather that we have had so far this season, but it is still winter.
There are no real changes in my health. The fatigue is a little better. I have been in the office full time for seven straight days. The lack of appetite and diarrhea continue. The former is constant, the latter day to day.
I will share that I am reading the Steve Jobs biography. While I was always a fan and thought highly of him, this book has totally changed my opinion. To me, his management style and the way he treated people completely take away from his creative brilliance. I’m just half way through with the book, but cannot image there is some hidden gem in the latter half of the book that will change my perception of the man. Once again, his work and the products Apple created upon his return in the late 1990’s are unheralded, but at what cost to his family, friends and those that worked for him. This is just my opinion, you can decide on your own. The book is a thousand pages, and for the most part, a page turner.
Since we didn’t go to St. Louis over the holidays, we have been pleased to have family visit here in KC. Last weekend my brother Doug and his wife Michelle came in. We didn’t do much except watch some movies and football, but it was good to have the house full and spend time with them. The weekend coming up my other brother Dan, sister Barb and nephew Zach are coming. I look forward to that as well.
For now I will continue to trudge through winter. It has been extremely mild here in Kansas City and it looks like it might continue for the next several weeks. The next thing you know it will be spring, my favorite season of the year.
January 08, 2012
1961
First of all, although things are slightly better, my intention to start the year off with a bang and my goal to post multiple blogs has fizzled. I'll try to get better the year goes on, I promise.
I'd like to start with two prayer requests. There are multiple men I could list but tonight my mind is on Terrance from Seattle and a former neighbor of ours Jennifer. Terence had his 4th chemo infusion this week as well as a blood transfusion. He's having a rough time, so please find a minute for T. Jennifer is battling stage IV colo-rectal cancer. She is planning to head to MD Anderson in a few weeks and I hope and pray that she will find a clinical trial that proves to be an effective treatment for her cancer. Again, please include them both in your prayers.
This week I had my monthly Oncologist appointment here in Kansas City. A few of my blood markers are borderline low, potassium was one. Initially, we are going to try to increase the level with diet.Mary already came back from the store with lots of bananas, avocado and coconut water. As bad as my appetite has been, I was happy that more things weren't out of whack!
Before I break the big news I have to remind you all of a few things: first the clinical trial medicine that I am taking addresses bone tumors. Though they measure my PSA in Boston, the doctor and I don't discuss it. It is the bone scan that is the key marker.
We knew my PSA would rise because as part of the trial I had to stop taking androgen blockers. It was a risk we were willing take at the time. This week we asked my local Oncologist for my PSA and though Tuesday's measurement was not ready, my December 5th reading was 1,961. That is up from 1,043 in November and around 400+/- when we started the trial on August 30th.
On one hand, it's just a number, the scans are what's important (I tell myself in a semi-convincing manner). On the other hand I think, "Holy Roger Maris! 1,961"! From there the questions begin to mount, questions that I will be discussing with Dr. S when I return to Boston later in the month. Short term, I'm not to worried, what this might mean and how it will impact my treatment long term is what I am concerned with mostly.
I'd like to start with two prayer requests. There are multiple men I could list but tonight my mind is on Terrance from Seattle and a former neighbor of ours Jennifer. Terence had his 4th chemo infusion this week as well as a blood transfusion. He's having a rough time, so please find a minute for T. Jennifer is battling stage IV colo-rectal cancer. She is planning to head to MD Anderson in a few weeks and I hope and pray that she will find a clinical trial that proves to be an effective treatment for her cancer. Again, please include them both in your prayers.
This week I had my monthly Oncologist appointment here in Kansas City. A few of my blood markers are borderline low, potassium was one. Initially, we are going to try to increase the level with diet.Mary already came back from the store with lots of bananas, avocado and coconut water. As bad as my appetite has been, I was happy that more things weren't out of whack!
Before I break the big news I have to remind you all of a few things: first the clinical trial medicine that I am taking addresses bone tumors. Though they measure my PSA in Boston, the doctor and I don't discuss it. It is the bone scan that is the key marker.
We knew my PSA would rise because as part of the trial I had to stop taking androgen blockers. It was a risk we were willing take at the time. This week we asked my local Oncologist for my PSA and though Tuesday's measurement was not ready, my December 5th reading was 1,961. That is up from 1,043 in November and around 400+/- when we started the trial on August 30th.
On one hand, it's just a number, the scans are what's important (I tell myself in a semi-convincing manner). On the other hand I think, "Holy Roger Maris! 1,961"! From there the questions begin to mount, questions that I will be discussing with Dr. S when I return to Boston later in the month. Short term, I'm not to worried, what this might mean and how it will impact my treatment long term is what I am concerned with mostly.
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