Update 06/25/14

Things are finally happening. I had a call from urology, Monday, with the results of the biopsy and I have prostate cancer which has, they believe, spread to the lymph nodes. The good news is things are beginning to happen to get started on treatment.

Yesterday I had a Power Port put into my chest. I was awake for the whole thing but didn’t really feel anything, it was like I knew what was going on but I didn’t care. Anyway the doctor did a great job and I haven’t had any problem with it yet just a bit of soreness.

I have started taking a drug called Bicalutamide a hormone, probably feminine, that is supposed to stop the prostate from producing testosterone which in turns lets the prostate send out the cancer cells. At least that is what I understand, all I know is it is supposed to suppress the cancer in the prostate and then next week we will begin chemo to take care of the lymph nodes. I will also begin getting a shot in the stomach every three months, this begins on Monday, and it does the same thing as the pill but with a slower release.

Plus the urology dept. has set me up for a bone scan and something else in Nuclear Medicine. I am glad we are finally getting to try and slow and stop this thing.

I feel good today, I have no pain from the surgery and by next week I should be in good shape. Of course then chemo begins you have a couple days of feeling bad, at least that is what I remember of Sarah’s chemo treatments and I suppose different drugs have some different side effects. I am ready for it and will be as upbeat and active as I can.

It is interesting I have gone from taking one pill per day to several pills per day, I guess that is what growing old is all about. Although I know people older than me who take nothing. However, I know there are people worse off than I and I pray they will be taken cared for properly.

Until later, have a great day.

Update 06/20/14

Today we received the rest of our furniture, now we have a complete home. We do have to figure out the best place to put the couch in the living room but I am sure Sarah will figure that out. We do love the house, it has no steps so there is no basement. It does get a bit unnerving with the number of tornados we have had the past few weeks but if it is going to get that bad we will go to our son Daniel’s, he just lives a couple miles from us.

I had some good luck this week and since I don’t believe in coincidences it had God’s hand in it. I had my prostate biopsy scheduled for next Wednesday and am scheduled to have a port put in my right chest next Tuesday. I wasn’t too keen on having back to back surgeries so I called the case manager for urology. I asked her if there were any cancellations could I get the biopsy done sooner, she said sure but there wasn’t any cancellations. This was last Tuesday morning, that afternoon she called and said there was a cancellation and did I want it. I said yes and so I had the biopsy done Wednesday afternoon, all went well and I am told we should have the results within a week.

So next week I get the Infusaport put in, it will make administering the chemo much easier on the nurses as well as me. The nurse I talked with about this said I won’t feel a thing even though I will be awake for some of it, I didn’t quite understand but as long as I know who to hit if I feel anything I will be fine.

The doctor still doesn’t know what kind of cancer I have the latest I have is they sent a sample to Washington DC, I hope not the federal government, to see if they can identify the cancer. I do like my doctor, he is an associate professor at the Nebraska Medical School and works in the cancer center there. I am told this is one of the best cancer center in the country. He said I would get the treatments at the VA and if they couldn’t do it there he would get me to where treatment could be administered. I am very fortunate that the Nebraska VA is not involved in the problems some of the others have. So far everyone has been very nice and very helpful, I am sure there are problems here but so far I have not had any big ones. The doctor ordered this port because he said they can begin chemo even if they don’t have a definite diagnosis and that is exactly what I want get something started so we can conquer this thing.

Thank you for all the prayers and positive vibes, you never know how much it means to a person until you are that person. 

Until later.

Update

This has been quite a week for Sarah and I. I will preface this to say I go to the VA for my medical needs. I know the VA is under a lot of scrutiny right now but I am very happy with the level of service I am receiving at the Omaha VA, that said I will tell you about my week.

Monday I went in for a prostate biopsy, now I figured it would not be a big deal. Let me preface to say my prostate problem was such that I had a catheter in me for a week at this point. Have you ever had to have a catheter? The only thing worse than have one put in is having one taken out. Also, having one 24/7 is a great budget helper, you don't feel like going anywhere and why would you with a bag of liquid strapped to your leg. Anyway, the doctor wanted the catheter removed before he started the procedure, this was the beginning of pain, I equate the removal of the catheter as trying to drive a truck through an opening made for a Volkswagen. So the nurse accomplished the removal and this was just the beginning. The doctor comes in and gets me to lie on my side and he begins. The prostate is accessed through the rectum and lower intestine so first the doctor says you are going to feel something cold, it is his fingers or maybe it was his elbow, I should have told him to stop then but I didn't want to be a wimp. Next, he says he is going to insert a probe, he forgot to tell me it was a 2x4, he didn't get very far and I was in the worse pain I have ever felt. I asked how much longer and he said a while, no more I could not take the pain, he told no problem the procedure can be done in surgery where they will put me to sleep, I said yes. The procedure is now set for June 25 and I won't feel anything. People have asked why they don't give you something or automatically put you to sleep as they do for a colonoscopy, my answer is I don't know. My advice if you have to have this procedure have them put you out.

Yesterday was a tough day. As you may recall I had a lump on my neck and about a week ago, I had a biopsy done, well yesterday we got the results. I don't have lymphoma as was suspected, I have a cancer called neuro endocrine cancer. I have never heard of it but it starts somewhere in the body. The treatment process depends on where in the body the cancer starts so the tissue samples from the biopsy have been sent out to experts in this particular cancer and they will tell the oncologist what form of treatment to use. Since this is a cancer, I never heard of before I am anxious to learn more about it as time goes on. Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers coming, I can use all of them.

College World Series begins this Friday; I hope to go to one of the games with Daniel, our youngest, I have always wanted to do that.

We get the rest of our furniture this Saturday, minus the couch it will be July before we get it, so I can finally have a dresser for my clothes.

The camper is for sale if you know of anyone looking for a good used camper, I will make them a good deal.

That is it for now.