Update 08/13/14

Here we are three weeks after my last chemo treatment and I feel really good. I have an appointment with the oncologist next Tuesday, Aug 19, for lab work and to determine if I need another round of chemo, which I will do immediately if it is needed. I keep praying for the cancer to be contained to the prostate and the lymph nodes only. If I don’t need more chemo right away and the doctor ok’s it I want to go visit some folks in Burlington and Des Moines area, so Sarah and I will make a road trip. If we can’t do it then we will make the trip another day.
We aren’t doing much, I haven’t felt like it for the last couple weeks. Cynthia has been over to visit, she went to Sarah and her great niece’s wedding in Houston Aug 2, I wanted to ago but there is no way we could so we didn’t. This week we have long time friends Orren & Norma visiting for a couple days, it is great to see them. We went out to eat last night and showed them a bit of the area where we live and then spent a nice evening at home.
Robert, Sarah, Mason and Madyson stopped on their way to Denver a week ago Monday. They stayed the night, we went to Daniel & Marie's for pizza and a nice visit. The kids stayed in a motel because I was just done with a chemo treatment. The kids liked the motel because there was a pool. It was great to see them, we haven't seen them since April and aren't sure when we will get up to WI next, depends on the doctor visit next week. Mason and Madyson told us all about their activities, Mason in baseball and Madyson in dance and gymnastics. What a busy family, I get tired just thinking about all they do. This past Monday they stopped for a short time on their way home. They left Denver at 0530 and arrived home at 10:35 pm, 17 hrs on the road, it is good they are young. I remember doing something like that when I was younger but I don't believe I would even attempt it today.
Today the person who handles the warranty work for our builder is coming over to fix some of the things the workers didn’t do correctly or forgot to do, it isn’t much mostly small things but I figured as long as it is covered under the warranty I want to get it done.
We are going to Daniel’s tonight, Emily’s birthday, 8 years old today, so we are going over for a family thing tonight and Saturday she will have a party for her friends.
We are busy but we aren’t, I still read a lot and spend too much time on the computer playing stupid games but I enjoy it. I am reading a series of books by WEB Griffin, I like his writing. Although as I have found a lot of the writers I like aren’t writing the books with their name on them, they have other writers do the writing and they put their names on the books. Is that ethical? I guess as long as you declare it on the cover it doesn’t make any difference.
Well that’s it for now.

Update 7/25/14

Another round of Chemo is done. It wasn’t too bad, Tuesday I did experience a bit of nausea but nothing serious, Weds & Thurs I felt good after both treatments. One of the side effects and to me the worst of the bunch is constipation, it is such a pain in the you know what, but we have ways of dealing with it. The other side effect is hair lose and I am losing it big time, everytime I rub my head I get hair, Sarah has cut it short but I imagine before long I won't have any at all. I do find I don't have to shave much and so I like that.

My blood work, taken prior to the treatment, wasn’t at the numbers the oncologist wanted but he okayed the treatment anyway. My red and white counts were below normal but I guess he thought it was still a good option to proceed. My task now is to stay away from crowds and don’t get into situations where there could be sick people, so we have canceled all travel plans until I see the doctor Aug 19th. Since the Chemo destroys the immune system I am not going to take any chances.

Not much else going on, I force myself to walk each day, I am up to a mile a day at this point. I know in a few days it will be difficult to get out and walk but I am going to do my best.

I have always had empathy for those who were going through cancer treatments but you can never understand the emotions and effect of the treatments until you experience it yourself and I wish that experience on no one. So I speak from experience to all men make sure you have a PSA done each year and after age 45 get a digital rectal exam. For those of you who didn’t go into the military, this is where the doctor says, “turn around, drop your drawers and bend over”. Both need to be done at the same time. I had the PSA done at each annual physical but not the DRE. Also make sure you research the symptoms for an enlarged prostate and get medical care if you get these symptoms see your doctor immediately.

Enough preaching but I believe it is very important. In my case I waited to long, in my opinion, to seek medical help and I am dealing with advanced aggressive prostate cancer. The doctors say I will have it the rest of my life, hopefully it can be stopped from spreading and then held in check. As the saying goes, all men if they live long enough will get prostate cancer, some of us get it sooner than others.

Life long friend Mark and wife Sharon stopped to see us last Saturday. Mark and I lived next door to each other for the first eighteen years of our lives. It was good to see them, we had a great time visiting and eating way to much food.

Daniel, Marie and the kids came over last Sunday, Sarah fixed lunch and Daniel did some things for that I couldn’t get done. It is always fun to see the kids, I wish I had their energy.

Robert, Sarah and kids are due to visit Aug 4 on their way to Denver, Sarah’s sister Catherine lives there. One of my regrets this summer is not having able to see Mason and Madyson play ball this summer. Hopefully next summer we will be able to get to see them play.

I guess that is it for now so until later.

Update 7/17/14

I have some folks asking me what stage of cancer I have, I have stage four prostate cancer. I asked the doctor how they know the stage and he said because it has spread to the lymph nodes it is stage four. Ok, I know what I have to do and that is whatever the doctors tell me to do.

I have not had to bad of a time with the chemo, I had it two weeks ago, I did not get sick, they gave me medicine for that, and the only side effects was being tired and constipated, which I believe is just part of getting old also. I did have a pain in my side which we believe may be a lymph node or muscle strain. The other side effect which is of more concern is the neuropathy in my hands and left arm. Sarah had this when she had her chemo, she also had very sensitive finger tips, I don’t have that as of yet. Then there is the metallic taste I have in my mouth and some foods don’t really taste and smell all that good, but I eat what does taste and smell good and that keeps me going. All in all the first round of chemo wasn’t too bad, I start a second round next Tuesday for three days and we’ll see how that one will affect me.

The last couple days have been good, so Sarah and I went shopping. Tuesday we went to find comforters for the beds, found some on sale at Younkers. Of course when we got home one did not look right on the bed so we took it back yesterday and found the right one. The all looked good to me but Sarah didn’t like the one but now likes the one she exchanged it for.

I found a rv dealer who will sell the camper on consignment, I know I will take a beating on this but I don’t want the camper sitting around, someone should be enjoying it. I just have to get it to the dealer which I should be able to do tomorrow or the next day. The truck I will sell on my own after the trailer has been sold.

We have had a few visitors over the last couple weeks, Carl & Merilee surprised us one Sunday night by stopping on their way to Iowa City, they spent the night and headed out the next day. Merilee spent last night with us on her way to Mitchell, SD, her and Carl bought a house there to be close to Amy and the grandkids.

Mark and Sharon are due here from Rapid City, SD on their way home to Burlington. They will spend two nights with us, we are looking forward to seeing them.

Larry & Kathy were here a few weeks ago, she helped put the shade in the half moon window we have in the living room, it sure helped with keeping the light out at night.

It is always good to have company so if anyone is in the area call, we would love to see you. Please don’t take offense if I tell you I am not up to seeing anyone at that time because there are days when I don’t want any one around, most days are ok but there are a few when I don’t want company.

Nothing more has been going on, that I can think of right now so I’ll end this and post another entry after this next round of chemo.

Later.

7/4/14

Time for an update. I had the bone scan and other than two abnormalities on one rib on the right and the left, the bones were clear. The doctor doesn’t think it is anything because neither showed up on the CT scan, so we’ll see if the next CT scan shows anything.

I finished my three day chemo yesterday. For those of you who like to know the details, I received a shot on Monday, Leuprolide (Eligard), I get this every 90 days for the rest of my life. On Tuesday began my chemo treatments, I was given two drugs, Eoposide 240mg IV and Carboplatin 550mg IV, and for nausea they gave me Zofran (ondansetron) and Dexamethasone, good drugs because I didn’t get sick. I also had a bag of normal saline going in at the same time as the drugs. That is a lot of fluids which necessitated a couple trips to you know where.  On Wednesday and Thursday I received the same treatment as Tuesday minus the Carboplatin.

I felt pretty good after each treatment but today I am feeling a bit out of it, just feel a little off kilter. Sarah keeps telling me that will happen, they also warned me that beginning about next Tuesday I will begin feeling tired and will become more susceptible to disease because my immune system will be gone due to the chemo treatment. Then the white blood cells will begin to regenerate and by the time the next round of chemo begins on the 22^nd.

With all the negative press about the VA I must say I am very happy with my treatment here at the Omaha VA. The people are very helpful and friendly and I can’t say enough about the nurses in the chemo area, they are fabulous. I get my chemo at eight in the morning and my breakfast is waiting for me when I arrive, and on Tuesday I even got lunch. Like I said they have become very patient oriented. Now I was told that it hasn’t always been this way at Omaha, a few years ago someone took the bull by the horns and turned the facility into what it is today, not to say they are perfect but they have to be one of the best in the country.

As I have said before I don’t believe I could be in a better place to receive the treatments I am getting and I am very thankful for that.

Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. You never understand what that all means to someone until you are on the receiving end of them.

Until Later.

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.