What's Up With Dana?

God is Working a Miracle in My Life!

2012-02-08T19:09:00.001-05:00

Almost a year ago, I was told I might not live another two years. Although I looked okay, I was being eaten from the inside out. My prostate cancer had advanced into my bones.

I was sent to Vanderbilt to see a specialist. The specialist recommended six treatments of a new chemotherapy, Jevtana. I took three treatments and then had another scan done. The chemo had failed. The cancer had moved into more areas of my spine and ribs. My local oncologist said "there is nothing more I can do."

As you now know, I went to see a doctor in Virginia, Dr. Charles Myers. He put me on Ketoconazole, an anti-fungal drug. It's a pill. Since the late 1980s, it's been known that Ketoconazole kills prostate cancer cells. Dr. Myers uses it with his patients that have failed traditional chemotherapy drugs. He prescribed me some other drugs and some supplements, but they are mostly to treat side effects of the high-dose Ketoconazole.

In November 2011, my PSA was 78.9. I started taking Ketoconazole on Dec. 13. On Jan. 9, my PSA had fallen to 3.3. I had not even been on Ketoconazole for a whole month.

On Feb. 1, I had another PSA test. My PSA is now 1.45.

From 78.9 to 1.45 in less than two months. That is more than a 98% drop.

Besides the dramatic drop in PSA, I am feeling stronger every day.

Join me in praising God for His goodness. Please pray that my PSA continues to fall, even into the "undetectable" range.

I'm Energized

2012-01-09T13:44:00.000-05:00

Okay, a lot has happened in a short time.

The last time I posted, I had been to my new doctor in Virginia, Dr. Myers. When I saw him on Nov. 17, my PSA was near 80. It was the highest it had ever been. He said there was a 70% chance my PSA would drop 80% in the next 90 days, if I followed his treatment plan. Such a drop would take my PSA down to 16.

He prescribed a pill called Ketoconazole. It is a very old, very generic, very cheap medicine. It was produced to fight fungal infections. They have learned that it kills prostate cancer cells very well. Dr. Myers uses it a lot with his patients.

First, I had to get the medicine. I have to mail-order my medications, so I sent the prescription in the week before Thanksgiving. The medicine did not come until Dec. 13. So, I haven't even been on the Ketoconazole for a month yet.

Last Wednesday, I got my blood drawn for my monthly labs. Today, I got the results. My PSA has dropped to 3.3. That is over a 95% drop in under 30-days. PRAISE THE LORD!

I am actually feeling very well right now (even before I got the lab results.) The Ketoconazole can cause severe fatigue and vomiting and even liver damage. So far, I've had none of that. My energy level is greater than it was for most of 2011. Dianne and I are trying to walk every day and I try to do water aerobics at the YMCA about 3 times weekly.

For the holidays, we traveled with my daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren to Brazil to visit the home of my son-in-law's parents. We stayed about two weeks. I did very well keeping up with everyone, even in the airports, where we had to walk for long distances.

Just a week before we left for Brazil, I went back up to Virginia to have a bone biopsy done. They biopsied the diseased bone in my spine and sent it off for genetic testing to be compared against the known genetics of prostate cancer. The results would show which medication would best treat my cancer. I got those results last week. It indicated the Ketoconazole is the best drug to fight my cancer. Dr. Myers is going to call me on January 13, and discuss the results over the phone. I may learn more then.

So, I've been busy, as you can see. But, instead of being fatigued, I'm energized.

God certainly has His hand in this. I give Him all the praise and glory. I'm thankful He led me to Dr. Myers.

For all those who have prayed for me, I thank you. You are wonderful and caring friends and I love and appreciate you all.

Please Excuse My Silence For So Long

2011-11-19T16:29:00.000-05:00

Please excuse my silence on this blog and other email updates. I know it's been a long time.

In September, after three (of six planned) chemotherapy treatments of the new drug cabazitaxel, my oncologist sent me for a bone scan. Unfortunately, the scan showed the cancer had spread into more of my bones even while taking chemo. My oncologist basically said, "I have nothing else for you."

I told him I was planning to make an appointment with Dr. Charles Myers in Charlottesville, VA. I had discussed this doctor in VA with my oncologist on several occasions. He agreed it would be worthwhile to make the appointment.

Dr. Charles Myers is an oncologist also. The difference is, he has prostate cancer himself. Since he was diagnosed, in 1999 I think, he went from being a research doctor to having his own private practice treating nothing but prostate patients.

As a result of his own diagnosis, he began searching out any drugs and supplements that have an effect on prostate cancer. He has treated hundreds of patients and his patients have a median life expectancy much greater than the national average for other prostate cancer patients. Also included in his treatment plan is a switch to a Mediterranean diet.

I had my appointment with Dr. Myers on Thursday, Nov. 17. It could not have gone better.

I had begun transitioning from my normal diet (fast foods, high fat content, etc.) to his recommended diet. I no longer can eat red meat, dairy, or eggs. I can eat chicken, turkey, skim milk, egg beaters, veggies and fruits. I've been doing this diet for almost eight weeks. It's not been as hard a transition as I thought it would be. When your back is against the wall, you do what you have to do.

I kept a food diary and showed it to him during my visit. He said I was doing very well on everything except my breakfast. I was shocked! I thought my breakfast was the least of my worries since I almost always eat Raisin Bran (with skim milk) and a glass of tomato juice. He said the tomato juice is great, it's the Raisin Bran that is bad. Why? I asked. It's the carbohydrates, he said. Almost any cereal would be just as bad. It's all carbs and no protein. The carbs turn into sugar. He said if I added protein, it wouldn't be too bad of a breakfast. So, I've got to start adding whey protein to my breakfast cereal, or may a whey protein shake with fruit.

Anyway, that's just the nutrition part. He then went on to tell me which prescription drugs he will prescribe and which supplements he recommends. I could list them here, but it would get long and technical. The important part is, he is saying that these things will have a killing effect on my prostate cancer cells. Better yet, he says I should see dramatic results in 90 days.

There is a 70% chance, he said, that my PSA will drop by 80% in 90 days. My PSA is currently 80. That means it could drop to 16. It could drop to undetectable, he said. If it dropped to undetectable I would be in the 29% of his patients that have had such a dramatic result. Of those 29%, he has not had a patient death in over six years.

This is incredible. It's also a blessing from God.

What is the difference? Why aren't all my doctors treating prostate cancer this way? The answer ultimately lies in the fact that he has prostate cancer himself. At least that is my belief.

There is no statistical evidence that any one of the major treatments for prostate cancer out performs the others. I started with surgery. Then I had chemo. Then I had radiation. Then more radiation. Then more chemo. Then more radiation. Then more chemo. All totaled, I've had 15 chemo treatments, 84 radiation treatments, two radio-frequency ablation procedures on my right lung, and the initial surgery to have my prostate removed. For the past four years, I've taken shots and pills that have stopped the production of hormones which feed my cancer.

All these treatments are textbook procedures. Doctors all over the world do what has been done to me as the patient's PSA rises and falls. Dr. Myers told me, "You have had good treatment."

Had Dr. Myers not been diagnosed with prostate cancer, he might still be in his research position. By the way, Dr. Myers is a renown researcher and doctor. He was on the team of researchers who devised the AZT cocktail of drugs for AIDS patients.

Dr. Myers is also a trained pharmacologist. He studies drug interactions with other drugs. One of the pills he has prescribed for me interacts violently with Tylenol. If I take Tylenol while on this drug, I could have liver failure.

So, despite the bad news above, God has blessed me with good news from this doctor.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention another thing. I will return to Virginia sometime in the next 30 days. Dr. Myers wants the local hospital there to take a bone biopsy on my diseased bones. The biopsy will be sent away for genetic testing. From the tests, they will be able to identify a chemotherapy agent that will kill more of my cancer. I've had two of the most powerful chemo agents used for prostate cancer. Both drugs failed. I asked Dr. Myers if there was anything else. He said the genetic testing will show which known chemo agent will kill my cancer. It doesn't matter if it is used for prostate cancer or not. It might be used for breast cancer or colon cancer, but if the test says that this known agent will kill my cancer, they will use it.

I thank each of you that may have prayed for me. Just knowing that you care enough to pray for me has sustained me many times. Please don't stop praying. Pray that these new drugs and supplements have the dramatic effect that Dr. Myers predicts. Pray that I will hold up under the introduction of these drugs into my system. One of them in particular can cause nausea, vomiting, and severe fatigue.

I should say before I close that I am feeling fine at this point. I'm a little slow and perhaps a little unsteady on my feet, but I still get around. I do get fatigued upon exertion. I have no bone pain from the metastasis. You may see me at the mall or at Walmart (is there any place else that retirees can go?)

Radio Frequency Ablation

2011-02-12T19:21:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, Feb. 8 I had radio-frequency ablation. The doctor poked a needle through my chest wall and threaded a tool through the needle and deployed a small umbrella (without the fabric). He then applied electrical current to the tool and the tines of the umbrella directed the energy into a metastatic prostate tumor in my right lung. He heated the tumor up to about 400 degrees F to kill the cancer cells.

The procedure was done on the bed of a CT scanner. He put me through multiple passes of the CT scanner to help him direct the placement of the tool. I was pretty much asleep the whole time. They would back off the sedation and tell me to hold my breath and then again to start breathing normal. I can remember hearing them asking me to hold my breath, but I have no memory of physically doing it. They said I did great, so I believe them.

I went home the same day and felt fine. However, on Wed. and Thur., the pain in my chest was too much to bear without pain meds, so I called them. They had me come in for a chest x-ray to make sure I did not have a collapsed lung. I did not. The pain, they said, is from having to go through my pectoral muscle to get into the lung. My pectoral muscle was quite angry with them. It hurt. A lot! They put me on Loritab. That worked initially, but by Friday morning was having no effect. I called them again and they increased the strength of the Loritab. I took one at 7 p.m. another at 11 p.m. and slept soundly without any pain. It's now Sat. and I've had no additional pain medication. I'm still quite weak and can't take a deep breath without feeling it around the procedure site.

On March 8, they will do the same procedure on a second tumor in the same right lung, but in the lower lobe. For this one, they will have to go through my back. I will be lying on my stomach on the CT scanner and they will sedate me just the same as the first time.

I appreciate everyone's prayers. They have helped, I feel certain. So, thank you.

Throughout the past 6.5 years since I was diagnosed, I have believed that God is in control. My time on this earth has not been diminished just because I got a cancer diagnosis. God knows the hour I will meet him in person. He's known it all along. I trust in Him.

Great News!

2010-10-27T19:12:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting for something BIG to report and I finally have it. I got the results of the latest CT scan today. The two prostate cancer tumors in my right lung have shrunk. One is down 32% since chemo began. The other is down 17%. Also, a lymph node in the region that has some involvement with the cancer has shrunk 59%. My PSA is down to 3.2 (from a high of 8.0). My oncologist said that other men with metastasized prostate cancer have PSA in the 200 range. Also, the CT was of the whole abdomen and no other nodules (tumors) were found on the scan. We are truly fighting just what we know is there, and it is working!

I had chemo treatment #4 today. My white blood cell count is headed down and I will feel ill by the weekend. Already, my taste buds are affected and everything tastes metallic. That will last about a week and a half and then start a turn around. I'll regain my strength around Wed. or Thur. next week.

I'm really praising God for these good results and that I'm tolerating the treatments so well. I thank you all for your prayers on my behalf. Please keep praying.

New Developments

2010-08-12T21:40:00.002-04:00

Well, I finished 25 radiation treatments on June 29. My PSA was 3.0 before I started. I truly expected (and prayed for) my PSA to drop to undetectable levels following the radiation. But, I had to wait six weeks after radiation to have it checked.

I got the results last week. My PSA is 6.8. It more than doubled in two and half months, despite the radiation. But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

A couple of weeks ago I made an appointment with my new primary care physician, Dr. Julia Finley. I told her I have 3 doctors looking after my prostate cancer but nobody looking out for the rest of me. She gave me a physical and did a routine chest x-ray.

When she saw the x-ray, she called me and said she sees a "thickening" on the right side and wondered if I had had another recent x-ray taken. I had. Back in April, leading up to the radiation.

I told her where I had it taken and she contacted them and compared the April one to the August one. The "thickening" wasn't there in April.

She scheduled me for a CT scan last Friday morning. By lunch time, she had the results and was calling me. They found two, one-inch diameter tumors in my right lung. She guesses that it is the prostate cancer metastasizing in my lung, rather than a secondary cancer.

Well, that certainly explains the PSA going up.

Dr. Finley sent me for a biopsy of the tumors in my lung. That was today (Thursday, 8/12). They went up my nose and down my throat with a tool (I was asleep and felt nothing). Unfortunately, the doctor could not get close enough to the tumor to poke it with the tool to get a sample. The airway became too narrow and she had to stop.

She will consult a radiologist to see if he can reach it with a needle biopsy (between my ribs, under my right arm). If not, she will try again next week with a new machine that has finer (smaller) tools.

Also, this week I saw both of my oncologists (radiation and chemotherapy) plus my urologist. They all said I need to be treated systemically (something that goes throughout my body) to be sure it attacks any other metastasis that might be hiding in other organs. What that means is I will be having chemotherapy again.

I have to wait until they get the biopsy and know for sure what we are fighting. Also, my oncologist says he will send me for more imaging to look for more metastasis.

I know this catches most of you by surprise. It certainly caught me and Dianne by surprise. Even my doctors are surprised because prostate cancer tends to go to bone before it attacks the organs.

How do I feel? I feel great, right now. I have no symptoms of anything going on in my lung. Unfortunately, the treatment will quickly change how I feel. Chemotherapy is a bad experience.

I really need you to pray for me, Dianne, Bryan, and Emily. Cancer affects the whole family.

God is the only one who was not surprised by this. He is in control of me and my life. I trust in Him and will honor Him even through this.

Thank you for your prayers. You and your prayers mean so very much to me. I thank God for each of you.

More Radiation Coming My Way

2010-05-14T14:35:00.002-04:00

I had a consultation with my radiologist this morning. He showed me the imaging done in my recent prostascint scan with the CT overlay. It's quite amazing to see.

Anyway, he showed me the area that showed up on the scan as having some prostate cancer cells in it. He will mark it up and put into a computer to get a 3-D image of the area to be radiated. The area is behind my major organs but in front of the spine. It is not a tumor that showed up, just an area of tissue that has PCa cells in it. It might be the size of my fist, but I forgot to ask.

The area includes some of the small intestines that kind of flow or bounce through there. Radiation to them can cause some cramping and diarrhea. Another side effect is fatigue.

The total dose I will receive is slightly more than half of what I received two years ago. To give a larger dose would be to invite more side effects. The worst that could happen, he said, is that the bowels would be damaged enough that surgery would be required to fix them. He doesn't anticipate that. It's just a warning.

I will have 25 treatments, given daily except for holidays and weekends.

I will go next Tuesday, May 18, for a simulation. If he is able to complete all he needs to do to program the computer/radiation machine in a week, then I will begin treatments on Tuesday, May 25. If those dates hold, I will complete treatment on June 30. I would then leave for our planned vacation on July 3. He wants me to take the vacation and says nothing should prohibit that.

I'm encouraged by all he said today. I asked about other forms of radiation treatment not yet available at Erlanger, such as CyberKnife, and proton beam therapy. He said both of them deliver higher doses for shorter periods and could cause more negative side effects for the sensitive bowels.

God has instilled a peace within my heart for all that is being done to fight my cancer. I believe, totally, that He is in control. He has led me to excellent doctors in every aspect of my treatment and I thank Him for that. Each new day is a gift. Not just for me, but for everyone.

Please continue to pray for me. I thank you for caring enough to want to know the details and for praying. God bless you all.

It's Been A While

2010-04-29T14:55:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I updated here. Everything was bopping along pretty good until my PSA started rising. When it got over 2.0, my oncologist sent me for a Prostascint scan. This scan is the only thing they have for looking for lymph node disease from prostate cancer.

I've had two Prostascint scans in the past and nothing was found. This time, I was in the unusual situation of asking for prayers that they would find something. I wanted something to show up that would explain my rising PSA. Well, the prayers worked. They found some disease. Here is their description:

"Findings consistent with early metastatic disease to omental lymph nodes involving predominately root of the mesentery."

Now you know as much as I know!

My oncologist, on seeing the report, sent it to my radiologist and referred me to him also. I have talked with the radiologist. He has read the report and seen the pictures. He next must get the CT scan they took at the same time and use it for targeting the radiation. He called this week to follow up and said he is still waiting on the CT images.

It appears that I have more radiation coming. I had 39 sessions almost two years ago and tolerated it very well. The biggest problem was getting there everyday, 5 days per week. I don't know how many days I will have to go this time.

Well, that's all I know. I'll try to keep everyone posted. Thank you for your prayers and I ask that you continue lifting my name up to our Lord.

Not So Fast!

2009-07-24T01:41:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I've updated most of you. Those of you at church and on Facebook know more, as I tend to tell more there than here.

The news is good. Not great; but good.

Let me explain a little about my cancer and how the doctors track it. Since I don't have a prostate any longer, my PSA should, ideally, be non-existent. However, we've known since my surgery in 2004, my cancer escaped the prostate bed and moved into my lymph system.

Now, anytime I have any PSA reading greater than 0.1, it means I have growing prostate cancer cells in my body. As those cells multiply, my PSA goes up.

My doctors are watching for an established doubling rate of my PSA. The doubling rate is an indication of the aggressiveness of my cancer. You want a doubling rate measured in years, not in months.

Eight months ago, my PSA was 0.2. Four months ago, my PSA was 0.4. It doubled in just 4 months. But, two points on the graph is not enough to indicate a definite trend.

So, we had to wait (and pray) for the third point. Would my PSA double again from 0.4 to 0.8 in just 4 more months?

I put the word out to my church family and they prayed, and my family prayed, and I prayed and my PSA came back at 0.6. Praise God for answering prayers. The 0.6 broke up the trend.

Now we wait to see how long it takes to go from the 0.4 to 0.8 (again just 2 points on the graph) and then to 1.2. Or from the 0.6 to 1.2 to 2.4.

My PSA could plateau and hold steady for months, even years. Or, it could continue to climb.

I haven't seen my oncologist since the latest PSA came back. I will see him in August. I don't believe he will change anything at this time; but, he could surprise me.

Anyway, I'm still feeling great and doing well. I swim and take water aerobics at the Y three days each week. When school starts up again, I'll be babysitting my 3 grandchildren.

What to pray for:
-pray for my PSA to plateau or slow to a crawl
-pray that I continue to feel as good as I do (I feel old...but then again, I am old)
-pray that I can handle 3 grandbabies

Thank you all for your prayers and your friendship. I cherish both.

Announcing Noah Bryan Fernandes

2009-05-17T18:07:00.008-04:00

Here is a collage of pictures of Noah and family members shortly after his birth. He was born on Thursday, May 14 (my birthday, too) at 7:16 a.m. He weighed 7 pounds and was 20 inches long. Emily came home on Friday, before lunch. We could not believe she felt well enough after a C-section to leave the hospital so soon. Emily, Diego, Gabi and Noah are all doing wonderfully well. Grandma and Grandpa are very tired.

How Much Are We Missing?

2009-01-13T16:13:00.002-05:00

I read this on one of the sites I browse about Prostate Cancer. The initial author of the story is unknown by me and the site I copied it from. The lesson is a good one for anyone--whether they have cancer or not. Enjoy the read.

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the child stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100 each.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the metro station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

This Is From The New York Times

2008-12-23T18:49:00.002-05:00

Below, I'm going to paste a blog taken from the New York Times website.

Interestingly, the writer's name is Dana Jennings. He has prostate cancer, too. I find his story similar to mine. He makes a very good point--many people think prostate cancer is a good cancer because men typically die "with" prostate cancer, not "from" prostate cancer.

Almost 30,000 men die every year from prostate cancer. We don't have a nationwide campaign to warn men of this cancer like the women have for breast cancer.

Remember "there is no such thing as a good cancer."

My Gleason score is the same as Dana Jennings' (9). He was diagnosed at 51. I was diagnosed at 54. He had a radical open prostatectomy. So did I. His pre-surgery numbers and staging were low. So were mine. His post-surgery numbers soared from an apparently run-of-the-mill prostate cancer to an actually aggressive star among such cancers. Same as mine.

If that doesn't make men want to be screened for prostate cancer in their 40s, I don't know what will. Please, men, don't wait for symptoms. I had no symptoms!

A PSA test is a simple blood test. It costs about $30 and is covered by insurance. If your PSA is above normal (around 3.5), your doctor might want to do a digital rectal exam. Yes, it's humiliating and uncomfortable, but it could save your life if your cancer is caught early enough.

Anyway, read Dana Jennings' story just below. It's worth the read.

The Good Cancer?

More than two million American men are currently living with prostate cancer, yet the national conversation about the disease consistently falls short. My colleague Dana Jennings, a writer and editor for The Times, was diagnosed with prostate cancer seven months ago. He has generously offered to share some of his experiences with the disease as a regular contributor to the Well blog.

By Dana Jennings

There is no such thing as a “good cancer.” When my prostate cancer was diagnosed last April, I can’t tell you how many well-meaning friends and acquaintances said: “At least you have a good cancer.” What they were trying to say is that prostate cancer is often very treatable when detected in its early stages. Even so, nearly 30,000 American men died last year of “the good cancer.”

Dana Jennings. (Lonnie Schlein/The New York Times)

My cancer did appear to fall within the range of the ordinary. Treatment is still treatment, though, and a prostatectomy, no matter the method, is major surgery, with the twin shadows of impotence and incontinence always present.

But after my radical open prostatectomy on July 7, the pathology report revealed that my cancer wasn’t so ordinary, after all, and showed what one doctor called a “somewhat extraordinary scenario.” My apparently run-of-the-mill prostate cancer was actually an aggressive star among such cancers.

Rather than being a typically slow and pokey prostate cancer, mine had marched beyond the prostate and invaded a seminal vesicle and other tissue. It was a pure and aggressive prostate cancer. I soared from pre-surgery Gleason scores of 6 or 7 (two different hospitals, two different scores) to a Gleason of 9 — the higher the number on this scale of 10 the worse the news — and from having a probable Stage 1 cancer to a Stage 3: Stage T3B to be exact.

Some men with Gleason 9’s do well, my doctors say, others don’t. And even if I go into remission after my current treatment of hormonal therapy coupled with radiation, there’s still a 50 percent chance that the cancer will return.

I’m 51 and married, have two sons (19 and 22), and I’m on the young side to have prostate cancer. If my cancer had been “ordinary,” if the prostate had been simply snipped out with only the usual complications (which are significant), I might not have felt compelled to write about it.

But I’ve been living with my cancer for more than seven months now, and have taken to regularly writing down my experiences and feelings about the disease in a journal to help me cope with — and try to understand — the very personal challenges it presents. Despite the prevalence of prostate cancer (nearly 200,000 new cases are diagnosed each year), I have found my diagnosis to be surprisingly isolating, partly because, in my view, the national conversation about prostate cancer is lacking. It dwells on statistics and treatment, and ignores deeper issues.

Doctors tend to default to mere competent professionalism, forgetting to talk directly to the scared flesh-and-blood man bearing the disease. Friends shift uncomfortably, turn squeamish, when the conversation turns to the most personal aspects of treatment, like sex, impotence and incontinence. And even men who have prostate cancer themselves, taking their cues from their doctors, I suspect, find it difficult to talk about. Instead, they sound as if they’re spokesmen for their cancer, not men stricken with a serious disease.

In these posts I hope to provide an antidote to the averted eyes and the retreat into medical jargon that sometimes characterize talk about prostate cancer. Prostate cancer isn’t just about surgery, treatment and survival — it’s also about relationships, sex, self-esteem, embarrassment, hope and fear. By writing about my own experiences, I hope I can start a personal, honest and down-to-earth conversation about the disease — in all its bewildering sadness and, yes, in all its strange humor — with fellow prostate cancer patients, their caregivers and anyone else who is interested.

And I’ll say this one more time: There is no such thing as a “good cancer.”

Merry Christmas

2008-12-18T16:02:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas to each of you and your families. May God richly bless you as you think about His greatest gift to us--His Son, Jesus! No gift can compare.

My oncologist had scheduled me to have another bone scan done this month. It had been over two years since my first one. The first one was just a basis to compare all future ones with.

Well I had the bone scan done a couple of weeks ago and the results showed NO metastasis. I truly thank God for this. Isn't He an awesome God?

The scan did show an area on my spine (T10, if that means anything to you) that could be degenerative in nature. It wasn't on the first scan, so they recommended a standard x-ray to confirm. I had the x-ray done yesterday and my oncologist's office called today and said that the x-ray results were negative. So, again, I thank God for answering my prayers.

Thank you all for praying for me. You are the greatest friends and I thank our God for each of you. Enjoy Christmas, but take time to thank God for His wonderful gift to us.

Not Much Happening--Praise the Lord

2008-11-26T18:45:00.004-05:00

I haven't posted an update about me since July. Not much has happened. I get my hormone therapy injection every 4 months, so that's when I get the most information. In September, I had a PSA test and the result was 0.116 (why it's out to 3 decimals, I don't know). Since then, I've had 3 more PSA tests and they each came back 0.2. I've discussed these results with my urologist and my oncologist and both say not to worry until the number is over 0.4. So, I try not to worry. Ideally, I would have no PSA because I have no prostate. However, some prostate cancer patients that have had seed implants (instead of surgery) are considered cured if their PSA stays at 0.2.

I still feel great (except the day after my injection; then I feel very old and creaky).

On to the better things in life. Please go to the posting just below this one to see pictures of our new granddaughter, Gracey Ruth Wilbourn. She was born November 20, to Bryan and Jordan. We've prayed for a long time for God to bless them with a baby. God is good!

Also, our daughter Emily is expecting again. She will deliver in May. Since she will be having a C-section, she gets to pick the date. She picked my birthday, May 14. Bless her heart. We learned today that Emily is having a BOY! Will he be spoiled or what?

We praise the Lord for our growing family. I'm going to be busy babysitting!

Introducing Gracey Ruth Wilbourn

2008-11-26T18:15:00.002-05:00

Here is a collage of pictures taken the day Gracey Ruth was born. Bryan and Jordan are the proud parents of our latest granddaugher. If you double-click on the picture, you should be able to see them close up. Gracey was born November 20, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. at Parkridge East. She weighed 5 lbs. 10 oz. and was 19 inches long. Everyone is doing well and we thank God for this precious gift to these wonderful parents.

Undetectable PSA

2008-07-16T10:03:00.002-04:00

I saw my oncologist yesterday and got the results of my PSA test drawn last week. My PSA is undetectable! Praise the Lord.

The Dr. was almost giddy when I told him that I feel great. I told him I am swimming a half mile 3 times a week, followed by an hour of water aerobics. He closed my file and tossed it on to the table. He said, "So, what are you doing here?"

Folks, I am feeling great. I'm a little bit achy when I get up from sitting for awhile but that is about it. The Dr. said that is probably from the Lupron.

I had read recently that too much calcium while on Lupron can be bad for the patient. I was taking Boniva monthly plus a calcium supplement daily. The study said that Boniva should be taken once every 3 months for patients on Lupron. So, I asked the Dr. about it and he agreed. So, I'll only take the Boniva every 3 months now.

I've often felt that the Boniva adds to my achyness. We'll see if it lessens a little now.

Also, last week at my Prostate Cancer Support Group, the facilitator showed me a report that claims that men who have prostate surgery and then salvage radiation (like I just completed), live twice as long as those that do not have the salvage radiation. I liked that!

As in all things, I give God the glory. I'm thankful for each new day He gives me. And, I thank Him for giving me such wonderful friends and family that pray. I could not endure without His presence in my life or without your encouragement and prayers. Thank you.

Finished! Hallelujah!

2008-06-28T13:30:00.001-04:00

My last day of radiation treatment was yesterday (Friday--June 27). I'm so thankful that it is over. I really disliked having to go every day. The people there are wonderful, that wasn't the problem. It's just that I was reminded every day that I have cancer.

I saw the radiologist on Thursday. He was pleased with my progress and the lack of side effects. He thought I did very well. I won't see him again for six weeks. I will see my oncologist in July and get another PSA test. With the hormone therapy continuing and just coming off of radiation, I certainly expect it to be undetectable. You may pray for that.

There is no test to see how well the radiation did except to monitor my PSA. Remember, I have no prostate. So, any detectable PSA means that I have actively growing prostate cancer cells. I probably won't even get another bone scan until my PSA rises and can't be brought down.

My sincere thanks to all of you who have been praying for me. It meant so much to hear from you that you had prayed for me. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Dianne, Emily, and Gabi made it safely to Brazil. Thank you for praying for them too. They will return on July 4th. I sure do miss them. Gabi turned one-year old yesterday too.

Also yesterday, I attended the funeral of a 5-month old baby boy who died Tuesday, quite unexpectedly. They say it was SIDS. The parents are young. This was their first child. They aren't even married. The mother works for Diego in Dalton,GA. I had met her when she was pregnant and I met her son once after he was born. The funeral was sad. All I can remember is the look on the mother's face. The preacher admitted that he had only met the couple that day. As he began to speak, the lights suddenly went out due to a storm outside. In the darkened room, someone said, "Continue, we can hear you." So, he did. But, it had thrown him off. He couldn't read his notes and he stumbled through to an end. As we exited the chapel, it was raining hard. We ran to our cars and lined up to go to the grave site. The rain quit before we left the parking lot and it had not rained at the cemetery. But, a dark cloud was overhead and thunder in the background. The funeral director announced that the preacher couldn't make it to the cemetery, so the mother had asked to say a few words. She apologized for not being a preacher and for presuming she could speak. She broke down and all that we could hear was, "I love you, Zachery. I love you." With heavy sobs she sat down. The director asked them if they would like to put the first dirt in the grave. They did. I realized then that no one was going to pray for this child as he was lowered into his grave. God spoke to me and said, "You should pray!" I moved alongside the mother and asked if she would like me to pray. Of course, she did. So I asked everyone to bow their heads and I lead them in a prayer committing this child to the Father and reminding everyone that we can all be reunited with Zachery in Heaven and see him in all his glory and our Heavenly Father, in all His Glory, as well. The grave workers covered the casket. The director announced the conclusion and the sky opened up and rain began to fall. Everyone scattered to their cars and drove away.

Please pray for this couple. I'm sure they are not Christians. Their names are Amy and Virgil. These past 4 days have been more than they can handle. Without God, they don't stand a chance. If God wants to use me again, I'm willing.

One Week to Go

2008-06-21T01:49:00.000-04:00

I'm down to one week left of my radiation treatments. Five days!

I feel blessed since I've experienced very little side effects throughout the treatments. Even the fatigue I experienced a couple of weeks ago has subsided. Now, only the insomnia remains and it's intermittent. But, alas, it's nearly 2:00 a.m. and I'm awake, so I decided to write this blog.

The doctor says insomnia is a definite side effect. He said his theory is that the radiation messes up the whole body to the point it doesn't know what to do.

I thank everyone who has prayed during this time. I believe that you are the reason that I've had minimal side effects. You all have been wonderful!

Please pray also for my wife, Dianne, my daughter, Emily, and my granddaughter, Gabi. They all leave Wednesday, June 25, for Brazil. They are going back to visit Diego's parents, grandparents, and sister. Diego is staying here to manage his two pizza restaurants. If they don't go now, it would be another year and a half before they could go and Emily doesn't want Diego's family to have to wait that long. Two of his grandparents are in poor health, so timing is important for them too. Emily was going to go alone, with Gabi, then Dianne said that it would be too much for one person to handle a one-year old on a twelve-hour flight. So, she volunteered to go also.

Pray for safety as they fly and as they stay in Brazil. Diego's parents home was robbed a couple of weeks ago. Somehow, the attack dogs did not attack whoever scaled the fence. They are still trying to sort that out. The dogs are military trained to attack.

I'll finish my radiation on Friday, June 27. Pray for a good 5 days and pray that side effects do not pop up after treatment (that is a possibility).

God is so good! I'm glad I'm in His grip. Praise His name!

Halfway Finished

2008-06-01T21:00:00.000-04:00

Let's call it halfway. I've had 19 treatments and have 20 more to go. That's four more weeks. My last radiation treatment will be June 27 unless something changes.

So far, the side effects are minimal. The most noticeable is the fatigue. I tire very easily and am usually wiped out by the end of the day. Mornings are not as bad as evenings. I can still do my swimming and water aerobics at the Y on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. My doctor sees that as a good sign and encourages me to keep it up. I actually see him in the locker room on Thursdays when he has his own workout.

One day last week I had a 3:45 appointment for radiation. I was the last patient of the day. When I got there, before 3:30, they told me they were over an hour behind. When they finally got to me and did the radiation, they told me that I would get to see the doctor today (I see him once every week). Unfortunately, he was running behind more than they were with the radiation. I got home at 7:00 that night.

For the past two nights, I've had insomnia. I'm not sure if it is related to the treatments or not. I'll ask on Monday. If there is a worse combination than insomnia and fatigue, then I don't want it.

Thank you all for your prayers. I appreciate all of your kind comments and acknowledgments too. It is comforting and uplifting to know that so many are praying for me.

Pray that I get some sleep and pray that the side effects continue to be minimal.

God bless you for your faithfulness.

P.S. Today is the 1-year anniversary of my retirement. I can hardly believe it. The year absolutely flew by.

Music to my ears!

2008-05-15T16:44:00.000-04:00

Just a quick note to thank two very special people.

Scott Walker made me a music CD way back in 2004. The purpose was for me to listen to it after my surgery and as I recovered. I did that, over and over. Most of the songs were by Fernando Ortega, who is one of my favorite artists. So, I used the CD again during chemotherapy. It really made the time pass quickly while I was being infused and help brighten the days when my white blood count was really low and my spirit was even lower. So, I got the CD out again when I started radiation. Now I listen to it while I'm waiting to be called back for my treatments. Thank you Scott, for a wonderful gift that keeps on giving.

Then, on my birthday, my sweet daughter-in-law, Jordan, gave me another music CD that she has used when she feels down. I've listened to it and it too is very uplifting. So now, I have two wonderful CDs of music to lift my spirit when I'm waiting for treatment. Thank you Jordan!

What wonderful gifts they are!

Day 8 of Radiation

2008-05-14T19:21:00.000-04:00

Today is my birthday and I had my eighth radiation treatment.

My family celebrated my birthday last evening and I had a wonderful time.

Today's treatment was like all the previous ones--borrriiinngg!

I go in and lie down on a long narrow table. The machine radiates me from above, below, left, and right. The treatments themselves take less than 10-minutes. Waiting to be called back can take much longer. Yesterday I got there at 10:30 for a 10:45 appointment. They came out about 11:00 and said they had moved my appointment to 1:15. So, I left and had lunch with a friend and then went back.

The worst thing is that I have to go every day. I've asked for morning appointments and they oblige as best they can. I like to have at least half of my day for myself. Afternoon appointments just seem to ruin my whole day.

The good news is that I have had no side effects from the radiation. It may still be a little too early. Some people have no side effects at all. I pray I'm one of them.

Speaking of prayer, I need it. Pray that I have no side effects. Pray that the eight weeks pass quickly for me. Pray for my safety as I drive to and from the hospital daily. Pray for my wife, Dianne, as she cares for me. Is that enough to pray for? Thanks.