Went to Atlanta for a few hours yesterday for my one monthish check up. I've been back as long as it took to get my 28 treatments. Wow. So it was basic check up like I had every Tuesday I was there. Weight, blood pressure, temp, heart rate, oxygen levels. Then a nurse asks a bunch of questions, do you have pain, discomfort, blood in urine, how often are you peeing, any question that you can think up that deals with the region down there. (this doesn't include the paperwork you fill out with all the same questions). Then a resident Oncologist comes in, and all the same questions are asked, yes, they are thorough. Final Dr. Goodette arrives and asks several of the same questions. Everything is progressing as it should, still run down at the end of the day, still some shortness of breath, I did drop down my Flomax intake from twice a day to once. We will see how it goes.
Next I fly back in March, and this is when they start taking blood and checking my PSA.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Thursday, December 19, 2019
What's next?
Some have asked so I will let you know that I will be heading down to Emory in January and March for check ups to make sure everything went well. I am still on Flomax, and still a little tired, tends to come in around lunch time.
Skip this part if you never swam, it's just swimmer talk: Over the last three weeks though, my 200 frees are getting faster. this week I was cruising 2:11's in the middle of a 2000 yard mountain set. I am still breathing more than normal, but everything is just getting better.
One side effect I have noticed is my hips feel tight/tender on the muscles that got zapped. It seems my legs wear out faster than the rest of my body. This week I have added strength training to the regiment. Still have my goal of making top 3 in the 50 at Masters Nationals this summer in Richmond VA. Just another goal to work towards.
As I write this my last treatment was 22 days ago. I could not be happier with the choice I made, we will be monitoring my PSA for the rest of my life, and watch for it to decrease. I have been in touch with Bob Marcini's daughter Deb a lot lately as they work to promote Bob's rerelease of his book, and who knows, maybe a documentary. More to come on that later. Charles told me to pay it forward, and I'm spreading the word every chance I get.
Skip this part if you never swam, it's just swimmer talk: Over the last three weeks though, my 200 frees are getting faster. this week I was cruising 2:11's in the middle of a 2000 yard mountain set. I am still breathing more than normal, but everything is just getting better.
One side effect I have noticed is my hips feel tight/tender on the muscles that got zapped. It seems my legs wear out faster than the rest of my body. This week I have added strength training to the regiment. Still have my goal of making top 3 in the 50 at Masters Nationals this summer in Richmond VA. Just another goal to work towards.
As I write this my last treatment was 22 days ago. I could not be happier with the choice I made, we will be monitoring my PSA for the rest of my life, and watch for it to decrease. I have been in touch with Bob Marcini's daughter Deb a lot lately as they work to promote Bob's rerelease of his book, and who knows, maybe a documentary. More to come on that later. Charles told me to pay it forward, and I'm spreading the word every chance I get.
Thursday, November 28, 2019
Ring the bell
Wednesday November 27th. Bell 1 Cancer 0.
I have now left my Emory family and am back in the care of my wife and kids. 28 treatments with Proton Therapy. I chose Emory because of the people in the picture. My life, my care was and is in their hands. They are truly amazing, at every level, on every floor. To all my brothers from the men's lounge we had some good laughs and some good times, I will continue to pray for you. To all the people who supported our family, from the little hugs, to the casseroles, the bottles of wine, the prayers, the trips, we love you all.
And my final message, please share with others my journey, that just because one doctor says one thing that is not necessarily your option, just because health insurance says no the first time does not mean you have to take that answer, and talk to other patients the ones with good experiences and the ones with bad, it is your health. And finally, get routine check ups.
I love you all.
I have now left my Emory family and am back in the care of my wife and kids. 28 treatments with Proton Therapy. I chose Emory because of the people in the picture. My life, my care was and is in their hands. They are truly amazing, at every level, on every floor. To all my brothers from the men's lounge we had some good laughs and some good times, I will continue to pray for you. To all the people who supported our family, from the little hugs, to the casseroles, the bottles of wine, the prayers, the trips, we love you all.
And my final message, please share with others my journey, that just because one doctor says one thing that is not necessarily your option, just because health insurance says no the first time does not mean you have to take that answer, and talk to other patients the ones with good experiences and the ones with bad, it is your health. And finally, get routine check ups.
I love you all.
Best part of your day
As family schedules get busier and busier, sometimes the family dinner does not happen as planned. When they do, one of the traditions we have is we go around the table and ask what was the favorite part of you day. Typical responses are, recess, getting out of school. For Aloma and I, it is typically 'right now' because the whole family is together and we are reconnecting. So Tuesday we had a big spaghetti dinner at my aunt and uncles.
And my favorite part of the day was seeing my family come up the escalator and the kids running to through the maze of people to come hug me.
And my favorite part of the day was seeing my family come up the escalator and the kids running to through the maze of people to come hug me.
You ever swim against a current
So I got to stay over my last weekend and join Dynamo for a Saturday morning swim practice. Oops, after the 4000+ set I would say I was toast, all done in a little over 1:15, who knew.
Well that was my last hurrah for swimming. On Monday I showed up and the pool was set up long course (50 meter pool) and this is when it felt like the current was against me in both directions. Fatigue had finally really kicked in. I got to the point in practice where a 100 was too much, so I would swim 100, sit 100, swim 100. I was watching the people I have practiced with and raced in practice cruising on by, my arms and legs flailing. Tuesday my last swim with my workout family was no good either, we were back to swimming yards and the turns helped some, but with 15 minutes to go the body said no more. So I took off my dynamo cap nodded goodbye and headed to my second to last treatment.
PS, Wife and kids fly in after my treatment.
Well that was my last hurrah for swimming. On Monday I showed up and the pool was set up long course (50 meter pool) and this is when it felt like the current was against me in both directions. Fatigue had finally really kicked in. I got to the point in practice where a 100 was too much, so I would swim 100, sit 100, swim 100. I was watching the people I have practiced with and raced in practice cruising on by, my arms and legs flailing. Tuesday my last swim with my workout family was no good either, we were back to swimming yards and the turns helped some, but with 15 minutes to go the body said no more. So I took off my dynamo cap nodded goodbye and headed to my second to last treatment.
PS, Wife and kids fly in after my treatment.
mustache season
I realize it has been a while since I posted. This weekend a mustache showed up and we had a great time. Great meaning we got our pants destroyed playing spades, but I redeemed myself on the golf course taking a few bucks from him. My buddy Chris Boswell drove down to hang out with me for a few days. I did send him my schedule, but it did not scare him away.
Wake up 4:30, on the road at 4:45, swim 5:45 - 7:00, cruise over to Emory, get Somoan Chill coffee from Thousand Islands coffee shop, head downstairs at 8:15, get zapped from 8;45 until 9:15 drive back to lake. around 10:30ish. eat, email, rest, eat dinner, climb in bed around 7:00 crazy, rinse and repeat. Not a problem he said, he would just elect to skip the 4:30 - 9:15 tasks, which I don't blame him. Boz, it means more than you know thank you.
PS, he is raising money for kids by growing a mustache, so please find a mustache in your area and support them.
Wake up 4:30, on the road at 4:45, swim 5:45 - 7:00, cruise over to Emory, get Somoan Chill coffee from Thousand Islands coffee shop, head downstairs at 8:15, get zapped from 8;45 until 9:15 drive back to lake. around 10:30ish. eat, email, rest, eat dinner, climb in bed around 7:00 crazy, rinse and repeat. Not a problem he said, he would just elect to skip the 4:30 - 9:15 tasks, which I don't blame him. Boz, it means more than you know thank you.
PS, he is raising money for kids by growing a mustache, so please find a mustache in your area and support them.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
More symptoms
You did not expect me to just breeze through this unscathed? At the end of the day, it's still cancer, it's still radiation, and it is still a fight.
So with seven treatments to go symptoms that are arising, my hips are sore, sore enough that when it will wake me at night if I am on my side, the silhouettes of my prostate are getting darker on my sides. Like a mild tan, just need to put aquafore on it each day. The peeing is picking up again. I cannot make it all the way to anywhere without having to stop. Last night I pulled off the interstate, was told one mile to QuikTrip (Atlanta's Wawa), so into a business parking lot and let it go. So I am now going to double my dose of Flowmax. The latest symptom is some burning as I try to empty out. They put me on a drug called Phenazopyridine, once treatment stops, I should not have to take it anymore. The cool side effect of this drug is it turns my urine orange. And it will stain anything it gets on orange. And the good doctor told me of a patient who got upset with their doctor because it will cause an orange cloud if you pee in the pool. And the patient... well you get the picture.
Should make my last few practices down here interesting.
Only 7 left.
So with seven treatments to go symptoms that are arising, my hips are sore, sore enough that when it will wake me at night if I am on my side, the silhouettes of my prostate are getting darker on my sides. Like a mild tan, just need to put aquafore on it each day. The peeing is picking up again. I cannot make it all the way to anywhere without having to stop. Last night I pulled off the interstate, was told one mile to QuikTrip (Atlanta's Wawa), so into a business parking lot and let it go. So I am now going to double my dose of Flowmax. The latest symptom is some burning as I try to empty out. They put me on a drug called Phenazopyridine, once treatment stops, I should not have to take it anymore. The cool side effect of this drug is it turns my urine orange. And it will stain anything it gets on orange. And the good doctor told me of a patient who got upset with their doctor because it will cause an orange cloud if you pee in the pool. And the patient... well you get the picture.
Should make my last few practices down here interesting.
Only 7 left.
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