Second Blood Test at 6 Months

.96

Does this mean I'm cured. Not so fast. Yes this news is awesome. I am still 4 1/2 years away from being what some would say cured.

Yesterday I flew down to Atlanta, during all this unpleasantness. It was awesome. Airports in Richmond and Atlanta were empty. On my return trip I had one person in front of me in the TSA pre check line. In the past it took me 30 minutes to get through.

I think tonight calls for a nice cocktail. Next PSA in three more months.

First blood test...

I had my first PSA blood test done on Thursday March 12th. I had to navigate past the Corona Virus hazmat suit block aid. After answering a few questions I was allowed in.

So Monday morning, March 16th I was able to pull up my patient portal. The results were posted. So after going from 2.2 in 2018, to 3.9 in 2019, on March 12th my PSA was 1.28.

Yes, I'm happy. Later in the morning Emory called and said it should stay there, maybe bounce around some over the first year, and may go even lower.

If the corona virus ever allows me to head down there I'll be able to meet with them again. So as of now all signs are good, just a few more years of watching and waiting.

First check up down ... several years to go

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.