Johns Hopkins' Health Alert

There is so much information available regarding Prostate Cancer, it's difficult to know where to begin. Not all the information you find online is accurate, nor is it all relevant.

One source I have utilized, and recommended to others, is the Johns Hopkins' Health Alert.

Recently Health Alert offered a resource that appears to be most comprehensive focusing upon recent studies, the Johns Hopkins' “Prostate Cancer Outlook 2012.”  While I have yet to receive the volume, the topics are of great interest to me and provocative with respect to trends, recent findings, and emerging approaches.

You can subscribe to Health Alert at no charge by going to:

http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/

In addition to other information, you will receive information on “Prostate Cancer Outlook 2012” once you have subscribed.

NOTE to Johns Hopkins' ('cause I know your Google-alert found this): you may forward any commission via Paypal :)

Warren Buffet, Illusionist

When I was diagnosed with stage one prostate cancer the physician said to me, “If you were ten years older, we'd probably tell you not to worry about it...you'll likely die of something else long before this will kill you.”

Now, I'm no spring chicken (Holy Crap is that an understatement), but I'm almost two decades younger than Warren Buffet.

Radiation treatment may be a palliative for investors in Berkshire Hathaway Fund, but it's not going to do much for Warren (Yeah, I know him well enough to call him Warren...NOT!). In fact, with few visible signs of treatment, I wouldn't be surprised if Warren shows up at the treatment facility each day, enters a room, reads the Wall Street Journal, emerges and departs sans treatment.

Skeptic? Yep.

HiFU for PC

Received this link via Facebook from my friend Tom Carto in Wisconsin...the future of treatment is very promising.

"Thought you would be as interested in this as I have been.   Hopefully this could be yet another option for those with the same diagnosis we had."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9206425/New-treatment-for-prostate-cancer-gives-perfect-results-for-nine-in-ten-men-research.html

Relay for Life

I spent a few minutes this weekend at a rally for the upcoming Relay for Life.  Relay, if you're not familiar with it, is an event of the American Cancer Society. Yes, it's a fund raiser...but it's much more.

Many years ago, before my personal experience with cancer, I was asked to MC an event for the local Relay.  I didn't know anything about the event, but I said yes because...well, because I'm a ham and jump at any chance to be before an audience.

At the end of the evening, they had a candle ceremony asking everyone to light a candle in remembrance of someone whose life had been touched by cancer; friend or relative - survivor or succumbed.  When they offered me a candle I declined explaining I was only the MC, not a part of the event.  But they insisted, so I thought, “OK, I'll do this in honor of my friend Wayne...no wait, I'll do this in honor of my grandmother...no wait, my sister, wait, my Mother....”

Then it hit me, I really needed to be a part of this.  After that, I spent several years volunteering for Relay but, in time, I drifted to other causes.

Now that I am a survivor, I'm back to Relay.  I'm going to walk proudly, and thankfully, in the survivor's lap, then remain for the rest of the event and raise whatever I can so more might join me in wearing a survivor shirt.

If you've never attended a Relay...visit one.  You don't have to participate to attend.  I'd suggest going for the Luminaria Ceremony around sunset.  The first time I attended remains one of my most memorable experiences.  The rest of the Relay is filled with laughter, tears, smiles, memories, and HOPE!

For new readers

If you, or someone you know, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer or has a concern regarding prostate health, the earliest posts in this blog (from 2011) chronicle my early PSA tests, biopsy, diagnosis, treatment decision, and subsequent events on the road to recovery.

It may be helpful at a time when many feel all alone.

A different path

Yesterday I had my first opportunity to speak with a gentleman I met shortly after we had both been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

While I was in the very early stages of research into treatment options, Dave had already made his decision in favor of external beam radiation.

Not too long after I returned to work I heard, second hand, Dave was suffering some side effects of his continuing treatment...but I did not speak to him personally until yesterday.

Dave looked well, said he was feeling great, and was most enthusiastic about his treatment choice.  “The only negative aspect to the process,” Dave said, “was the daily trip to the hospital for those several weeks.”

Recent visits to the oncologist have been very positive and Dave's PSA levels bob up and down, but all within a very limited, and acceptable, range.

We promised we'd buy each other a beer when we next see each other in the evening.  Life is good.

Oh crap!

We have just returned from ten days of pure pampering...ten days filled with great wine, remarkable food, and wonderful sunshine.  Relaxation was the name of the game with little attention paid to physical fitness. And then I opened my accumulated mail.

The first newsletter I read contained a very brief article describing a recent study finding the addition of just five pounds of body weight with a year following prostate surgery is correlated to a statistically significant increased chance of reoccurring.  Five pounds!?  Hell, I did that in ice cream the first week.

I believe the lesson to be learned here...avoid reading.

During our trip, I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people from all over the world. And had conversations with two regarding their experience with prostate cancer.  One gentleman, Bob, had elected for surgery and was doing extremely well...he is eighty-five years old, but one would never guess it.  This had been his third cancer diagnosis and he said, “It was an easy decision. Get it out of here!”  Bob and his wife were great fun...as long as the Blackjack dealer was turning the right cards.

The second gentleman was a retired attorney (OK, attorneys never really retire...they just lose their briefs) who had elected external beam radiation more than twenty years ago, “When I was just sixty-four,” he told me, and he's was still going strong (no pun intended...we didn't talk about that).

Once again, every survivor is a strong advocate for their chosen treatment. In addition, these two were both engaging, entertaining, enjoyable men who have chosen to live their lives to the fullest.  Another lesson to be learned...and lived.