Best or worst memories of 2008

This has been a life altering year for me as I am sure it has for many people on this forum. Even though I was diagnosed in June 2007 I really started to hit home this year. I suppose getting involved in HW and getting involved with other people battling cancer has made me realize the beauty of the life we are given and it has also taught me to never take family or friends for granted. We all have choices in this battle and for the most part I would say even when facing tough obstacles we all stay pretty positive. I would prefer to be fighting a different battle but if I did I would not have met the wonderful people here at HW. In summary, 2008 was my first full year with cancer and I can almost say I made it. I hope to make 2009 an even better year.

I hope everyone will share there thoughts on 2008.

peace and love to everyone

Dale

Dale, I liked your post, had to stop and think before I replied.

For me, the worse for 2008, is when I had my yearly exam in July, family dr. said I was in great shape for 56, but by the way, your psa went up from 5.8 to 12.3 in a year, going to refer you to Dr. Smith the Urologist.
2 biopsies 6 weeks apart told me the dx. that I was shocked to hear.

Best for 2008, having a good family dr. that knew what was going on, sending me to a top notch urologist, having surgery in the best hospital in the state, having a wonderful loving and caring wife, and the providence that lead me to this web site. The kinship and care I feel here is an important part of each day in my own personal battle and struggle. I care about each of you here, when you hurt, I hurt, when you have a victory, I get excited for you too.

David in SC

Thanks for the replies. I hope however good or bad 2008 was 2009 will be much better. Life is great and we all deserve to live it to the fullest.

peace and love
Dale

The worst memory of the year was having my "leaking" return to the rate it was after I had the Sling done. The best memory is how the AUS keep giving my life back every day.
For those of you out there that are fighting the incontinance, just keep at it. There can be light at the end of the tunnel.
KW

Hi Dale ,

My 2008 was an up hill battale with ED which was improvong gradually since about march this year and getting btter as time pass by , i am at my 18 months mark and hoping for the best yet to come in 2009 , can not complaint much ,  i am in good  shape, feeling good , fully continent , and able to have sex again this year with a little help from MY BLUE FREIND  (LOL)

hope al is wel with everyone else .. Hapy New Year an Great HOLIDAYS!!!

2008 is the year my metastases started growing and I began chemo. During this time my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a lumpectomy and radiation. Not a good year.

-Les

Les,

Here's to a much improved 2009 for you both.  You and your wife will be in our thoughts.

Hey Dale,

   I hadn't been on here for a few days and I almost missed your post. 2008 was a weird year for me. My best memory Pca wise was having my psa go to .09. Other best memorys were meeting everybody here, slaying 3 king salmon on the same day, getting my elk, and getting my sons first deer with him. Every day is a best or worst memory. No matter what happens be it good or be it bad it is very vivid. I would have to say my worst memory is a culmination of many days wasted. Oh sure, being told I have 36-40 months left was a crappy memory but rising above that and calling it what it is ( its BU--SH-- )was a good memory. I have come to realize that none of us knows the number of our days. Some  dont even realize yet that that they are terminal. The truth that we all need to find is that life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away. Merry Christmas Dale and all my other brothers and sisters here at H.W. Todd

The worst part of 2008 for me was - I started a new job in January, and battled a nearly insane boss for 10 months before we reached an "I quit/You're fired" resolution.

The best part of 2008 for me was - my Charlie Brown girls soccer team this fall (0-7-1) played in the bottom bracket of the end-of-season tournament, tied 3 games over 2 days, won them all on thrilling penalty kick shoot-outs, and won the bracket championship and associated trophy! What a great way to finish a tough season.

And, oh yeah, I had cancer.

God bless us, every one.
kcragman

Thanks everyone for taking the time to post to this thread. May everyone have a blessed Christmas and many days, months, or years of Joy, and I agree with Todd lets all remember the moments that take our breath away.

peace to all
Dale

When I first read your post my thoughts went to me and my best/worst....
funny how the mind works. Usually I don't think before I talk, or write, I just start writing what ever I'm thinking.

So I paused, and gave this a little thought.

Worst of 2008? All the good people (PCa people) we lost. The worst for me was being on Spring Break in Floriday and checking my email only to find an email from the wife of Wes W. A man who lived about an hour east of here, a man I never met in person....a man young like me but who only survived about 18 months after diagnosis.

Best of 2008? Spending another 365 days with my wife and son.

I have been lurking a while and just recently signed up.  I wanted to be able to thank all of the members who have helped me so much without even knowing.  I can get here what the medical community will not provide.

Worst memories - Learning my MIL had terminal breast cancer

                         Finding out I had PCa and having to tell her

                         Losing my MIL on 12/10/08 and FIL on 12/23/08

Best memories - Finding HW and support without attending meetings

                      An improved marriage because of PCa                      

                      Looking forward to 2009

Being diagnosed late in 2007 made 2008 my year of dealing with Pca. I found hope just before the year began with a local TV newsmans report on his battle with Pca. Through that I learned the local university had one of the more advanced Urologic Oncology departments in the country. I also learned of a new clinical research study called Targeted Focal Treatment which like a breast cancer lumpectomy just destroys in theory just the cancerous part of the gland by cryosurgery. A low point was in Feb 08 when my insurance initially turned down the required 3d saturation mapping biopsy(45 cores). My urologist who is also the director of research had that over turned on a peer to peer appeal, thus my TFT was only delayed a month. I had it in April 08 the worst part being the catheter for 4 days. I know that's nothing compared to what many here have had to do. Since then absolutely no incontinence and far as ED goes there was as my doctor said a little shock experienced by the nerve bundles but also as he said has been kick started with an occasional little blue pill. I lay claim as to being the only one here with still wet orgasms after a PCa treatment, for what it's worth. Thus what started as deep depression for the year wound up with better results than I could have ever hoped for back in the dark days of November 07. Just lucky timing and as they say location, location. location. That being just lucky living in the area where Dr E David Crawford heads the University of Colorado's Urologic Oncology Dept.