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SRT - PRHC - final Zap - Nov 19

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Posted 7/12/2013 3:33 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Bronson,

I haven't been around much here lately. I just read your thread. I'm in...if that doesn't violate any rules...be proud to put a B in my house.

I hope your fork in the road works for you. You are in my thoughts and I wish only the best for you and Steve.

All my best...as always.

Mike
Posted 7/12/2013 9:07 PM (GMT -5)
thanks again, and to BillyMac. I think of you when I get funny emails from my Australian PCa buddy , Phillip (and Richie) and to Mike - we will see where this takes me.

The new radiation bunker ( which I helped raise funds for) at our local hospital - Peterborough Regional Health Centre - started working this week and one of its first patients was a prostate cancer patient - and this was on the front page of our newspaper !

So, why did the Radiation Oncologist at Princess Margaret tell me that the new radiation bunks at PRHC was not setup for the radiation therapy for prostate cancer and I would have to go to Oshawa ( one hour drive away - each way) . And that was the purpose of building the bunker to avoid the stress and time for travelling.... the hospitals here don't rely on referrals or HMO stuff - they are gov't regulated - so why did he diss PRHC - because it was new? - he did not have personnel connections there? ... or maybe not part of the learning hub ( teaching hospitals linked together)...

That will certainly be one of the questions I will ask him at the end of the month... as well as getting another PSA test just before start of treatment - if I am levelling off - postpone - but if I keep going exponential - blast away !

positive hugs,
Bronson
Posted 7/12/2013 9:27 PM (GMT -5)
Bronson,

While your recent numbers look certain for recurrence, hoping you get the break and can postpone pulling the trigger for now. It has happened to at least a couple of other guys here at HW. But if not, sounds like your mind is in the right place to go through with it. That's half the battle.

Best wishes,

David

Say hey to Steve for me
Posted 7/13/2013 1:50 AM (GMT -5)
Bronson, while it may be more convenient, you would want to go to a center where the RO has more experience, I would think. Can you find out exactly who is working at both and compare?
Also, if it were me, I would probably ask about radiation to the pelvic lymph nodes, as well. While it is most likely that your cells are hanging out in the prostate bed, there is a minute possibility that some are in lymph nodes. Radiating lymph nodes is an added risk (from what I understand), but perhaps you can inquire about it. There is a good video presentation on the topic here:
askdrbarken.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/prostate-cancer-pelvic-lymph-nodes-is-there-a-role-for-radiation/
Hugs!!!!
Posted 7/29/2013 4:38 PM (GMT -5)
whoopee - very pleased - I think - for now .....

... today was my 3-month telephone appointment with the radiation oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital to discuss my rising post-op PSA numbers ... I was told back at the start of July that my numbers were way up from 0.18 to 0.23 and 0.24 ...

- well ! ... the doctor told me today my number was at 0.19 - I questioned him about it and he confirmed that was the number my regular lab sent to him ( I called the labs afterwards and they confirmed two numbers from the one site - 0.19 and 0.23- I'm taking the 0.19)

.... so I am not rising as fast as I thought ... there is a need to check out stuff with an MRI - but not the RUSH need to do it... so I may be plateauing ( my original thought) and may not need radiation therapy .. or maybe need it down the road in 6 months to a year ...who knows... that is all part of the confusing, twilight zone aspect of prostate cancer....

- also, he was not aware that my local hospital could do RT - and he was overjoyed at that! - such a turn around... so if need be, RT is only a 5 minute drive away.

- thanks for all your love and support ...

- we were in Lindsay today to pick up my "people's choice awards" cheque and get a pix of it... so all in all a very good day... hugs to one and all.
Bronson
Posted 7/29/2013 5:39 PM (GMT -5)
Bronson, a good day indeed! Thanks for sharing the great news.

Jim
Posted 7/29/2013 7:56 PM (GMT -5)
Bronson, wonderful news, my friend.

Looked like you were headed for SRT for sure, but if there is any reason not to pull the trigger, as appears in your latest news, then great. If you don't need it now, then no reason to take the associated risks with it. I hope you continue to dodge the bullet, you have been through enough.

My best to you, and to Steve,

David
Posted 8/12/2013 4:35 PM (GMT -5)
I do like to cram many things into one day -

a) prepping for the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival - this Friday - Aug 16 - preview gala night!!!

b) was interviewed this morning by Peterborough This Week newspaper - the story comes out on Wed, Aug 14 !!

c) interview/consult with Prostate Cancer Oncologist - we had a good , detailled and frank discussion on the status of my health and chance of NO recurrence of my cancer ( 75%) if we do radiation therapy.

- will start that treatment in Peterborough in the first week of October. - have to work out finances and work schedules - feel this is the best route for me.

- may do the kickstarter project after all... just have to decide what - a book on my art - my 30 years as an Artist - a musical about Prostate Cancer - uplifting, information and funny - with songs !! - or maybe a series of paintings -

- the one thing that is often difficult to manage as an Artist is "time" to do what moves you ... and when something like PCa is thrown into the mix - time seems altogether different - and sometimes, the foe....

- off to collect my thoughts ... thanks for your love and support,
hugs,
Bronson
Posted 8/19/2013 8:33 AM (GMT -5)
- in a bit of a panic - Dr. Mui, my PCa radiation oncologist , wanted his own set of PSA numbers to work from -
- so had PSA done in August 13 - came back as 0.35
- in June 24 it was 0.23...
- so contacted doctor's office to see if it would be better to move the start date ahead.
-currently scheduled for planning - Sept 16 with RT starting first week of October - would 6 weeks make any difference?

-PCa is such a stupid confusing disease - argh.

hugs,
Bronson
Posted 8/19/2013 11:06 AM (GMT -5)
Bronson, sorry for the increase...I know that was discouraging. I really don't know if the added weeks make any difference but I think if I was in your shoes I would do the same thing, i.e. talk to the RO and see if I could pull the trigger early. I'm not saying that's the right thing but I can certainly understand the sentiment to "do something" rather than wait.

All the best,

Jim
Posted 8/19/2013 12:44 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Bronson, I agree with Jim. I would want to get started ASAP. Patience is not one of my best virtues. Would it make a difference? Probably not. We do a lot of waiting with this disease.
Good luck with your treatment.

Bill from Florida cool
Posted 8/19/2013 1:39 PM (GMT -5)
hi Bronson, sorry your PSA keeps climbing, I was wishing that it was benign tissue in your case. I agree with others to see if you can get an earlier date, but mostly to ease your racing mind. I really doubt that 6 weeks would mean some major difference. Now if it were 3-4-5 months (which people in my home country have been known to wait for a radiation treatment) that would be a bit disconcerning.

Let them plan well, hope they include your pelvic lymph nodes in the field of radiation -if it were me, I would ask them to do that. BIG HUG.
Posted 8/19/2013 1:53 PM (GMT -5)
Bronson, I'm really sorry to hear about your increasing PSA numbers, something we all worry about. I'm pretty sure I'd be "in a panic," too (and may be in a couple of weeks after my scheduled PSA test...knock on wood). Try to stay calm and keep talking to your medical team. I would voice my concerns about waiting and see what they say. I wish you all the best. One more reason to hate this rotten disease.
Posted 8/19/2013 2:17 PM (GMT -5)
Ho Bronson.

Just sent you an email.

I am hoping that the thread title with the October 1st info persists and that you and Steve are able to get some therapeutic value in Rochester @ GFMPH.

But by all means, do what's best for your salvage radiation.

LupronJim
Posted 8/19/2013 2:45 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Jeff,

Will you have that converted microwave machine completed for GFMPH ? That's the one that does the SRT in 36 10 minute shots. We can put it out by the ultraviolet.

Bronson really needs it. I'm sure you can offer him the guinea pig rate.

Seriously Bronson, the actual treatments were a nothing. It was the bowel prep, diet, scheduling, etc. that was the hassle.

I'm in the sooner than later camp. Don't let those little buggers go off and find another place to eat.

Goodlife
Posted 8/19/2013 3:30 PM (GMT -5)
Guys,
I have been away from the keyboard and have not been keeping up. Bronson, I ran your numbers and that increase looks like a PSA doubling time of 140 days. Rats!
When you come here in a few weeks I can radiate it with UV, ultrasound and a little gamma rays if you like. What's it going to do - give you prostate cancer?

Don't panic. You'll get it under control.

See you soon.
J
Posted 8/19/2013 4:14 PM (GMT -5)
thank you guys and gal for the calming thoughts - we went out for a long drive and rummage about with our visiting friend (and "adopted sister-in-law") Sandra from Minnesota - to keep my mind busy and aware from the panic mode -
-not happy about the 140 days doubling - but it gives me something to "hold onto" and not just flail about ( I apologized umpteen times today with how my voice sounded to Steve and Sandra.
Steve and Sandra have known each other for 27 years - and she has had dreadlocks ( white woman-blonde hair) for the last 20. We made an unique trio at the art show with her dreads - Steve being 6'7" - and me with my red henna curled handlebar moustache...
-was going to submit a change in availability to the restaurant on Thursday regarding October 1st... but better wait until we confirm an exact date now....

- have left a message with doc and will wait for reply -
- thanks again to - Jim - Bill - Special Lady (I will be making a list of questions to ask during the planning session- thanks) - Clocknut - LupronJim ( sounds like a spaghetti western character) - Goodlife and our favourite numbers geek (and dear friend) Worried Guy - ( I feel like humming gilligan's Island theme .. "and the rest"...)

-take care,
hugs,
Bronson
Posted 9/5/2013 6:45 AM (GMT -5)
Sept 5 update - doing my best not to fret about the upcoming planning stage of my RT ( holding 2 glasses of water for over an hour will be a big test for me) and the actual RT in October.

Keeping busy with my artwork and working on details of the kickstarter crowdfunding project. And got notice last night that it was accepted. Kickstarter will launch in Canada on September 9, 2013.

What I had planned to do, if it is successful with getting the funds, is to re-interpret the same painting, "RED SKY - QUILTS" design for each week of my radiation treatment. So the end result will be 7 paintings showing the emotional, physical and spiritual reaction to the treatment. I am also in the process of looking for possible venues for a travelling exhibition.

Fundraising and such is not allowed on HW but I would appreciate your feedback ( positive and negative) on my project approach. Oh yes, the project is called: "PROSTATE C*NCER PROJECT - the radiation series" - that title would certainly freak out some art collectors / gallery owners.
You can send comments via the email link (that's the little envelope icon under my name), so not to tie up bandwidth here on HW.

From adversity comes the freedom to create.

Thank you for your love and support.
NOTE: EDITED - NEW LINK - other one didn't work
www.kickstarter.com/projects/1890434812/1346899327?token=bf78f3af

hugs, BRONSON
...
Posted 9/5/2013 7:04 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Bronson amd thanks for the update.

To me it sounds like a great way to do something you love to do, and take the stress off the treatments as much as possible.

See you in about 3 weeks at GFMPH Rochester.

I am actually coming in a day earlier than I had planned since UF & Shands scheduled my Xgeva shot on Sept 23rd and is 1.5 hours on the way.

So getting there Thursday instead of Friday.

LupronJim
Posted 9/5/2013 8:40 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you Jim for your support - it has certainly been an up and down day - and I am certainly looking forward to seeing you at the Rochester GFMPH meeting. We are planning to arrive on Thursday ( a 5 hour drive from Peterborough to Rochester area) and go antiquing in the area.

And for those who won't be able to attend but want to know what the heck I look like - here is a youtube video recorded about my kickstarter project. It was part of an interview about a local arts project to come up with designs to wrap the local transit buses with artwork and imagery.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2LVytfmTQM&feature=youtu.be

best wishes and hugs,
Bronson
Posted 9/5/2013 9:04 PM (GMT -5)
Bronson, 2 wks from today I will start up the diesel and begin the 1,500 mile drive to Rochester. Can't wait to see you guys at the GFMPH.

You guys are frequently on our minds.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 9/6/2013 5:52 AM (GMT -5)
Bronson, nice job on the video. Both entertaining and informative at the same time. Can tell you are an artist.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2LVytfmTQM&feature=youtu.be

and good to know you have several family members that have taken on the cancer beast in different forms and won.

So you are the first GFMPH attendee that I have kind of met. Thanks.

Were you able to get the treatments moved to the one you raised $$ for, or was the video made before you learned you had to go to the other facility not as nearby?

LupronJim
Posted 9/6/2013 6:18 AM (GMT -5)
Jim
The video was made after learning I could go to PRHC - my local hospital, which I raised some money for their new radiation bunker.

And finally, a kickstarter link that works - for preview!!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/1890434812/1346899327?token=bf78f3af

- hope you like the concept.
- the main pix - painting is the inspiration for the paintings to follow.

take care,
hugs,
Bronson
Posted 9/6/2013 6:39 AM (GMT -5)
Bronson,

 

We are so fortunate to have an artistic Super Rock Star like you in our group. GFMPH NY may be a great place to bring up fund raising for your endeavor and I know you will make it work. I so wish I was able to get to NY just to meet you and get my long promised "Bronson Hugs".  You left so many positive impressions and hugs with everyone at the GFMPH Baton Rouge in 2011.

 

Terry
Posted 9/9/2013 1:16 PM (GMT -5)
It's kickstarter launch day for Canada- I have been so pleased with the response to my project ( and increased awareness of prostate cancer at the same time) - here is the letter I have sent out today -
thanks for all your support!,
hugs, Bronson
...........................

Hello to one and all:

It has been an exciting year for me with some very different milestones. 

I celebrated my 30th year as a Professional Artist with my Modern Primitive Wood Paintings style of artwork. My first studio show was in May 1983.

And this spring I discovered my prostate cancer ( diagnosed and surgery in 2009) was no longer in remission after 3 years. I will be starting radiation treatment in October. Drat.

But out of adversity comes creativity and the freedom to create. 

I am launching today, September 9, 2013, my first KICKSTARTER project. 

It is called "PROSTATE C*NCER PROJECT -  the radiation series".

During my 7 weeks of radiation treatment here in Peterborough at PRHC ( Peterborough Regional Health Centre) I will create a new painting each week  of my painting, "RED SKY - QUILTS" ©2012.
At the end of this, I will have 7 paintings showing what I am experiencing physically, emotionally, spiritually during my radiation treatments.

For those interested in supporting this project, I will be having notecards, signed posters, original artwork as reward perks of depending on the different levels of support.

............
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1890434812/prostate-c-ncer-project-the-radiation-series
............

I am also looking for suggestions on possible venues for a touring/travelling exhibition of the work.

Wishing you all the best and I would appreciate your comments / suggestions on the project.
Thank you for your time.

hugs,
Bronson
...........................
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