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SRT 30 of 39 - Friday

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Posted 11/13/2009 4:28 PM (GMT -5)
Well, week six of eight is down in the history books.  For those that like my fractions, today completes 10/13ths of my SRT.  Today's session went back the other direction and took 55 minutes, which sucked as I simply wanted in and out of the place.

Haven't been in as much or deep as pain as the previous  two days, which has helped.  Wasnt too sore going into the treatment today, but boy, it knocked me for a loop by the time we were through.

Nine more sessions.  Single digit, its more intense on me at this point, but its still nice knowing its less than 10 to go.  Least it makes my head happy.

Hopefully, I will do better this weekend, the last two were pretty miserable affairs trying to recoup for the next Monday.

David in SC

Posted 11/13/2009 4:45 PM (GMT -5)
Trust me, I am not afraid of vitamins nor trying to prove some Martyr's path here, but my own radiation oncologist is so adamant against vitamins in general and the D-3 in particular, what should I think as her patient? And when her view echos my long term GP on the same subject, pretty convincing to me that they aren't going to help me if I took them. All in all, I believe in being a compliant patient, unless there is something really, really, obviously wrong with the picture.
Posted 11/13/2009 4:45 PM (GMT -5)
David, we're all rooting for you! Your message today was much more upbeat and filled with more "energy" than the other 4 this week ... I truly hope this is a good sign for you.

Enjoy your weekend ... TS Ana is hitting us up north right now and it's a windy day out there. Rain is expected tonight and all day tomorrow. Whatever leaves were left on the trees are piled up around the corners of our home.

I read your earlier email about all the good and bad things that have happened in the past year. Congratulations on quitting smoking ... that's a biggie.

Much love from The Empire State

Sephie & John
Posted 11/13/2009 4:50 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks Sephie, always eager for a kindly word from you and yours in the great Empire State. Might have mentioned this before, but use to do a lot of biz years ago in the Rome/Utica area.

Yes, you can tell how much pain I am in from the tone of my words, so don't mind me when the pain is talking more than me ,lol. Today, compared to the past 2 days , much less soreness and aches, still too many spasms, have had at least one an hour since I woke up this morning. Those I know I am stuck with until I can one day be catheter free.

Still so very happy that John is not going through SRT at this time, and hope he stays that way for years to come.

David in the Palmetto State "Toothless faces, tacky places" is the motto I think
Posted 11/13/2009 5:22 PM (GMT -5)
Ohio, the martyr reference wasnt toward anything you said. I am just saying, unless compelling data conflicts what my doctors tell me, I am the kind to listen to my doctor. My nurse wife is shaking her head yes as I type this, lol. No point going to doctors and specialists if one is not going to listen to sound medial advice. I have an 82 year old mother that is totally non-compliant, yet probably sees a dozen doctors at her age of 82.
Posted 11/13/2009 5:25 PM (GMT -5)
Hi David,

Single digits at last! I hope you get a little rest and recuperation this weekend.

Thinking of you,
Bob
Posted 11/13/2009 6:12 PM (GMT -5)
David,

Glad your day went better today and hope that you get some healing time in this weekend. I hear where Ohio is coming from as my wife is a big believer in vitamins, especially after her bout with cancer. I perceive it as nagging, but know that it is coming from her concern and love for me. We just see things differently in that area, and that's okay. Take care.

Michael

Posted 11/13/2009 6:49 PM (GMT -5)
Hi David,

Savour the 72 hours of the weekend and I hope that your upbeat tempo of today keeps gathering steam as you head into the home stretch.

Keep well,
Regards,
Bill
Posted 11/13/2009 7:19 PM (GMT -5)
Some information from BreastCancer.org's website on taking antioxidant vitamins during radiation treatment:

Your radiation oncologist may tell you to avoid taking certain supplemental antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamins C, A, D, and E, while you're having radiation therapy. These vitamins might interfere with radiation's ability to destroy cancer cells.

Here's why: Radiation works in part by creating free radicals — highly energized molecules that damage cancer cells. Free radicals in the environment can damage all cells, but in the case of radiation treatment they are focused on the cancer cells. Antioxidants help keep free radicals from forming, or neutralize them if they do form.

So, David's rad onc seems to be giving him sound advice. I suggest we leave the poor guy alone.
Posted 11/13/2009 7:29 PM (GMT -5)
Bob,thanks for your kindness

Sephie, thanks for the info, you were more eloquent in saying what I was trying to say. My rad. oncl. is top notched, stays up to date with her field, and has an impecable reputation for really caring about her patients. I am not a sucker, if something didnt sound right, I would certainly be smart enough to question it based on my own studies, but not going to apologize to anyone for being compliant to my doctors.
If I didn't trust them, I would change doctors in a heart beat. I feel you properly understand the situation.

Thanks Bill, yeah, made another week, as Brother Sonny, my ex-navy mate, would say, I'm getting short.

Michael, thanks, and I am not anti-vitamin, its thats the path that someone believes in, I say go for it, plus you are a smart man, I would listen to your wife so that the nagging doesnt become annoying, lol. And I am sure she loves you.
Posted 11/13/2009 7:38 PM (GMT -5)
Ohio, for a few days, I thought things were easing a bit. But sounds like you get fixated on an idea concerning me and thats it with you.
You are becoming worse than the proverbial nagging wife alluded to here, lol.

I may be wrong, but I have always felt like you have been so hurt at some point by the medical profession and system, that it poisons your thinking. Most of us, myself included, spend a lot of time researching doctors, treatments, hopsitals, etc, both online, through books, and in real life, by comparisoms and exchanging opinions with patients first hand. Then we make our decisions.

You seem to keep hammering me on the same point, and I still don't get your emphasis. I am not a blame game person, in my professional career, I was known as a solution person. That was also a philosophy I learned being the only non-asian high level manager for a japanese owned auto related manufacturer. No blame, draw a conclusion or fix to a problem, do it, move on.

In my adult life, I have had two bad doctors, one a neurologist, the other a GP, and I fired them as quick as a heart beat. No indesivisness on my end, use to making hard, quick, and often expensive decisions.

If you really want to help me, try not to keep hammering me, its obvious from journey and sagas along the way, that I am going through a lot of stuff, and I am trying to take it all in and handle it the best I can. I have nothing more to give.

I have brought up suggestions and tips I have learned from being here at HW, and told them to my doctors when appropriate, sometimes they agree, sometimes they dont, but ultimately, my faith is in my medical team.

David in SC

PS Even my own wife doesnt nag as much as you do! lol.
Posted 11/13/2009 9:34 PM (GMT -5)
David, I do understand your situation as John feels the same way about his doctors. I have gone through a somewhat similar situation re: John having an ultra-sensitive PSA vs. the "regular" one. Some on this board were quite adamant that John should have the ultra-sensitive test - even demand it. John has spoken to his urologist at least twice about this, and even spoke with the rad onc and his "regular" MD ... all 3 said the same thing: the ultra-sensitive test really doesn't tell them much and the minute fluctuations can muddy the waters. I know that some don't agree with this assessment and that's OK.

I believe that everyone on this board has our best interests at heart, and I bless them for that. I have done alot of research about PCa, its initial treatment options and possible salvage treatment when and if the time comes. This research allows us to partner with our medical team - to ask questions, make suggestions, and listen to their advice. If it doesn't ring true, then we question it. That's about all anyone can do in this situation.

You hang in there, my friend ... we are no where near Rome/Utica. In fact, we're about 50 miles north and west of New York City. Both of us were born and raised in The Bronx (hence my wicked wit!).
Posted 11/13/2009 9:49 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Sephie,

Well NY is a pretty big state. Lived near Coney Island as an infant according to my mother while my father was stationed overseas. Other than that, NYC was just a place I passed through a few times.

Like any sensible person, I take all advice and suggestions under advisement, then in the end, I have to make my own choices. I don't always know if I am right ,certainly don't think I am right all the time, that's why personally, I am glad to have an experienced and educated medical team in place, and for now, proper insurance to pay for my treatments.

Personally, I feel that ultra sensitive tests that go three places to the right of the decimal point silly. Going two place past, helps aid in determining a relaspse in my opinion.

I think you have done an excellent job working with your husband with his PC, all the research you have done, etc. It's admirable.

David in SC
Posted 11/13/2009 9:49 PM (GMT -5)
Hey Sephie,

Well NY is a pretty big state. Lived near Coney Island as an infant according to my mother while my father was stationed overseas. Other than that, NYC was just a place I passed through a few times.

Like any sensible person, I take all advice and suggestions under advisement, then in the end, I have to make my own choices. I don't always know if I am right ,certainly don't think I am right all the time, that's why personally, I am glad to have an experienced and educated medical team in place, and for now, proper insurance to pay for my treatments.

Personally, I feel that ultra sensitive tests that go three places to the right of the decimal point silly. Going two place past, helps aid in determining a relaspse in my opinion.

I think you have done an excellent job working with your husband with his PC, all the research you have done, etc. It's admirable.

David in SC
Posted 11/13/2009 11:05 PM (GMT -5)
Dave: On to the final count!!! Yahoo....We are almost there my friend. Get some rest this weekend. I will think about you tomorrow afternoon. I am driving my car for the home coming court at LSU. Dave I will try to provide you with some pics next wk to perk up you days that remain in treatment.

Will not be on line tomorrow will contact you on Sunday.

Your Friend
Jeff T
Posted 11/13/2009 11:08 PM (GMT -5)
Way to go David, 9 and a wake-up.

I have been away most of the day and was hoping for good news from you about today.

While the news could have been a little better, you have reported worse days. Also, I picked up on a little feisty-ness on your part today which to me indicates a little more energy.

You know me though, always looking on the bright side for the glass half full. So if feisty equates to energy, run with it.

So you headed to a relaxing weekend of recuperation, which is exactly what you need. The next week will fly by and you will be left with only 4 treatments. Just think about it. The last week is not even a full week. Talk about being on the down hill slide.

Here's another little pearl too. My meeting with my RO is Tuesday. You will have completed 2 more. 7 to go. By the time my RO gets his mapping done, dots his I's and crosses his T's, you will be done and I will be just starting. So take the greatest of comfort in having 9 left. I will gladly pick up the torch from you and carry it into the new year.

Have a great weekend my brother,

Sonny
Posted 11/13/2009 11:32 PM (GMT -5)
Glad to hear yet another treatment is finished and that you have two days to take it easy ---- no lawn mowing again!

You're around the last turn and headed to the finish line. The noise you hear are the cheers coming from up here in Canada.

Sheldon AKA Sleepless
Posted 11/14/2009 9:17 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks, Jeff. will look forward to the pictures

Sonny, its one torch I would rather not pass on to anyone, let alone you, but I know you need to do this, and do it now. I got your back on it, trust me, if you use me as what it f eels like when it doesnt go well, it should make you feel better when you breeze through yours.

A tip on radiation induced fatigue: a lot of people don't understand the difference between being tired and having fatigue, similar but very different. With normal tireness, most people slowly wind down and you simply go to sleep, the bodies way of naturally recharging. With this kind of faitgue, there are times you can actually feel a wall or wave of deeply intrenched weariness and tiredness hit you hard, with little warning. Often, it leaves you weak and almost paralyzed feeling. The worse part, and this will vary with people, you are dead wore out and sorely tired, but you can't turn your mind off and sleep. And to coin my nickname, you end up in this miserable purgatory state, of being neither fully awake or asleep. The waves fade and ebb as you recoup, but there is always a lingering feeling in your body.

Thanks also, Sheldon, I count on you for my Canadian fan club! lol

David in SC
Posted 11/14/2009 9:49 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your ongoing posts. We all benefit from hearing what might lie ahead. We all pray that this assault destroys the beast for good.
Posted 11/14/2009 10:29 PM (GMT -5)
Today, Saturday, the pain gods were looking for payback for yesterday's easing of issues. Been one nasty spasms after the next, went shopping with wife and daughter, and just going through 2 major stores put me out of business with waves of fatigue and nausea.

Then this even, my fave night catheter bag blew a leak, fortunately I keep a new spare.

Tommorow will have to be an all day chill day, everytime I try to walk a lot or do anything active, I pay for it the next day. I get tired of the sitting around and resting part, been the story of my life the past year.

Trying to make the best of this mess.

David in SC
Posted 11/15/2009 12:40 PM (GMT -5)
Sunday, being hit by one painful spasm after the next. Anytime I get up or move about, that's reason for one to happen. Making for a miserable weekend Back to feeling like this is never going to end, so sick of the pain from this.
Posted 11/15/2009 1:52 PM (GMT -5)

As someone said single digits! The count down is nearing another good Zero and may a bunch of Zero’s follow.

Peace

Jack

Posted 11/15/2009 1:55 PM (GMT -5)
Still hoping that Jack, but even now, lot of pain issues to deal with day to day
Posted 11/15/2009 5:31 PM (GMT -5)

David,

It's down to the last several days of treatment. I appreciate and follow your posts here...keep it up!

Mike

Posted 11/15/2009 5:59 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks Mike, its one of those deals (especially having done this before) that you can overcome yourself thinking of all 39 treatments, so I break my life down to one day at a time, and let each days's battle stand on its own legs. I am ready to end this part of my journey and move on.
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