Go to a Prostate Cancer Conference, Old Man

I recently attended a large prostate cancer conference at OHSU in Portland, Oregon. There were about 100 people in attendance – mostly old men with prostate cancer (like me) and their significant others (like my wife). The day-long affair consisted of short presentations by doctors from a variety of prostate cancer backgrounds – surgery, radiation, research, nutrition, and new treatments. There was a lot to learn.

The good parts:
· There was a lot of information and handouts and slides
· Some presenters were articulate, clever, supportive, and even inspiring
· Everyone was allowed to ask questions in an informal atmosphere
· There was more than adequate coffee, snacks, and lunch
· Rest rooms were large and nearby – a very good perk

The other parts:
· Some presentations were techno-babble heavy and hard to follow – Doc Talk was abundant
· There was little about “What might help us guys with prostate cancer right now”
· Much of the focus was five or ten years down the road – we don’t all have ten years…

Bottom Line:
It was worthwhile and I’ll go again next year. You can check out a complete video of the proceedings by going to: http://www.ohsucancer.com/index.asp?fuseaction=prostate.conference.
Check it out – you might learn something. You can fast forward through the parts you’re not interested in.
axman

The Ever Popular Man-O-Gram

Of all the things I though would never happen to me, a mammogram was near the top of the list. It was listed right after giving birth and having a hysterectomy. In doing my homework I found that when a man is involved the test is whimsically called a Man-O-Gram.

My breasts have grown steadily since I started hormone therapy more than a year ago. They’re tender, too. Maybe that’s too much information.

Every year a few thousand men have mammograms and a few hundred are diagnosed with breast cancer. My oncologist recommended I get a mammogram because of growing lumps or mass in my breasts – most likely caused by my hormone therapy, but… I discovered that some Imaging Centers won’t even accept male patients. My referral specifies the “Women’s Imaging Center”.

You’d think I’d get a little pity from my wife. Nope. Just, “Now you’ll know what it feels like!” And I will. I’ll share more after the deed is done. Nothing is impossible and never say never – I’m learning.
axman

Ego, Physical Decline, and Self Worth

I ain’t as good as I used to be. But then, few of us are...and maybe I never was!

Whether you’re healthy, relatively healthy, or ravaged with disease you will be going through a physical and probably mental decline if you live long enough. Whoopee! Getting your strokes by being faster, smarter, or more successful than somebody else doesn’t last forever. New parameters are needed – like being happy with still being alive.

Sometimes I sit around with my geriatric buddies and we inevitably get to talking about the good-old-days. Ironically, I used to make fun of my parents, aunts, and uncles when they did the same thing. Now, good-old-days means when I could do the things I did as well as I could do them – at least in my mind. Maybe it’s a matter of, “The older I get the better I was.”

There is some comfort in reminiscing about the past – it takes your mind off the trials and tribulations you’re dealing with in the present.

I’m not advocating living in the past. Carpe Diem! I enjoy living in the present – most of the time. Do what you can for as long as you can. Of course it would be nice to be young and strong and fast and have more hair - again.

Now that there are so many things I can no longer do I need to focus more on what I still can do. There must be something - besides writing a blog, that is. As long as I have loving (more or less) friends, kids, grandkids, and a tolerant wife, life is still pretty good. Different - but good. Painful - but good. Slower - but good.
axman