Us Old Men with Prostate Cancer are actually Living Longer

...but why?

If you ask ten doctors why their PC patients are living longer you’ll probably get ten different answers. You’ll get the same variety of responses from those of us who have the dreaded PC. We all have an opinion but facts are few.

Is it:

1. New medications and treatments?
2. Better diets?
3. Exercise for the elderly?
4. Positive attitudes?
5. All of the above?
6. Some of the above?
7. None of the above?

I don’t know for sure if I’m living longer than expected – certainly not longer than I expected. But then I’m a cockeyed optimist – mostly.

Long ago I decided NOT to take it easy and “go gently into that good night” (apologies to Dylan Thomas). I have never seen any evidence that being active and pushing your limits does any harm. And even if it does, it keeps life from being boring.

Life is always terminal so having a terminal disease doesn’t change things all that much – hopefully.

axman

It’s Just like Herding Cats

My experience with the latest and greatest prostate cancer clinical trial

When I use the term ‘prostate cancer clinical trial’ you probably immediately have visions of old men taking exotic pills, getting strange injections, donating copious quantities of blood and other fluids, having full body X-rays, and tolerating invasive body probes.

Not so - this one is different.

A group of men with incurable prostate cancer and their wives (who do NOT have prostate cancer) were invited to participate in a six month twice weekly closely monitored strength training class. Including my wife and me, there are 20 in each class and husbands and wives work as a team (what an original concept) doing a series of simple but challenging strength building and stretching exercises. The plan is to get stronger, fitter, and ultimately live longer - maybe even save marriages.

The idea of husband and wife working together (a long shot at best) is supposed to increase the possibility of continuing the exercises when the program is completed.

Of course getting 20 old duffers to do anything as a group and stay focused isn’t easy and the instructors/experimenters have their hands full. It’s a lot like, well, herding cats.

axman

Ask Lots and Lots of Questions

…just don’t expect lots of answers

I see several doctors every two or three months. I give blood, get weighed (and keep gaining), have my blood pressure checked, and am told that nothing has changed. It’s all pretty mundane and boring.

But, I usually have a list of questions to ask – at least a few. I believe it is my job to ask questions – it’s MY life. My doctors likely (at least in their minds) roll their eyes and say, “Oh no, not again.”

Is there anything new in meds or clinical trials?
What’s next when THIS med stops working?
Is it OK if I decide to run a marathon (fantasy thinking)?
What could I be doing that makes the bad cells grow faster?
How am I going to pay for all this?

Do I get answers? Sometimes. Sometimes the doctors ask me what I think. They may or may not listen to my answers.

If I can get them to think about what I’m thinking it just might lead to something in the future (my future).

My lifelong training and education has been to accept that doctors should know the answers and we patients should obediently and quietly listen and obey. Nope.

A friend of mine (who incidentally died of cancer) always said his preferred way to die was to be shot by a jealous husband. I’d prefer to be done in by global warming or even a charging elephant. I’m not sure just what choices I may have at the time.

In the meantime I plan to survive indefinitely and keep asking questions (my doctors may eventually decide on their own way to do me in).

axman