Positive Attitudes - Bah Humbug

I keep running into guys with prostate cancer - I actually seek them out. My mercenary side tries to sell them a book or two. My warm and fuzzy side wants to share information on the secrets of survival.

To a man, they seem genuinely optimistic. "I'm figuring they'll find some better treatments in a year or two." "I feel better than I did six months ago!" "I'm not dead yet!"

I've even noticed subtle changes in my own skeptical, curmudgeonly life style. For a couple of years now I've made an effort to reconnect with old friends I hadn't seen in 20 or 30 years - or even more. The reunions have been great - even a little emotional sometimes. And, a high percentage of those old geezers have prostate cancer or some other cancer. Nobody ever complained; just shared. Maybe that cup is half full after all.

axman

And the BEST Treatment is…

OK, OK, nobody really knows, but in a new research study there may be an indication – if you’re young enough. If you’re older than 50 when you’re diagnosed the jury is still out.

Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan reviewed more than 8,200 cases where men were diagnosed with prostate cancer before they were 50.

The Study in a Nutshell

"When given the choice between surgery, watchful waiting or external beam radiotherapy, patients younger than 50 with moderately and poorly differentiated prostate cancers have better long-term overall and cancer-specific survival when they opt for surgery," says study author Naveen Pokala, M.D., an urologist with Henry Ford Hospital.

In 5, 10, 15, and 20 year follow-ups those men who opted for radical prostatectomy had a better survival rate than those who received external beam radiation (X-ray) treatment or chose active surveillance (watch and wait).

So tell your younger friends (more and more ‘young’ men are being diagnosed) to check out this study if they are diagnosed and BEFORE they opt for treatment. Long term survival rates keep getting better and better. I consider that pretty good news now that my post-treatment recurrent prostate cancer is at six years and counting. I try to count very slowly.

axman

Losing Friends

In the past few months I’ve lost some good friends – two of them to cancer and one to a senseless accident. Even though they’re gone I haven’t quite accepted it yet. Every so often something will happen and I’ll think, “I’ve gotta share that with…” Only then do I remember he’s gone.

In each case I was shocked and surprised; even though the two guys with cancer were in the later stages of the disease. But it can’t be – denial. Then sadness and concern for their families. And finally concern for myself. If it can happen to them…

I wish I’d had more time with them. And it strengthens my resolve to do the things I want to do and not wait until the weather’s better or I can afford it or I finish painting the house.

axman

Second Opinions? Why?

I know, I know you’ve heard this a million times (well a lot anyway). “Always get a second opinion.” Is it necessary? If you get the same information the second time you may think it wasn’t necessary. But without more information how are you to know?

There are some benefits you might want to weigh…

• The first diagnosis may be wrong. It could happen. PSA tests are not 100 percent reliable, DRE exams are not always reliable either. Without more information you may be making a decision that you could regret later.

• A second opinion could suggest that, although you do have prostate cancer, no immediate treatment is necessary (watchful waiting).

• Another doctor or another clinic may suggest more or different alternative treatments. Surgery, radiation, hormones, freezing, pellets… Of course that means more decisions for you.

• And maybe a second exam and opinion would give you more peace of mind and support in making the very difficult decision about what you should do – and the decision IS yours.

How did you decide? What decisions are you contemplating now?

axman

Hereditary Guilt Complex

If it's not bad enough to have an incurable disease of some sort; you can now worry about what you'll pass on to your kids - if you want to.

Shortly after I was diagnosed with prostate cancer I discovered that my sons were at increased risk for prostate cancer because I had it. My father was also diagnosed with prostate cancer.
My wife has diabetes and it is common in her family. Another genetic trait that can be passed on.

As it turns out, we can pass on all sorts of conditions, diseases, and predispositions to our kids. Does that mean we shouldn't have kids? Probably not. I have made sure that my three sons have had prostate cancer screening and one of them found he had a higher-than-usual PSA at age 38.

I hope none of my children get prostate cancer, diabetes, arthritis, or any of the other conditions they may inherit. And I hope none of the grandkids do either. I can encourage them to live healthy, get checkups, and pay attention to symptoms. The rest is up to them.

Maybe in another generation or two there will be medical breakthroughs that allow everybody to avoid genetically inherited diseases. In the meantime we all take our chances. I don't actually feel guilty but I wish my sons weren't at increased risk because of me. If I knew when I was 20 what I found out at 63 would I have even had kids? I don't know for sure but I probably would still have fathered a gaggle of kids.

Life is unpredictable, strange, and amazing.
axman

Look for the Good News

My definition of health, happiness, and quality of life has undergone some significant changes over the past seven years. Since I was diagnosed with prostate cancer my health news has not been consistently good. There have been snippets of good news along with the progression of my recurrent cancer. This week I experienced one of those snippets of good news that has me smiling - at least for now.

Progressions - Good News has Many Definitions

• Seven years ago - the good news was that I had NOT been diagnosed with prostate cancer and there was no possibility in my mind that I ever would be! I was invincible.
  



• Six years ago - the good news was that my surgeon told me the tumor was encapsulated and the tumor and my cancer had been successfully removed. Survival is always good news.



• Four years ago - the good news was that after 37 external beam radiation treatments my recurrent cancer was gone - again - and my PSA was near zero. And the sores and weakness would pass.
  



• Two years ago - the good news was that I was accepted into a clinical trial that looked promising for slowing my ever-increasing PSA. Potential good news, anyway.
  



• One year ago - the good news was that I started taking two hormone medications that almost immediately started to lower my PSA. Good news, but no cure.
  



• One week ago - the good news was that my PSA was low enough that I could stop taking ONE of my hormone pills - for a while at least.



• Next month - who knows? As long as my definition of Good News is flexible I can keep looking.
  

So now I'm happy to be as healthy as I am for as long as I can. The rules and the reality keep changing. I hope I can keep up. I'm sure I can.

axman

What About Clinical Trials?

There are hundreds of thousands of men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In many cases (like mine and maybe yours) there is no known cure. So what do you do next? Often the answer is to do nothing. That's not a very good answer.

Whatever the stage of your cancer there are probably clinical trials available that are testing new drugs or procedures. In most cases there is very little or no cost to you. But very few of us who have cancer ever participate in a clinical trial or clinical study. Why?


Maybe you don't know about the trials. Maybe your doctor recommends against them. In fact, only three to five percent of those with cancer ever participate in a clinical trial. A trial has no guarantees of success. Most trials are quite safe - the medications have been extensively tested for safety before they're ever tried on humans. But nobody knows what the ultimate results will be.

I have been in two clinical trials. Neither of them cured my prostate cancer or even slowed it down. But I'm glad I participated - I got free testing, I learned more about my own cancer, and I made contact with others going through what I was going through. And I'd participate in another if it looked promising.

Talk with your doctor and google Clinlical Trials with the name of your cancer. Find out what's available and then ask lots of questions. You have to apply and fill out endless forms, but you might get lucky and land in a study that tests the new super cancer drug. It could happen.

What is your experinece with clincial trials? What are your reservations?
axman

What's New in Prostate Cancer?

The latest controversy in Prostate Cancer is whether or not men should even be tested - particularly using the PSA test. Recent published studies suggest that PSA testing is not all that accurate and may lead to unneeded treatment and the risk of serious side effects such as incontinence and impotence. And, the studies suggest, diagnosis and treatment may not extend your life anyway.

It is true that treatment (surgery, radiation, freezing, radioactive seeds) can lead to serious side effects. Most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from prostate cancer. So is there any benefit in being diagnosed?

Being tested and/or diagnosed gives you some choices. You can always choose NOT to have treatment, but you might also choose to change your lifestyle, try a different diet, or look for alternative treatments.

Every man has to decide whether or not to be tested. It would be nice to know ahead of time whether you were at risk for a fast-growing tumor or if you would likely not even need treatment (watch and wait). If your father or brother has prostate cancer your risk is higher. If you are African American your risk is higher.

I was diagnosed with a fast growing tumor and had it removed. My cancer came back but I'm still alive. For me it was better to know and have a choice. I believe that I'm alive today because I had treatment. I have been able to manage my condition with medication, diet, weight management, and by remaining active. So far so good.
axman

What do you think? Write a response.

Welcome to the Axman Blog

Real men with real prostate cancer are everywhere. But you already knew that. If you're over 50 you probably have noticed that many of your friends and co-workers have had one or more prostate cancer treatments. The good news is - prostate cancer usually progresses slowly. The bad news is - it often continues to progress even when you have treatment.

What has been happening with your cancer? Do you have an exercise regimen or strange dietary routine that might help others? How do you keep your attitude positive? Where do you get your information?




axman