My 21st Century Cancer Tour—so far

Or, My Life is Getting Stranger and Stranger…

 

I made it through more than 60 years in the 20^th Century with nary a cancer—that I know about. There were aches and pains, broken bones, minor surgeries, stitches from time to time, and all was good. 

The kids were born, grew up, and had kids of their own. Carol and I aged gracefully (that’s our story), and all was good.

But then came Y2K and, although there was no Internet meltdown, my cancer cells decided to assert themselves. They did it very quietly at first and grew in a secret place in my prostate. A doctor or two was sure it was curable and I agreed to have it removed. Later I had radiation therapy because it turns out the prostate cancer was not all removed or curable. For some years after that hormones of one sort or another kept those pesky cells in check—still growing but very slowly. And all was pretty good.

I have read a lot of cancer research and discovered that having one cancer greatly increased your risk of getting other cancers. Turns out that was true for me. In less than six months I was diagnosed with a nasty melanoma on my back (October 2014), a carcinoma on my leg (January 2015) and (also January 2015) cancerous growths were found in my beleaguered bladder (technically still prostate cancer). Minor surgeries and a bladder cystoscopy have removed all of these (more or less). Some may grow back after a while, I'm told. 

While I really don’t much care for cancer in any form, there is an upside. I am doing my share (and more) to keep Big Pharma in the chips, to keep doctors and nurses fully employed, to add interesting scars to my body, and to continue to live longer than anyone has a right to. And that’s all good, too.

axman

The Devil You Know…

My wife, Carol, and I have a long list of diseases and conditions between us. In most cases we have a diagnosis, explanation, and some sort of treatment that helps manage whatever it is. Not the way we prefer life, but a reality we can, and do, live with it pretty well.

 

So when Carol recently came down with something really nasty—headaches, earaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, no appetite, and extreme weakness—we were off to the doctor for a diagnosis and a time-tested treatment. It was not to be. 

After numerous tests at two medical clinics and a hospital there was general agreement about what wasn’t the cause. Her heart, lungs, liver, and other organs were fine. Good. Her condition was caused by a virus (we had our flu shots), probably. Adult Viral Syndrome was the consensus; maybe related to the newest flu strains. The treatment was unanimous—“Go home and take it easy and in a while you’ll feel better.” Kind of a helpless feeling. No pills, no procedures, no miracle injection. Just wait. Hard to do. 

I discovered that not knowing what to do and not knowing when she would get better, or worse, was difficult for both of us. I hovered a lot, made sure she had water and a warm blanket, and mostly was a useless onlooker. Eventually, after more than five weeks, she is getting better. 

Will it (whatever it is) come back again? Could it be worse? What can we do to prevent it? I guess I’ll need to learn more tolerance for the unknown. But I’ll always feel more comfortable with the diseases I know than those mysterious ailments that can come and go.

axman

Generic Drug Prices Run AMOK!

And you probably thought you could still afford those ‘cheap’ generic drugs…

You may have noticed recent increases in generic drug prices. More than 85% of all prescriptions are for generic drugs. What is a generic drug? According to the FDA, generic drugs are copies of brand-name drugs and are the same as those brand name drugs in dosage form, safety, strength, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. And they have always been much cheaper than brand name drugs.

Truthfully, I had not paid much attention to this, although I saw some of the reports. But when it hit close to home… I have used a generic prescription ointment to treat my eczema. In October 2014 the retail cost of my prescription was about $47, and with my copay I paid much less. In January 2015 when I went to refill the prescription, I was told the retail price was now $500! That’s a 1,000% increase.

So I was off to Google to find out what’s going on. No problem—there were hundreds of articles, surveys, editorials and even an inquiry by The House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, (created in 1816). You know we’re in good hands when you hear, “We’re from the government and we’re here to help you.”

Reports in The New York Times and an article in Slate Magazine titled Drug Bust, laid out some of the sad facts. It seems that in the past couple of years, many generic drugs have increased in price by 1,000%, 5,000%, or even 8,000%! 

Why, pray tell, is this happening? It seems there are several reasons, sort of. There have been shortages of some generic drugs and that always pushes prices up. With generic drugs the research and development costs have long since been recovered. I’m thinking that greed, a good thing according to Gordon Gekko, may also be a factor. But that’s just a cynical guess on my part.

Many common and necessary drugs are included in the long list of large price jumps. In addition to the 1,000% increase in my clobetasol, other increases include:

Digoxin, used since 1785, for heart failure and irregular heartbeat, has increased in price by 884%.

Albuterol Sulfate, used to treat asthma, has increased in price by more than 4,000%.

Pravastatin Sodium, used to control high cholesterol, has increased in price by more than 500%.

Doxycycline Hyclate, an antibiotic, has increased in price by more than 8,000%! There are many, many more examples.

What are the implications for consumers (like all of us)?

1 Individuals without drug coverage will be (and are) paying higher and higher prices for these formerly ‘cheap’ drugs. Some people will be priced out of even getting their prescriptions—not a good situation.

2 While the copays may still be small (mine, for example, is $8 for tier one meds) the insurance companies must now pay for the huge increase in generic drug costs. For those of us who have insurance and drug coverage, our copays and premiums are bound to go up and there will likely be higher insurance costs for all consumers.

3 There are no indications that the trend of rising generic drug prices will end soon.

Bottom Line

Your guess is as good as mine and I haven’t heard of any plan to resolve the situation. This is a serious situation that could have a major health impact on all of us.

axman

Preventing Cancer: How Hard Can It Be?

Maybe a lot harder than you think!

 

For many years we have believed that genetics and lifestyle factors were the major cause of our cancers. We all know that we should NOT smoke, we should NOT get too much sun, we SHOULD exercise, and we SHOULD manage our weight. These are proven ways to help prevent some cancers. So if we do these things we are unlikely to get cancer, right? Well, not exactly. It turns out that about two-thirds of all cancer is caused by plain old Bad Luck, according to:

A study published in the January 2, 2014 issue of SCIENCE magazine came to that conclusion. Johns Hopkins University researchers statistically analyzed the genesis of common cancers based on stem cell divisions of 31 cell types. Of the millions of stem cell divisions in the human body, a small percentage are disparate, or do not divide correctly. According to the researchers, the majority of cancers are caused by “random mutations arising during DNA replication in normal, noncancerous stem cells.” Of course, many mutations do not lead to cancer‑‑ but some do.

This sounds a little discouraging but one of the researchers, Christian Tomasetti, further said: “If two-thirds of cancer incidence across tissues is explained by random DNA mutations that occur when stem cells divide, then changing our lifestyle and habits will be a huge help in preventing certain cancers, but this may not be as effective for a variety of others.” (Basically, keep on keeping on and it will help some) The cancers they identified that were influenced by lifestyle factors include colon, lung, and skin (no surprises here).

 

An important conclusion of this study is that there has to be a greater scientific emphasis on early detection.

Disclaimer 1: Some scientists dispute this conclusion. Watch for further developments

Disclaimer 2: Prostate and breast cancer were not included in the study. The researchers did not find a consistent rate of stem cell division. Maybe in the next study…

Disclaimer 3: I am not suggesting that because “life ain’t fair” we should blandly accept our fates. To quote Dylan Thomas, “Do not go gently into that good night.”

Bottom Line

Cancer sucks, it is sneaky and devious, and while our doctors and scientists search for answers, we can live the best, most active, most rewarding, and most loving life possible. Research like this tells us how far we have to go. Life is an unpredictable mystery and that’s just as it should be.

axman

A Brief History of 2014

1-I'm Still Alive! Is that brief enough?
2-My prostate is still gone (since 2003) and is unlikely to grow back.
3-My PSA is remaining low--my medications seem to be working. For the cost, I should be cured.
4-Hormone therapy side effects are still alive and well and help bring out my 'feminine' side.
This part of the update has been about the same for a few years now.

2014 additions and challenges...
1-I discovered a new side effect in February. It's called Radiation Induced Bladder Cystitis. Nine years after radiation therapy no less. It is not easily treatable so many of us who had radiation before or after prostate cancer treatment are now living with bleeding and clotting in our bladder. Annoying but not life threatening.
2-A pesky mole on my back turned out to be cancerous-a
Melanoma. The surgeon got it all, put in 33 stitches and that was that...except for some other moles that will also need to be biopsied.
3-With each passing year I get slower, forget more, and spend more time getting injected, inspected, bled, scanned, and being told that, "You're doing pretty good for someone your age."

Conclusion
Life is good and I intend to make the most of it.
Enjoy

axman

Movember Results and other Tidbits

Movember is over for 2014, after raising another $70 million worldwide. Pretty good. Movember makes fundraising and giving almost fun. Tens of thousands of men all over the world grow, or try to grow, a mustache for the month of November. It has worked. Hopefully all that money will improve and expand prostate cancer research, support, and educational programs.

I joined the fray, donated, and didn't shave or trim for more than a month. Unfortunately, I didn't look much scruffier at the end than at the beginning. Maybe I'll let it grow for another year and see if it looks better then.

Private donations for cancer research, such as the Movember program, seem to be on the rise (that's good) as  public funds diminish (not so good). Add to that low participation in cancer clinical trials, the slow process of clinical trials, and the high cost of medications of the successful meds, and you have  a mixed result. At best, two steps forward and one step backward. Sometimes it seems more like one step forward and two steps backward.

More men with prostate cancer are surviving longer with a better quality of life--I'm one of them. That's a direct result of research, clinical trials, and good medical choices. I'd still like to see a cure. Maybe more of us should grow a mustache next Movember.

axman

Is it Movember? Yes it is!

So what is Movember? Well, it's a rather new world-wide movement to improve prostate cancer awareness and raise money for prostate cancer research and programs.

It started with 30 guys in Australia in 2003, has grown to more than four million members worldwide, and has raised more than 400 million dollars!

Men pledge NOT to shave during the month of November to raise awareness, save on razors, and impress women and other men (my take on it). Men become a Mo Bro and women can join as a Mo Sista.

Mo is short for mustache in Australia, November is the month chosen for awareness and fundraising, so Movember it is.

You, too, can join, have fun, and help raise money,  awareness, and hope. Just go to the Movember United States site and it's all explained for you.
axman

One Cancer is Not Enough (tongue in cheek)

One never knows

Not only does cancer suck, but did you know that having any cancer puts you at higher risk for developing another cancer?

Incurable cancers tend to spread to various parts of your body but it is still called the name of the original cancer. For example, prostate cancer can spread to your bones, lymph nodes, and lung and it is still called prostate cancer.

Sometimes, however, you can get a new and unrelated cancer. In my case the new cancer started as a small flat mole, shaped roughly like Antarctica, and sporting several bland colors. It was located just below my right shoulder, near my modest and tasteful axe tattoo. My wife suggested a doctor visit, the doctor suggested a biopsy, and the report came back labeled melanoma. Bummer! Melanoma is the BAD skin cancer, but the report also said early stage and that the biopsy may have been big enough to take out the whole thing. 

We all agreed (doctor, wife, and me) that it was wise to have a little larger area around the ex-mole removed just to be sure. So be it. I think we all caught it early and I will be as good as new (not an absolute value). 

Moral of story

Pay attention to your body. Cancer is sneaky and lurks in various and sundry places inside and outside your body. Pay attention to moles that are not the normal round, rough, brown kind. Moles that suddenly appear can be a risk. A doctor can tell you if a biopsy is needed. My biopsy didn’t even hurt and the peace of mind from knowing for sure is priceless.

axman