CANCER ---- Getting Answers

I am reading several books right now.  One is John Grisham's famous nonfiction book, "The Innocent Man" which has a bunch of chapters describing real live life in a prison cell on death row.  In fact, the above picture is of a cell on death row.

One of the other books is Michael Korda's book (also very much nonfiction) "Man To Man, Surviving Prostate Cancer."  In it, he gives second-by-second play-by-play of his Radical Prostatectomy he had done at John Hopkins (a very reputable cancer hospital).

I can't help but see the similarities in the living conditions, or lack thereof.

Just saying.

As I have listened to the advise, pleadings, and pains of my fellow cancermates, especially those who are in or have done treatment, the prognosis is disturbing and not good.  The extremely invasive medical procedures, some of which are so antiquated they were being used in the 70s, seem in most cases to rid the body of cancer.  At least that is the hope.  But the truth seems to be that they just prolong the inevitable.  That many years down the road, 13 to 19 years it seems, the cancer reappears.  While the main nodule has been removed, blasted, frozen or burned away, its "offspring" had already moved to some other part of the body, laying dormant and in wait for their magical day of appearance.

Then you have "real" cancer.  The type that requires hormone therapy (aka chemical castration), chemotherapy, and lots of prayers.

Again, this is after the invasive first procedures that ruined your quality of life which is now made up of incontinence, impotence, fatigue and feeling like an old man dying.

Most studies I have seen indicate that those who have the slow-growing type of prostate cancer fare just as well as by DOING NOTHING as those that choose to have the radically invasive anti-cancer procedures.  At the ten-year mark, the difference in survival between the two is only 5%.  Is it really worth it?

So, prostate cancer folks are trying to decide between living with cancer and hoping for the best (although the smart ones test for it every 90 days and track the cancer's every movement) or eliminate the cancer, possibly prolonging the inevitable while sacrificing basic quality of life.  Add to that the fact that a lot of these men have to weigh finances into the equation as well.  Some treatments are just not covered by whatever they have for insurance, especially Medicare.  (I am with Christian Healthcare Ministries and have yet to be told "no" by them on anything.  They want me to live.)

I have already made a decision to avoid surgery, radiation and chemical castration like the plague.  I am looking at every natural-known healthy way to boost my health known to mankind.  In the process, my blood pressure has dropped to where I am off my meds.  My depression has left.  I have lost over 15 pounds.  I have energy.  Cancer or not, my quality of life is soaring right now.

That isn't me in that picture getting a KGB.  I mean EKG.  But you can pretend it is.  I look healthy like that.  Dang right!

Yesterday I was at the prison, errr......, I mean hospital, known as Sacred Heart, getting my very own EKG and blood tests.  To make sure I am healthy enough for my surgery that is coming up.  (WHAT SURGERY????!!! you ask.  NOT that one.)  I will be having a transperrenial targeted fusion biopsy.  (Explained in a bit.)  I wanted to scream "YOU ARE ALL STUPID!!  I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER!  I AM HEALTHY!"  But I didn't, I just smiled like the chap on the table above and let them strap me up and poke me.  And for the record, they were really nice folks.  Good service at Sacred Heart.

And it is true.  I have never felt better.  The only symptom at all that I have is a bit of fatigue late in the day, which I read is typical.  It started back in July.  The result were those 60 - 90 minute naps in the mission field.  (I miss those).

But it is medical routine.  So I comply.  Because I really want to know EVERYTHING about my cancer cells.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an MRI.  Remember this picture?

Yup.  I got to do that.  It was actually kind of fun and high tech.  And I learned that I am not claustrophobic.

The result was some detailed pictures of my lower body for the cancer specialists to look at.  Here is what they determined:

- The cancer has not yet traveled (from what they can see) to any other parts of my body.  It is confined to the prostate.

- In fact, the cancer is near the center of the prostate, where it can cause the least amount of damage and has the least likely chance of moving out.

- It is 2.7 cm large.

- They concluded that from everything they saw, it is consistent that it is a Gleason 6 prostate cancer (aka nonagressive).

- And they gave it a 5 on the PiRad scale.  The PiRad scale provides the likelihood that it actually is cancer.  So, yes.  A 5.  It definitely is cancer.  All I can say is I never do anything half-assed.  If I am going to have cancer, then yes, it will be a 5 cancer.  Not a questionable 1 or a baffling 3.  But a 5.

The Urologist wants to perform a Transperrenial Targeted Fusion Biopsy.  This will allow him to biopsy the exact location of the cancer as guided by the MRI.  This will ensure that we have an accurate sample of the cancer in the biopsy.  This procedure (THANK GOODNESS) is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia and is scheduled for June 14th.  An ultra-sound probe is inserted into the anus and the biopsy samples are taken from the crotch via an 18-gauge biopsy gun.  (Seriously, that is what it is called.  Duck hunting will never be the same again for me after this.........)

The samples will be sent to a pathologist to confirm that they are indeed Gleason 6.  And for Genomic Testing to see what genes are involved.  This will indicate what kind of cancer it is and how aggressive it is.

All of this is necessary, in my mind, to learn as much about that 2.7 cm glob as we can so we can decide what to do, with the goal being to live with it if it is nonaggressive and continue being healthy, or treat it with as minimally invasive of treatment as possible.

Now you know where I am at.

I've taken to saying "I have cancer, but cancer does NOT have me."  I don't plan to change my life plans due to freakin' cancer.  I will either eradicate it without destroying my life, or live peacefully with it.

Here is a pic of me on Wood Badge Course last weekend, posing with two of my best buds and mentors ever in the entire world.  Just two days after being told I have PiRad 5.

Take a look at my huge smile.  Life is good.

I'VE GOT THIS!