Great news

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:Thanks, Seaoat. The heart issues are one thing, but I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. I saw a new urologist last week, and he told me that just 5% of one of my 12 biopsy needles (had my second prostate biopsy on 12/13) showed any cancer. My Gleason Score is 6. We are going to "fly it and watch it" for a while. We'll continue to monitor my PSA, and do another biopsy at the end of 2016, and see where it is. At some point I will submit to an 8-week radiation therapy series.

I think poster Markle also recently indicated he was being treated for prostate cancer.

I have other issues-that have been with me for years-that I have chosen to not be public about on this forum. Like you, I believe that every day is a gift, and I worry not about any of the medical issues I am currently dealing with.

knothead wrote:

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:Thanks, Seaoat. The heart issues are one thing, but I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. I saw a new urologist last week, and he told me that just 5% of one of my 12 biopsy needles (had my second prostate biopsy on 12/13) showed any cancer. My Gleason Score is 6. We are going to "fly it and watch it" for a while. We'll continue to monitor my PSA, and do another biopsy at the end of 2016, and see where it is. At some point I will submit to an 8-week radiation therapy series.

I think poster Markle also recently indicated he was being treated for prostate cancer.

I have other issues-that have been with me for years-that I have chosen to not be public about on this forum. Like you, I believe that every day is a gift, and I worry not about any of the medical issues I am currently dealing with.

Hang tough Z . . . . . like you I have a number of medical issues that I do not discuss but the prostate issue is something, according to my urologist, will in all likelihood lead to our demise but it can affect some rather obvious aspects of our lives.  I hope that in your case it can be mitigated with minimum consequences as I am certain you would hope for as well.

2seaoat wrote:Two of the four marble size tumors in my lungs were located in the bronchial tubes which formed a virtual block on my breathing.  Much of my weakness over the last four months which required me using a plastic chair when doing physical work was based on my inability to exhale as there was significant blockage.  I have been in a great deal of pain for the last two days after surgery which felt like somebody had worked me over with a baseball bat, but this morning for the first time in a year I am breathing freely.  You do not think about exhaling because it always seems like the inhaling was important, but it is amazing how easily the air now escapes.   I sent an email to the pulmonary team at Northwestern thanking them for the quick response after reviewing my cat scans and giving me this quality for the time I have left.  I hope to make my super bowl party on Sunday.  I have been going to the same one with high school friends since the early 1970s and reconnecting each year is part of what makes the quality of life so special.  I did not think I would make it down to Pensacola this winter, but if I keep improving, I will return to finish the project I started, and cannot wait to run the bobcat and do some more chain sawing.  I am beginning to regain my strength and the pain is slowly going away.  A very good morning.

knothead wrote:I myself am a breast cancer survivor (diagnosed in 2007 on my birthday; 8 mm lobular tumor requiring only lumpectomy, radiation, and 10 years of anti-estrogen medication).   I've had no recurrence or metastasis so far and have been very, very fortunate, knock on wood.  

RL, I was motivated to respond to your post because my wife had a very similar situation and around the same time.  She too was fortunate in that it was carcinoma insitu (I think) but it was still contained within the cell.  Same regimen and she took Tamoxifen as I recall for five years . . . . Angel Williamson was/is her doc and she is amazing.  Congrats for being a survivor and for sharing!

Joanimaroni wrote:
RL, I agree with you...so many are dealing with cancer very upsetting.

ZVUGKTUBM wrote:Thanks, Seaoat. The heart issues are one thing, but I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December. I saw a new urologist last week, and he told me that just 5% of one of my 12 biopsy needles (had my second prostate biopsy on 12/13) showed any cancer. My Gleason Score is 6. We are going to "fly it and watch it" for a while. We'll continue to monitor my PSA, and do another biopsy at the end of 2016, and see where it is. At some point I will submit to an 8-week radiation therapy series.

I think poster Markle also recently indicated he was being treated for prostate cancer.

I have other issues-that have been with me for years-that I have chosen to not be public about on this forum. Like you, I believe that every day is a gift, and I worry not about any of the medical issues I am currently dealing with.

RealLindaL wrote:

knothead wrote:I myself am a breast cancer survivor (diagnosed in 2007 on my birthday; 8 mm lobular tumor requiring only lumpectomy, radiation, and 10 years of anti-estrogen medication).   I've had no recurrence or metastasis so far and have been very, very fortunate, knock on wood.  

RL, I was motivated to respond to your post because my wife had a very similar situation and around the same time.  She too was fortunate in that it was carcinoma insitu (I think) but it was still contained within the cell.  Same regimen and she took Tamoxifen as I recall for five years . . . . Angel Williamson was/is her doc and she is amazing.  Congrats for being a survivor and for sharing!

Knot, thanks very much for your kind note, and I'm glad to hear another good story as to your wife.   Now please forgive me for sticking my nose in, but there was a large, well accredited study completed just a few years back that demonstrated improved long term survival for women who take Tamoxifen for 10 years instead of the previously recommended five.  My oncologist (then at The Woodlands) strongly recommended the additional five years, which I'm now into, and my other regular doctors (PCP, OB-GYN guy) both independently checked to make sure I had extended the period to ten years.  Seems to be accepted practice now.  Just saying.

Personally, even with the occasional hot flashes, I wouldn't mind staying on Tamoxifen for the duration, just for extra peace of mind and because I sense that my mentation/memory is better on it, but am not sure my doc will prescribe, or the insurance company pay, past 10 years.  We'll find out when that time comes.
 
Have heard mixed reviews about Angel Williamson over the years but am glad you and your wife have been happy with her, and that the results have  been good.  All the best to your dear spouse!

PBulldog2 wrote:
RealLinda, I too am a breast cancer survivor. My first episode was in 1995, with a recurrence in the opposite breast in 2003.

I had a mastectomy with reconstruction surgery in 1996. In 2003, I had a partial mastectomy on the other breast followed by chemo and radiation.

My last mammogram was okay, thank goodness.