Prostate Cancer Really Sucks - Pt1

 My Journey begins...

Hello,

If you are reading this, you have an interest in Prostate Cancer.  From the title, it is self explanatory!  Prostate Cancer, or ANY cancer really sucks.  I watched what cancer can do when my mother was diagnosed.  They performed surgery to remove the affected areas, but as the surgeon explained to us, there was just too much fat to get everything.  Boy does that fill you with confidence!  My mother was not large, but was over weight.  I just could not believe the surgeon had said that to the family with any confidence.  I was dumb struck.  I watched as she went through chemo and radiation treatments followed by blood tests that showed it all worked.  Thankful, we all took a huge breath of fresh air and relaxed.  But cancer laughed at us while we adjusted to normal again.  Within a year, the blood tests showed traces of cancer again.  Here we go again...  She then went for round two of treatments which included placing radiated glass bead all around the cancer in her liver.  The surgeon was very positive for this treatment and had success doing so with others.  We had hope again.  

Well that was short lived.  Within a few months, she turned for the worse and denied any more treatment as the radiated glass beads really took a toll on her body.  She had given up.  We said our final goodbyes about 4 years ago now.

Fast forward to now and the focus of the title... Prostate Cancer.

I had been on HRT for a few years since mine went into the basement and my wife could not stand to live with me and my low T.  She did not leave and has been my rock through this journey, but more on that later.

One my usual visit to the urologist, they felt that my prostrate felt abnormal and with a slightly higher PSA than the last test, it was time to dig further into the cause.  And dig they did!  I was referred for a prostate biopsy to see what was going on.  I believed that I would fall into the 80% where "this was nothing" and go on with life again.  

I will spare the details of the biopsy procedure and leave that up to others who can make more light of it than I can ever muster.  I was naive about the procedure and went in with no expectations since they would numb the area and I would feel nothing.  For the most part, that was correct, but just like the dentist, the sound is what gets you.  I can never listen to a cap gun the same again!  Twelve times for twelve samples.

The procedure was over and now the wait started.  It was a short wait, only a few days and my phone lit up that there are new test results in your chart.  Oh the joys of electronic medical records!  I eagerly opened the app to view my results.  As I reviewed the results and used Dr. Google to see what the medical terms really meant, my heart SUNK.  Many of the snaps contained CANCER!!!  Shortly after the results showed on my phone, the doctor called and wanted to talk to confirm what I was reading.  All of this on my 57th birthday.

Thus, my journey into the world of prostate cancer began.  I hope that putting this in writing can get it out of my mind and help at least one person as they have the same diagnosis.  Of course, EVERYONE'S diagnosis and cancer is unique.  What happened to me may not be what you experience.  Also, since you may be reading this as a recently diagnosed person or the spouse of someone with prostate cancer, I am not a doctor and will not give medical advice.  Always discuss medical advice with your doctor!

 Please feel free to leave comments.  It is only with sharing that those with this disease can help each other and those that come after us.

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