About to have PET Scan

I am the guy with advanced prostate cancer dealing with chronic pain from severe nerve damage due to faulty radiation treatment.  I was diagnosed at Stage II cancer, and in 2 years, progressed to Stage III.  Final arrangements are being made for an advanced PET scan test, to see if any of the pain is being caused by metatasis to the bones, in particular, my right hip and right upper leg bone (femur?).  It would be a catch 22 if the test shows something positive, it would give a clear explanation for the increasing pains, but  then would move me to Stage IV with the cancer.  I am only 59 currently, diagnosed at 56.

I am hoping for the best, but it will be whatever it will be.  I am already in a non-curative situation, having been through both surgery and radiation.

Thank goodness for an understanding oncologist and the ability in my area (SC) to not have any difficulties in obtaining the pain meds that I am on around the clock.

Told my doctor, that I don't what we are going to do when the cancer progresses even further, already on loads of Loratabs and Morphine patches.  Rather not think about it when it gets even further along.

But, I never give up hope, and try to make the best out of each day, despite my situation.

David in SC

Hello again my Friend, David!

I too will say extra prayers for your situation. I pray that your cancer has not spread. You might not get an answer to your pain question but you will at least not be progressing with the cancer.

One thing I don't think I mentioned last time I responded to one or your posts is that my father passed away from prostate cancer. I almost hate to say it but then it's nothing you don't know about. Dad was 83 though, a far cry from your youthful age. Unfortunately he was with an HMO (Group 'Death'...Group Health as others call it). Not only did they not treat him when it was first seen, they didn't even tell him he had the problem for several YEARS! He had no chance to fight it.

You are an amazingly strong man, David. PC is a tough one to live....I watched it take my father. But you have such a wonderful disposition and outlook. I am humbled.

Please keep us posted on how you are coming along and if you can share the results of the PET please do.

Warm hugs,
Chutz

thank you, chartreaux

chutz, sorry to hear about your father. though not written in stone, my current prognosis is about 2-4 years max at the rate of progression, my PSA is doubling about every 10 weeks, not a good sign. in the bigger picture of things (life), i am at peace with it all. over 30,000 men die a year, just in the US, from this terrible cancer. trust me, its not the "good cancer to have" as often reported in the news. i never had any symptons ahead of time, just normal PSA testing every year.

while i contribute a lot of my time on HW Prostate Cancer, I am hoping to be some help and of encouragement to your community here as well. We all share equally on the subject of Chronic Pain.

thanks, laura, i will be reporting back after the test results.

david in sc

thank you Kathy,

after passing the 3 year mark recently in my Prostate Cancer battle, it's all kind of a blur to me. In the first 2 years, its was horrible, including 2 major operations, 6 lesser operations, 2 months of radiation treatments that were administered wrong and caused me intense damage and the beginning of the chronic pain that I still endure. I never feel sorry for myself, there are many so much worse off than myself.

i have a stubborn mindset, sometimes its a good thing, sometimes not, lol. but i refuse to let what is happening to me dictate how i feel about myself and life. this cancer is higly likely to take me out, there's nothing i can do about that part, but in the mean time, i am trying to take care of my wife and family, and to take time to enjoy a few things (that i am still capable of doing) and finding time to help others. the "helping other" part is the best medicine for what ails me.

I know all about pain, fear, and suffering, so it makes it easier for me to relate to others in pain and empathize with their ailments. I know some of you in this community have to fight the stigma of having friends, relatives, employers, and others not being able to really comprehend your own pain and suffering.

Some of this, unfortunatley is human nature, but some of it just plain old fashioned selfiishness in my opinion. You have to live with chronic pain, to really, really understand how it effects every aspect of your life.

Life certainly isn't all roses and sunshine (I wish), but there are good life lessons we all can learn when we live and exist in the darkness of severe pain, depression, and illnesses.

David in SC

Maggie, I remember you and your husband.

I have never been on Lupron or any other kind of Hormone Therapy. My oncologist doesn't feel that it would work very long for me, and only heap even more side effects and low quality of life issues for me. His goal right now, is to control the pain the best ways possible, and keep me comfortable, as the cancer progresses, hoping to strengthen me for the next stage of this battle. I am comfortable with this plan. On a good day, my meds keep away 80% of the worse of pain under control, on a bad day, perhaps 50% or less, but then again, I can only be so medicated. I don't want to be in a "coma" or brain fog from being overly medicated, so its kind of a trade off, one I work closely with my doctor. It's all a balancing act.

I am at the point in my life, where the quality of life is way more important to me than sheer quantity. I am not afraid to die, though if it was my choice, I am not quite ready to go to the check-out line, lol. I will let God decide my departure for me, that works for me, lol.

You said your husband had bladder tissue removed, did he have to have a Urostomy like me? A stoma for life, because my bladder was so severely damaged by radiation burns.

I will remember the two of your as well. In my perspective of things, I don't feel that anyone gets an easy ride, we each have our own battles and our own demons to fight.

Bless you

David in SC

thanks and hugs, loretta