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Posted 12/12/2007 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Margie and Joe,

Sorry you have to be here but welcome to the best place for hope and information. There are several of us who have post-op treatments going on so please read their stories. It will show you that you are not alone in this.

Also please look at the second line on the topics page. It is a guide to our posts and have valuable information on how to navigate this forum.

Please stay with. We can all get well together...

Jim
Posted 12/12/2007 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Margie & Joe,

As you saw by Don's stats, his came out of surgery with a higher PSA than when he went in, so we completely understand the shock you felt when you heard that news. It was something we never even considered...we expected that surgery would be the end of it. You, too, had to feel the same way. Many here have had to have further treatments and that varies according to need, your doctor's method of treatment and how the cancer has spread. Joe has had a good response to the Lupron -- wonderful! Right now, that's all you can ask for. I don't mean that harshly, I just mean this: It's being dealt with and the hope is for the Lupron to work as long as possible, if the PSA starts to climb his treatment will be re-evaluated and you'll go from there. Your frightened right now (we all have our days) but you'll settle into a routine and you will see that despite this, life can be very good. I've heard my husband say that his life is better than it's ever been. That awareness didn't happen right away - it takes time and your Joe has time. He does.

You'll get support, loving or tough...we have both as needed! And every one of us needs both at one time or another.

Jim (biker90) is right, Stay here there is much to learn and many good people to share with you both.

Susan
Posted 12/24/2007 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
I want to thank you for your love and support.  A friend and her husband came for lunch today, he too is going through Lupron shots and radiation.  My Joe sees the Radiologist on January 9, I am a wreck but I have to make him believe all will be well.  You know the hard part...well one of the many hard parts, I want Joe to be optimistic, I want love and life and laughter and music in our home.  I want my Joe upbeat and happy and smiling...but I don't want him to think "It's over, I don't have Pca anymore" and then get dropped into a dark hole if the PSA begins to rise. Can you understand what I'm saying???  On the one hand I tell him that there are 100's of men who live 10-15-20 years with this monster, but on the other hand I want him to understand that the fight isn't over. I love him so much.

Love Margie and Joe

Posted 12/24/2007 7:01 AM (GMT 0)

Margie-

I am going through a similar situation with my father.  He has been on Lupron for three weeks now and he and my mom are visiting for Christmas.  Tonight we were talking and he confided in me his fears about HT and that he is not worried his cancer will come back "because everything he read says that after HT and Radiation that it won't".  I told my mom that this is obviously what we are hoping and praying for, but I feel like he is in denial.  We don't know what to say....I want him to be optimistic and believe that he is going to beat this thing, but I don't want him to be angry if God forbid it does return...which is exactly what happened with the path report.  He was so confident that the surgeon got everything because he said things went really well and looked good, it was almost as the path report blow was twice as hard when we discovered it had spread.  We are having an incredible visit and Merry Christmas which is an answer to my prayers, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Happy Holidays and God Bless!  There truly is nothing greater than spending time with those nearest and dearest!

Chayna

Posted 12/24/2007 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Don and Susan - that is wonderful news! I wish you a very happy holiday!! kat
Posted 12/26/2007 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Joe and I had a nice Christmas...lots of laughter. our son was here with his girlfriend, we have one living child and he is the GREATEST !!! Thank God he lives near by and comes every day. We also have my Mom who has always been the "rock...the glue that held all together" She now has dimentia caused by a stroke but is still the BEST Mom ever...she never met a stranger, loves and gives to everyone ! She's almost 93. I hope you all had a great Christmas and I pray The Good Lord will bless you many new years!
Do you guys watch everything your hubby eats? My poor Joe would love a big steak.
Hugs Margie and my Joe
Posted 12/27/2007 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Kat,
Your good wishes are much appreciated. I hope your holidays are blessed.

Margie & Chayna,
I understand what you're saying. This is how we got through that situation. I did the research. Don listened when I told him what I had learned. He accepted some of what I told him but did little research on his own. I thought "Oh, dear God, he really doesn't get it. This is not curable." But, believe me - he got it. He understood everything...he realizes there is no cure but doesn't want to live with that every moment of every day. We want to save them, right? Well, what it took was ME accepting it, ME moving forward WITH him. Every minute, hour, day spent in fear is wasted, gone forever. He doesn't want to give his precious time up to that fear and neither do I. Your husband or father may certainly understand what is happening but chooses not to acknowledge it. I see nothing wrong with that. I know you want them to confirm the prognosis so you know they understand but there is no cookie cutter way to take this journey. Actually, they may have dealt with that issue already. Be patient. Be open. He'll talk about it when he's ready.
All the best,
Susan
Posted 12/27/2007 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Susan and Chayna I am so happy to have you in my life. For a few weeks I really felt as though I was the only one living with this terrible hurt. I am 56 years old, I certainly know that that isn't true, but I felt so alone and hurt so much for my Joe. I agree...we are going to live every day that God gives us, what do they say???Today is a gift, that's why they call it "The Present", nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. Thanks for making our load feel lighter.
Love you
Margie
Posted 12/27/2007 1:15 PM (GMT 0)

Greetings Margie & Joe,

I can't speak for the others on here as far as diet is concerned.  But if my husband wants a nice juicy steak dinner, then that's what he'll get with a Margarita if he'd like.  Would I give him one a day?  Absolutely not.. but once in a while we have to indulge a little and enjoy life.  PC will certainly change our life, and perhaps our lifestyle, but we're not going to let it stop us from living and enjoying life. 

I hope you are finding comfort here on the forum, I'm a newbie also and will be 56 in 2 weeks.  It's normal to cry, but knowledge is power!  And we have found some wonderful folks on here that are willing to hold our hand through this difficult time in our life.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Marie

Hubby is scheduled for DaVinci surgery on Monday, New Years Eve! 

Posted 12/28/2007 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Don & Susan

What a blessing hearing such good news from you! Best wishes for continued good news and a healthy happy New Year!

Dave

P.S. Yes, we all have those apprehensive moments while awaiting the results of each PSA test
Posted 12/28/2007 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Susan! You have no idea how much your post hits home.  Thanks for your wisdom and kindess. 

Margie you are not alone! What an amazing group of people on this forum.  I do feel truly blessed. I just wish we could have all met through another site....maybe a happier one, but I am grateful for you and all of the amazing people I am now connected with. 

May the new year bring peace and good health to us all! 

Chayna 

Posted 1/4/2008 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
I missed this because I have been off and on at the site these days. Susan and Don, I am so happy for both of you. Susan, you left me one of the sweetest messages when I first posted at this site and I will forever remember your "motherly" words of advise. I wish the both of you many more years of health and undetectable PSAs.

Happy New Year.

Doug
Posted 1/4/2008 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Doug - I've wondered how you are - it's good to "see" you here!
You young ones need to post for the other kids :-) who find themselves in the same situation you've experienced. You're a beacon, a guide to show them they can and will be okay.

Thanks for your kind words & a blessed 2008 to you!
Susan
Posted 1/6/2008 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Good Sunday morning. I ned to ask a question, but I am scared of the answer. Can the Pca spread while the PSA is <0-1? My Joe had lots of cancer, saturated prostate and more and the PSA never got higher than 6.9?
Hugs Margie and my Joe
Posted 1/6/2008 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Margie,
Hormone Therapy works for a while - for some men this can be for 10 years, some 2 - then the most resistant cells regroup and start to multiply. At this point the cancer is described as Hormone Refractory and the treatment plan is reassessed. Or it may be before that happens, Joe's doctors (and Joe) decide on another path as some of the other great guys here are taking. Where are the lymph nodes that showed on the 1/02/08 CT located?

There are many books suggested on this site through Bluebird's Links (second post from top of list of threads) There's alot of information from other members that would be helpful to you.

All the best,
Susan
Posted 1/7/2008 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Partial quote....from above... myman said... There are many books suggested on this site through Bluebird's Links (second post from top of list of threads) There's alot of information from other members that would be helpful to you. Susan ~ Thanks for your continued support!!   Click on link... v        BOOKS... Recommended by Forum Members   WellnessBooks.com (HW's official bookstore)      
Posted 1/7/2008 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Way to go Myman!!! You da man!!! Sounds like your on your way to a very long list of ZERO's! Keep them coming!
Margie,
Please stop crying, Joe is at <0.1 and that is undetectable and it doesn't get any better than that! Of course there is hope, plenty of hope and loads of prayers going up to the big guy for you and Joe from all your friends at Healing Well!!!!! Joe will be around for a long time. That Lupron stuff is a really tuff thing and it takes a brave man to go through that program. Like Lorreta Lynn sang, "Stand by your Man!" and we'll stand with you!
Your friend,
Pete
Posted 1/8/2008 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Pete, my fellow Floridian!

Thanks for your good wishes - things are good here in the Sunshine State, aren't they! We went fishing today, no fish but the sun, blue skies and temp of 78 made up for that! :-)

Good to see you post,
Susan
Posted 1/8/2008 5:03 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Susan,

If you don't mind me asking, where in Fla. do you live? You can PM me if you want, my E-adress is listed here. I'm in Palm Bch. County about an hour north of Miami. I went kayak fishing on the Nature Coast between Homosassa & Crystal River last weekend and only caught some small trout, reds, sea bass and a back ache! Next time I go there I'm bringing my flats skiff! I'm too old for that paddling stuff! I had fun though, you can get places in a kayak the airboats can't even get! Sorry to get off topic, happens every time I hear the word "FISH"

Your friend,

Pete 

Posted 1/9/2008 10:52 PM (GMT 0)

Hey,

Are you trying to make me jealous?  78 degrees?  Wow.. how nice! It's snowing and COLD here!

I love to talk about fishing.. I'm afraid the only kind of fishing we could do now would be ICE fishing!  We've had another foot of the DWS (dreaded white stuff) today.  Thank goodness for nice neighbors helping us to dig out.

I hope it stops by Friday, since I need to take Randy in to have his cath removed. 

Marie

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