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Posted 12/31/2015 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Happpy New Years;
I wish every one reading this best best wishes for a bright and happy year ahead. I really wish there was a easy fix to the cancer that has wonderful, husbands , fathers, brothers in its grip . To the people who may lurk here , if it is information you are seeking you will find it here. The sad part of what is posted here is real life . Its the story each mans battle with a cancer that can either take their life miraculously spare some.It took the life of my wonderful husband on Aug 29th, atbage 64.I remember when perhaps i was lurking trying to find every bit of information I could about a cancer that raises so many complex questions and treatment options. we were so nieve so much so that when Dave was given a psa score of 8 only to find out that it was actually 80 . We thought 8 or 80 whats the diffrence? At the start we saw people post psa in the thousands and Dave thought this must be numbers that are almost like bragging rights . Trust me as Daves psa doubling times went out of control and the increments were going up 2,000 in a month we were terrified!!
At the time of his dying his psa was over 10,000. BUT this is where I am begging of you get the word out there screening could have saved Daves life .Remember
stage2 PC has a highly treatable curable rate stage 4 not so much. Men don't't
talk easily about prostate because I don't think alot are educated about it
discussion with the men you know .Keep prostate cancer in the open , women lets TALK about IT
As I sit here reminiscing about this past year and just how I would give just anything to be able to tell Dave just how much I love him and how my heart breaks .. 💙
Posted 1/1/2016 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, Sue. We all appreciate your good wishes and heartfelt words, and wish we could help you with your broken heart.

My mom lost her husband, my stepfather (but he'd been in our lives since I was 14--nearly 38 years) in April after a 6 year battle with PC. They didn't quite understand what they were into, either. Using local docs, we really don't believe they took his PSA seriously as it wasn't _that_ high and never referred him to biopsy. By the time they did, he was Gleason 8 and it was out of the capsule. That tough old Navy bird battled the beast for 6 years. Now my mom, at 69, is alone for the first time in her life and over 300 miles away. My wife's mom passed suddenly in September at age 77 from what was basically 'unofficially' treatment-related leukemia. Blood tests every other month-nothing. Then she was gone. Oh, and we had to put a sweet little kittie down due to a massive brain tumor. Combined with my crap and surgery in August, this has been a really tough year. Jeeze....

2016 just HAS to be better.

My wife seemed surprised a little that I was willing to talk to people about my situation and asked if it bothered me if she told people. I said "not at all. I want guys and their gals to know so they keep it in their mindset and get tested." If not for a routine PSA during a check up after turning 50, which set this all in motion, I wouldn't have known. I had forgotten that I had some family history as I hadn't had much contact with my father's side of the family in some time.

Thanks again, and so sorry.

MD
Posted 1/1/2016 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your heart-spoken words.
Posted 1/1/2016 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Sue
Your admonition about educating men about prostate screening is right on point. Unfortunately the latest advice seems to be placing less emphasis on screening or at least says screening should not be automatic but based on an informed decision based on discussions of risks and benefits between men and their family practitioners. But I fear that many men will not have this discussion but be lulled into a sense of complacency by thinking "out of site out of mind".
Best to you and yours.
Bob
Posted 1/1/2016 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Sue, thanks again for staying around. All any of us can do is try to educate other men. I believe this is work only other men can do. It's not going to be about TV commercials or billboards. It's going to be about men, talking to other men, at work, at the restaurant at lunchtime or the bar over a beer after work. That's when we talk and listen to each other.

I remember when we lost my dad, 11 years ago, to this disease. It was hard to watch, and I still wish he was around to talk to.

Be well.
Posted 1/1/2016 7:37 AM (GMT 0)
Sue,
My heartfelt wish for you to find some comfort and healing of your broken heart in the coming year. You're crusade is so inspiring and I know Dave was and would be so proud of you in your efforts to help men be proactive in the battle,against PCa.
Beth
Posted 1/2/2016 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
Sue,
Wishing you comfort and peace in the years ahead.
Thank you for always sharing with us. <3
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