Hey ya'll--I'm new here and scared to death!

Hi out there! Just wanted to get this post out there because I'm going to be needing ya'll in the near future! I was just recently diagnosed and have a PSA of 689! I'm scared to death!! I start chemo next week and that scares me, too! I'm in this battle alone and will need to lean on ya'll in the future for advice and support! I see how you are there for each other on here! I think I'm going to need that!

I live and work in the Nashville area in the Christian music business. I love my work an NEED to stay with it!! I know someone out there understands!

Thanks for listening!

What in the heck is a "stickie"?

Okay---thanks! Sorry if I'm doing this all wrong. I'll get it figured out.

Bummer, my best wishes for you.
Hero

Dear Nashville,

We ARE here for you --- you've come to the right place. Take some time, do some research, form those bonds with your doctors --- and visit this forum for advice, moral support, and solace whenever you are in need. We're a band of brothers --- we are here for you --- we understand --- we are all soldiers together on this battlefield --- and we want to lend our support to you, starting right now.

You are newly diagnosed and it sounds like you've got a treatment plan in place. That's an important step --- getting the treatment plan in place. Have you started on ADT hormone shots such as LUPRON or other medications yet ? Your post mentioned that you're starting chemotherapy treatments and there's a band of us here that have gone through those same treatments that you are facing. We are CERTAINLY here to support you as you start your treatments.

It sounds like your work in the music world of Nashville is very important to you --- give it everything you've got, keep your mind focused on things you enjoy --- stay CONNECTED with friends and family and faith, in whatever form that may take for you --- those are some key pieces of advice I'd like to share with you.

I'm digging into my third year in the battle --- I was diagnosed with an advanced case and my basic course of treatments are outlined below in my signature. I was in my 40s when I was diagnosed, and had led a life of perfect health. I've pursued my full-time career with vigor and I encourage you to do the same --- it's evident you have a passion for your work in the music industry, so let that passion carry you through while you begin your treatments. There's a lot of new treatments out there, Nashville --- many of them emerging in just the past five years !

My best advice while undergoing chemo treatments --- stay active during the treatments, while allowing yourself a chance to rest and re-charge your batteries, as needed. A bit of exercise each day can really help your body tolerate the treatments, along with some healthy foods and drinking LOTS of water for the days before AND after every treatment. Many of us here will testify that drinking water before and after each chemo treatment is essential !

The chemo treatments that you are about to start are going to start helping your body attack the enemy. Other friends of mine have also gone through these same chemo treatments, just as I have --- for friends of mine who are starting chemo, I have shared this description with them to help them get into "fighting mode" before the first treatment: Think of a series of six chemo treatment as akin to a Winchester repeating rifle --- your doctors are going to load up that Winchester rifle with SIX bullets to attack the enemy, and you and your doctors are going to fire off that Winchester rifle SIX times, in rapid succession --- bang, bang, BANG ... bang, bang, BANG ! So --- load up your rifle, Nashville, and get into fighting mode --- what do you say ?!!

Many of us here in the "Chemo Club" found that staying involved with our careers, hobbies, interests, and social events really helped us stay motivated through the weeks and months of chemo treatments. I considered chemo treatments just one ASPECT of my life --- I didn't allow chemo treatments to DEFINE my life. So --- stay true to your music career and keep forging ahead !

That being said, taking good care of yourself during chemo treatments IS important --- you are going to need some good sleep at night --- stay in touch with your doctors --- follow all their recommendations --- keep your mind busy --- stay focused on daily living --- keep pursuing the things you enjoy the very most !

I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you, Nashville --- mindful of your new diagnosis --- understanding that chemo treatments are coming around the corner for you --- but most importantly, to let you know you are NOT alone in this fight --- because we're all right here to rally around you.

Stay in touch with us, Nashville --- keep checking in with us --- let us know a bit more about you --- shoot us a few questions --- you just joined a powerful band of brothers by posting today !

Sent with my best to you, Nashville, from across the miles,
"Cyclone Fan" From Iowa State University

So what do you do in the music biz Nashville? Are you a musician or are you on the production side? Good buddy of mine has been involved in the Christian music scene down there. His name is Dez Dickerson and he used to play with Prince. I'm a songwriter myself but regular ol' pop and country music. I have friends that are Christian artists though.
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NashvilleNerd said...
Thank ya'll for the help so far! I'm not really sure what a lot of the stats at the bottom of your all's replies mean! Like I said, I'm very new to this! I filled out some stuff when I signed up but probably did it wrong. I figured I could just jump in and be a new kid for a bit. Maybe not. I'm just trying to settle my mind down so I thought this might help. Ya'll seem like pretty nice people...very supportive.

Well, if it's easier for you, maybe answer these questions, or get the answers from your doc. With more info the guys on here can really help you out. We know your most recent PSA from your initial post but knowing the following would help...

How old are you?
Did you have a biopsy?
If so, can you post the results of your biopsy? Gleason Score?
When were you diagnosed?
Have you started any treatment and if so, exactly what? What drugs (chemo, hormone therapy, etc.) have they given you, or are the planning on giving you?

I'm sure others will ask you anything I'm missing. I am not an expert on treatments for guys with high PSA scores but others here are.
.

Hello and welcome
I was afraid too but this site helped me. Good luck to you and we are here to help.

Nashville,

YOu have found the perfect place on this site. I was where you are just 5 months ago. Scared, confused, and making decisions about things way to quickly. Just reading through this site I learned about the cancer, what to expect, what to ask and mostly just to calm down.

Some wonderful guys on here have meant so much to me personally though they don't know it or really know me. At some point TallAlan will be on the site and answer some of your questions. I am sure of that. Just to lighten the mood I was discussing next steps with my team and kept saying TallAlan says to ask this or than. One of the doctors out of no where asked who the hell is TallAlan. Well I thought it was funny.

Nashville, just know this band of brothers will be here for you just like they were for me.

@ JDill,
They don't know who TallAlan is???
Fire your team immediately!!

Hey Nash,
First things First. You may be alone but you are not alone. You have a whole band of brothers here to support you through this new stage in your life. It's a bit dysfunctional sometimes but mostly these guys are solid and are here to help you through the battlefield. Chemo is likely a good start. It will kill off all the little nasties that won't show up on a scan but you need to keep an eye on things and make sure the doc orders a PSA test along with all your other blood work that you will be doing while on chemo. This will allow your oncologist to see your progress and also to move quickly onto something else should the chemo stop working. Keeping the faith can be hard but there are lots of guys here with more challenging stats that have survived many years. Best wishes to you and come back often and let us know how you are doing.

Hi Nashville...

You have received some great support and advice already.
It is a scary time, but we are here to support and answer any questions you might have. To help us help you better, we do need some specifics. We have your PSA, but what about a biopsy? What treatments have you started already?

Also, I see where you are starting chemo, here is a link to a thread that I recommend everyone reads through before starting chemo. Many of us have walked in your shoes already, so there are some tricks we can share to help.

Take care, and please, fill us in on the details and don't be afraid to ask any quetions!!

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=3487897

Sorry for your news brother, but you are defineately in the right place for suppprt and education.
I get what you are saying about the need to keep your normalcy and inner strength intact though this journey.
Most Sundays I'm on the other side of the console and believe me, playing super charges me for a full week.
For me, music is a cure in and of itself, or at the very least, a support that carries me through the worst.
Looking forward to being there for you any way I can.