Another milestone - diagnosed six years ago today, on April 16th, 2013

Not a milestone to celebrate, but on this day 6 years ago my life was turned upside down.

I got "the call" at work, the day after my biopsy. The doctor asked how I was feeling, any side effects from the biopsy? I said no, nothing I hadn't experienced before. Then he said, "Do you have a few minutes to talk about the results?". That couldn't be good.... and it wasn't....

I grabbed a piece of paper from the copier, found a pen, and went into a conference room. He gave me the numbers, and suddenly I felt very strange. It seemed that suddenly I could hear the world slowly revolving....

Six years later, after a lot of treatment and life-altering side effects, here I am. Still watching my PSA, still wondering when the other shoe will drop (all but certain with my diagnosis), and yet life is good. I just retired, I feel good, and life goes on. It seems like just a memory of a nightmare, but I do have some physical reminders it was all too real.

I've been on this forum almost without any break since, hoping to pay forward some of the support I got in those early very dark days. It was literally terrifying, and it took a lot of advice from doctors and from brothers on this forum to finally get a handle on it. Once treatment was selected and begun, the stress diminished greatly. After that, it has been the typical roller coaster of tests and results, some complications, and the ongoing mental challenge of living with this. I greatly value the friendships made through this forum especially.

All the best to everyone dealing with this beast. We can't know how our case will respond, what the best treatment may be, how our particular wonky cells will react to whatever our treatment may be. And yet, there is hope! I try to never lose sight of that. There is always hope.

Redwing57 -

You have done a very good job indeed of summarizing those initial major steps one has to face in coming to grips with entry into this long, strange journey.

You present a number of the details of it with such clarity and detail, that I could feel myself remembering my own state of mind on my own "D-Day" (Diagnosis Day).

I was especially struck by your comment "... It seemed that suddenly I could hear the world slowly revolving." For me it was driving home in the rain just following Dx at my uro's office, and thinking the sound of the windshield wipers going back and forth was the loudest noise I had ever heard.

Maybe that's what happens in such a situation, our senses are shocked into such an extreme state of alertness, that things seem louder, brighter, more vibrant than ever before.

Anyway, Redwing57, may I say I have always appreciated your good sense, good humor, intelligence, and the every-time relevance of your posts. And, as I always have been, I remain impressed by the calm, rational way you report your history, showing such a depth of courage and determination to fight on, and to win.

As in the past, I continue to look forward to your future accounts of your situation, as well as anything else you care to talk about, and your doing it with that same kind of courage and determination.

Keep up the good work.

RedWing,
Yep, good descriptions. For me it was a slow motion wave of realization through my body - “no this can’t be happening!”

Then, as you alluded, it becomes life three in month increments. But that’s what it is. We do the best we can with the damage and carry on.

Best thing I heard was retirement. Good for you!

Thanks for the post.

That's a good thing you just did Redwing.

Very giving. (and I received)

God Speed Brother

Congrats on reaching this milestone. May you reach even more with even greater success.

Nice summary of your six-year journey. And you've certainly done your share of paying it forward! I wish you continued success.

Jerry... congrats on your retirement! you will enjoy it, keep the good posts coming!

Larry

What is funny, to me at least, is when I heard the doctor tell me I had cancer I didn't bat an eye. It really didn't even register somehow. Only later did the diagnosis hit me.

Way to express it, Jerry my G9 Bro! I also will never forget when I got the call that my URO- who I had worked with in surgery more than a few times over the years- wanted to discuss my biopsy results in his office. I thought "Uh Oh, this can'y be good!". And I entered into an abnormal mental state for quite a while. I felt your description!