First Clinical Trial Appointment at the NIH/NCI

I had my first scan done yesterday at the National Cancer Institute as part of the clinical trial. A very impressive place to say the least.

It is 31 miles from where I am staying at the Fort Meade Army base and for a 9:30am appt I left at 7:00am so I could get there early and check the place out. Good thing I did. It took me just shy of 2 hours to go those 31 miles. By the time I got through the security gate, had an ID card made and watched them go through my car with a fine tooth comb, I just barley made it in time.

I had a chance to meet with the lead investigator on the trial and had a great conversation. Found out later that the dr does not usually meet with the participants but it seems I am one of the more PCa informed patients they have had in the trial. I owe my knowledge base to all of you here that contribute to the brotherhood. I spent about 2 hours in interview with the trial coordinator and it was she that suggested that the dr talk with me.

It is the intent of this trial to show the efficacy of the F18 Sodium Fluoride PET Scan for finding the smallest changes in the skeletal structure when dealing with PCa. Evidence of this success should bring Medicare and the Insurance industry on board in paying for these scans for PCa treatment.

NOW FOR THE CRAPPY PART OF THE DAY. As if the traffic and delays were not enough, the first thing they did when I got there was draw blood to run a complete work-up.

Very efficient lab they have too. They had the results before I went in for my scan.

MY FARKIN PSA IS UP TO 9.64.

This is up from 7.2 a month ago. So I guess my Onco and I will have some very serious conversations when I get back home.

So in the meantime I am going to have a little R&R until my scan next Wednesday. Then I am going to NY for the GFMPH gathering. I will not let this little bit of news ruin my trip and I will deal with it when I get home.

Just goes to show you, EVERY DAY IS A BONUS, choke the life out of all of them,

Sonny

Sonny, when you and I were chatting yesterday, I was on the road, and my wife was tagging along. (free trip to a different mall)
Anyway, she had several comments about the braless t-shirt pictures....lol
And then I told her that I was going to spritz her with ice water first......

My right arm is still sore.....and darn this Lupron anyway.

On a serious note, she was saddened to hear about your psa rise. But I told her that ol Sonny is not done in yet. There's still lots of bullets left in his PCa pistol.

Enjoy your trip, and watch out for those domestic terrorists in Washington.......oh yeah,.....they are all politicians....maybe they should be looking out for us,....... yes? He he

K

 

Sonny,

You know you got a lot of your brothers in here all praying and pulling for you and some success with these new scans in your PCa treatment. I personally know you will never give up this fight and in my heart know you will win the battle in the long run.

Dang it, I was just thinking again about meeting you and attending GFMPH a week from today and something ran down my leg.

Terry

Sonny,

Perhaps its a good thing you are doing this trial, with such a huge one month increase in your PSA. Hopefully some good and useful info will come out of these new scans that can help you and your oncologist. My PSA hasn't been checked in 3 months now, and it will be almost 3 more months before my next reading, almost afraid at this point to know where it is, considering how sharp it was rising.

Good luck on the rest of your trial time, and hopefully will be seeing you in NY the end of next week.

David in SC