Stay Positive!

I used to have that "Stay Positive" quote in my signature here and now I regret removing it. It serves as a reminder for all of the power of positive thinking. I truly believe in it.

The FDA requires that all approved drugs carry a warning label. The diagnosis of prostate cancer regularly carries the stigma of negative thought processes.

Simply put, combining negative thought processes with the FDA's warning labels seems to draw out the worst possible scenarios in decision making when in fact this combination is counter productive in dealing with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. The FDA in short is somewhat over protective of most but regulatory and requires the responsibility of the labeling processes.

My experience has been that few of the labeling issues actually affect most on certain drugs or treatment modalities. Of course there are inevitable side effects, the worst are drugs that require a steroid such as prednisone to up the dosages to deliver adequate cancer fighting effects. An LHRH Agonist does not require prednisone. Xtandi does not require prednisone. Tak700 does not require prednisone. The side effect labeling of these drugs include prednisone included observed levels of human tolerance from their phase I trials and that can be misleading. Sometimes it's unavoidable to not have the steroid.

My point is don't observe the SE labeling of these drugs and assume you will experience them all. That's not at all likely.

Again, the reason I post this is to remind folks to stay positive. When you feel a bit down by side effects you see in labeling or even experience, you can still make lemonade. But not if you choose to look at rotten lemons perspectively...

That's what you'll get...

Stay positive and hopeful. I've been through the HT experience. And the surgery... And the radiation... And I serve in a research committees that address these SE issues. just my own observation ~ it matters the patients perspective of the positive and negative...

Peace and love and...

Stay Positive!

Tony

Thanks Tony, perfect timing!

Re: http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000009.htm

One of my favorites is: "If you think you can or you can't -- you're right."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeFuc-qFKoA

 

Tony, I have no problems or issues with the point you are trying to make, no one could argue - that having as positive an attitude as possible dealing with a serious medical situation helps.

I do feel strongly, that all patients should fully know and understand the risks and side effects of all medical treatments and medications. Doesn't mean one should obsess over the negative ones, but it's important to know what one is or will be dealing with.

Me personally, consider myself a realist and very pragmatic. Some think of people that was as being negative, I disagree strongly with that stereotype. I don't like surprises, I don't like or want anything hidden from me. I can take the worse news in the world, as long as I know about it.

In my most of my bad situations in my journey, the more I knew what was going on, the better I felt about things. I believe in true hope, based on fact, as opposed to false hope or some pie in the sky thinking (no reference to a single word you posted - talking off the hip).

If I absolutely reach the point where I know, and my doctor knows that I am in a terminal situation, I want to know it straight, vs. being told that things might or could get better - when the medical situation or the facts of the case say differently. That way, I can plan my days ahead properly.

I never buy the glass "half-full' and "half empty" analogy, because in actuality, both answers are correct.

I have spoke much here, about how counter-productive worry and fretting is. That is mind, body, and emotionally draining - and serves no purpose in my opinion. You work on the things that can be fixed or helped, and for those that can't be dealt with - you put it back into the "box" until you can do something about it.

This has always worked well for me in my life, both in the business world and in my personal life. I treat my entire PC journey that way.

David in SC

Mel,
I understand you I think well. I remember the day you arrived and the negativity some folks here, whom are still here, expressed to you about your decision making process (No David, I am not referring to you, you were very positive back then and supported Mel). But if you believe that I'm trying to sugar coating anything by saying a positive attitude is a best approach, then that's precisely what I mean with this post and that's a negative connotation that I believe will hinder anybody.

I certainly don't mean to sugar coat anything, but applying vinegar to a future experience is not a good idea. I have been down the road of hormonal therapies and I always believe that if you have to travel a road, the best way to address your concerns in that journey is to talk to the people coming back on the road. Absolutely there are SE's. But worrying about which one's may affect you, and how they will might make you unable to work, is not necessarily being a realist.

To address David's point, and David I thank you for making it, being a realist in no way is the same thing as a being a positive or negative person. You can be a positive realist or a negative realist. And what's the opposite of being a realist anyway? An UNrealist? Looking at the negatives on a drug labeling and assuming that these required tags all apply to you is unrealistic. And it promotes a negative outlook.

David my heart breaks seeing you label yourself as terminal. It's certainly true in the human perspective that life is a terminal condition. I have met, and have befriended many men that were way further along than you are today with a dx of bone mets and PSA's in the hundred's back in the 1990's and they will tell you that they are alive. That is in my eyes being negative and is also leaving out the possibility that you are NOT terminal. And you're a realist? To me being a realist means evaluating the possibility that you CAN take on androgen therapy, That you CAN tolerate it well. That it's possible that you WON'T die from prostate cancer.

Being a realist means evaluating both sides of the coin AND the edge of the coin.

Sugar coating? I don't think I am. I am just being a realist...

Tony

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 1/17/2013 1:11:49 PM (GMT-7)

I wanted to link some comments by EAGLEKEEPER back to this thread. It was a great post by EAGLEKEEPER that was in the light I posted this. I also linked a radio call in by my very dear friend David Emerson before he died that showed his beautiful courage and positive attitude...As Talk show host/comedian Dennis Miller said after talking to him ~ "we need to learn from those in the crosshairs"...

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2617212

Peace and love to all...

Tony

TC:

This is a great thread. Thanks. No, I did not mean at all that thinking positive is sugar coating anything. I was referring solely to SE of medications. The implications that ALL medicines have SE and HT is not different. It IS DIFFERENT. In most cases, a medicine has a long list of scary SE and you will probably get NONE of them. But HT is clearly different. In fact, I don't know of a single individual who got ZERO SE from HT. Our best hope is that the SE are not severe, also understanding that there are things we can do to counteract some of the SE (eg: exercise to fight possible fatigue and depression).

Again, being positive has nothing to do with sugar coating!

The other point I am making is that at times it gets difficult to be positive.

I am pretty much accepting of this upcoming next step and my "anxiety" has lifted. I am back to being more positive.

When I am positive (most of the time), I go by the DAILY mantra:

The PC might very well get me, BUT NOT TODAY!!

I've sent you an email regarding another issue.

Mel

Mel,
I like that. Not Today.

As David Emerson said, and I quoted in a related thread. You get up in the morning and you put your pants on, and you live...

I am certain that you may feel a depression day in the future, maybe induced by HT, maybe by something else.

Just not today...

Tony

stay positive...... hmmmm!
so my
uch can be said about this. I believe we shape our reality to our liking. I once tried to befriend a person I had met online. He seemed like a great guy and I do believe he had a good heart. I called him one time. There was such a darkness at the end of the line that I could not wait to get off the phone. Attitude is everything. Well ...... faith and attitude. I was told " no more than a year" I didn't start digging a hole. I put on the gloves. Anything and everything. I will face the fight. I get annoyed with people who reject certain treatments siting qol issues when it seems as though their qol sucks.

I approach every issue with this resolve. I may notl like it but I will make the best of it and it will not get the best of me. After 79 months of H/t normal sexual function has returned. hot flashes are unnoticed and one look at my facebook page shows a guy living a very active life. just saying......Todd

David - You are right on the glass. The glass analogy was always flawed anyways. Normally, an optimist would say the glass is half full and the pessimist would say the glass is half empty. That assumes you want to drink what's in the glass.

What if the glass contained a beverage that you didn't like, but were required to drink it. The pessimist would then say the glass is half full and the optimist would say the glass is half empty. It all does make me thirsty though...

To all-
I have to admit. You guys have some of the greatest attitudes and even when down, you are able and willing to help someone in need (usually dealing with lesser problems than you have). Good for you.

This disease tests each and every one of us. Positive attitudes before cancer came easier and for most, not tested to this degree. For the most part, what I have seen on HW is a bunch of people passing that test all the time, over and over. All get down at times, but time after time I see you guys get up and work with the hands that you have been dealt. Through the examples you have showed and your selfless support, we can all shoot for staying positive.

JL

Jerry said,
"David - You are right on the glass. The glass analogy was always flawed anyways. Normally, an optimist would say the glass is half full and the pessimist would say the glass is half empty. That assumes you want to drink what's in the glass.

What if the glass contained a beverage that you didn't like, but were required to drink it. The pessimist would then say the glass is half full and the optimist would say the glass is half empty. It all does make me thirsty though..."

As an engineer I would say "Stupid optimists and stupid pessimists...The glass is too big..."

As a contrarian I would say "Why a glass..."


Tony

Living:

I totally agree with your opinion regarding doing nothing and then moaning about how bad things are. I also feel that when one starts a thread, they have to expect comments and should not complain when perhaps those comments are not what they want to hear. If the comments get to be inappropriate, we have moderators to get us back on track. But I have seen a comment or two that was judged to be insulting when in fact it was merely a heartfelt expression of concern. Such is life. No perfection!

I'm sure almost everyone who knew David Emerson (I did via his blog and an occassional email) admire his gumption, guts, and courage. But we are not all built the same way. In fact, very few will measure up to David's standard. We can only hope to use our intelligence and factor in our emotional state and try and do the best we can in fighting this beast.

Good points in this thread!

Mel