It's a GREAT day!

It is truly a GREAT day!

I had my last docetaxel cycle today! Not only did that make my day GREAT but I now have my < sign on my PSA!! <0.01.

I spent last weekend in the hospital with gastroenteritis (SEVERE), high fever and diarrhea also SEVERE. By Sunday night I was done . No more chemo....DONE! Yet the past 2 days I've rebounded and when I saw my MO this morning we agreed I should do my last cycle at a reduced dose. So.... I went for it. Still not looking forward to the crash, and will probably wonder then why I did this, but right now I feel at peace.
I haven't felt much like posting for awhile (or anything else for that matter) but now am proud to officially say I'm part of the chemo club. I've never been into clubs but now find myself in 3... G9 club.... Post toasties.....and now The chemo club. Clubs I didn't ever think I would join. Now I am proud of the way I have fought and given this lousy cancer my best shot!

For the first time since this journey started I feel at peace. It's been a year since my Primary Dr. thought he felt a lump ,or hard ridge on my prostate. Through battling the Drs. for a biopsy to Dx, Ht, treatment options, having treatment options taken off the board, finally deciding on a treatment ,going to Virginia Mason Seattle twice in the middle of all this for small intestine resection (still not done there), IMRT and Chemo, it's been tough on me ,my wife and my family. It's been tough on business. This is plain tough.

Yet through all of this, I've gained so much more than I thought I ever would. I've learned how much the people in my life care for me. I've learned that it's ok to put myself first at times. I've learned how to except help from others (pretty hard for me).I've learned that I am tougher than I ever thought. I'm learning how to surrender the things in my life that I can't control. I think I have become a better husband and a father. Relationships have been healed through this experience. I treasure my mom and dad and try to keep in touch with them as much as I can. (they are both 84yrs this year). I could go on and on but this is starting to become a book.

I am and will forever be grateful to the ones on this forum. Your experience and knowledge and friendships are invaluable to me ,THANK YOU! Through my fear and lack of understanding, through my rants and at times tantrums, through the very first post I posted asking if I should get a Bx and everyone but a few suggested (some insisted) I get one, you have been here for me, and I haven't met any of you face to face......this is an amazing place.

So..... as I say many times ,

BATTLE ON BROTHERS!

"THE ARTISTIC ONE" - Mark

Good on ya! That is an epic post. I wish you and yours the best.

Fantastic result Mark and great, thoughtful post.

Long may the < sign reign!

Chas

Thank you for this post, and CONGRATULATIONS! My husband is a newly diagnosed G9, and I appreciate the hopeful nature of your post, we are only a few weeks into HT here, and seeing that you are reaching the light at the end of the tunnel is a lift for me. I hope this last chemo crash is bearable and that you move forward from here with only improvement.

May I ask a question about your treatment choice? How did you decide to do chemo? One doctor has suggested considering taxotere chemo boost a few months after his radiation is complete (which should be around the beginning of July...he has HDR brachy scheduled for 5/23, 25 sessions of IMRT will begin 2 weeks later). We aren't sure how to determine if the toxicity of the chemo is worth it (and the doc hasn't necessarily recommended it...he's just thrown it out there as something to think about). If you have any considerations to share regarding coming to the chemo decision, I would sure appreciate hearing it.

Great report!

Andrew

Artist Mark,
Wow excellent post, You have done very well. Good luck for many years ahead. Your words have touch Iam sure many of us in this fight

Great courage and a great attitude. Excellent post. You should be very proud of yourself.

Paul

Hi Mark, well you buckled down and did the last cycle! I bet you went back and forth a million times like I did ("to do or not to do"). The reduced dose should help. I know how tough it can be to go to the hospital for a side effect, be it the chemo or not. Keep up the great attitude. Reach out if you need support. Take care. -JR

RealisticOptimist hit the nail on the head when he used the word 'epic' to describe your post Mark. What an AWESOME message to read when I logged on today. Truly inspirational.
Congratulations on staying the course, and how truly gratifying to see such fantastic results. Long may they reign!

Mark - I have followed your journey and find you to be one of my true heroes. This is truly a GREAT post, marking a VERY GREAT milestone.

Thanks for sharing your journey with us. We wish you nothing but many more great days!

Congratulations, Mark! Great post that will likely lift many people facing such choices themselves. Specifically, there are very few of us 5+4 types, and the initial assessments are kind of daunting for us.

I don't think you've left any stones unturned. Here's to a long, quiet, durable remission!

How long do you plan for ADT?

You're an interesting guy...."The Artistic One"... you did this one very well indeed! Congratulations Mark

I so much appreciate all the kind words and encouragement!
Cali JR tells me he stays here to give back that which was given him. I know that is why others stay also. I want to follow that example.

To the Redwinged One...I will be on Lupron for another year. I seem to have lost the memory of just being on ADT feels. I'm weirdly looking forward to that. I remember it feeling like the worst thing, not so sure now. We shall see how much I wine about it as the summer goes on!!

Paxton...nice play on the word GREAT! that was WONDERFUL. I must have used the word GREAT a hundred times yesterday. I follow you also,thanks for your constant contribution.

All of you thank you!
(yes even you Bolo), talk about a trip!! So glad I unblocked you after my second week here!

FL Drifter, it's always encouraging to be able to reach out to you one on one.


Everyone seems to gravitate to certain ones here for one reason or another. It's good to have one to one contact so if you haven't reached out to some in that capacity, I highly recommend you do.

RealistiOptimistic,, Thank you but the longer you are here the more Epic posts you will see. Not so sure mine is Epic but again thank you for the compliment. Your forum name is "EPIC". Every post I see you post will remind me to be realist and optimistic.....2 things that I try to strive for.

Again thanks to all and....


Battle on Brothers!


The "VERY TRIPPY"Artistic One -Mark