Posted 12/23/2022 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Just a quick visit to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I haven't posted for a while usually stop by and visit once or twice a week it's interesting to see some of the older guys that are still here and lots of new names and some of our guys that have lost their battle with this damn disease and I hope their families can find some comfort during this time of the year! It's now been 5 yrs since I have been undetectable so am very thankful for that! I am so very thankful that I was able to get treatment and care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,Mn for my Gleason 9 PCa. It took surgery, radiation, and Adt but so far it has worked and I'm believing that it will continue! I am now in a research study at the Mayo for my heart valve problem which was made worse from the ADT treatment. I had scarlet fever when I was a young kid so they think this is where the original problem probably started. I will be in this study for 2 1/2 years taking a experimental drug that could delay my having to have my valve replaced maybe by 5 years? maybe more, maybe not at all as I or Mayo don't know if I'm getting the real drug or a plecbo or if it will even work. I just want to pass along encouragement and support for all the new members here at HW. Become your own advocate get a great team in place look at all of your options! Once you have made an informed decision with your team and family go forward and don't look back! I haven't been following some of the new advances in treating PCa but I hear about them from some of the dear friends I made while at the hope lodge who continue to struggle with this disease but some of them sound pretty encouraging! Every one enjoy family and friends and here's to a better year and hopefully not such a crazy one in 2023! Larry
oops saw that I forgot to change my signature to 66 yrs almost 67 so will have to get into my profile and do that. . 😀