My Doctor Visit

[msslave]

Yesterday I was in for my three months visit with my Oncology Nurse. She was happy to hear my Saturday epidural treatment was showing early signs of helping.

Next she went over my blood tests and everything was looking good. She was practically bubbling as she was going over the results. The numbers meant nothing to me but her happiness told me I must be doing good..

The one test I did understand was my PSA levels. That's the test for prostrate problems. A normal reading.is 7. When my cancer was first discovered, it was 70!

With treatment the number has been coming down steadily. Yesterday's number was 0.05!  Kinda like having no prostrate at all.

I'm taking a powerful medicine daily. Four large capsules daily. How powerful? I'm not supposed to touch the pills unless I'm wearing gloves and they can't touch any other pills. Yet I still have to put them iny body. There's.side effects listed but I haven't been affected by any.

One of the side effects is to weaken the bones. I take a calcium tablet twice a day for that. Also every three months I'm given an infusion by IV to further help my bones. I got that right after I was done meeting with my Oncology Nurse.

So it was a full day yesterday with lots of walking. Came home still feeling good instead of feeling like a bunch of giant apes beaten me up. Another good sign my epidural is helping.
 

[Coach Eric]

Woo for that great update Bob

[Clitical Thinking]

I'm not supposed to touch the pills unless I'm wearing gloves and they can't touch any other pills.

 

Side effects must include shitting yourself at the thought of what might be in those pills 

[msslave]

So true CT, but what ever is in them is working. Every time I get a PET scan it shows the cancer is receding.
My next scan.will be in July.

Even if I start to glow in the dark I'll keep taking them.
.

[Pornhubby]

Even if I start to glow in the dark I'll keep taking them.

Won’t be the first time. I hope it won’t be the last. Keep that Magic Glowworm worming.

[staci]

Yesterday I was in for my three months visit with my Oncology Nurse. She was happy to hear my Saturday epidural treatment was showing early signs of helping.

Next she went over my blood tests and everything was looking good. She was practically bubbling as she was going over the results. The numbers meant nothing to me but her happiness told me I must be doing good..

The one test I did understand was my PSA levels. That's the test for prostrate problems. A normal reading.is 7. When my cancer was first discovered, it was 70!

With treatment the number has been coming down steadily. Yesterday's number was 0.05!  Kinda like having no prostrate at all.

I'm taking a powerful medicine daily. Four large capsules daily. How powerful? I'm not supposed to touch the pills unless I'm wearing gloves and they can't touch any other pills. Yet I still have to put them iny body. There's.side effects listed but I haven't been affected by any.

One of the side effects is to weaken the bones. I take a calcium tablet twice a day for that. Also every three months I'm given an infusion by IV to further help my bones. I got that right after I was done meeting with my Oncology Nurse.

So it was a full day yesterday with lots of walking. Came home still feeling good instead of feeling like a bunch of giant apes beaten me up. Another good sign my epidural is helping.
 

20 years from now, you will laugh about this my friend.

[msslave]

If I make it to 97, I'll have the best laugh of my life.

[Clitical Thinking]

If I make it to 97, I'll have the best laugh of my life.

Looking forward to it! 

[Guy Fawkes]

Yesterday I was in for my three months visit with my Oncology Nurse. She was happy to hear my Saturday epidural treatment was showing early signs of helping.

Next she went over my blood tests and everything was looking good. She was practically bubbling as she was going over the results. The numbers meant nothing to me but her happiness told me I must be doing good..

The one test I did understand was my PSA levels. That's the test for prostrate problems. A normal reading.is 7. When my cancer was first discovered, it was 70!

With treatment the number has been coming down steadily. Yesterday's number was 0.05!  Kinda like having no prostrate at all.

I'm taking a powerful medicine daily. Four large capsules daily. How powerful? I'm not supposed to touch the pills unless I'm wearing gloves and they can't touch any other pills. Yet I still have to put them iny body. There's.side effects listed but I haven't been affected by any.

One of the side effects is to weaken the bones. I take a calcium tablet twice a day for that. Also every three months I'm given an infusion by IV to further help my bones. I got that right after I was done meeting with my Oncology Nurse.

So it was a full day yesterday with lots of walking. Came home still feeling good instead of feeling like a bunch of giant apes beaten me up. Another good sign my epidural is helping.
 

I thought my PSA level was bad, and it was pushing 30! Never seen the system move so fast in my life -- once they determined the capsule hadn't broken, they removed my prostate surgically. They must have got it all, because now my PSA level is undetectable.

[purpleshoes]

I thought my PSA level was bad, and it was pushing 30! Never seen the system move so fast in my life -- once they determined the capsule hadn't broken, they removed my prostate surgically. They must have got it all, because now my PSA level is undetectable.

Not bad for a Guy who turned 453 years old on April 13 (according to the KB calendar). 

A happy belated birthday old fella.

[Guy Fawkes]

I thought my PSA level was bad, and it was pushing 30! Never seen the system move so fast in my life -- once they determined the capsule hadn't broken, they removed my prostate surgically. They must have got it all, because now my PSA level is undetectable.

Not bad for a Guy who turned 453 years old on April 13 (according to the KB calendar). 

A happy belated birthday old fella.

Why , thank you!  I can assure you that I do not look a day over 400!

[msslave]

Cancer has been keeping a low profile with me. Two and a half years ago they told me I had six months to a year without treatment. So here I still am with a lot of support from many of you.

The trade off was a herniated disc and sciatica making walking a challenge. The VA has done what they could and have sent me to a special  outside pain clinic. Lot of money being spent on a "dead man" walking.

Best has been the remarkable care givers at the VA. Every one has been helpful, kind, and knew what they were doing. With your continued support I'll be continuing to keep fighting.

One funny thing yesterday, I went in yesterday to see a nurse I've been working with. It was the first time that I went to the VA that I found out masks were optional.

I walked around into her office and there she was maskless as was I. It was a Hollywood moment. I looked at her and she looked at me. First time we'd seen each other's face. I stepped to the center of the office and sat in a chair. She got up and came towards me. The next thing I knew she reached out and grabbed one of my ears and I knew we were going to do it.

Next thing I knew BAM..she stuck a needle in my ear. She went to on to stick nine more needles in my ears, each one getting five. It was another Battlefield Acupuncture. Get it every couple weeks. I leave the needles in for three days. The treatment is helping and the nurse and I have some good talks.

I'm getting a PET scan the first part of July. That will tell me what the cancer is doing.

[seeker83]

Thank you for the continued updates here.  I know treatment can take a toll but I am glad that things are improving overall.

[Shiela_M]

Lot of money being spent on a "dead man" walking.

Do not value yourself on a few measly dollars being spent on treatments. You're worth more than you give yourself credit for. If you weren't, youd have just given up and let it go like I hear some people have been doing lately.

You are priceless, and mean the world to a lot of people love

[ObiDongKenobi]

Hear, hear.

[msslave]

I had another PET scan this week. That shows where the cancer has spread in my body. Most of the language was in doctor talk.

Most of what I could understand was that there was no change the last scan three months ago. There was some stuff about my bones I didn't understand but I don't think the bone cancer is a big deal.

I'll be meeting with my oncology nurse practitioner on the 18th. She'll fill in the blanks for me.

My main complaint is my leg a.feet numbness. I go in for another spinal injection on the 17th.

Have a few other appointments this month too. Guess it's a busy month. So glad my daughter is here. She wants to keep up with my condition plus she become my driver... now I'm learning to be a passenger. LAWDY.

[Pornhubby]

Thanks for the update Bob. We continue to wish you the best.

[Coach Eric]

Thank you for the updates MS. Your in my prayers

[Shiela_M]

Love that she's there with you!❤

Hope they can lay it all put in human speak on the 18th. Love you Bob💋

[msslave]

Had two appointments yesterday at the VA.y daughter who's visiting from New York was able to meet some of my care team.

First a session with a doctor and a nurse from the Palliative Care group. Their the people who help the most during the final days when someone has a terminal disease. It had been a year since I've seen the doctor so it was good to have her there meet with Robin the nurse about every two weeks.

Robin does my Battlefield Acupuncture. I get five tiny pins iny ears that I leave in for three days. It does give me some relief for my pain and the nerve problems due to the herniated disc I've got on top of the cancer.

She is also a great person to talk to over any thing that's going on with me. Our sessions last about a hour even tho' the acupuncture only takes a few minutes. Robin was a very sympathetic person for me when I lost my cat of 17 years who'd been a best buddy around the house. Daughter was impressed with how caring the Palliative Care people are and the help they'll provide down the road when things start to get bad
Hopefully not until a couple more years.

We were able to do a back to back appointment with my Oncology Nurse Practitioner. Staying in the same office, she came in to update us on the recent PET scan. There were no major changes since the last scan three months ago.

The one concern was something that showed up on my sternum. Though not conclusive it appears that some bone cancer has caused a crack there. After consulting with a Radiologist Christie has ordered a MRI for that area to get a better look at what's going on. I'm to see her again in a month for a follow up.

I've been taking a powerful drug for about a year that's done a lot for me. She told me that after the MRI, she may switch me up to something with a little more kick to it.

That about finished our day with except for a stop at pharmacy. By now daughter was a tad cranky having gone several hours with no smoke. Yep...my baby was having a nicotine fit. She went outside for a few puffs and came back all mellow again.

Overall daughter was pleased with the care I'm receiving at the VA. Today we go on a cheese run. NO! Not that kind of a cheese run for those who remember. It's my daughter dang it.