STILL.......More Great News

A little over a month since Dr Scardino blessed me with his amazing skills.  Since that time I've shared some great news as well as some of the challenges and cautions associated with my condition with so many folks.  In the last month I confirmed I have a heart and it beats just like everyones'.  I also learned that the operation, which under normal circumstances is very challenging, presented extraordinary complications for a man considered to be the best in the world because I am not put together like most people in the pelvic area.  Learned about the dangers of post op sedentary living and that hangin out with my kids in the morning and going to the bus and picking them up in the afternoon is a joy.  Oh, and after living in this neighborhood for almost a decade, I now know the name of just about all the streets in the neighborhood - not so hard considering they all originate from Homer.

NOW...I've gotten the best possible news.  On Tuesday, I went over to MSKCC to provide samples to determine the status on the two urinary track infections and get a update on the PSA levels.  On Wednesday, Dr Scardino's office called to let me know that the two urinary tract infections are clear, and most importantly my PSA LEVEL IS NOW ZERO.  That means that I don't have to worry about anything else for a long time.  No radiation treatments!  Only additional action is the PSA test every six months.  Not so bad...

So thanks to everyone for their prayers, calls and thoughts.  I owe so much to you!  I also need to thank Dr Scardino, his fellow Dr O'Brien (who actually got some of my jokes - and replied with a few of his own), all the staff at MSKCC and a special thanks to Mike Davenport who directed me to the amazing lady, Karen Stein, who helped direct my search for medical help and refine my thinking at the very beginning of this journey.  Finally, I would be nowhere without the help of my wife Cathy who has empathized with the various emotions along the way and my amazing family from Helen, Michael and Jack to my brother Bob and sister Jeanne Marie and Jack and Terry Reynolds and the network of family and friends who have supported me through this interesting time.  I appreciate all the help!

One closing thought for today.  While it is a tragedy that 1-in-6 women will contract breast cancer (and I by no means wish to minimize the horror of this disease), 1-in-4 me will contract prostate cancer.  Do you think the public warning signs and awareness levels of signs is equivalent for each?

Great Stuff All Over

Rehab is still going great.  Only four days of multiple meds for the urinary infection left.  Taking a pill every six hour is a pain in the neck, but if it cures what ills ya -- guess that what matters.  At least I have nap time.

Today is an amazing day in the suburban northeast!  (Check out some of that foliage.)  Out for my 1.5 mile walk just suckin up the beauty that is autumn is New Jersey.  Crimson, gold and green on the clear blue sky, a solitary leaf drifting on a breeze and a senior raking a small pile of freshly fallen debris just make me appreciate the simplest things in life.  Wish that I would have the presence to pause and consider these things don the typical rollercoaster day.

Some other great stuff in the last week:

My brother Bob and his family came out to visit (that's Connor with the Mike and Jack.

Helen's havin a great time cheering.  We all went out to enjoy the game - or at least the cheering since Parsippany was crushed 27-0.  That's Cath relaxing and Mike with me.

The images on the political scene are a very sharp contrast.  Twists of truth and outright lies from both sides just disgust me.  The hubris and arrogance of the last eight years, topped with an economic collapse unlike I can recall  surely make it seem like the blue tide will rise.  But in America you can never count out the ignorance of the masses and racism.  Some folks think Barrack is muslim (not that it should matter), some printed voting ballots are actually spelling "Obama" as "Osama"    It's a confusing time for sure.

Thanks again for all the the prayers, calls, cards and emails.  I'm humbled by so much love....

Amazing Blessings....

So many things happening so quickly.  The incontinence is almost completely under control.  I am so blessed and thankful for the skill of Dr Scardino, the support of Cathy, my family, friends and all the prayers and positive thoughts.  I want to weep when I think of how undeserving I am of all the kindness coming my way.

The jargon of medicine is so peculiar.  When "positive" is bad news and "negative" is a great thing.  I had the opportunity to hear both and if I had to match one word with one situation in a set, I could not have done better.  Speaking with one of the most sympathetic  individuals who truly personifies all the best in nursing - Christine (Dr Scardino's nurse) - today, I learned my pathology report was completely negative!  The cancer was completely encapsulated within the prostate.  Twenty-three lymph nodes and the bladder neck all negative! In Christine's words, "the pathology report was perfect, A+, couldn't be better!"

Since every little thing can't be perfect, there had to be a tinge of "positive" in the conversation.  The test on the urine taken Friday was positive for a urinary tract infection.  There was also some abnormal pockets of fluid on the shaft of the penis.  So back into MSKCC on Wednesday.  Hopefully the additional Cipro taken on Friday evening and Saturday eliminated the infection.

But hey, if you had to choose either the pathology of infection to be "positive" wouldn't you choose this outcome!

The man who is well wears a crown that only the sick can see.

Wish I could take credit for this one, but it comes to me from Sir William Osler via Dr Patrick Walsh's Guide.

The last twenty-four hours have seen the passing of one emotional challenge (the catheter) and the rise of a new one (the incontinence).  Neither has been that tough physically with which to deal.  Emotionaly, it's a whole other story.  You know how it is.  We all have challenges and the first few times are most difficult, but after a while, we develop a system or compartment in which to deal with them most effectively for us.  I'm just at a point where once I git it figured out -- brand new challenges with their own unique requirements for addressing them.  Sort of like a psychological fun house ride where new stuff keeps popping up, providing a shock and dropping down - take a breath and ere comes the next.  Just gotta stay level.

The incontinence is doing better not every day, but every minute (so far).  Made it through the night -- no problems!  The confidence is building and I'm doin better all the time.  Heading out to see Helen play soccer and the b0ys play too.  Of course both games are at the same time in different places...that's just a parental thing.

Helen had to make a big decision soccer or cheerleading.  Chose soccer and played great!  Not only shutting out the competition, but also scoring the game winning goal!

At the boys game I showed up just in time to see Michael get kicked in the eye. But heard that he and Jack were scoring machines!

The boys came from karate Friday night in their new Karate uniform -- black robes and white belt.  Looked amazing -- for a minute I thought I might be seeing their Halloween costumes.  Our tables, chairs and oh yeah daughter are all still in tact as are the boys hands!  No emergency room visits yet.

The Tampa Rays starting former Met farm hand Scott Kazmir, the pitcher the wise sage Tom Glavine said would have no future, you know one of the most-feared left-hand pitchers in all of baseball did a pretty good job last night.  Combine that with the LA Dodgers, behind the leadership of American League East cast offs Joe Torre and Many Ramirez, are getting ready to extinguish the dreams of second city north-siders. LA to the Bay a nice ring -- not so hot for ratings.

From the Frying Pan to the Fire...

Got the catheter out today and was not psychologically ready for this.

Got the "maxi-pads" and have gone through four in the last two hours.  That a least minimizes the number of pairs of pants I've soiled.  Can't control timing or direction and can easily see how this might make a lion roar a little louder... at least he controls that.  And it's better than crying in an empty house.

Every time I stand, sit or take a drink -- out goes any illusion of control.  They say this could last up to two years!  I cannot have that. Some guys get to some form of control in three months... sure hope that is me.

Gotta really remember the saying I developed for me and those like me:  Nothing is ever as bad, or as good, as it seems.  Maybe a tattoo on the forehead and back of the hands???

One door closing...

The last couple of days were great!  Waking, showering, medicating and taking a nice mile and a quarter walk to our local park with the three kids.  Getting a chance to chat with them about their lives and quizzing them on big things at school and the world around them.  Great question from my daughter Helen, "Daddy, which of us is the most like you when you were little?"

Great question.  I explained that there were different parts of me in each of the three of them from the physical - the size of Jack's head - to the mental - Michael's temper and Helen's self-criticism.

I am so humbled by the gifts from so many friends.  Thanks to everyone!  My family and I are enjoying everything like the wine, fruit, candies and cookies!  This has got to be the best part of having you prostate removed.

On the other end is the Foley catheter and bladders.  This is becoming more and more difficult.  With the nearly constant bladder pressure whenever I am not lying flat on my back and periodic leaks.  Not little drip, drop leaks, but like a garden hose has sprung a leak out of nowhere.  Going through lotsa towels!

Tomorrow the catheter is removed at 10:00 AM at MSKCC.  I also get the Pathology report at that time.  This is the next major bridge.  All touch and go on using diapers, pads and plans.  Heard this is the hardest part -- amy be sleeping in a new room -- think Cathy is purchasing a mobile to entertain me while I a in the bed!