I so love your posts, Alan, and had been worried that you hadn't been around for a bit after numbers started going back up. Thanks for this post today, as I'm the caregiver, and I sometimes have to remind myself to just shut up and listen. We've hit the 7 month mark since diagnosis -- PSA of 4200!! -- bone mets everywhere -- but last week's number was down to .03, and aside from fatigue and little pain, he's doing okay. As a caregiver, I know that I'm facing impending widowhood at some point, but we take life week by week, and give thanks for every month that passes. LOVE your Christmas tree, and your overall outlook on life. Happy New Year!
It’s very interesting listening to you Alan. I get a lot of support from your blog. Good sense of humour is very uplifting. My wife left me after 30yrs marriage only a few months before diagnosis. I am about to start radiotherapy and have a positive attitude but oh how I wish I had my wife back to talk to. I now realise our issues may have been linked with prostate cancer side effects. Without a loving partner, strangely it makes it easier to handle if the worst was to happen. Wishing you and your family the very very best in 2023.
Sorry about your wife leaving. I know a few people their spouse left them because they couldn't deal with cancer. I could never leave my spouse and I really don't think she could do that to me. I get a little cold and she gets so worried and taking good care of me just over a cold.
Aww thank you for sharing the rough times that do indeed come with PC. I love you Christmas tree. I think that’s a wonderful gift to give everyone and you’re a gift to us too so thank you!
Love your sense of humour and words of wisdom. With serious conversation comes the admission that we are vulnerable and the reality that life is not always kind. I wish you and your family the very best with prayers for a joyful new year for each and every one of us. There is always hope ~ Be well.
Guys just an fyi. I was diagnosed July 2012…PSA 36.7…stage 4, metastatic….they told my wife and I about 5 years…over 10 years later…I became refractory to first line treatment with rising PSA doubling in Nov 2021…0.8…to 1.7…3.4 then put on enzalutamide/Xtandi second line this Jan 2022…trials show average life extensions of 23 months…..but guys on it 3/4 years and still not refractory…..two lots of chemo beyond that and new treatments being worked on…immunotherapy etc…..I have great hope of passing to the good Lord due to something other than prostate cancer…it’s a mental fight…positivity at all times….Good luck to all guys suffering with this dreadful cancer….yes talk to wives/partners but read up and empower yourself to talk to your oncologist…..question at every session…let them know you’re very much involved in the gleaning of information on your situation and prostate cancer generally…
Great to see how long you've kicked this sucker into touch. If you don't mind me asking you but how metastatic was your stage 4. Was diagnosed with stage 4 metastic myself back in August 21 at 55 and like yourself was given 5 years by my oncologist. I intend to prove her wrong however
Mine went up again another month of the waiting game after targeted radiation. If it wasn’t for my wife getting a second opinion and getting me into Mayo I know I wouldn’t still be around. Its been over 3 years and I know she loves me and I know it’s been difficult for her also. We don’t talk about it all the time but when we need to we can. I don’t mention it to her very often and I try to look at everything as it could be worse as I know people who have things a lot worse than I do. I can’t do as much as I could do 3 years ago but I still can do things I enjoy😊 I can still work like I’m 20 but only for 20 minutes but like I said could be worse. I try to keep my sense of humor. Take care and good luck. Thanks for the video’s.😢
I don't know if I'm as strong as you are. I just hit the one year mark stage 4 Mets to bones. At first I was okay with everything I really didn't care if I was going to die because I wanted to, I just wanted to get it over with. But now I don't. Now I am angry I don't want to die at least want to live to walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. And that's the truth you know what we don't have no one to talk to about her cancer nobody wants to talk about that but I do. Crap I'm sorry I just been watching you tonight I don't know anyway thanks for letting me share
You are not alone with all that you carry. Many years ago my husband told me that his diagnosis of cancer was not the end of life, but part of life. So far, he is ok, but I nudge him (to his annoyance) when he is not mindful of his diet. Some people need to share their raw emotions with a sincere confident, while others bottle everything up as best they can to get on with life. I encourage you to find a cancer support group or any other group supporting one another with life altering illness. Our bodies respond directly to our thoughts, and it is important that we have a safe outlet. My kindest regards for your well being.
I was diagnosed more than 3 years ago with stage 4 and wasn’t worried that I was going to die. After 44 radiation treatments lupron every 6 months 2 cryo ablations 9 Chemo sessions 2 more targeted radiation treatments I’ve had to figure out how out how to live again. It took awhile but now every day I wake up is a good day. You already have a good reason to go on and a reason to not give up. With all the new stuff they can do every day you survive is closer to something new to come out. I don’t know how long I may survive and it certainly gets old having to keep getting some treatment every 3or 4 months. I made it 6 months once and happy to get that. I do belong to a support group and it does help. If you can’t find one you can always bend my ear. Take care and good luck.
I enjoy your diary posts and your humour so always look forward to the next one and hope that your PSA has not risen too high. Will the oncologist put you back on hormone therapy? Are you able to have another PSMA Pet scan with your Pacemaker?
Thanks for your candid comments on the NON-scientific side of dealing with PC. I've got stage 3b, and am half way through 28 months of Lupron. It's been rough, and I often halfway joke that I'm not a cancer survivor, but a TREATMENT survivor. The "ohhhh, tough-it-out" comments are not helpful.
I so love your posts, Alan, and had been worried that you hadn't been around for a bit after numbers started going back up. Thanks for this post today, as I'm the caregiver, and I sometimes have to remind myself to just shut up and listen. We've hit the 7 month mark since diagnosis -- PSA of 4200!! -- bone mets everywhere -- but last week's number was down to .03, and aside from fatigue and little pain, he's doing okay. As a caregiver, I know that I'm facing impending widowhood at some point, but we take life week by week, and give thanks for every month that passes. LOVE your Christmas tree, and your overall outlook on life. Happy New Year!
It’s very interesting listening to you Alan. I get a lot of support from your blog. Good sense of humour is very uplifting. My wife left me after 30yrs marriage only a few months before diagnosis. I am about to start radiotherapy and have a positive attitude but oh how I wish I had my wife back to talk to. I now realise our issues may have been linked with prostate cancer side effects. Without a loving partner, strangely it makes it easier to handle if the worst was to happen. Wishing you and your family the very very best in 2023.
Sorry about your wife leaving. I know a few people their spouse left them because they couldn't deal with cancer. I could never leave my spouse and I really don't think she could do that to me. I get a little cold and she gets so worried and taking good care of me just over a cold.
Thanks for your updates Alan. Happy New Year and many more of them .
Aww thank you for sharing the rough times that do indeed come with PC. I love you Christmas tree. I think that’s a wonderful gift to give everyone and you’re a gift to us too so thank you!
Love your sense of humour and words of wisdom. With serious conversation comes the admission that we are vulnerable and the reality that life is not always kind. I wish you and your family the very best with prayers for a joyful new year for each and every one of us. There is always hope ~ Be well.
Everything I've held in my hands I've lost everything I've put in God's hands I still have I'm fighting this battle with you Alan thoughts and prayers
I know exactly how you feel .I’m in the same boat. What you said is absolutely true.
Guys just an fyi. I was diagnosed July 2012…PSA 36.7…stage 4, metastatic….they told my wife and I about 5 years…over 10 years later…I became refractory to first line treatment with rising PSA doubling in Nov 2021…0.8…to 1.7…3.4 then put on enzalutamide/Xtandi second line this Jan 2022…trials show average life extensions of 23 months…..but guys on it 3/4 years and still not refractory…..two lots of chemo beyond that and new treatments being worked on…immunotherapy etc…..I have great hope of passing to the good Lord due to something other than prostate cancer…it’s a mental fight…positivity at all times….Good luck to all guys suffering with this dreadful cancer….yes talk to wives/partners but read up and empower yourself to talk to your oncologist…..question at every session…let them know you’re very much involved in the gleaning of information on your situation and prostate cancer generally…
Love the Christmas tree🎄
Great to see how long you've kicked this sucker into touch. If you don't mind me asking you but how metastatic was your stage 4. Was diagnosed with stage 4 metastic myself back in August 21 at 55 and like yourself was given 5 years by my oncologist. I intend to prove her wrong however
Good on you Alan, keep talking and I will keep listening, till your next video,
Glenn, Australia.
Mine went up again another month of the waiting game after targeted radiation. If it wasn’t for my wife getting a second opinion and getting me into Mayo I know I wouldn’t still be around. Its been over 3 years and I know she loves me and I know it’s been difficult for her also. We don’t talk about it all the time but when we need to we can. I don’t mention it to her very often and I try to look at everything as it could be worse as I know people who have things a lot worse than I do. I can’t do as much as I could do 3 years ago but I still can do things I enjoy😊
I can still work like I’m 20 but only for 20 minutes but like I said could be worse. I try to keep my sense of humor. Take care and good luck. Thanks for the video’s.😢
I don't know if I'm as strong as you are. I just hit the one year mark stage 4 Mets to bones. At first I was okay with everything I really didn't care if I was going to die because I wanted to, I just wanted to get it over with. But now I don't. Now I am angry I don't want to die at least want to live to walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. And that's the truth you know what we don't have no one to talk to about her cancer nobody wants to talk about that but I do. Crap I'm sorry I just been watching you tonight I don't know anyway thanks for letting me share
You are not alone with all that you carry. Many years ago my husband told me that his diagnosis of cancer was not the end of life, but part of life. So far, he is ok, but I nudge him (to his annoyance) when he is not mindful of his diet. Some people need to share their raw emotions with a sincere confident, while others bottle everything up as best they can to get on with life. I encourage you to find a cancer support group or any other group supporting one another with life altering illness. Our bodies respond directly to our thoughts, and it is important that we have a safe outlet. My kindest regards for your well being.
I was diagnosed more than 3 years ago with stage 4 and wasn’t worried that I was going to die. After 44 radiation treatments lupron every 6 months 2 cryo ablations 9 Chemo sessions 2 more targeted radiation treatments I’ve had to figure out how out how to live again. It took awhile but now every day I wake up is a good day. You already have a good reason to go on and a reason to not give up. With all the new stuff they can do every day you survive is closer to something new to come out. I don’t know how long I may survive and it certainly gets old having to keep getting some treatment every 3or 4 months. I made it 6 months once and happy to get that. I do belong to a support group and it does help. If you can’t find one you can always bend my ear. Take care and good luck.
I enjoy your diary posts and your humour so always look forward to the next one and hope that your PSA has not risen too high. Will the oncologist put you back on hormone therapy? Are you able to have another PSMA Pet scan with your Pacemaker?
Thanks for your candid comments on the NON-scientific side of dealing with PC. I've got stage 3b, and am half way through 28 months of Lupron. It's been rough, and I often halfway joke that I'm not a cancer survivor, but a TREATMENT survivor. The "ohhhh, tough-it-out" comments are not helpful.
To me, those tough it out Comments show complete lack of understanding! I like your Treatment survivor!
Alan