Welcome


Welcome.

When I wrote that banner above, I was just days into this adventure. I'm a pretty analytical guy, and the simple act of writing every day helped me wrap my head around the fact that I had just introduced the word "cancer" into my vocabulary, and it helped me rationalize my treatment options. It also helped keep friends and family informed on my status.

Those daily updates tapered off to weekly updates and eventually to monthly updates (which I continue to do on the 11th of every month, the anniversary date of being told I have cancer).

I've kept this blog going because I remember how helpful it was for me to hear first-hand experiences of other prostate cancer patients. I wanted to return the favor by sharing my own journey in order to educate others and increase prostate cancer awareness.

But I wanted it to be a truthful sharing of details, so you will quickly see that I didn't sugar-coat much of anything. That means that you'll find some pretty graphic descriptions of the male anatomy and biological functions in this blog.

Finally, if you're reading this as a fellow prostate cancer patient, please understand that I am not a medical professional, and you should not construe any of the content of this blog as medical advice. Each case is unique, so please solicit the advice of your own medical team.

I wish you all the best as you go through your own journey.

-- Dan

Monday, July 11, 2011

Month 8 - New Schedule

It was 8 months ago today that I received my cancer diagnosis (the last post was the 6-month anniversary of the surgery), and things are going well enough that you can tell I'm struggling to come up with things of interest for a weekly post. 

So based on that, I think it's time that I switch to a monthly update; look for them on the 11th of each month.  Of course, if there's anything of any great importance that pops up, I'll let you know through email and a posting here.

Next month's update just happens to be on the same day that I get my PSA results, so that will certainly be a newsworthy day.

BIOLOGY AHEAD


The only thing of note is that my allergies seem to be kicking in this summer, and that means that if I have a sudden sneeze, I have an equal and opposite reaction on the other end.  We'll see how that plays out through the rest of the summer.  I'm not sure that I want to be in a Benadryl haze or go back to wearing pads, but if I have to, I have to.  Oh well.
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Monday, July 4, 2011

Six Months - Happy Independence Day!

Special Post

Wow.  Hard to believe that it was six months ago today that I was being wheeled into surgery on a competitor's stretcher!

Friday, I had an appointment with my personal physician to just follow up on all that's happened in those six months.  She was pleased with my progress and outcome and really had no significant concerns or suggestions for me.

In some ways, I was tempted to have her run a PSA test on me, but I'll be patient and wait for the 4 August 2011 appointment and the results on 11 August.  The surgeon really wanted to use the same lab to make sure that the process allowed for an apples-to-apples comparison with the February test results.

Another reason not to do it last Friday was insurance.  I'm still fighting with the hospital and insurance company over the second stay in January, and the last thing I need is for them to question why I have two PSA tests within a month of each other.  That would take until 2027 to resolve.  :-)

Finally, I added a new page to the blog, "Life After Prostatectomy."  It's really intended for fellow prostate cancer patients, as it's an open discussion of my experience with incontinence and sexual function.  If you don't want to know about that kind of thing, don't read it!  :-)

So that's it on this six-month anniversary.  More on Thursday.
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