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

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

"Bend over and spread your cheeks."

I went for a routine physical on October 7th and my doctor performed the dreaded digital rectal exam (DRE) as part of the process.  When she felt a firm mass on my prostate, she made sure that the blood drawn the previous day would also have a PSA test run on it.  The results on the PSA were elevated (5) and my doctor hooked me up with the local urologist for further screening.

On October 21st, the urologist needed to perform his own DRE and confirmed what my personal physician had detected: a mass on the right side of my prostate.  A trans-rectal ultrasound biopsy was ordered and took place on November 3rd.

Twenty tissue samples and a week later, the pathology report was in.  The appointment for the results was at 8:45 AM on Thursday, November 11, 2010.

My sister and her husband would drive from their home in Chicago Wednesday night to spend the evening with me and offer moral support the next morning as the results were being delivered.
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