First . . . Happy Memorial Day to you all!
I've always thought it's kind of an odd statement, but it is one of only two official days in this country when we pay our respects to those who have given their lives for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. They deserve more whether you agree with their mission or not - they are putting their lives on the line to protect those who are unable to do so. That's a hero.
- - - - - - - - - - -
After my simulation and mapping session in the radiology dept. at Sloan-Kettering, I am all set to begin my radiation treatments next week. It's another one of those surreal times I've experienced in the last year - one that I just can't quite figure out how I got here or even why. Sometimes it's still a bit hard to digest and accept.
All that aside, I continue to move forward. My radiation treatments begin on June 10th, and will run until August 4th . . . every week day. On June 8th, I have one last appointment before I begin the treatments. This is when the radiation oncologist determines the exact angle(s) and location(s) of the radiation dose. Once that information is set into the computer, each time I go for my treatments a laser scanner will read the six small tattoos I now have to properly align the radiation beam and apply the dose.
This wasn't quite how I saw my summer months being spent this year. . . . I really planned to spend more time with my family enjoying life just a bit more with a new frame of mind. Of course I will do this no matter what . . . just more day or one-night trips than maybe going away for a week.
At least when my radiation treatments are completed on August 4th, it will be a time to celebrate . . . our 26th wedding anniversary.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
A sad day.
Today I heard the news of the passing of a friend and fellow prostate cancer patient, Ken Sjogren. He passed away at age 44 after his nearly two year long battle.
Ken and I worked together in the late '80's in Boston, and only last May reconnected through Facebook. He had been working in California since he left Boston, and in the last 10 years or so worked as a digital artist/compositor at George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic. Ken's career lead him to work on major feature films like "Star Wars EP3", the Harry Potter films, "Pirates of the Carribbean", "The Chronicles of Narnia", and most recently "Iron Man 2".
It was not long after that I learned of his diagnosis and battle with prostate cancer. He had surgery in Boston in November of '08, but afterwards his PSA levels remained high and continued to fluctuate. After undergoing radiation treatments and nearly 8 months of hormone therapy, it looked as if Ken was in the clear - with PSA levels hanging around 1.4.
I last spoke with Ken via Skype about 5 to 6 weeks ago. He was in good spirits as always and looked as well as I had seen him in previous phone/video calls. The conversation was short, and ended somewhat abruptly.
I realize now, that the backdrop during our video conversation wasn't the one I had become accustomed to - that of his apartment in Sausalito, CA. But, it was that of his parents' home in Grafton, MA. Perhaps he didn't want to tell me that things were not looking too good.
Ken served as an amazing source of information and support when I first found out about my own diagnosis last August. Always reminding me not to attach his experiences to my own situation - that every prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment was different. He spoke a few times with my wife Janet while I was home recoverying from surgery - checking in on me, as well as how she and the boys were holding up.
I am angry at myself that I didn't make a trip to California in April to visit Ken and a few other of our friends out there. That's a mistake I will no longer allow myself to make.
Kenny, I know I said it before to you but I'll say it again. Thank you so much for your friendship, our days at Target Productions and our renewed friendship this last year. For all the strength, caring and support you showed me as you fought your own battle against this beast of a disease. I will be forever grateful to you, and will keep your memory and our friendship with me always.
Rest peacefully Ken. We'll see each other again some day.
Ken and I worked together in the late '80's in Boston, and only last May reconnected through Facebook. He had been working in California since he left Boston, and in the last 10 years or so worked as a digital artist/compositor at George Lucas' Industrial Light & Magic. Ken's career lead him to work on major feature films like "Star Wars EP3", the Harry Potter films, "Pirates of the Carribbean", "The Chronicles of Narnia", and most recently "Iron Man 2".
It was not long after that I learned of his diagnosis and battle with prostate cancer. He had surgery in Boston in November of '08, but afterwards his PSA levels remained high and continued to fluctuate. After undergoing radiation treatments and nearly 8 months of hormone therapy, it looked as if Ken was in the clear - with PSA levels hanging around 1.4.
I last spoke with Ken via Skype about 5 to 6 weeks ago. He was in good spirits as always and looked as well as I had seen him in previous phone/video calls. The conversation was short, and ended somewhat abruptly.
I realize now, that the backdrop during our video conversation wasn't the one I had become accustomed to - that of his apartment in Sausalito, CA. But, it was that of his parents' home in Grafton, MA. Perhaps he didn't want to tell me that things were not looking too good.
Ken served as an amazing source of information and support when I first found out about my own diagnosis last August. Always reminding me not to attach his experiences to my own situation - that every prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment was different. He spoke a few times with my wife Janet while I was home recoverying from surgery - checking in on me, as well as how she and the boys were holding up.
I am angry at myself that I didn't make a trip to California in April to visit Ken and a few other of our friends out there. That's a mistake I will no longer allow myself to make.
Kenny, I know I said it before to you but I'll say it again. Thank you so much for your friendship, our days at Target Productions and our renewed friendship this last year. For all the strength, caring and support you showed me as you fought your own battle against this beast of a disease. I will be forever grateful to you, and will keep your memory and our friendship with me always.
Rest peacefully Ken. We'll see each other again some day.
Monday, May 24, 2010
So here I am . . .
nearly 7 months post surgery and all seems to be going as hoped for. Life continues as normal. Work has been a bit slow, but I'm staying pretty busy. Far from our usual norm of sometimes insane hours and exceedingly tight schedules.
Our oldest son Jason is back from school having completed his sophomore year in college. Janet, Evan and Ryan have another four weeks or so until this school year is finished. Janet and I went to a great show Saturday evening. Peter Wolf, solo artist and longtime frontman for the J. Geils Band, has been touring around the northeast promoting his first album release in seven years - "Midnight Souvenirs". It's Peter Wolf back to his roots of R&B, rock, funk and honky-tonk mixed in for good measure.
As you can tell, it was a great distraction - and a wonderful night out with my wife.
Where was I? . . . .
My PSA level has remained at near non-dectectable levels since my surgery, my overall recovery has been good and my doctors are very happy with my progress. Of course, there is that one issue that remains . . . the advanced state and high grade of my cancer at the time of my surgery.
I'm home from work today as I am scheduled for my radiation simulation/mapping session tomorrow. There are a few medications I need to take in preparation for the mapping scans and it's not something you want to take and be working or traveling for any length of time or distance (I think you catch my drift on this).
The session is to map out where everything is so to be able to direct the radiation only where it needs to go. I will be getting 4 to 6 small tattoos (dots about the size of a pen tip) that the scanner will use to direct the beam each time I go in for my daily BBQ over the coming weeks.
As best as I can tell, I am still scheduled to receive 40 treatments - over a period of eight weeks, 5 days a week. And then, that should be that.
Not much else going on these days. We're all looking forward to the summer months and perhaps doing some boating up on Candlewood Lake, or if I'm up for it, some trips to visit friends in the Lake Placid area of NY, and of course back home in Mass.
Don't forget . . . There are still tickets available for the prostate cancer awareness and fund raising event I have planned. It's Saturday, June 19th at the Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in Bloomfield, CT. Local craft beers, BBQ from Black Eyed Sally's and live blues music from Boston area based "The Biscuit Rollers". There will be door prizes, t-shirts, and for a $10 donation you can have a chance to win a 3-night trip for two to the Great American Beer Fest in Denver, Colorado June 19th to June 21st.
To purchase event tickets ($40 per person), please go to www.pintsforprostates.org and click on the Thomas Hooker Brewery ticket on the right side of the page. All proceeds go to Us TOO International and their support and education programs for prostate cancer patients and their families.
Thanks again for all your support . . . and I hope to see you at the event on June 19th!
Our oldest son Jason is back from school having completed his sophomore year in college. Janet, Evan and Ryan have another four weeks or so until this school year is finished. Janet and I went to a great show Saturday evening. Peter Wolf, solo artist and longtime frontman for the J. Geils Band, has been touring around the northeast promoting his first album release in seven years - "Midnight Souvenirs". It's Peter Wolf back to his roots of R&B, rock, funk and honky-tonk mixed in for good measure.
As you can tell, it was a great distraction - and a wonderful night out with my wife.
Where was I? . . . .
My PSA level has remained at near non-dectectable levels since my surgery, my overall recovery has been good and my doctors are very happy with my progress. Of course, there is that one issue that remains . . . the advanced state and high grade of my cancer at the time of my surgery.
I'm home from work today as I am scheduled for my radiation simulation/mapping session tomorrow. There are a few medications I need to take in preparation for the mapping scans and it's not something you want to take and be working or traveling for any length of time or distance (I think you catch my drift on this).
The session is to map out where everything is so to be able to direct the radiation only where it needs to go. I will be getting 4 to 6 small tattoos (dots about the size of a pen tip) that the scanner will use to direct the beam each time I go in for my daily BBQ over the coming weeks.
As best as I can tell, I am still scheduled to receive 40 treatments - over a period of eight weeks, 5 days a week. And then, that should be that.
Not much else going on these days. We're all looking forward to the summer months and perhaps doing some boating up on Candlewood Lake, or if I'm up for it, some trips to visit friends in the Lake Placid area of NY, and of course back home in Mass.
Don't forget . . . There are still tickets available for the prostate cancer awareness and fund raising event I have planned. It's Saturday, June 19th at the Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in Bloomfield, CT. Local craft beers, BBQ from Black Eyed Sally's and live blues music from Boston area based "The Biscuit Rollers". There will be door prizes, t-shirts, and for a $10 donation you can have a chance to win a 3-night trip for two to the Great American Beer Fest in Denver, Colorado June 19th to June 21st.
To purchase event tickets ($40 per person), please go to www.pintsforprostates.org and click on the Thomas Hooker Brewery ticket on the right side of the page. All proceeds go to Us TOO International and their support and education programs for prostate cancer patients and their families.
Thanks again for all your support . . . and I hope to see you at the event on June 19th!
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