A thought for the day (week, month, life) . . .

I recently read this posting on the Rock Art Brewery web site, but I'm sure it's made it's way around the web a few million times. Though the posting states that the author is unknown, my gratitude goes out to him/her.

As a husband of 25 years, a father of 3 teenage sons, home brewing hobbyist, and a recent prostate cancer patient, I find this more than appropriate. It is certainly a good way to visualize one's outlook on life.

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"The Mayonnaise Jar, and Two Beers"

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.'

- anonymous

The American Cancer Society & Prostate Cancer

A bit if deja vu - this time guys, it's us.

Last year the US Surgeon General made a statement regarding a change in policy about mammograms in the detection of breast cancer.  A statement that caused an uproar around the country after decades of trying to convince women that mammograms should be done regularly.

Now, the American Cancer Society has decided that men and prostate cancer were this year's target citing inconsistencies in accurate & early detection and improper treatment.

Pints for Prostates founder, and prostate cancer survivor, Rick Lyke posted a response to this announcement on the Pints for Prostates blog. Read it HERE.

Personally, as a prostate cancer patient who's cancer was initially indicated by the use of the simple PSA blood test, I find this statement by the ACS appauling.  Yes, as I have said many times before on this blog, there a numerous causes for an elevated PSA result leading to possible false positives.  But the PSA test is not the only defining factor in determining a prostate cancer diagnosis - just the initial red flag. No doctor ever decides to operate soley on a PSA test result.

An elevated PSA typically prompts a visit to a urologist who will discuss many possible factors in the result of the elevated PSA, including a relatively simple infection called "prostititis"  which can usually be treated with a two to three week course of antibiotics. But the investigation doesn't stop there. The doctor will perform a DRE (digital rectal exam) to determine if there is an indication of an enlarged, uneven, or possibly hardened prostate gland.  If this is found to be the case, a biopsy is performed, and you go on from there.

For I and many other prostate cancer patients I have met over the last 7 months since my diagnosis - it was our PSA test put us on this road to recovery and saving our lives.  These men ranged in age from 42 to 78.

While the community of men, their wives and family that face and live with the diagnosis are thankful it was caught because of a simple test - and are pressing for earlier testing, those that make policy that affects the potential patient(s) and the medical community trying to serve them seem to be headed in the wrong direction.  Their concern is that there is an increase in unnecessary treatment that in their eye is caused by a test that is inaccurate. My response, give the doctors a better test!  But don't cause a firestorm and perhaps give even more men yet another reason to not go to the doctor.

It was estimated that I had my cancer for as long as 10 years before it was detected at stage three by the PSA blood test.  How many other men out there won't do the test now because they are being told that it isn't always right.

I recently had an old college friend tell me that when he had an annual check-up and asked about a PSA test, the doctor told him "you're too young for that test.  It's not necessary."  Then he told the doctor about his college friend who, at the same age, had a very different experience.

Prostate Cancer is nearly 100% curable when caught early.  Men already face a 1 in 6 chance of developing prostate cancer in their lifetime. I have to now ask the ACS - "Why change the odds in finding it?"

CJP

News from the Oncology Dept.

I met with oncologist, Dr. Kampel, and we discussed my case and my recovery to date. He said that from what he saw of my test results and the post-surgical pathology report, he agreed with my surgeon that things went very well. The discussion then turned to the future expectations and future treatments.


As pleased as he was with everything, there are some concerns - things that I was pretty much aware of already.  Most likely there are micro-sized cancer cells that still remain in my system, as well as the possibilty of a small piece of the tumor having flaked off during surgery and the removal of the tumor. (in my head right now I hear Ahhhnold saying "it's not a tumah" from "Kindergarden Cop"). The concern here is that those cells may eventually find another home elsewhere and overtime begin to grow again.  The cycle of radiation treatment looks to be in my future after all . . .  bummer.


Recently, a friend of ours that lost her mother to cancer (breast cancer that cells eventually settled into the brain) mentioned something that the doctors had said . .  "You don't usually hear about women dying directly due to breast cancer.  It's usually that the cancer has reappeared elsewhere long after surgery."  This is pretty much what Dr. Kampel said about prostate cancer to me during our appointment. So on to the next step . . .


March 12th & 22nd I'll be spending the better part of my day(s) at MSKCC going through a new series of MRIs, CT and bone scans to see if there are any signs of 'squatter' cancer cells. Then on April 6th, I have appointments with all four of my doctors at MSKCC, Oncologist & Radiation Oncologist, surgeon and urologist - individually of course - and discuss how I'm doing and what's coming next and what I need to do before and during my radiation.

As odd as it sounds, I find cancer brings people together.  I have an old friend and colleague back in Massachusetts who was treated for breast cancer about three years ago and recently found that there is a golf ball sized tumor at the base of her skull.  Another gentleman who I met through my support group that just had his prostate cancer surgery on Feb 26th and is now home after a very successful surgery (also done by Dr. Guillonneau). 


On the news of cancer support causes, progress is being made on a Pints for Prostates fundraising/awareness event in Connecticut. Tickets will soon be available to order online, with location and time details coming soon once I've got final details ironed out to pass along. Just be sure to keep Saturday, June 19th open on your calendar.


Cheers!

Slightly off topic . . .

As part of a marketing campaign by Toyota Racing, Toyota is sponsoring a contest where on a web site you can design your own paint job for a Toyota race car, and the winning design will be placed on a Toyota sponsored race car.


Pints for Prostates founder and North Carolina resident, Rick Lyke, entered a Pint for Prostates car design.  The design was removed from the entries by Toyota citing "inappropriate or offensive content". (see the entered design HERE)


There is still time for the Pints for Prostates ride to be part of the Toyota Sponsafy promotion and with your help we can make it happen. Please send a quick email to Kym Strong (kym_strong@toyota.com) of Toyota Motorsports and Greg Thome (greg_thome@toyota.com) of Toyota Corporate Communications. Use the subject line "Race the Pints for Prostates Car."


Below is the email I sent this morning:

Mr. Kym Strong & Mr. Greg Thome -

Recently I was informed that Toyota Racing has rejected the design of a "Pints for Prostates" car design through Toyota's "Sponsafy a Car" promotion because the design "contains offensive or inappropriate content". This is just yet another public relations mistake among many Toyota has made in recent months.

Pints for Prostates is an organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of early testing for, and detection of, prostate cancer in men by using the universal language of beer in order to reach out to men in a casual manner.  According to 2009 statistics, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime - odds that rival that of breast cancer in women.  In 2009, nearly 190,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed, and that approximately 27,000 men died because of the disease. Thanks to early detection and treatment, more than 2 million men in the United States alone that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive today. The goal of Pints for Prostates is to keep more men alive by getting them to recognize the importance of early detection.

At the age of 47, married with 3 sons, I was one of those men diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer. 

The only thing "offensive or inappropriate" is the short sightedness of your decision to not even consider the Pints for Prostates car design in your contest.  The selection of the PFP designed car would raise awareness of prostate cancer across the country and through out the auto racing community - a sport who's majority of team owners, competitors, crews, event participants, fans and spectators are men!

As a 4-time Toyota owner, a racing fan, and a prostate cancer patient - I respectfully request you to reconsider your decision. And, at the very least, let the cars' design be placed on the web site for public consideration - as well as your own.

Time to catch up a bit . . . .

It's been nearly a month since my last entry here, and the reason why is that there's not much to report.  Read as good news.


I found out just last week that I had an appointment with an oncologist scheduled for Monday morning of next week. I had asked about one back in January when I was last in for a follow-up, but hadn't been told about a date until we called to inquire about making an appointment.


I haven't seen an oncologist since shortly after my diagnosis in late Aug. '09.  I have a few questions for him to maybe help put to rest some concerns Janet and I have had.  Again, it's just the not knowing that usually gets to you.


In early January at my last follow-up my surgeon and I discussed waiting on the radiation therapy due to the continuing low PSA levels when I was tested, 3 tests - 3 results of <0.05 .
As I understand it, radiation therapy can really only be performed through one complete cycle. It seems like a good idea to keep that treatment in our back pocket in the event there's a re-occurence in the coming years. (with my cancer having been stage 3, statistics show a near 50% return in 5 years)


So it's just time to discuss this decision and look at what else may need to be done, or any other tests that may need to be performed in order to keep a closer eye in the coming months.


For now, that's pretty much it.  I'm busy at work (as always). Staying busy with the family, celebrating our sons' birthdays (Ryan 13 on 2/26, and Jason 20 on 4/21) and the daily things in life.


I'm involved in scheduling/planning a fund raising/awareness event(s) with Pints for Prostates in Connecticut, as well as just helping to spread the word about the importance of early testing for prostate cancer. I've told my story both here and to my friends not to gain sympathy from you, but to do share my experience in the hope that others may benefit from what I have shared here over the last 4 months.  It has been beneficial to me as well to put it all in writing and let out some of how I feel about all of this.  I thank those of you that have taken the time to read through it, as well as for your support.


Cheers!

Just thought I'd stop in and post something . . .

There's really nothing more to share.   My next appointments are on April 6th, the Tuesday following my birthday (April 2nd if any one is interested).


For now, work is keeping me busy and I'm dong my best to not think about "cancer" on daily basis.  Even though the prognosis looks to be good (see previous blog entry), it is hard to not think about it - there are so many things that remind you every day.


I am trying to turn this into a positive thing by getting involved with some support groups to help to promote early detection of prostate cancer.  A fellow prostate cancer patient/survivor from North Carolina, Rick Lyke, started a grassroots organization, "Pins for Prostates" to help men to recognize the importance of early detection and to have their PSA level checked beginning when they turn 40 instead of the "standard" 50 years of age.


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Rick's idea is to utilize the "universal language of beer" in order to reach out to men with this critical health message of early detection. Getting men to understand some of the risks and how many new patients are diagnosed every year is the key, but in a relaxed & casual atmosphere enjoying great beers and conversation.


I have been in contact with Rick and I am working with him to organize a couple of events in Connecticut for 2010.  If you'd like to help us out, or donate in support of the efforts of Pints for Prostates, or any other Prostate Cancer support organization, just drop me a note and I'll pass along whatever information you'd like to have.


Once dates for the Connecticut events are set, I'll be sure to post the information here for all to see.


Thanks again for all your support and prayers.


Cheers!


Chris

The word of the week . . .

is surreal.

This trip has been already been mind blowing.  So let's quickly review  . . .


August 7th - Blood work showed PSA of 63

August 24th - Biopsy

August 28th - Diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer (Gleason 8 of 10, PSA 63)

September 7th - Bone scans & MRI's

October 14th - Laparoscopic Radicial Prostatecomy

November 20th - First post surgery PSA test result is <0.05

December 23rd - Second post surgery PSA test result is <0.05

January 5th -  Follow-up visit with surgeon:

My PSA level remains at <0.05 - good news so far. And, as much as I am still trying to get my head wrapped around the latest news, I may not have to go through radiation treatments at all. At least not in the very near future.

After all the mental prep for the expectation of beginning radiation at the end of this month, it's all become pretty surreal taking into account how fast it all happened and to have this crazy outcome. 

Obviously with this I'm taking it all with a grain of salt and holding off on expelling a huge sigh of relief for a while. So for now I'll just be getting my PSA test done every 3 months. And, if it begins to rise, I will go through radiation at that point.

Again . . . surreal.  Right?

Thank you all again for your continuing prayers and words of encouragement.  It has been a great source of comfort to know you have all been there for my family and I. I have truly felt blessed.

Not sure when I'll post the next update, but thanks for being on the other end.

CJP