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

Ladies, Gentlemen, friends, family and best buds . . . .

As the last page of the 2009 calendar is torn off the wall and run through the shredder (with some extreme prejudice I might add), we look forward to yet another new beginning.

As we enter the last year of the first decade of the 21st century, we all once again face the usual challenges. Some of which we will even make attempts to address  these with our annual, and often repeated, New Year's resolutions. Some face bigger challenges.

As many of you will look to change your lives for better physical and financial health, improved relationships with your spouses,etc. These are the things that you can see and are aware of 

every day of your lives. It's time to look toward the things you can't see.

I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but for my guy friends out there I ask you to be sure to have your PSA level checked during your next "annual" physical. If you're not going to do it for yourself, do it for your spouses and families.  You can be in perfect health and not experiencing any symptoms, yet still the early stages of prostate cancer could exist.

Some statistics:

- 1 in 6 men in the US are diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime

- The older you are, the more likely you are to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although only 1 in 10,000 under age 40 will be diagnosed, the rate shoots up to 1 in 38 for ages 40 to 59, and 1 in 15 for ages 60 to 69. In fact, more than 65% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over the age of 65.

- Caught early, prostate cancer is nearly 100% survivable

- According to the American Cancer Society, in 2009 about 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer were expected to be diagnosed, and 27,360 men will die of prostate cancer

- African American men are 61% more likely to develop prostate cancer compare with Caucasian men, and are nearly 2.5 times as likely to die from the disease

For the women out there . . .  ask your husbands to just get the blood test done. If your relationship and life with him means as much as ours means to Janet, do all you can to convince him to just get the blood test done.  Even if you have to schedule the appointment and bring him there yourself using some other means of encouraging him to go.

My family and I wish you all the best for good health, prosperity and many blessing in this new coming year.

Happy New Year to you all!

PSA Level update . . .

Merry Christmas to all of you out there.

I had my 2nd post surgical blood test done yesterday,  and I am happy to say that my PSA level remains at a "near non-detectable" level of <0.05.

Thanks once again for all your prayers and strength.  It has been a true source of support and encouragement to Janet, myself and the boys.

We hope that you'll all enjoy Christmas with your families and are blessed with good health, love and prosperity in coming New Year.   (personally, I'm happy to see 2009 come to an end)

Cheers!

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation . . . .

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation:

One in six men will develop prostate cancer.

A Man is 35% more likely to get prostate cancer than a woman is to develop breast cancer.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in America, striking 186,000 men each year.

As baby boomer men reach the target zone (age) for prostate cancer, the number of cases is projected to increase dramatically. By 2015, there will be more than 300,000 new prostate cancer cases each year.

----------------------------------------------

Gentlemen, if you are in your 40's have your PSA tested the next time you have your annual check-up. If there's a history of prostate cancer in you family, you should consider having your PSA checked in your mid to late 30's.

Caught early, prostate cancer is 100% curable!

For more information visit:
http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org
http://www.pintsforprostates.org
http://www.cancer.org