Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, hrpca, MRI, PSA, radiation -

During last month’s Greenhouse fundraiser I met a great couple, the Clarks. She invited me to attend a support group they are members of and asked me to share my journey. I gladly accepted though I did so with some trepidation. Most times I can tell the story and speak of the treatments and issues we’ve experienced with ease. Other times it becomes too emotional.

Tonight was their monthly meeting and Mary and I fought our way through a massive thunderstorm to arrive about 10 minutes late. The meeting began with the members of the group sharing their names and their stories. I was by far the man with the most advanced diagnosis and based on some of their expressions and reactions, I think they were somewhat stunned by our journey.

On a daily basis I guess in some ways I forget everything we’ve been through. When I lay it out like I did this evening, and tell ‘our story’ it is sort of overwhelming. I am glad to report I completed the tale without getting emotional. There were a few points when I had to pause and take a deep breath.

I share all this as a prelude to the latest chapter in the journey. What I am about to share is certainly a new part of the journey.

First the blood test and MRI: my PSA was down almost 18% from the previous week! And the MRI expressed some stable area but others there showed noticeable increase in activity. The Radiologist was careful with his assessment, they always are, but this time he was comparing the MRI to a CAT scan from last October, eight months ago. The one area that was rather clear is my right thigh has a tumor that has nearly tripled in size. I wish there was more to report but that will come tomorrow when we meet with the Radiology Oncologist. It is all but guaranteed that My next step in dealing with the pain will be radiation treatments. The question remains how many? Will we go after the hips and the leg? How successful can we be without compromising my bone marrow in case I need future chemotherapy?

Only time will tell, fortunately, time in this case, is less than 12 hours.

Wrong turn

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson pca, hrpca -

Mary and I started the weekend off by spending the night on the Country Club Plaza. We had a great dinner and a few adult beverages as we enjoyed a much needed evening away.

Our elation was shorted lived however. Saturday afternoon and into the evening my right hip started to hurt. It was the same pain, with the same severity that I have been experiencing off and on for a few months. By Sunday morning it had become rather severe. Medical professionals use a 1-10 scale to ask patients to describe pain. Though I have a rather high tolerance to pain, the upper end of the scale was an area I had yet to visit.

While Advil has always proven to be the miracle cure for my pain, this time it failed me. 800mg didn’t even put a dent in the level of pain. We called my oncologist and waited for the return call. The oncologist on call was very nice and suggested we try alternating Extra Strength Tylenol with Advil, option 2 was the ER.

I’m not going to go into all of the details of the past two days, I’ll just say that it was at times impossible to get comfortable and there was a four hour period when I virtually could not move. Although Tylenol helped me to sleep Sunday night, that was about it. By Monday morning we were at KU Medical Center picking up a prescription for a pain killer. The pain has subsided enough that I again was able to sleep. We are now headed down to the KU Cancer Center to get blood tests, an x-ray and then visit with doctor at 3:00.

The doctor in me believes this has to be more than arthritis and related to the tumor in my hip.

This is all I know for now, details to follow tonight or tomorrow.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, PCa, PSA, U2 -
I could have sworn I used this title before but after searching the blog, I’m in luck, the title is available!

Let’s start off with “The Good” – I’ve been off Advil for nearly two days. After experiencing quite a bit of pain in my left hip last week and earlier, things took a turn for the better over the weekend. I still don’t have full leg motion, but being able to put the Advil aside is great. I was at the point where I was taking 800mg every 8 hours. This isn’t an issue once in a while, but long term use at this level can cause stomach issues. I walked a mile yesterday morning and worked out for about twenty minutes this morning. While at the oncologist’s office yesterday I had my left hip x-rayed. If this turns out to be arthritis then it looks like I might add Celebrex to my daily dosage of meds. Updates on this to follow. It’s strange that I am hoping that it is arthritis. The alternative is not a welcome thought at this time.

“The Bad” also has to do with yesterday’s appointment. My PSA number came back and it has once again gone up a little. Currently my PSA is 129.6, up from 118.3 last month. No panic has set in, we just hope to bend the curve next month!

“The Ugly” is the fact that I will be looking for a job as of June 30th. Though I have known about this since September, there were some indications until yesterday that the date may be extended. It’s not all that terrible, I have 36 weeks of severance. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, I can switch to Mary’s health insurance next year when mine runs out. With twenty years of experience in telecommunications and a pretty solid resume I have faith I’ll find something in due time.

Oh but there’s more…Looks like out air conditioner just went out! When the thermostat is set at 76 and the temperature in the house is 86, you know there is problem! To top that off, the U2 tour was just postponed until 2011, so much for my first live U2 experience this summer!

In closing, I want to add this cliché ridden statement; “It’s all good people!” Seriously, we’ve been down this road before and we’ll come out better when it’s all through.

Angels and Demons

Advanced Prostate Cancer, angels and demons, David Emerson, marian -

Part of my challenge with this blog is trying to come up with a catchy title for each post. Yes they are riddled with clichés but for the most part, I try to make the reader think, “Where the heck is he going now?”. However, when they finish they then think, “Oh, I get it!”. Let me be clear, I am in no way suggesting I am so clever that this happens all the time, just occasionally. Today is one such occasion.

In the past two weeks the world has lost two wonderful people to breast cancer. One was a former administrative assistant here at work. Though Mary and I didn’t know her well, we knew her for a number of years. When she found out my story we had a great chat about being positive and focusing on life and not the disease. When we needed items for our golf tournaments, she was always eager to ask our VP for donations. God bless you Patsy, you are

missed and I was honored to know you.

The next loss is much, much more painful for me personally. I know as I start to write about this that I will cry. When I went through graduate school from1999-2001at Rockhurst University, there was a woman, a true angel that blessed all of us students with her presence. She was the administrator for the ExecutiveMBA department, but that was just a title. For many of us, she was like a mother or grandmother. When she found out about me she called, we talked and she too was positive, reassuring, etc. At that point in 2005 she had already gone through a bout of cancer and had been in remission for some time. We saw each other a few more times at class get togethers and she was always very encouraging to me. At some point, perhaps two years ago, she called me at home one evening out of the blue. She was just ‘checking in’ but I sensed something more. I didn’t push it. By the time we ran into each other at a Christmas party in December of 2008, I was aware the cancer had returned for her. I asked her about the phone call and she admitted she called to talk, to tell me. She said that after we started to talk, she didn’t feel right about passing her burden on to me. Wow, I again am brought to tears as I remember the phone call, the conversation, the meaning of her actions. Selflessness in it’s highest form. I miss you Marian, your smile and your hugs.

On a completely different note, I would like to provide some insight into my current status. In my attempt to remain active I may have crossed the line to OVER active. Two weeks ago, I played disc golf twice during our tournament. I was a little sore, but so was everyone else! Last weekend I played both days, but it rained for most of both rounds. Two things happened; one I picked up some kind of virus and basically spent Sunday afternoon and most of Monday on the sofa feeling achy from head to toe. Additionally, my left hip started hurting with a bit more severity than I have experienced in quite some time.
This problem persists today. Advil helps for about 7 hours but I am trying to go 8 hours between doses. The last hour can be, well lets say interesting! Each day gets a little better, emphasis a little. I am trying to get by until Monday when I have my monthly Oncologist appointment and we can discuss further. I pray this little demon is arthritis but we shall see. It sure is putting a delay in the plans I had for the vegetable garden!

Quite memorable

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Charity Disc Golf, David Emerson, FLHW, PCa -

I heard this on television last night; “The things you do for yourself die with you. The things you do for others lives on forever”

I did paraphrase this, and although I searched for the original source, I could not locate it. However, it remains my unwritten mantra. Even before I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I was the type of person to jump in and help others without anticipation of reciprocal favors. This idea lives on in Faith, Love, Hope, Win. The foundation is not about helping David, it is and will remain about helping others battling this disease by supporting the research for better treatments and perhaps one day a cure for advanced prostate cancer.

Isn’t it sad that so many people in our society live with a mindset completely opposite, the old, “What’s in it for me?” approach to life. The gift of life is too short to live that way. I continue to believe I was put here for a reason and given prostate cancer in order to help others. “It’s not all about Me”, as I have said many times in the history of this blog.

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I am looking forward to Friday and Saturday’s FLHW events. I know they will go well, but I always get nervous leading up to our events. Once again the weather is forecasted to cooperate. Saturday will be a chilly 42 when we get started in the morning, but perfectly sunny with temperatures climbing into the mid-sixties!

I walked the disc golf course yesterday with the owner and his wife. They are truly good, generous people. Even though I have played the course a dozen times I couldn’t help express my gratitude to them for the use of this piece of property. To repeat an earlier description; where the subdivisions end on the south end of Overland Park is where this property and the ‘country’ begins.

With that thought, I close by repeating the quote I started with because it applies to these people as well as to myself: “The things you do for yourself die with you. The things you do for others lives on forever”.

A hectic week ahead for FLHW

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Charity Disc Golf, disc golf, FLHW, PCa -

On Friday, May 7th, FLHW will be hosting our 2nd annual ‘FLHW Friday Night at the Greenhouse’ event. The owner of Suburban Lawns and Garden will be donating 10% of all sales between 5pm and 8pm, at the 105th and Roe store to FLHW. He also provides live music, beverages and light snacks. It is a very nice event and will be a fun night! It’s also the Friday before Mother’s Day, so a great time to pick up some flowers!

Details? http://www.flhw.org/images/stories/pdf/2010%20greenhouse%20event.jpg

The following day is the 3rd annual ‘FLHW PC Doubles Shootout’. It will be played again at the beautiful Thornfield disc golf course, a privately held course in Stilwell, KS. This disc golf tournament will attract approximately ninety disc golfers for two eighteen hole rounds, lunch, a few beverages and prizes for the winning teams. As with the ball golf tournament, the day will run smoothly due to the help of the FLHW Board and the wonderful volunteers. This year we will be selling limited edition, commemorative discs. Even if you do not play disc golf, please consider buying one to help support the cause! Discs are $25 including shipping (domestic). Email me at ‘info at flhw.org’ if you are interested. We’ve already had some sales, which is great. There is a picture of the disc below. We appreciate everyone’s support! The picture on the front of the disc was taken at last year’s event.

Have a great week-end!

This is big, this is REALLY big!

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, hrpca, PCa, Provenge -

Today the Federal Drug Administration approved Provenge for use in certain men with advanced prostate cancer. Here is the press release: http://bit.ly/bgfhul

This is the first new treatment for advanced prostate cancer to be approved in something like 15 years.

With an estimated 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer each year, and with approximately 27,360 men expected to die from the disease in 2009, this is significant. Just to be clear, this is NOT a cure. Provenge is a new treatment that has shown a survival benefit of four months

over the current treatment, Taxotere. Additionally, it is given over three treatments spanning a month and the side effects are significantly less than those associated with chemo (Taxotere).

There are a lot more details to be released from Dendreon such as availability, cost and where it will be available. Dendreon has provided more information at: http://www.provenge.com

My ability to use it in the future is uncertain. I’m not sure I will qualify and I’m not sure how much and/or where I can even get it for some time. The important thing is that it is now another viable option in my very narrow inventory of future treatment options.

All in all, a good day, no a great day for the cause!

Wa, War. He gonna fight but he don’t know what for?

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, U2, Uninversity of Mizzouri -

Again, with the lyrics, so where do you think I’m headed now?

Well, for once in this battle I wage, I have planned an event further than a month out. I have been discussing with my friend Mark for months and months the fact that I have never seen U2 in concert. While I may not be the biggest fan in comparison to Mark and my other friend Gary, I have been a fan since the early 1980’s.

For me, my first U2 exposure goes back to the University of Missouri, 1983. Though I only attended Mizzou for the fall semester of ’83, the memories are vivid nearly thirty years later. Before you ask, no I did not flunk out. I left for others reasons that are too long to include here. Fortunately, I did continue my education and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree as well as an MBA, but it would have been nice to complete my undergrad program at Missouri. Leaving is one of my few regrets in life.

Now, back to U2, Bill and I were assigned to a dorm floor that turned out to be party central, imagine that!One of the guys we came to know was a guy Jay. It turns out Jay worked at the campus radio station and therefore had access to some fantastic music. Twenty-seven years later I still have the mix tape Jay made. It contains XTC, Big Country and many of the Alternative Bands of the early 1980’s. The one that stuck with me most was of course U2. The three songs he included were: Sunday, Bloody Sunday, Gloria and Refugee. In case you were wondering, the title of this blog is a line from the U2 song “Refugee”. I wonder if that tape even plays anymore?

Last week I took a big step and made plans for July. While this may not seem monumental to you, as I often mention here, looking even a few months ahead is something I do not do very frequently, due to the battle with this disease. Concert tickets and plane tickets have been purchased and the hotel is booked. Mark, Gary, myself, and a few others will be at the Soldier Field event in Chicago!

So now that I have taken care of a personal event, next up on the ‘planning’ list is the ultimate family vacation! Oh where do we go?

drawing a blank …..

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, metastatic -

If you are one of the fans of this blog and you happen to have advanced metastatic Prostate Cancer, there is a group that needs your help. Oxford Outcomes is conducting a survey and is struggling a little to find participants. Not only can you help the cause, you can earn $50 just for spending an hour on the phone answering questions.

I completed the survey the other day. It was very easy.

Just call Shadi and she’ll let you know if you qualify and how to participate.
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Shadi Gholizadeh
Research Associate
Oxford Outcomes 7315 Wisconsin Ave., 250W Bethesda, MD USA 20814
T: 240.482.0034/ Fx: 240.482.0043

No Foolin’

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, hrpca, PCa -

I received this from a fellow PCa survivor. So instead of April Fools hysterics, I thought I’d include it here.

In particular, this goes out to Brian.

To all my brothers out there trying to win the battles!

Be the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says “Oh crap, he’s up!”
Brother, life is too short to wake up with regrets, so love the people who treat you right.
Love the ones who don’t, just because you can.
Believe everything happens for a reason.
If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.
If it changes your life, let it.
Kiss slowly.
Forgive quickly.
God never said life would be easy, he just promised it would be worth it.

Today is Brother’s Day. Send this to all your brothers, fathers, sons.

If you get back 7, you are loved.
Happy Brothers Day!
I LOVE YA BROTHER!!!

To all of the cool men that have touched my life. Here’s to you!!

A real brother walks with you when the rest of the world walks on.