disc golf

Back in the saddle again.

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Cabozantinib, David Emerson, disc golf, XL 184 -

Tomorrow we hope to get the ‘official’ word about my acceptance in the Cabozantinib (XL-184) clinical trial. In the first week since I stopped taking some of my previous medications I can’t tell any difference. If anything, I feel a little better.

I mention feeling a little better with a slight amount of hesitation. Although we received mixed opinions from the medical community, Mary and I are convinced that my recent bouts of pain are related to the two new drugs I started in June. 

The only proof we have is the pattern of the pain I experienced both times I received the treatments. Five days after the injections I begin to have back pain. The severity and location move around from low to high and side to side. Sometimes it feels likes it’s my ribs, then my back, etc. It lasts between seven to ten days following the injections and then I have days and days of ‘normal’ activity. 

This past weekend was one of those ‘normal’ periods. I was even able to play disc golf on Sunday, and played pretty well considering I had not played in a month. I really miss playing twice every weekend but I’m not complaining, I’ll take what I can get.

Three weeks and counting, I hope it flies by like summer did!

601

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, disc golf, spring -

This post marks quite a milestone, it’s number 601! That’s approximately one-hundred per year for the last six years!  I never thought I’d have this much to say or share but I proved myself wrong.

Spring has arrived in Kansas City and that means rain.  We received rain showers several times last week.  More importantly the rain means we will also have beautiful spring mornings.

It was 52 degrees when the guys teed off at disc golf Sunday morning. I was the score keeper once again.  Growing up in St. Louis I was familiar with large, planned urban parks (Forest Park). In Kansas City we have Swope Park. Like Forest Park it contains the Zoo, outdoor theater (Starlight), a golf course and in Kansas City’s case, a beautiful disc golf course. Sunday morning, amongst other sightings and sounds we saw Missouri Blue birds and an eight point white-tailed deer. It pains me to be on injured reserve as I rest my hips for the time being, but the sights and sounds of nature, along with the time with friends makes up for my lack of participation.

It was close to 80 Sunday so I cleaned up various winter time debris in the garden, move some hostas and lilies and piddled around in the yard and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Thursday it’s time for another day trip to Atlanta, I can’t wait to see how Spring has enveloped Hot-Atlanta!

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!

Hold ’em or Fold ’em?

David Emerson, disc golf, Johnny's Tavern, texas Hold 'em -

Mary, Brad and I saw the movie “The Blind Side” last night. What a fantastic movie. I sure wish Hollywood would produce more movies like this instead of some of the junk they churn out. I highly recommend this movie. It is based on a true story. Sandra Bullock turns in a very good performance and Tim McGraw is quite surprising as well.

Even with the cold weather we are experiencing, I played disc golf both yesterday and today. Yes, it was about 28 degrees yesterday and 33 today when we started, but with very little wind it was beautiful, perfect weather for a round. More importantly, I played pain free and remain that way 10 hours later. Next weekend will be my last opportunity to play with one of the regulars before he moves to Tuscon. I’m a little sad to see him go. He will be missed a lot.

Tomorrow is day 28 which means it’s time to go see Doc V. I’ve been feeling really good since a week after my last visit, however we just never know what’s going to happen.

Finally, tomorrow night is another event for the FLHW Foundation. We will be playing a Texas Hold ’em poker tourney at Johnny’s Tavern in Overland Park. Click here for details, for those of you in town I hope you can make it!

Laboring Day

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, disc golf -

If there remains any doubt as to how well I have recovered, I have played disc golf each of the last three mornings. On top of that I just mowed the lawn in addition to a number of things around the house yesterday. I would say things have returned to some sense of normalcy.

The week ahead however is bound to be chaotic, at best. Last October the company I work for announced they were selling out to a much smaller competitor. After all the legal and governmental wrangling, the merger was approved on July 1st. Many of the other departments have announced who was leading, staying and going. Many, many very experienced, professional
and sincerely wonderful people have lost their jobs.
Rumor has it that this week my department is going to finally announce our reorganization. My gut tells me I have about a 50/50 chance of being offered a position. I have been through this before, as I’m sure many of you have. It’s a horrible experience and in this economy I am sure it’s going to be even more stressful.
Regardless of what happens to me, there are a number of people I work with that are sure to be impacted. What this will do to them mentally and their family financially will in some cases be devastating. For others it will become a breath of fresh air, a new start. For the former, I send a silent prayer your way and hope that God grants you the strength required to get through this ordeal.

What a weekend

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, disc golf, Dynamic Discs Open, Emporia KS, Lake Perry, PCa -

Here’s what you do when you have cancer – you try to ignore it. Maybe not ignore, perhpas it’s better if I say go on without it as best you can.

Friday, I left work a little early and joined a friend on his sailboat at Lake Perry. Lake Perry is about an hour from here, between Lawrence and Topeka, KS. It was a bit windy when we arrived but we were out on the lake by 6:30 PM and were able to sail for two hours.
It was unbelievably relaxing and Jim, I’m ready to go back when you are!!
Yesterday, I played disc golf with a smaller crowd since some of the guys were out playing in a tournament. It was good to see Mark back out with us. He’s first and foremost a ball golfer but I think he’s slowly but surely getting the bug, plus his back is feeling better. Regarding my game, I just couldn’t catch Rich, falling one shot short.
Last night we had family over for dinner on the patio and then enjoyed a fire in the fire pit. We really enjoyed the evening. The weather remains unseasonably cool…it’s hard to believe it’s August in Kansas City.
Today we drove to Emporia, KS and played in a disc golf tournament. I joined Pete, Steve and Steve. I played better in the morning than the afternoon and finished in a tie with Pete for 6th place. Yet another Steve played lights out this afternoon to move from 6th to 2nd place. Sometimes it’s really fun to watch another guy you are playing with tear it up. He’s also one of those very quiet, humble guys – great job Steve H.!!
So not real exciting to read, but I hope you found it to be worth sharing. I just wanted to share with you the fact that I’m not slowing down!

How low can you go?

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Cardinals, David Emerson, disc golf, PCa -

I’ll take a few points, just the beginning of a trend!

This morning I’m off to the doctor for my monthly shot and blood tests.
As always, it’s a crap shoot but my body is telling me things are going well on this new medication. At times, I find it somewhat amazing how in tune I am with every little tweak, ache, pain, etc. that I experience. It comes from four and a half years of constant worry, constant obsession. Right now I am feeling good vibes!

I spent Saturday and Sunday in St. Louis with my brothers. I introduced my nephews to disc golf and really hope they catch the bug. I watched a little golf with my dad and then took in the Cardinals game with my brothers. It was a great game and what a beautiful stadium! It wouldn’t be a trip without providing the family with a little tech support! Two printer, scanner, faxes in and working, one with wireless support! Note to the industry, Plug and Play is a joke!

It’s a rainy Monday, is this God’s way of telling me he is washing away the PCa cells? Perhaps. One way or another, I’ll know in about three hours.

Finally, school starts on Wednesday. Brad will be in seventh grade…I’m in shock! Where is the time going?

Short, sweet and to the point

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, disc golf, PCa, Zac Brown Band -

I’m finally resting after four straight days of disc golf and yard work.
It’s cool, cloudy and raining off and on, so I’m catching up on paper work
for the foundation and paying bills.

As I sit here I’ve got iTunes up and just fired up Zac Brown Band, the song Toes. The course contains the line “..life is good today..”

and it is my friends, it truly is good today.

A repeat performance? and Sea Creatures

David Emerson, disc golf, Glucosamine, kansas city corporate challange -

Sunday is the 2009 Kansas City Corporate Challenge Disc Golf event and my friend Gary and I will be defending our gold medals. See this post; ‘We are the Champions…“

I’m not expecting a repeat, since I really haven’t played very well the last few rounds. You can bet though I am hoping for a turn around by this weekend!

Not that it’s an excuse or that it has impacted my game in any way, but my knees have been hurting. It started when I came off steroids after concluding chemotherapy. It primarily hurts when I sit for a while or after sleeping. The more active I am, the less I notice it. I tried to use this as an excuse for more disc golf, but Mary wasn’t buying it.

My docs weren’t much help (it’s not their specialty) except to suggest I see an Orthopedic Specialist if the pain became too severe. Monday I asked a few runners I work with and they all suggested Glucosamine.

Glucosamine is a compound found naturally in the body, made from glucose and the amino acid glutamine. Glucosamine is needed to produce glycosaminoglycan, a molecule used in the formation and repair of cartilage and other body tissues. Production of glucosamine slows with age.

Glucosamine is available as a nutritional supplement in health food stores and many drug stores. Glucosamine supplements are manufactured in a laboratory from chitin, a substance found in the shells of shrimp, crab, lobster, and other sea creatures.

Though I’ve only taken it four times, I already feel the difference! I only hope it continues to get better as I continue to take it.

Eggs, and bunnies, and candy oh my!

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, disc golf, PCa -

We made it home safely on Friday, but not in a timely manner. Southwest Airlines, who I usually find to be reliable, did an absolutely miserable job of getting of us home. I’ll forgo the details, but it involved delays, missed connections and arriving home six hours late.

I played disc golf yesterday and today with the gang. I really need them and appreciate them in my life. I am trying my best to take the doctor’s words to heart and just get on with my life. Easier said than done!

Today is about the Lord and family and now relaxation with just Mary and Brad – this I also need!

Happy Easter everyone, peace be with you all.