prostate cancer

Two, niner, zero, zilch, nill

charity, disc golf, Faith-Love-Hope-WIn, fundraiser, prostate cancer, Prostate Cancer Foundation -

Confused? Let me explain…..

Our 3rd Annual Golf Tournament was a tremendous success and I am proud to announce today that we raised over $26,000, exceeding our $25,000 goal. In addition, by adding the donations we received throughout the year, via United Way and a few other events, our total donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation will be $29,000!

I am so very proud of the effort by the FLHW Board, friends, family and many, many others. Jim P., Rich and especially Pete, what you did this year is very moving. I’m struggling for words (hard to believe, I know!!) …in less than three years, actually about 30 months, we have donated almost $68,000 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Each year the donation was matched bringing the total to nearly $136,000.

Here is one of the thoughts I shared before we began the tournament…..
“A thought to ponder. In its advanced form, prostate cancer is lethal, currently there is no ‘CURE”. As I mentioned, every 19 minutes an American man will die from the disease. To put this in perspective, one man will die for each hole we play today.”

So maybe we just did a little bit to change this to twenty minutes, or twenty one, or more!

Thanks everyone – I love you and couldn’t do any of this without you.

Rainmaker

disc golf, prostate cancer -

Last Saturday morning started with rain, much needed rain.

This put a damper on disc golf but gave Mary and I a chance to catch up on a number of chores around the house. As we worked, I fired up the iPod. After a few songs the list switched to songs that begin with the letter ‘R’. So on a rainy Saturday, it was only appropriate that songs that started with the word ‘Rain…’ were playing. Very appropriate!

Sunday morning was spent playing disc golf, of course. It was just Rich, Pete and myself at Kansas City’s “Swope Park”. A great disc golf course, near the Zoo, so you can hear the occasional wild animal sounds. I played better than I have in months, winning by four shots. I don’t beat these two very often and rarely do I get the best of both of them at the same time! Sorry gents, I had to brag this time.

Fall has arrived in KC, cool mornings, and afternoons that peak in the seventies. I love this time of year for disc golf. I guess you know what we’ll be doing next Saturday morning…….

The Sound of Silence

Avodart, prostate cancer, PSA -

19.30 was my number. This is down slightly from last month [21.80]. Good news!

Not much else to say at this point, hence, the silence.

I had read that the Avodart can take six to eight weeks to begin working. I wasn’t expecting much at this point (after three and a half weeks), the chances of Avodart having an impact on my number is somewhat of a long shot anyway. However, you never know……
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Historic numbers:
Date: PSA:
10/8/07 19.30
>10/8/07 Changed Lupron from 120 day does to monthly dose
> 9-12-07 Began taking .5mg of Avodart per day. Changed Ketoconazole from 600mg twice per day to 400mg three times per day)
9/4/07 21.80
8/6/07 19.25
8/2/07 16.96
7/02/07 20.30
6/04/07 17.80
4/30/07 16.25
4/2/07 17.68
3/5/07 21.87
2/5/07 20.90
1/8/07 18.90
12/11/06 24.86
11/13/06 43.61
10/16/06 51.48 (Started “High Dose” Ketoconazole and Hydrocortisone, 10/01)[at this point and for a second time we prepared for Taxotere. First my Oncologist wanted to try High Dose Ketoconazole and Hydrocortisone.]
9/11/06 83.97 (started Zometa)
8/23/06 41.77
8/18/06 54.66(no tests in June or July)
5/19/06 11.37 (stopped Casodex)
4/3/06 4.25
3/5/06 1.4
51/27/06 0.46
12/28/05 1.85[at this point we prepared for Taxotere, chemotherapy treatments. First I had a new PSA test and new bone and CT scans, lymph nodes clear, spine clear, ribs, femur and hips stable. The PSA dropped to 1.85 and the scans revealed marked improvement. Chemo was cancelled 72 hours before it was scheduled to begin]12/15/05 7.1811/03/05 4.64 (Stopped taking Casodex)9/22/05 0.808/11/05 0.35
6/24/05 0.55
4/17/05 2.51 (taken at MD Anderson, Gleason lowered to 7/7)
4/06/05 3.51 (Six weeks after starting Lupron and Casodex)Original Gleason scores (7/8)Pre-treatment test:
2/?/05 219
12/?/04 189 (Original test)

Pins and Pins

Avodart, prostate cancer, PSA, River walk, San Antonio, the Big C -

It’s been five weeks since I added Avodart to my daily pill regime. Yesterday I had my first blood test since the change in treatment, to measure my PSA, testosterone, DHT, cholesterol etc. and so now we wait for the phone call – on pins and pins, and perhaps a few needles.

Here’s a picture of the infamous John W. and myself after having lunch on the River Walk last week. It was a short visit but it was a pleasure to finally meet him in person (and Cheryl)!!!

The golf tournament results are getting close. I hope to post the final number next week. I will only divulge this, it looks better than we planned, but the Board must review everything before it is official!!

Not much else for now, Fall has arrived, the trees are changing….time for a Saturday walk in the woods perhaps?

No regrets….

Edwin McCain, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Miles Davis, prostate cancer, PSA, the Big C, U2 -

I have spent the past three days in San Antonio at a conference for work. While it was very educational, I also had the opportunity to spend time with a few people that have become important to me since I began my battle with prostate cancer.

On Tuesday, I had lunch with John W. John’s blog is linked on the left. He lives in Austin and has CLL. Over the past few years we have become good friends and for him to drive down from Austin just to have lunch was an incredible act of kindness. I’ll post the picture here after he sends it over.

Tuesday night, I had dinner with Mark H. Mark and I met at the conference I attended in Los Angeles last month. We had some really great sushi and exchanged a number of stories, thoughts and perspectives on prostate cancer. Like John W he traveled about 70 miles to join me, I really appreciate it Mark!!!

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For the golf tournament I had created a CD based of the music that I have mentioned within this blog – but I forgot to play it.

In case you are interested, here’s the song list:

I’ll be- Edwin McCain
Amarillo Sky – Jason Aldean
Broadway – Goo Goo Dolls
Beautiful Day – U2
Santa Monica – 3 Doors Down

Life Ain’t Always Beautiful – Gary Allan
One Thing – FINGER ELEVEN
Songs We Sing – Matt Costa
Can’t Get There From Here – REM
Photograph – Nickelback
Boston and Island Boy – Kenny Chesney
Kind of Blue – Miles Davis
Blue Rondo à la Turk – Dave Brubeck
Back on Top – Van Morrison
The Calling – Wherever you will go