David’s Blog

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!

From the Urban Dictionary: I’m Down

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short for, “I’m down with that”, meaning, “I am in agreement with the current topic of discussion.”

PSA…..down another seven percent to 118.3!

Yes, it is still high, but a decrease is a decrease and as my statistics teacher use to say: two data points make a trend line! Another indication that things are better is another marker that we track to determine the cancer activity in my body, my Alkaline Phosphatase level is down to 40, the lowest it has been in close to two years.

Overall, the past four weeks have flown by. Between work and planning for the two upcoming FLHW events in May, the days go by quickly. I played in a disc golf tournament on Saturday. After 36 holes in the rain, my legs seem to have fully recovered from the strain I unknowingly put on them riding the stationary bike. I was just trying to get in a little cardiovascular exercise! Mary has mandated that the bike is now off limits. Yes I know, it’s for my own good. We’re committed to walking on a regular basis, so that will be the new regimen.

That’s all for now. I find I have so much less to say when the news is good! Go figure.

Park it

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Looks like I’m going to have to permanently park the stationary bike. Last week, after two eighteen minutes rides of 4.6 miles on Tuesday and Friday, I began to experience some pain in my thighs and hips. Advil is helping but sleeping has been restless the past few nights.

Not riding is kind of a big deal. I’m not a runner and now I’m not a biker, so I’m going to have to find another source for a cardio workout? Swimming might be an option but I have always been the type that leaving the house to work out just doesn’t happen. If I can’t walk down stairs to do it, I won’t. I’m still working out the upper half of my body, but Mary and I may have to start walking on a regular basis in order to exercise my lower half.

Overall, the new treatment seems to be working, if I can base it on how I feel. I will find out next Monday when we have our monthly appointment with Dr. V. and I have another blood test. I have a have a pretty good feeling that we will get good results.

Spring is in full bloom and I really can’t wait to get some flowers in the ground over Mother’s Day weekend!

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shadi Gholizadeh
Research Associate
Oxford Outcomes 7315 Wisconsin Ave., 250W Bethesda, MD USA 20814
T: 240.482.0034/ Fx: 240.482.0043

Ubi Caritas

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It’s Easter week, and as you regulars know, it’s always an emotional week for me.

Tonight begins the Triduum, which concludes on Easter Sunday.

I was honored when asked to present the Oil for the Sick to Father on the alter, but it was the song below that really stuck with me.

We sang the chorus in Latin

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.

Happy Easter to everyone and may the peace and grace of God be with you all.

Ubi Caritas

Where good and love are, God is there.
Christ’s love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

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.

We Got To Get You A Woman

David Emerson, DES, estrogen, PSA, Todd Rundgren -

As funny as I thought I was being with the Helen Reddy post, I promised Mary to lay off the references to the whole ‘woman’ thing.

With this post I am hoping for little leniency, or forgiveness? However, come to think of it this has nothing to do with being a woman or feeling like one.

Being a Todd Rundgren fan it just came to mind and I wanted to share.

Why? When your PSA goes down 40% in 10 days you have to sing about something!

One final note, as we have in the past, we are cautiously optimistic for long term results. Yes it’s good news and without a doubt I am going to enjoy the next 28 days!


What’s going down?

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, DES, PSA -

Tomorrow is my monthly check-up, you can probably guess I’m a little nervous.

After five years, close to 75 PSA tests, and I would guess over 100 doctors appointments, you might think I would be used to this routine. While the routine is old hat, the anticipation and lead up to the results are something I can’t ever imagine getting use to.

This subject is a topic that gets bantered about on some of the Prostate Cancer message boards. I can’t express to what extent the quality of men’s lives are impacted by this disease. With my case this might sound like a very obvious statement, but there are millions of men out there that have surgery, radiation or just choose to monitor their condition, that go through this anticipation periodically as well. Whether it be every month, quarter or year, these men go through a similar period of time leading up to their test results that mirrors the monthly anguish that I experience anticipating my PSA tests. This is one of the aspects of our experience that the general public may not be able to completely understand. It’s very taxing.

I usually do pretty well with this and probably will do so tomorrow, but I do wonder what the results will be. After starting estrogen (DES) ten days ago, this will be my first test. My last test indicated my numbers were increasing rather quickly. On March 14th my PSA was 193 and I didn’t begin the Estrogen until March 18th, so my PSA before starting DES was probably over 200. Tomorrow, well we’ll see. I don’t know how quickly we will see a response to this new treatment. I am struggling to make a clear, concise point and that IS my point.

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I was able to get out today and play disc golf. It was good to see and play with Tim and E again. Eric, it’s been far too long! I played pretty good, nothing great, but it was a pain free round. Since starting DES, overall my body feels much better. My hips hurt less and my legs are better and I am still able to avoid the Advil.

Finally, tonight was a good, quiet family night. We caught up on a few things we had recorded and basically just enjoyed the relaxation and each others company. It’s Easter week and I look forward to the emotions of the week.

Peace be with you all.

I am strong, I am invincible

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I’m just over three days into my new treatment and I already have a new appreciation for pastels, high heels and was contemplating shaving my legs this morning. Yes, the estrogen must be working!

Seriously though, here is a brief re-cap of the previous few days:

On Thursday I had an appointment with a radiology oncologist. The purpose of this meeting was to receive a single radiation treatment in each breast in preparation for a new treatment. After arriving at his office, it quickly became apparent why we liked this doctor when we originally visited with him in the fall of 2005. He’s a great communicator, listener and even wrote me a prescription for my excessively dry eyes. The radiation treatment lasted about 5 minutes and the best way to describe it was similar to a dental x-ray, but the machine runs for 90 seconds. The only potential side effects were the potential for redness and hair loss. The former did not happen and I lost all the hair on my chest about a year after starting Androgen Deprivation Therapy.

Later on Thursday my supply of DES (woman’s Estrogen) arrived in the mail. I also stopped and picked up a prescription for Coumadin, a blood thinner I now have to take to prevent clotting.

I’m not sure if DES works this quick but by Saturday morning I was feeling many fewer aches and pains, enough so that I played disc golf in the snow!

For the most part, no other changes, except for my looks? Here’s a photo from yesterday.

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)

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