David’s Blog

I want to hold your hand….not

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Atrasentan, chemotherapy, David Emerson, PCa -

It’s now been a week and things are returning to ‘normal’. Over the weekend I experienced what I was warned about… I felt like I had the flu. My body ached, I was tired and spent a lot of time on the couch watching golf.

Yesterday we went in for my monthly Lupron shot and Zometa infusion. What should have been a maximum two hour visit to the lab and treatment room turned into a series of missing lab requests and incorrect orders. We were there for nearly three and a half hours.

We did get a blood test back, no PSA test but it did show a HUGE drop in my white blood cell count. Normal is around 11, last week before treatment I was a little low at 8.9, yesterday I was at 1.9. Ouch! This is normal and the basic intent of the chemotherapy. The WBC should begin to recover before the next treatment on the 30th.

A count this low can make me very susceptible to germs, infections, etc. I am now using more hand sanitizer than I have ever used in my life! No offense intended if I don’t shake your hand!!

“C” Day + 4

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Atrasentan, chemotherapy, David Emerson, PCa -

The good news is I’m tolerating chemo very well so far. The bad news is….well there is none to report!!

It’s been four day, except for the first night, sleep has returned to my normal broken pattern.
I was able to play golf on Wednesday (worse than ever!) but have been able to work out the last three days. Only about thirty minutes each session, this morning I pushed it pretty hard.

As we were told might happen, I’m a little “flu like” today. My back is a little sore but I’m doing fine.

I picked up the study medication yesterday morning and began taking it immediately. There is no telling if I am getting the placebo or the Atrasentan? A runny nose is one side effect but because it doesn’t happen in all cases it’s going to be a guess.

I’ll take a shot at disc golf tomorrow and check in here later in the weekend.

I could use a good nap……

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Atrasentan, chemotherapy, David Emerson, Prednisone, taxotere -

It’s a day later and I feel completely fine. I did have trouble sleeping last night. I woke at 11:30 and was up until about 12:45. Then a slept for an hour, was awake for 20 or 30 minutes, would sleep for another hour, wake up etc.

I forgot to enclose this yesterday.
Historic Data:
6/9/08 52.02 (Started Chemotherapy)
Day before and day of treatment (12mg Dexamethasone)
Daily (10mg Prednisone)
With Treatment (once every three weeks); Benadryl – 25mg, Dex10mg, Zofran 24mg, Zantac 50mg, Taxotere 151mg
Waiting for trial drug (Atrasentan)/placebo to arrive.
5/19/08 48.87
4/21/08 38.31 (Stopped Nilandorn as required by clinical trial starting on June 9th)
3/24/08 34.7
2/25/08 29.4 (Started taking Nilandron on 2/4/08; Started Selenium 200 mcg on 2/26/08)
1/28/08 36.2 (Stopped taking Ketoconazole and Hydrocortisone in anticipation of next treatment)
12/31/07 30.9
12/3/07 21.9
11/5/07 23.3
10/8/07 19.30
>10/8/07 Changed Lupron from 120 day dose 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 1.45 (started Casodex again)
1/27/06 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 7.18
11/03/05 4.64 (Stopped taking Casodex)
9/22/05 0.8
08/11/05 0.35 [nadir]
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 tests:
2/18/05 Started Lupron
2/11/05 Started Casodex
2/?/05 219
12/?/04 189 (Original test)

The one, but not the only

Advanced Prostate Cancer, chemotherapy, David Emerson, PSA, taxotere -

I’m in the chair waiting for the multitude drugs to be delivered:
In no particular order….
– Benadryl – 25mg
– Dex (more!!) 10mg
– Zofran 24mg
– Zantac 50mg
– Taxotere 151mg

The first four are given for swelling, nausea, allergic reactions etc.

Brad and Mary are here, my God I love them so much!

My pre-treatment PSA came in at: 52.02
Up a little, not as high as 2006, the last time I almost started chemo.

Just to give you an some insight into today’s hospital visit: I’ve been in the chair since 11:10. Treatment was schedule for 11……It’s 11:52 and we have yet to begin. So drag this out for 6 weeks….then make me wait another hour, what ever works for you!!! Sorry, just venting – thank goodness the people are so nice here.

*Live update!!
12:35pm Pre-meds have all been administered and as of three minutes ago….the Tax (chemo) is flowing!

Peace be with you each…

…I’ll get by with a little help from my friends.

Advanced Prostate Cancer, chemotherapy, David Emerson, Dexamethasone, Prednisone -

I’m about 18 hours away from chemo infusion #1 and a few hours away from beginning the pre-medication.
This evening I will start taking Dexamethasone and in the morning Prednisone. Both are steroids used to assist the chemo.
The Dex I take 12mg the night before and morning of chemo. Regarding the Prednisone, I will take one 5mg tablet twice a day…., for the duration of the trial, 36 weeks from now.

There is one thing that concerns me; though they are very small dosages, I have visions of being up at 3:00am, unable to sleep and needing to work a few hours later. Dr. Van said we could adjust the Prednisone and just take both pills each morning if I am having trouble sleeping.

Not knowing the road ahead, I got a lot accomplished this weekend. Two rounds of disc golf and today I mowed the lawn and dug up three stumps from some Japanese Yews I cut down last week. I took Brad to the driving range and practice green and now we are off to Mass and a surprise dinner of some sort? I’m not asking and she’s not telling!!!

So now I come to the title, I need your help, your prayers like you’ve never sent them before!

Stay tuned for a complete update tomorrow.

Scanning the horizon

Advanced Prostate Cancer, bone scan, chemotherapy, David Emerson, PCa, PSA, xrays -

I had my sixth set of scans Tuesday. Chest X-Ray (as part of the clinical trial), CT scan of my abdomen to look for organ and lymph node ‘involvement’ and a full body bone scan.

Not much to report on items one and two, the results will be discussed on Monday prior to my first chemo treatment. (By the way; 96 hours and counting).

The bone scan was the usual process; lie on my back, the first few minutes are very claustrophobic [I just say a few Hail Mary’s and keep my eyes closed] but after twenty minutes it’s over. This time they took extra pictures from the side focusing on my ribs and pelvis. These are the areas that have always had noticeable tumors.

I was able to talk the technician into showing me the x-rays! The following is only my unprofessional opinion; full body scan: looked the same; spots on my left rib, pelvis area (a.k.a tumors) and the ankle I broke last May appeared the same as in February. Best news – my spine appears to remain tumor free! Finally, no new areas showed up (again, the radiologist may say differently).

As for the side views: not much was revealed on the rib scan, the side view of both hips showed three tumors on the left side and two on the right. I hate to describe these as ‘substantial’, they are there are have been there throughout. I’ll post the scans after I get the CD on Monday.

Happy Birthday Trevor and Happy Anniversary Doug and Michelle!

that is all…..

May, where art thou?

Advanced Prostate Cancer, chemotherapy, David Emerson, PCa -
Sunday is June the 1st…..exactly where did the month of May go?
On one hand, as the days get longer, time drags, and drags. At the same time, what happened over the last four weeks?
Some random thoughts……
– 4 days – I get re-scanned, x-rays, etc.
– 10 days – I receive my initial chemo treatment
– 30 days – I receive my second chemo treatment, this would have been my mother’s 75th birthday, God rest her soul
– 32 days – major project at work launches
– 34 days – Fourth of July ~ God Bless the USA! (If you didn’t see John Adams on HBO, I recommend you watch it when it comes out on DVD)
– ?# of days until a vacation….the Lake? Colorado? St. Louis?….the back yard…..

Did you ever want a disc of your own?

Advanced Prostate Cancer, Charity Disc Golf, David Emerson, disc golf -
We have a few of the discs from our disc golf tournament left over.
Click here: http://www.flhw.org/2008discgolf_forsale.htm

Since these were already paid for with the donations and proceeds from the tournament,
all the money goes directly to the Faith – Love – Hope – Win Foundation!

Another brother rests in peace…..

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, Faith-Love-Hope-WIn, PCa, prostate cancer, rick sadler -

In early 2006, Mary and I spoke to a man named Rick from Houston. We have no idea how or where he found our phone number and frankly it make no difference. Rick was 46 at the time and had recently been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

Well, it’s another holiday weekend and another brother has been taken.
Rick’s Obituary
I wrote of Rick here on a few occasions:
http://flhw.ddmpreview.com/three-words-and-a-few-more/
[note the last comment]

and
http://flhw.ddmpreview.com/euro-trip-716-17/
Today’s tears seem to contain more bitterness. They also seem to last a bit longer.
The tears and the hurt and sadness they represent sting more than previous losses.
Why? Perhaps the onset of chemo (14 days from today)?

God, please stop the madness…..

Prayer to Saint Peregrine ~ Patron Saint to cancer patients
O great St. Peregrine,
you have been called “The Mighty,”
“The Wonder-Worker,”
because of the numerous miracles
which you have obtained from God
for those who have had recourse to you.

For so many years
you bore in your own flesh
this cancerous disease
that destroys the very fiber of our being,
and who had recourse
to the source of all grace
when the power of man could do no more.

You were favored with the vision of Jesus
coming down from His Cross
to heal your affliction.

Ask of God and Our Lady,
the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you.
(Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick for whom you are praying)

Aided in this way by your powerful intercession,
we shall sing to God,
now and for all eternity,
a song of gratitude
for His great goodness and mercy.
Amen.

I live for the weekend…..

Advanced Prostate Cancer, David Emerson, Kansas City Disc Golf, Memorial day, triumph -

Yes, an old Triumph send from the 1970’s…I dare include the lyrics!

In about 15 minutes I will depart for the Memorial Day weekend. I have to pause and thank
My dad, brother-in-law Rich, Bill B., Kirk M., Tattoo Steve and all those that served this country. Without your service and defense of simple freedoms like the freedom of speech – blogs like mine would not exist. I am grateful for your service and sacrifice.

Four rounds in just over three days, that is what lies ahead. 5:00pm today some of us are playing in the local disc golf league at Wyandotte County Park. A long course but with the hole-in-one fund sitting at $2,000 I’ll take a shot at a $1,000 (you have to split the pot with the club). Tomorrow is the usual, except Brad will be playing with us. Sunday and Monday we are playing as well.

I’ll need to come back to work to get some rest!

I have to get as much in while I can, not knowing what to expect post 6-9-08…..I’m not worried though, I’m going to tolerate chemo like a warrior!

Peace be with you all – and those of you stateside….Happy and safe Memorial Day!

Article Categories

Archives