David’s Blog

Sunday and Sundown….

disc golf, Kansas City, prostate cancer, Raph Macchio, Sundown, U2 -

Eventually two things will come to an end; first I will get through my complete iPod play list and second, we will finish painting my brother in law’s house! I would put money on the latter, I have just reached song 995 of 1,246. Yesterday morning yet another bout of irony, songs that began with “Sunday” in the title (think U2 etc.). But my favorite song of the day had to be “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot.

Sometimes I think it’s a shame
When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain
Sometimes I think it’s a shame
When I get feelin’ better when I’m feelin’ no pain

It was quite a beautiful weekend in Kansas City, 82 and sunny on Saturday, windy and 65 yesterday. It was nice enough that we played disc golf both days. Saturday we had a big crowd and played a two man scramble, yesterday there was just four of us and we played down in the woods to avoid the 30+ mph wind gusts. I held my own and squeaked by with a one shot victory over Rich, Pete and Jud.

We spent seven hours Saturday and five more yesterday painting. The house looks great we are both aiming to finish next Saturday! I’m strange, yes for a lot of reasons, but I like painting, I always have. In some way I find it therapeutic or relaxing. I’m not sure what Ralph Macchio‘s problem was?

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……
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

‘ACE’ Squared

blog -

In the end, Friday turned out to be a day truly sent from above. The weather was picture perfect, not a cloud in the sky and a high around 83.

144 players, 36 teams, many, many friends and family in attendance made it even better.

I have to start by once again thanking the members of the FLHW Board, the many volunteers and the sponsors. With out their support, time, effort and guidance we would have never made it. Mary in particular was on her ‘A’ game.

There were a number of sponsors whom I will recognize in the future on a page at flhw.org. However, three in particular need to be recognized; Jim Prange at BP Direct, Rich Lodes with Coca-Cola and my dear friend Pete.

Jim assisted with hats, t-shirts and many other items the day of the event. Jim – we are eternally grateful for your kindness and generosity. Rich really came through with beverages and numerous raffle items. As for Pete, I can’t say enough. Words are just a feeble attempt to thank him and express my sincere appreciation for what he did to recruit sponsors.

Additionally, a number of people traveled from California, Pennsylvania, Chicago, St. Louis, Maryland and several other places in order to play. They left friends and family at home in order to support our cause. A sacrifice that needs to be recognized.

On the day – we had two ace’s or holes-in-one. One of these was for a brand new Ford Mustang! Congratulation’s Mark and Troy!!

The winners are available here.

Thank you all once again, we might just make that $25,000 donation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, stay tuned!

Blessed once more…..

blog -
Tomorrow is the 3rd Annual FLHW Charity Golf Tournament and it strikes me once again how blessed I am in the midst of the medical crisis within my body.
 
The forecast is calling for clear skies and a high of 81 degrees, absolutely perfect weather for golf!  The tournament has been full for about six weeks and we have sponsors and donors galore. Again, the kindness of strangers is staggering.
 
As I write this I am listening to an absolutely wonderful song, a few years old but a real keeper:
    I’m Feeling You – Santana w/The Wreckers (Michelle Branch)
 
Here’s to God blessing us with: golf, friends, family, strangers, compassion, kindness, faith, love and hope.  I will try to express this to the many, many people I see tomorrow but with the hustle and bustle of getting everything coordinated, it sometimes can be hard to get this point across appropriately. 
 
Though I will be glad to see everyone and am appreciative of their efforts, I wish none of us had to be there in the first place.  They would not be there if it weren’t for me and Prostate Cancer but the day would not be such a success if it were for their willingness to put their work, their families and their lives on hold for one day.
 
So I think back to a prayer I posted on March 6, 2006
 
Thoughts in Solitude
by Thomas Merton

My Lord god, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you ,will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, I will trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Amen

Today’s show is brought to you by the letter G

blog -

I started listening to my iPod by song title, in alphabetical order. This is awesome, I can’t believe I’ve not done this before. It’s a true shuffle.

Yesterday, having worked my way up to songs starting with ‘G’, I reached songs titles starting with ‘Good….’, it was a ‘Good’ day.

Miss Me?

blog -

I knew it had been a while, but I had no idea it had been two weeks!

We, Mary and I, are heads down preparing for this year’s golf tournament this Friday.
The tournament has been sold out (144 players) since the third week of August. The weather forecast is calling for an absolutely perfect day; a low of 57 and high of 78. We are truly blessed!

On the health scene, no changes. I added Avodart to my daily regimen a few weeks back and started taking ketokonazole three times a day instead of twice in order to achieve a more consistent dosage. My next Oncologist appointment is the 8th of October.

I’ve played disc golf the past few weekends, but not particularly well. However, it was enjoyable, which is the point after all.

I heard back from the couple in Austin but need to get back to them, as I mentioned I’ve been far to busy.

That’s it for now, stay tuned.

Article Categories

Archives