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Posted

Coming off the Lenvima and most of the steroids, I find myself in the unknown territory of borderline low blood pressure and low blood sugar. This morning it was too low to take any insulin. What to do?

I ran some errands and felt loopy. Eating a Snickers bar didn't help. Hotdog either.

So I nuked it. 

RICOTTA CAKE

orange supremes, orange caramel, whipped ricotta

Got home and had blood sugar 581. Took my insulin doses with a a clear conscience.

 

IMG_1919 (1).jpg

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Posted
  On 2/24/2025 at 11:22 PM, Gatorubet said:

Don’t run errands anymore.  Be sure to stop by billing on your way out.

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I called them errands so as not to frighten people. They were more like adventures. Quests. That's it, quests.

I am building up to a theoretical future where I roam the planet producing art on the fly. Specifically, rolling into Mexico City with the paint still wet on some canvases, as the crowds cheer. Will I get there? Quién sabe. But the same way we started the Moon landings by shooting Alan Shepard into space long enough to dip his toe in the ether, my personal Mercury program involved shakedown cruises on city buses, sometimes to places with Ricotta cake, always while drawing.

tldr: I thought the sugar would go up a smidge, I didn't think it would do a 500 point jump.

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Posted
  On 2/8/2025 at 1:18 AM, pops said:

So...update on my dad. No one remembers. One post. It's fine. But prostate cancer. He really didn't want to get it removed because of the sides and was very hopeful about a different way to do it with a laser or hot water or something to cut the tumors out at the mayo clinic. 

Consults looked good but the labs came back not great. My dad was gutted. Asked the doc what he would do if it was his dad in the exact same scenario. Doc said he wouldn't hesitate to just get it cut out. 

So... Last Monday was surgery. Doc said it went great, apparently his anatomy is such that he has lots of room in his abdomen and there was basically zero risk of nerve damage and the prostate wasn't pushing pp against the bladder so doc felt like there really wouldn't be many side effects. 

Yanked the catheter on Wednesday and did scans. Pathology came back today and zero cancer. It never left the prostate. I had a good cry. 

God bless all of you dealing with this shit. 

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Do you happen to remember the name of the surgeon at Mayo?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

Hopeful news for the future of radiation therapy. Scientists have isolated the protein in tardigrades that makes them resistant to damage from radiation. (The bad news is that it is an mRNA therapy which makes some people lose their minds).
 

  Quote

Radioprotection of healthy tissue via nanoparticle-delivered mRNA encoding for a damage-suppressor protein found in tardigrades

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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-025-01360-5

Edited by Willfully Horn
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Posted
  On 2/25/2025 at 4:02 AM, Dbeasy said:

Do you happen to remember the name of the surgeon at Mayo?

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I had a patient who went to MD Anderson and had proton therapy with zero side effects.

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Posted

Well, looks like I’ve joined the club. Got the biopsy results this morning. Gleason score 7 prostate cancer. 68+ years old.
Sheduled the PET scan and MRIs already. Will sit down again with my Urologist after the PET scan and talk game plan. Yeehaw……..

 

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Posted
  On 3/5/2025 at 11:39 PM, Dances with Dachshunds said:

Well, looks like I’ve joined the club. Got the biopsy results this morning. Gleason score 7 prostate cancer. 68+ years old.
Sheduled the PET scan and MRIs already. Will sit down again with my Urologist after the PET scan and talk game plan. Yeehaw……..

 

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Get a Decipher test done to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer. Is it 4+3 or 3+4? How many cores? Percent of cores with cancer? Research research research prostate cancer like crazy. There are many different treatment options, each with pros and cons. 

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Posted
  On 3/5/2025 at 11:47 PM, Dbeasy said:

Get a Decipher test done to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer. Is it 4+3 or 3+4? How many cores? Percent of cores with cancer? Research research research prostate cancer like crazy. There are many different treatment options, each with pros and cons. 

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Thanks for the advice. Already researching. I have some background knowledge from my years as an Air Force medic. Seems to be a lot of treatment advances and options since I retired in 2008. Lots of information to dig into and digest. 

Posted
  On 3/5/2025 at 11:39 PM, Dances with Dachshunds said:

Well, looks like I’ve joined the club. Got the biopsy results this morning. Gleason score 7 prostate cancer. 68+ years old.
Sheduled the PET scan and MRIs already. Will sit down again with my Urologist after the PET scan and talk game plan. Yeehaw……..

 

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2nd opinions are your best friend when you get into this situation. Go to a cancer specialist, MD Anderson, St Lukes, a cancer center near you (one that is highly rated and regarded). Your primary care urologist should be okay with this, and they might be on the right track and be the right choice...but don't presume that is the case. 

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Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 12:02 AM, Wally Fairway said:

2nd opinions are your best friend when you get into this situation. Go to a cancer specialist, MD Anderson, St Lukes, a cancer center near you (one that is highly rated and regarded). Your primary care urologist should be okay with this, and they might be on the right track and be the right choice...but don't presume that is the case. 

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I do live near Katy, just West of Houston. My Urologist is with Methodist, and seems to be highly regarded. Gotta look into getting second opinion with MD Anderson. Anyone that has know the drill about getting in there? I’ve already heard all kinds of stories.

Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 12:07 AM, Dances with Dachshunds said:

I do live near Katy, just West of Houston. My Urologist is with Methodist, and seems to be highly regarded. Gotta look into getting second opinion with MD Anderson. Anyone that has know the drill about getting in there? I’ve already heard all kinds of stories.

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Call them - they have an intake group. This is what my wife did, they will take your personal information, insurance, etc and get back to you very quickly (I think it was 2 or 3 days for my wife) and we were there a week after that for her first appointment. The interview was about an hour or so, and the will answer any question you have or get someone to follow up who can answer

Good luck 

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Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 12:12 AM, Wally Fairway said:

Call them - they have an intake group. This is what my wife did, they will take your personal information, insurance, etc and get back to you very quickly (I think it was 2 or 3 days for my wife) and we were there a week after that for her first appointment. The interview was about an hour or so, and the will answer any question you have or get someone to follow up who can answer

Good luck 

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Thanks for the advice. I’ll check into it. 

Posted
  On 3/5/2025 at 11:39 PM, Dances with Dachshunds said:
Well, looks like I’ve joined the club. Got the biopsy results this morning. Gleason score 7 prostate cancer. 68+ years old.
Sheduled the PET scan and MRIs already. Will sit down again with my Urologist after the PET scan and talk game plan. Yeehaw……..
 

You got this DwD. Just follow the treatment plan and it'll be behind you before you know it. I'd say welcome to the club, but it's not one anyone wants to be a part of.
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Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 12:07 AM, Dances with Dachshunds said:

I do live near Katy, just West of Houston. My Urologist is with Methodist, and seems to be highly regarded. Gotta look into getting second opinion with MD Anderson. Anyone that has know the drill about getting in there? I’ve already heard all kinds of stories.

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It was very easy to get into MD Anderson. PM me for details if you like.

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Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 1:15 AM, Dances with Dachshunds said:

Sbbruin,

I agree. Not a club to want to or wish anyone to be a part of.

thanks for the encouragement. Hook ‘em!

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It was the scariest thing I knew of before I got it.

Now it's kinda like having a pet cougar. @Sbbruin has the right idea, just think of the docs as your coaches and do what they say. A lot of stuff ends up being routine. Best results to you!

 

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Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 2:27 AM, RDCanecutter said:

It was the scariest thing I knew of before I got it.

Now it's kinda like having a pet cougar. @Sbbruin has the right idea, just think of the docs as your coaches and do what they say. A lot of stuff ends up being routine. Best results to you!

 

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Thanks, I appreciate your encouraging words. Best wishes for you and yours as well.

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Posted
  On 3/6/2025 at 12:07 AM, Dances with Dachshunds said:

I do live near Katy, just West of Houston. My Urologist is with Methodist, and seems to be highly regarded. Gotta look into getting second opinion with MD Anderson. Anyone that has know the drill about getting in there? I’ve already heard all kinds of stories.

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md anderson has a huge cancer focuses facility out by you, off i10 

Posted (edited)

You got this DWD.     While my chemo care and initial surgery to remove my colon tumor and lymph nodes were great locally, I went to MD Anderson for a consult when locally they wanted to remove part of my liver in an open surgery that would leave me gutted.

That initial surgical consult was my last consult with that guy, and I went from that consult to my office where I picked up the phone and called MD Anderson. It was super easy , as I recall they wanted me to get a CD of my CT, MRI and PET scans, and my treatment records.  They got back to me very quickly and scheduled a meeting with a surgical oncologist.   

MD established that I did not need surgery, there was no cancer in my liver after all, and that was six years ago. I avoided a major unnecessary surgery thanks to their expertise, and I would heartily recommend a second opinion with them no matter how you like your current provider.   It is not an insult to that first provider, it is just common sense and exploring all of your options. 

They have lots of other patients at your local hospital, but you have just your one life, and things like worrying about embarrassing people, or pissing people off, or what other people or family members might think are entirely secondary to what you want to do with your treatment.

And if you don’t want to do that, and other people want you to, your choice wins.  Feel free to take all the great advice from anyone you respect, but you are in charge of you in this.   And everybody worth a crap around you should absolutely respect that.

I’m giving you the obligatory polite best of luck, but I’m positive you won’t need it.

Edited by Gatorubet
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Posted
  On 2/12/2025 at 10:34 PM, Gatorubet said:

Oxaliplatin was the one that fucked up my nerves in my feet.  I was told about the neurotoxicity in advance, so it was not a surprise, just an “ it is what it is” thing. 

Platinum based chemo drugs suck.  And I recollect it increased my survivability chances only 1 or 2%.  My refusal to take that crap for six months (I did infusions for three) was one of the best decisions I ever made.

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I had 13 rounds with this bitch. Lost tons of dexterity in my fingers, toes felt like ice blocks all the time. I have regained about 90% since stopping though. 

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  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

check your messages.  I just sent you an article that you might find interesting.  It was from MDA, and I have to admit I am biased toward them  as they gave me care far better than my local hospital that has an excellent reputation.   MDA gets cases from all over the country, so places like that have the most expertise. 

you got this.  I’m not saying that you won’t have to fight a bit over the next couple years. It is way too soon to tell anything about anything. But it is always a good thing that you know about it now as opposed to knowing about it later.  So let’s focus on the good stuff and go kick its ass.

 

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Posted
  On 3/18/2025 at 10:09 PM, Gatorubet said:

check your messages.  I just sent you an article that you might find interesting.  It was from MDA, and I have to admit I am biased toward them  as they gave me care far better than my local hospital that has an excellent reputation.   MDA gets cases from all over the country, so places like that have the most expertise. 

you got this.  I’m not saying that you won’t have to fight a bit over the next couple years. It is way too soon to tell anything about anything. But it is always a good thing that you know about it now as opposed to knowing about it later.  So let’s focus on the good stuff and go kick its ass.

 

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Thanks. At least I know now. The people close to me have extended their help already.

Luckily I have incredible insurance.

We shall see what the day may bring.

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Posted

Thing non-dramatic around here. Down to maybe 3-4 pills a day instead of 11+. Almost off the steroids, so I shed all the bloat and am back to looking like Pharaoh's Mummy with Chicken Legs.

Main game now is figuring out how to keep blood pressure from going too low while sugar doesn't go too high.

Energy level is good. Lots of shows on the schedule, able to heave shit about so far. Painting new stuff.

What's cancer doing? No fucking idea. Supposed to get some more scans in April, I'm not gonna worry about it.

 

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Posted

Everyone else has said it but get to MDA. My father in law had angio sarcoma, which is very rare as well. The WORLD expert for that type is at MDA. I bet he covers other sarcomas as well. His name is Dr Vinod Ravi.

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Posted (edited)
  17 hours ago, MissingInAction said:

Giant lump on my elbow. Decreased range of motion. Occasional numbness in hand. 

Sometimes very painful. But usually I don't notice it except for the giant lump 

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I'm glad that symptoms are localized. That's a good start. The numbness is because the mass puts pressure on the nerve. It is a relatively rare condition that has a genetic component so try to see an oncologist who specializes in it. I think Dejka Araujo is the main one at MDA.

Edited by Bevo
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Posted
  17 hours ago, Bevo said:

I'm glad that symptoms are localized. That's a good start. The numbness is because the mass puts pressure on the nerve. It is a relatively rare condition that has a genetic component so try to see an oncologist who specializes in it. I think Dejka Araujo is the main one at MDA.

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Thanks so much!

I've already decided I won't let my arm be amputated. If that's the only option then I'm cashing out and heading to Yucatan. Hookers and blow until the end.

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Posted

Stay positive, MIA. They’ve made some incredible advancements in prosthetic arms.

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All kidding aside - MDA is an incredible facility filled with extremely sharp professionals. Get into ass kicking mode, and you got this.

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Posted
  16 hours ago, MissingInAction said:

Thanks so much!

I've already decided I won't let my arm be amputated. If that's the only option then I'm cashing out and heading to Yucatan. Hookers and blow until the end.

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Limb-sparing surgery is the preferred approach so hopefully they can remove everything without damaging major arteries or nerves. They will take an MRI to see where everything is. But if you do lose your arm, I know ROFLBOX needs a thumb so he can masturbate properly.

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Posted

I bet you'll get to keep your arm, but if I'm wrong, demand to keep it and get it taxidermied with maybe some lead weights inserted.

Then you stick it up the sleeve of your shirt so it looks like a regular arm. Go to your least favorite bar, pick a fight, then seemingly rip your own arm off and just go to town WHALIN on folks with it.

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Posted
  17 hours ago, MissingInAction said:

Giant lump on my elbow. Decreased range of motion. Occasional numbness in hand. 

Sometimes very painful. But usually I don't notice it except for the giant lump 

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I’m not trying to be a dick, but how long did it take before you had a giant lump?  Did you wake up in morning and go damn! - or did it grow over time?

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