A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words – 1,000 Pictures = ?

I just had my 'treatment' plan laid out today. My bone scan was clear, so no metastasis. The 1000 picture MRI showed everything ‘bad’ is contained inside the prostate and my tumor level is in-between the best and the worst, so not aggressive, but should be treated.  Up to 6 is considered low – 8 and up aggressive, Mine is a 7A (3+4=7A – Gleason Score).

My PSA level went from 14 down to 9.7 indicating it was most probably an infection that boosted PSA levels for 6 months. The infection showed up on the MRI.

I will get an injection of Zoladex 10.8mg into my stomach lining every 12 weeks for a year (began today), this blocks testosterone from being produced in my body. I also received 30 days’ worth of Bicalutamide Bluefish 50mg pills that also block male hormone production. The shot was in the stomach, but was nothing bad. I’ve always heard as a kid that those rabies shots in the stomach were a horrible pain, but this was not.

After 6 months or so, (Aug-Sept) I will have radiation beams to the prostate every day for 37 treatments. The first 25 cover a larger area due to glands associated/connected-to with the prostate - the last 12 are more specific. Before those start, I will receive 3 pieces of gold placed into the prostate for location purposes. So if I have more children  . . . will they have golden blonde hair? I will also begin using the major lubricant laxative, liquid paraffin, prior to radiation to ensure that there is less displacement pressure in the area of the prostate - I hate to eat and run, oh, well.

Other stats: Impotence - until after treatment is concluded and … 40% of men do not recover from this malady ever, whether they have beam treatment or prostate removal – and yes, either treatment does produce the same survival rate – no difference statistically within my range. One can expect a 10 – 15 kilo weight gain – just what everyone wants. Like a green & orange tie for Christmas … with ducks on it.

So, things look ok and the cancer doctor expects a complete cure since this is an early detection.

Treatments are based on a 10 years life scale. If you were 70, most likely no treatment, since you probably would not live to 80 anyway. ‘IF’ a sample PSA test were taken of all men 55 – 58, it would reveal 50% with prostate cancer across the board, but most 

men never die from this cancer.

This was good news for me today.

Got to run … Starting with today's male hormone blocking injection and pill gave me the urge to go out and shop for some red pumps and a matching purse, ha, ha.

Thank You - to God, my great oncologist and lovely wife.

Dreams and Nightmares

I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.   Daniel 4:5

How about you …

Good dreams, bad dreams you know you’ve had your share, when they come in the midst of a lone dark night they still don’t seem to scare.

Last night’s dream, I was on my way, or so I thought, to a prison cell and had planned to read a little book that was in the passenger side of my pickup (haven’t had a pickup in eons), but I was taken to another place instead.

I was distressed a bit over not being able to read that little book once ‘someone’ informed me I had two hours to live (until execution) as my late mother sat in a chair in the dimly lit corner.

What did I decide to do for my last two hours, you ask?  I started to organize my key chain and rid it of unnecessary items so that my wife would not be confused with it all when I was no longer around.

Yes, we all procrastinate on readying our affairs when we really should not, whether we are as healthy as a horse or as dreadfully sick as a politician is.

Another dream a short time ago entailed the turning over of some very nice dirt in the flower area of my grave near the tombstone – of course, ‘I do this’ for my 7-8 ,month summer season job – add fertilizer to dirt, plant flowers and rid the weeds on graves. I have anxiously awaited getting back to this job and its peacefulness.

Years ago, before I had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and re-attach a tendon to the head of my humerus (my biceps tendon was also broken, but those shrivel up fast and disappear and are, therefore, not usually repairable) the HMO I had my coverage through, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, did not perform any empirical examinations, they only gave me varying kinds of pills.

ANYWAY … those medications frequently resulted in wild and crazy dreams/nightmares. I actually began looking forward to seeing my next ‘free’ scary movie. No $7.00 - $10.00 a pop for those films … and … they are usually always unpredictable in plot!

I do enjoy those flying dreams, I must say. They usually entail more of a giant, floating-style leap that is based upon my focused will. I start descending when my focus diminishes. I have only had a couple of those Superman type flying dreams in my life, maybe only one.

When I was a little boy in 1^st or 2^nd grade, I had a recurring dream three times. I was being grabbed by my legs and pulled out of my bedroom window. In each dream I went further out the window until, finally, I was holding on to the side frame with my fingers. It may have resulted from someone attempting entry to my bedroom window when I was younger. I ran out of the room as the curtains were being drawn back, bumping my leg on my grandmother’s beige hope-chest.

Killing large black snakes and chasing out of the yard those barking, growling black dogs is also quite a satisfying thrill of a dream.

How about you? Dreams? Nightmares?

What about a collection of these fanciful tales of terror from the night being collected into an easy to read book for publication?

Any ideas?

The Ultimate Example of Preventive Medicine

I thought this was an interesting news video - HERE.


Thursday evening and Friday I will have both my full-body MRI and nuclear bone scan.

        Then ... ?

 I still hope for the best.

No News Is Not Good News - But Good News Is

Last Friday my GP helped run down appointments for me and ease my mind a bit with the technical info from my tests thus far.

It is amazing how some simple 'good' news (or at least not horrible news) can help someone to feel more rested and assured in their heart along with increasing hopefulness.
Information is the key. As with every realm of society, education, information and analysis help lead one down the pathway to enlightened and informed decision making.

My Gleason Score was actually better than I thought that it would be, or dreaded that it might be. My MRI & Body Scan tests are in the works, and I've slept in the middle of our bed where it is nice and firm and my back is so much better. 2 compressed discs, 1 herniated, calcium deposits up the spine and arthritis cause a bit of discomfort at times.

Oh, the picture of Jackie Gleason is just for fun. I played his character, Ralph Kramden -The Honeymooners, once in a Valentine's Day dinner theater.

R.I.P. Jessica Joy Rees

R.I.P.

Jessica Joy Rees

The 12-year-old girl who blogged her cancer fight has died.  She was one of the estimated 50,000 American children with cancer.

More info HERE

Friends, Family, Encouragement & Concern

My many years of working in law enforcement and corrections revealed that the holiday season is a difficult time for many, not just those behind bars.

These are just a few thought to consider:

Contact someone you know who is struggling –
We often don't know what to say or do when someone is in crisis. A simple greeting or a card/letter may bring someone the comfort they need for that moment.

Take action -
Run some errands, bring a meal, help with their children, write down special memories, or give them a special gift.

Remain consistent -
The people who initially show concern decreases over time. Continuing contact, especially during holidays and special occasions helps bring folks the encouragement,  faith and hope they so often need during these times.

The open ear approach -
Many who try to help fall into the trap of only giving advice, or correcting the person’s thoughts and feelings. Be a listener and allow them to safely express their worries, frustration, anger, fear, sadness, etc. This helps them to feel secure and relaxed in your presence.

Be honest -
Many times those who are suffering, as well as their close family, become hyper-sensitive, so to speak. Be honest, they can ‘read’ you like a book. Seeing you twitch and squirm, though you feel as though you are hiding your awkwardness, telegraphs the fact that you don’t know what to do or say. Just be honest and remember … you only need to be there, you don’t need to say or do anything. The person is only seeking a few moments ‘away from it all’ to relax and be their old selves.

The best thing a friend said to me many years ago was simply, “Sometimes life just sucks!” He was honest, concerned, and above all, real.

Subtle Seeds

Ever think about the little things we allow ourselves to think, feel, allow, or do?



This is not the hopeful/mythical "Positive Thinking" sort of thing I am refering to, but related more to a habit/life-view choice.

We can change the habits we wish to change, as well as our personal views concerning a specific topic by considering alternatives and, sometimes, with the help of others.

Put ourselves in another pair of shoes, so to speak ... examine and research ALL options, not just some ... make life an exciting explorative adventure and treasure each day as unique.

Sow a thought,
Reap an action.

Sow an action,
Reap a lifestyle.

Sow a lifestyle,
Reap a destiny.


"Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. 
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. 
Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure." -Psalm 39:4-5