Author Topic: I Have Prostate Cancer (Read 33242 times)

bill440cars · « **Reply #125 on:** January 18, 2010, 06:36:41 PM »

Bobby, KNOW that I (among countless others) will be praying for YOU, on this. You've been in my thoughts as well. I am completely amazed at the way you are meeting this "Head on" and Proud of YOU for It!

Take care Brother, Bill

Ecosse · « **Reply #126 on:** January 18, 2010, 07:14:44 PM »

couldn't have said it better bill.

bobby, with all sincerity, i consider you an inspiration.

bucky katt · « **Reply #127 on:** January 18, 2010, 09:04:11 PM »

how are you feeling through all this Bobby?

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #128 on:** January 18, 2010, 09:49:12 PM »

Bobby, you have a very good attitude to all this, keep asking questions and be positive, the power of positive thought is the best medicine of all....Go hard my friend...

Mick

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #129 on:** January 18, 2010, 09:56:09 PM »

Good luck Bobby, keep that positive attitude mate, we're all gunning for you.

Sam.

Hush · « **Reply #130 on:** January 18, 2010, 11:12:28 PM »

Here's some luck to you from New Zealand mate.

The tiki is a talisman to the Maori people of New Zealand. It has been regarded as a powerful good luck charm and symbol of fertility since ancient times.

Its tilted head symbolizes thinking; the hand is strength; the mouth is communication; the heart love and the loins fertility.

The tiki is a strong symbol of goodwill and a favoured treasure to give to a friend or a revered person.

mick7504 · « **Reply #131 on:** January 19, 2010, 05:16:53 AM »

Good luck with everything Bobby.
You have shared your experience with us, you have enlightened us about the reality of Prostate Cancer and you have shown us all how to take things like a man.
Never back off or give in.
You're as tough as they come mate.
Mick

BobbyR · « **Reply #132 on:** January 19, 2010, 09:06:47 AM »

Thanks fellas this means a lot to me. It feels good to know you have friends both here and in my life here in NY.

Bucky, I physically feel fine and would for a fair number of years. If I felt physically bad, I would be in deep sh1t. Emotionally, I have had to stay detached while collecting data, so that I could read what the papers said and not what I wanted them to say.

Now that this begins I am getting a bit scared. I cannot be certain what side effects I will have during and after. I have tables of percentages but I have no idea what group I will fall into.

Hush thanks for the Talisman. Interestingly enough I will be having dinner on Saturday with some New Zealanders.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #133 on:** January 19, 2010, 10:33:24 AM »

Bobby,

Good luck to you on the beginning of your radiation.

My friend just started his radiation for his now rectal cancer (initial dx was colon ca) this past week. Spoke to him last night and he said no side effects so far. He starts his chemo also today. Said he doesn't expect any problems/side effects doing both together for a maybe 4 weeks. Hope your's goes well too.

Jerry

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #134 on:** January 19, 2010, 12:01:54 PM »

Good luck Bobby - your positive mental attitude is the biggest help you can possibly give your recovery and with all of us behind you, you can't help but beat this completely. Be thinking of you, keep up the good work of having that positive outlook and it's history already, just like you know it is.

azuredesign · « **Reply #135 on:** January 19, 2010, 03:33:45 PM »

Keep your chin up Bobby. It's so great that tomography can be used to pinpoint the tumor site for radiation therapy. It's got to mean that the side effects will be minimized. Because of the frequency of your visits, it sounds like fairly low doses will be given at each session. That should help as well.
Putting out the positive wave for you,
Ben

BobbyR · « **Reply #136 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:37:43 PM »

Today was the first day of treatment. The plans were all laid out, and now the attack begins. I was not sure what to expect but as usual I am my own worst enemy. I will be going through this for the next 45-48 days. I am sure he will go 48 since I turned down the anti testosterone treatment.

I get free Valet parking which I guess is a plus. They told me I did not have to tip, but I will throw the guy a couple of bucks a day anyway. Today, when I was getting out of the car today I paused to put my sunglasses away. The Valet rubbed my arm and asked if I was OK, not in a creepy way but a caring way.

It has been kind of interesting and disturbing walking into a Cancer treatment center as a patient. I see people who look horrible, woman with no hair or wigs going upstairs for their Chemo, and I go below ground to where the Radiation center sits for obvious reasons.

I have the last appointment of the day and I am glad of that, I do not have to sit and get to know people who because of the types of Cancer they have, will die soon. While I was in the testing stages, I saw them in the elevator I smiled and made smalltalk, but I could see in their eyes they knew. I could see them looking at me probably trying to figure out if I was one of them, or one of the others.

Kind of an interesting machine. scans you makes sure it is targeted properly and then begins. It usually makes and ARC around you firing beams which I had seen in a video. The machince stopped at my side and I said to myselft, #$%* is stuck and will burn hole in me. Turns out this Doc has it refocus on four quadrants to get a more precise beam shape so it takes longer, but it will pay off in the long run.

Tomorrow it happens again. I do get the weekends off.

Ecosse · « **Reply #137 on:** February 01, 2010, 04:46:14 PM »

i can see it now. first comes valet parking, then cocktails on the veranda, then you're too poi palloi to ride a honda.

can an ascot (scarf not bike) be too far off?

thanks for the update bobby.

GammaFlat · « **Reply #138 on:** February 01, 2010, 07:09:42 PM »

Hey Bobby,

Apparently things went okay today. That's good. I've been watching this thread and wanted to throw my hat in the "good luck" ring. My FIL had high PSA #s and apparently dodged a bullet. They did a biopsy that turned out well. We (as men) need to watch this stuff closely (as women watch for a few other things). Thanks for sharing with us. It's obvious you have a cool support group back here. My next checkup will include the "digital exam"... and by digit, I don't mean number

I've got a benchmark PSA from a few years back. That'll be looked at too.

Regards,
John

BobbyR · « **Reply #139 on:** February 01, 2010, 07:25:53 PM »

Thanks guys it really means a lot to me. Gamma I know what you mean by digit. By this point I am sitting on a calculator.
Keep and eye on your numbers. They figured this has been brewing quietly for up to 10 years. I have been keeping the K8 running all winter, if a warm weekend day 40+ come up I feel a ride coming on. Doc told me to keep up all my normal activities.

bill440cars · « **Reply #140 on:** February 01, 2010, 07:26:24 PM »

Bobby, just keep your chin up and KNOW that we ALL are with you, Spiritually, on this. Buddy, YOU (and countless others) have been there for ME as I have gone through the ordeal concerning my Dad AND also, when I lost Brenda. You'd better believe that WE'RE here for YOU as well. You are in my Prayers brother AND I expect YOU to be with US for a VERY long time!

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #141 on:** February 01, 2010, 10:19:23 PM »

Bobby,

You are one of the others and don't forget that! Yeah, that's gotta be real freaky. On another note my buddy with the rectal ca started his radiation then has added his chemo to it. He says it isn't too bad so far. Hope you fare as well my friend. Take that ride if the weather permits. It will do you good.

Jerry

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #142 on:** February 01, 2010, 10:47:07 PM »

Thinking of you Bobby, keep your head up mate..

Mick

lordmoonpie · « **Reply #143 on:** February 02, 2010, 02:54:13 AM »

Good that treatment has started Bobby - 48 days will soon be up and you'll be right as rain, we know that already. Keep smilin', you know you're tough enough to beat this...

azuredesign · « **Reply #144 on:** February 02, 2010, 05:03:11 AM »

Bobby, your description of the radiation machine sizing you up sounds like you're mounted on a CNC machine! Doing a little custom work, are they?

If there's anything positive to come from your experience, and I'm pretty sure there will be a couple of things, one of the most tangible may be to become more comfortable with your own mortality. I mean this in a positive way as it's something we all face sometime. I speak with some experience, having been a geriatrician for the last 15+ years. I've gained a lot of insight and found a few role models for how to live and eventually die with grace.

I'm fairly certain that going for these treatments will become easier especially after you become accustomed to the protocol involved, and I have great faith in your recovery. Having a brush with dying though will make the idea of doing so easier to tolerate in the future, and I hope your future is a long one!

All best and come up to Boston soon!
Ben

Sam Green Racing · « **Reply #145 on:** February 02, 2010, 05:48:40 AM »

Give them nurses hell Bobby, let us know if any are suitable for THE thread

Sam.

sangyo soichiro · « **Reply #146 on:** February 02, 2010, 07:46:29 AM »

Keep your hopes up Bobby. You'll still be riding and posting in the babe thread 20 years from now.

my78k · « **Reply #147 on:** February 02, 2010, 10:32:08 AM »

I am by no means looking to open a can of worms here at all (I promise) but I will say that this is one of the upsides of your medical system...I am glad you're in a position where you can get this type of treatment Bobby.

Keeping the K8 ready to go is a great idea! I only hope it warms up enough to use it....I think we are all getting sick of winter but those damn gophers seem to think we got 6 more weeks to look forward to!

Dennis

BobbyR · « **Reply #148 on:** February 02, 2010, 10:51:11 AM »

Dennis, I am lucky and I should count my blessings. Apart form the Insurance, which would be out of reach for most people. I also live very close to NYC, so my access to a large number of Dr.s and technology is different than if I lived in a more rural area. The same is true if you lived near any of the large US Cities.

Now, having said that, all of those choices of Doctors, Hospitals and opinions on treatment options will drive you nuts. What you really need is one Doctor who knows what they are doing and you will be fine. I think I found one, took me 3 months to do so. Time will tell me if he knows what he is doing.

BobbyR · « **Reply #149 on:** February 02, 2010, 03:12:09 PM »

Quote from: azuredesign on February 02, 2010, 05:03:11 AM

Bobby, your description of the radiation machine sizing you up sounds like you're mounted on a CNC machine! Doing a little custom work, are they?

If there's anything positive to come from your experience, and I'm pretty sure there will be a couple of things, one of the most tangible may be to become more comfortable with your own mortality. I mean this in a positive way as it's something we all face sometime. I speak with some experience, having been a geriatrician for the last 15+ years. I've gained a lot of insight and found a few role models for how to live and eventually die with grace.

I'm fairly certain that going for these treatments will become easier especially after you become accustomed to the protocol involved, and I have great faith in your recovery. Having a brush with dying though will make the idea of doing so easier to tolerate in the future, and I hope your future is a long one!

All best and come up to Boston soon!
Ben

Ben, thanks. Today was day two and I asked them to play some music and tell me what was going on which made it quite a bit less creepy. It is probably my early training going over preflight checklists. I am probably one of a small group of people who actually scan the gauges when I drive.

As some of you may know I few both Huey and Cobra attack choppers in Nam. The difference between now and then is I have no real control. I am in a very powerful machine I have no control over. Three techs position me on a table and then leave the room. The machine does a quick scan and the table makes minor moves and then it begins.

What bothers me is the lack of control, my most serious health issue to date was appendicitis at 25, and a few kidney stones.

I have done a lot of work in Boston for the MBTA and I got word today I will be going back a couple of weeks after the treaments are over. I did pay Mike Reick a visit one evening, I would like to get together with you and Andy and the rest of the boys, and of course the first round is on me in celebration!!!!

News:

Author Topic: I Have Prostate Cancer (Read 33242 times)