Live Life...

[Hankwhy91]

I am new to this site, but not new to cancer. Friday, August 18th will be my 8th round of chemo (taxotere). I also receive firmagon shots once month, along with Xgeva once a month. Experiencing bone pain, and a bit of neuropathy pain in feet.

Had a radical prostatectomy two years ago, then cancer spread to seminal vesicles (T3B). Had radiation two different times, for a month each go. Helped groin pain immensely.

Looking forward to my last chemo treatment , 4 more to go. Trying my best to keep the faith, positive attitude, do WHAT I CAN, and live each day. Thankful to my wife and daughters. One just graduated college & moved back home (spend time with me). Oh and I still run my 34 year roofing business! Although things have slowed down, but keeps my mind busy and I can work from desk, etc.

Any advice or input would be greatly welcomed. I wish you all the best as well.

This is one tough journey.

[Dr_WHO]

Welcome to the group! Have no advice to give you for bone mets, but I will be pulling for you! It seems like you are doing on of the most important things with having a positive attitude.

[Hankwhy91 in reply to Dr_WHO]

Thank you Dr Who. Trying my best to stay positive.

Just replanted a bunch of plants, cutting back and preparing for fall. And also know I most likely will not be feeling good, so I do what I can when I am feeling good! Little steps, as my wife says! I wish you the best.

[Sisira]

You should really do well with your chosen treatments for you have a very positive attitude and strong support from your family. Proper diet and regular exercise too will be supportive for any of the treatments you may take.

Wish you the best!

Sisira

[Hankwhy91 in reply to Sisira]

Yes I agree. And both my college educated daughters are on me about the diet! And drink MORE water Dad. I am working on things! I tell them ya can't teach a cat to bark...lol!!! Most importantly, clean diet and exercise, even on the not so good days (and believe me, there have been some, as YOU KNOW)...

Thank you for the kind words.

[j-o-h-n]

to Hankwhy91

My best advice to a roofer.... keep on top of the situation...

j-o-h-n Thursday 08/17/2017 1:17 PM EST

[Hankwhy91 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Ok ~~~I like your sense of humor!!!! Great chuckle!!

Thank you J o h n!!!

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hankwhy91]

to Hankwhynot92?

Also, make sure you don't step back to admire your work...

All Kidding aside,

Good Luck and Good Health to you and yours.

j-o-h-n Friday 08/18/2017 12:52 PM EST

[Dan59]

Hank, Welcome to the group! I have used 10"by14" gell packs to cover my feet and reduce chemo flow by constricting blood vessels to reduce nueropathy, it has worked fairly well for 10 cycles now. Also with back pain, is it better when you lay down or when you get up out of bed or a chair ?I did not feel good last cycle around day 4 so I made the mistake of staying in bed too long and got back ache in one spot, the ice pack helped a lot , and now it has been completely gone as I get more active, but a high stregnth tylonol usually relieved it too. Bags of frozen peas in a rolling cooler is a cheap alternative to use for ice packs, I also bring cubes to dip my fingers in with water, again fingernail prob and nueropathy. Alk Phos as someone else said is an excellent number to follow for bone activity, bone specific alk phos is even better , but hard to get. I choose to beleive my bone mets are not what they think they see but , results from the numurous accidents and crashes and times I fell off a roof during youth thru middle age.

"The swords of battle are numorous, none more powerful than humor" SJG

I wish you the best

Dan

[Hankwhy91 in reply to Dan59]

Thank you Dan! Makes good sense..will definitely give this a try.

[Hankwhy91 in reply to Hankwhy91]

and we have frozen peas in the freezer...will def use...great suggestion, sure appreciate this.

[Hankwhy91 in reply to Dan59]

Yes I had many years of sports, crashes and roofing too!!

Thank you for your input, I surely appreciate it.

I wish the best to you, you have me beat by two cycles. This is def not for the fainted.

[Hankwhy91]

Thank you so much for your reply Charles. As far as my counts etc, my PSA right now is 64. After first 3 rounds it sky rocketed, referred to a specialist at UCSF. After determining I was not a candidate for immunotherapy, also did genetic testing (nothing was found), specialist recommended platinum with taxotere. We went thru a huge circus trying to get into clinical trials, ended back up with our original oncologist (we are happy). I will def have my wife look in the support link you gave me. So hard trying to find people to talk to that are going thru similar situation. This site was found by my wife by happenstance, so grateful.

I also had extensive radiation tow different times (every day for a month each time), radiologist cannot hit groin area any more. It has helped. My liver counts & others are all excellent (don't have in front of me) we get print outs all the time & my wife keeps track. I am fortunate to have excellent health coverage, thank God for that. Getting ready for round 8 tomorrow~~at least all the nurses are awesome as well as a state of the art facility.

I wish only the very best for you. Sounds like you started a year before me.

This journey is so extremely difficult. Thank you again for taking the time to reach out. Appreciate your input.

[Hankwhy91 in reply to Hankwhy91]

also, dr has mentioned xofigo, xytiga and xtandi. he says that will come when i become resistant to the current drugs? Will know more when we do psa test ..I had to defer round of chemo (daughter/college graduation/wanted to feel good) so now my psa testing is off..

[Hankwhy91]

thank you again for support group info. had been told about this, but lost the info. this is HUGE and we will be attending next meeting.

[Hankwhy91]

We went to UCSF but not anymore. We live in Roseville, near Sacramento. We go to Sutter/Roseville, most likely attend meetings at mercy San Juan

[Hankwhy91]

Sutter Roseville -Yes!!!

Ok if you go we will have to meet?