Take Care of Your Support Group - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Take Care of Your Support Group

Stegosaurus37 profile image
14 Replies

Besides all our good friends here, we all have support groups of spouses, family and close friends. They put a lot of time and effort into our support; we need to show our appreciation. A "Thank You" card, a few words of thanks - let them know. They also need time away for their personal recharging. Make sure they get it.

Showing your appreciation will also make you feel better. Resolve to do something in this area to day.

Keep smiling!!

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Stegosaurus37 profile image
Stegosaurus37
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14 Replies
Dr_WHO profile image
Dr_WHO

Well said. I do not know where I would be without my support group, especially my caregiver, my wife, Pat.❤️❤️❤️

Roland632017 profile image
Roland632017 in reply to Dr_WHO

Hi Dr_WHO

Thanks for your support.

I don't intend to intrude/impost on your journey.

The last 75 days since I was first diagnosed of prostate cancer and later with more tests confirmed Stage 4 D2 which is very high up on the aggressive/deadly forward estimation.

I know you and Pat enjoy cycling as well as scuba diving and like the serenity/quietness when under water and hope you can continue to enjoy your past time.

So during the last 75 days I have gathered/learnt so much that even myself is astounded.

I still like to credit my ability/vision to my kind gesture of donating to the Deaf & Blind.

The Deaf or Blind whether by birth/injuries are obviously handicap when compare to a normal person. And yet many/almost all of us constantly want to be like them.

Please don't be offended and I again wants to apologise if I do cause your jaws to grind.

The reason I have pick on you is the recent findings which provides me the edge.

This is about pH of Urine & Saliva.

As I understand you had a go some time back and you indicated your acidic pH failed to rise.

Just letting you know. From pH 4.5 to 5.5 you need a raising factor of 10 and say 5.5 to 6.5 another 10, So if you are on pH 4.5 and to get yo 6.5 you need to raise by 100.

Your last reply where by my wife watch me feast (very supportive of her) on 400 g rump steak with pumpkins,salad, veggies, chips and pasta. I do monitor the pH effect. This very very unhealthy feast cause my pH yo drop by 0.9 which was a lot. The day before I had a bowl of Vietnamese Beef Noodle soup and a glass of Coconut juice&pulp and it had pH 1.5 negative effect,

So after a meal like that I have to adjust my treatment,

Again as a golfer I always like to keep things simple and I had some how stumble on an effective and simple procedure.

A new reality is under way got me through my gesture in donation.

This is not soliciting but I encourage you to donate to malecare and Deaf & Blind so you can benefits same as me.

I hope I did not bore you,

Roland

Dr_WHO profile image
Dr_WHO in reply to Roland632017

Sorry about the Stage 4D2 diagnosis. (I am Stage 4D1, but with a rare form, Ductal, that is not easy to treat.)

I am not quite sure about what you are talking about with pH. I never listed mine nor disused it in anyway outside of explaining why baking soda (NaHCO3) can not kill cancer cells because the acid in your stomach turns it into walter, salt (NaCl) and carbon dioxide. I am well aware of how pH readings work (have a PhD in chemistry). Perhaps it was another post that you are referring.

Not stating that to get you defensive, just wanted to clear any misunderstandings.

As far as your diet, it is always nice to read about someone having a good meal. Likewise I appreciate you suggesting charities that are important to you. I will consider them for 2018. (In 2017 I was heavy involved in Relay for Life and MANy vs Cancer). Unfortunately this year I will also have to be involved in the Dr WHO charity as I was hit with a very large medical bill that I was not expecting. While I am fighting it, I think that I will lose my appeals. Time will tell.

Remember, people like us we have to stick together!

Roland632017 profile image
Roland632017 in reply to Dr_WHO

Hi Dr_WHO

To help clarify things.

On Christmas Day here in Sydney I chatted with Dan59 and after checking on Neal's failing Zytiga & Adt treatment I went hard on Vernon baking soda protocol but used honey instead of molasses.

I dosed right up to 30 g baking soda/day and if you see to include Ural ( I flush it when I engage in a tasty meal ) it is even more.

It went on for 5 days until I encounter haematuria issues.

I have given my progress report all this while.

Thanks again for being patience.

Roland

Dr_WHO profile image
Dr_WHO in reply to Roland632017

Thanks for the clarification. Sorry if I missed a step or two. I do think that there is such a thing as Lupron brain.

If the baking soda worked for you great! Please do not be mad or disappointed if I disagree with its use.

As long as you keep up your standard treatment, there is nothing really bad about taking baking soda. And if you want to use it instead of standard treatments or when standard treatments no longer work, more power to you.

Main thing that matters is that we can discuss not only where we agree, but where we disagree. For that I appreciate your post and the kind way you wrote them.

Again, thank you for the clarification. I hope that there is no hard feelings. There definitely is not on my side.

And remember, people like us we have to stick together!

Neal-Snyder profile image
Neal-Snyder in reply to Dr_WHO

Hi Dr. WHO,

I was convinced by another chemist to try baking soda & molasses. Although the baking soda is not a problem, as you say, the molasses caused a PSA increase.

I've had Lupron brain since 2007. This year, I have Xtandi brain. Damn, it's bad! The fatigue caused me to decrease from 4 softgels to 3. But my wife assures me that my mind has lost maybe 50% of its functionality. It sure screwed up my packing preparations for the trip we're on now!

Neal

in reply to Dr_WHO

Sorry to hear about the financial burden you are incurring as part of your treatment. I guess I was lucky to have reached Medicare age when diagnosed. I hope you can deduct some of those expenses. Good luck and thanks for your contributions to this site.

Dr_WHO profile image
Dr_WHO in reply to

We are doing fine. The thing is what do you do? I want the best care possible but I will be dammed in Hell before I put my wife in the poor house.

I guess that is the nice thing about cancer. You have a lot to think about.

JamesAtlanta profile image
JamesAtlanta

I agree! Couldn’t cope without my wife of 31 years by my side! She’s the best! Thanks for reminding all of us!

James

Roland632017 profile image
Roland632017

Hi Stegosaurus37

Here is any funny episode that is if you enjoy.

Truthfully I have been married and still am since 1978.

About 1 hour ago I feel like eating. So I took my wife out to a local pub. There is always a special that is A$10 400 g rump steak but you have to cook yourself. Chips, veggies, salads, pastas and 6 different gravies are included.

I like to state my wife had been very supportive as Imagine she sat with me and watch me gobble up one enormous plate of junk food and a 400 g rump steak for a supposedly poor Stage 4 Prostate Cancer patient.

Do you see the gross funny side?

Hope you enjoy this story.

I want to admit I don't feed on supplements so I do need this nourishment.

Lucky I can and is able to counter act this very very bad habit.

Thanks for listening.

Roland

Neal-Snyder profile image
Neal-Snyder in reply to Roland632017

Roland,

Some of us change our diet to what may be more of a PCa-fighting diet (perhaps enjoying treats on occasion). Some of us want to feast as before. You're obviously in the latter group, & it's great if you're actually counteracting any negative effects. The great thing about this site is we can all share our stories & methods, usually without anyone giving anyone else too much of a hard time.

Neal

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

So I keep telling my wife, remember during WWII what the Germans fighting in Russia exclaimed when they saw the Soviet troops approaching?

TANKS, TANKS AND MORE TANKS!

Good Luck and Good Health.

j-oh-n Saturday 01/13/2018 11:27 AM EST

Neal-Snyder profile image
Neal-Snyder

Stegosaurus,

What a great reminder! Thank you for sharing it! Although I think I'm good at showing my gratefulness as I go along, & I've written strong letters of praise about 2 of my doctors to the physician-in-chief (who sent really nice replies), I don't think about stopping to send cards or other acknowledgements to all the people whose support I value. Rather than wait all the way until Thanksgiving, I'll do it much sooner.

Thank you again very much for reminding us of the importance of expressing gratitude, to those we appreciate & to ourselves!

Neal

Maleko808 profile image
Maleko808

😊 I couldn't express this better. From family, friends, medical staff, the good people here, my coworkers who all support me I try to show gratitude and support for them. Sometimes letting them take the day off of worring about me is hard for them. I assure them that I am ok, give them a hug, send them on their way with a Thank You, and let them know I'll be fine.

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