fascinating thoughts(facts as well) on Prostate Cancer, especially advanced Metastic, stage 4 Prostate cancer.
Guess what.
1. There are NO actual (in person) support groups in Broward County...they have a bunch for breast cancer, but none for prostate cancer. I found one group that looked like it was...but it was a men's "general" support group for men with different kinds of cancer. I spoke with someone there and she said she "thinks there are about 2 men in the group that have prostate cancer". With it being one of the biggest causes of DEATH amongst men...and almost ALL men get it eventually...you'd think there would be a support group in a place as populated as Fort Lauderdale. The closest one that I was able to find (through my online support group)...is in West Palm Beach. **I was shocked during radiation at Broward General that there were LOTS of posters about support for breast cancer, but NOTHING about prostate.
2. The type of chemotherapy that they use primarily for Prostate Cancer is a "hand me down" from Breast Cancer...it's called Taxotere. Makes you feel like you're wearing your older sister's hand me downs.....😢
3. Prostate cancer is (I'm pretty sure) the ONLY cancer that generally requires CASTRATION. That deserves a support group in itself. Oy, try talking to someone about what that feels like. Unless you "are there"...you don't have a clue....NOT a clue. Try talking to your oncologist about it...they blow you off and say the side effects are minimal....really????? it's CASTRATION.
4. RE. 3 (above)....one of the main side effect of CASTRATION is depression. Picture taking a "treatment" to cure an INCURABLE disease with a huge list of scary as crap manifestations and imminent death....AND taking a treatment(that at best just postpones the inevitable) that CAUSES depression. It would be hard for most to not be suicidal. **personal note. I'm so far doing great with depression...almost all of the "online" support friends are on anti-depressants, etc....I'm just taking it as it comes...but it ...
... Would be great to be able to talk with someone who understands the "pains" ...especially bone pain...and castration...and incontinenace ...and lack of energy....and (as someone this morning described)the feeling like a Heavy LEAD blanket is on top of you and you have to fight to move....This is what I had described very similarly to Richard and I describe it as being "out of gas"...or "On E".
I feel lucky to have Richard to talk to....I feel so badly for the people that don't have anyone. At times I wish I had someone else..."who knows"...to talk to and give support to...and then to follow it with "a hug"...Online that's not an option.
p.s. my Urologist who "discovered" the prostate cancer said to me once..."if women got prostate cancer, there would already be a cure".
p.p.s. I talked with a lady once who's husband had prostate cancer...and she described it as "oh, it slowed him down"...but he was "back to normal" in no time. .....THEN, I talked with him....BOY, the story was so TOTALLY different. It was hard to believe that she had been talking about "him"...talk about "fake news"....LOL.
if you get Prostate Cancer...be honest and real and talk about it...remember "the noisy wheel gets the Oil".
**I guess if you read this far...you see I was trying to explain what "it's like" to be "me". I was going to post it on Facebook...but decided...that (it seems like) if I talk about what's going on in my life people think I am hosting a "pity party"...which is not the case..or they think I have a "bad attitude"...which NO ONE has a better attitude than I....but it just seems unreal to me what I have encountered and gone through since my "Prostate" got into the picture...LOL.
**p.s. I was researching this morning because I have been having pain across my chest bones...and in my legs...and hands...etc. I was looking at the Joy Of Lupron ...haha ...to see if these were potentially from it...OR if it was my bone cancer spreading ! ! ! It seems like it's par for the course of Lupron (which is good news)...and I get my latest Petscan read this Friday at my Oncologist at U of M Sylvester...I just finished 6 sessions of Taxotere and have been castrated for almost a year.....last p.s.a was only down to 1.1. ~~I got the oncologist to admit that this makes it looks like the cancer is aggressive...HENCE, the second opinion I am going for at the Moffitt Cancer Center on Monday. I want to make sure my next "course" is right. It's a long and winding road....and I am hoping that both agree that it will be okay for me to do a holiday (already put deposit down) to England, Scotland and Ireland for 3 weeks in August...photo is from our trip last August (a cruise in the Mediterranean). I'm trying to keep on keeping on ! ! !