I am working on a book about my experience with mCRPC from a humorous perspective. I know...it's not funny, but finding the humor in such situations is often the bet way to cope. And I want others to see that.
So...I'd like to hear any story you might have about something funny that has happened during your mCRPC diagnosis and treatment. I will keep the source anonymous, if you wish, or share if you allow.
To see some examples of my previous publications, check my name [George Wilkerson] at Amazon or on my web site drwrite.com.
Thanks and best to everyone else who's riding this train with me.
George
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DrWrite
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At 46 years old my life changed from normal and a bright future to praying I'll live to see 70. It's hard to make a decision on anything without weighing in on if I'm even going to be around to enjoy it. I have a daughter in college that I'm helping with tuition and medicals bills pinching my every financial decision. I have 2 other daughters that have graduated and pray I'll live to see them prosper and grandchildren. My diagnosis was bleak and I'm doing well but feel lucky compared to what others on here have been and are going through. We live and we laugh and we look forward to a bright future however I find nothing fun about the mental effects, treatment or future of a Stage IV cancer diagnosis.
Amen, brother...this has done absolutely nothing to instigate laughter... j-o-h-n is as much laughter as I've gotten from this hell ship...a fellow sufferer who uses humor to raise the spirits of other sufferers... sound like happy to you??
I recommend “ The ballad of Buster Scrubbs” on Netflix for some gallows humor .. anything that causes a smile isn’t wasted .... laughter insights good endorphins ...... pluck the day!
I like humor. Some of the best laughing I've done in recent years has been with other Stage IV cancer patients from cancer support group(s). It lifts my spirits.
Crazy video ...gi-Gong for prostate freaked me out . though , I agree , if we can’t laugh with each other about this altered life , then with whom? Looks like we are not the first guys to walk this path ...I think APC was designed to take an old tuff guy out .Of course only 100 yrs ago life expectancy for a man in the US was 49 ..I think many died young from APC then as now .. . So the ones that now get a few more years out of life mustn’t waste it .. Thanks Charles , for the humor .. walnut..😅
Maybe humorous to others, but was extremely uncomfortable for me. After my Dx from biopsy early 2018, I went in for scheduled CT & Bone scans on Feb. 13th. This just happened to coincide with my 63rd birthday.
So as most of us know, when you get marshaled through a hospital everyone there is trained to check your wrist-band. You are constantly asked, what is your name and what is your birthday (all stuff that's on the band).
Here I was, Dx with advanced PCa as my biopsy revealed most all of 12 cores with Gleason 9 cancer. I was here that day to get scans ... yet every one was wishing me "Happy Birthday"? Were they crazy?
There was nothing 'happy' about that day and by the end of the day I was ready to punch somebody if I heard it again!
Yet now over a year later, I look back and think it was a good day. My scans did not reveal signs of spread, and so I was Dx as non-metastatic. This Dx opened the door for me to enter a clinical-trail that I attribute to my recovery. Recovery meaning, that so far blood tests have shown no signs of recurrence.
My husband's journey was far from numerous. I understand and see the intention you have, but I'm not sure if many men with advanced prostate cancer find humor in their journey.
The only thing my husband would joke about was him experiencing menopause before me. Other than that, my husband appreciated life and all it has to offer. We celebrated everything big and small. Humor is away if not addressing or processing your feelings. I think time would be better spent trying to change ones perspective on life and enjoy it. You'd be surprised how contagious that is for others. My husband's doctors couldn't believe how he handled his cancerjourney. We would have long conversations about it. All those who knew him were inspired. I think this attitude is healthier for the patient , caregiver and friends and family more than humor would be.
Sincerity and humor can go hand in hand ... my wife and I joke because we are both in menopause ,hot flashing and all of the wonders that it brings . We laugh we cry .All together .. I know that the end is no joke with APC ,but until I reach that stage I need to enjoy what I can . That includes laughing with those aboard the same leaky ship.. Your husband set a good example how to go with peace . Thank you for sharing this . May he be at peace . Bless you Godchild 🙏
I would read these. I have approached just about everything, good or bad, with humor. Though people are suffering, there can be moments of humor they experienced through it. I know it is not for everyone. But for those who would appreciate and even need it, I wish you good luck!
Humor is my preferred coping mechanism. I like Scott Adams' theory about the six dimensions of humor (endlesswatts.com/6-dimensio.... If you can combine several dimensions into one joke, you can make most people laugh.
With cancer, "cruel" is the easiest dimension to get. If you can make the listener (or reader) just the right amount of uncomfortable, they will naturally laugh to ease the tension. Prostate cancer involves reproductive organs, so making a joke a bit naughty isn't too difficult either. If there's a touch of absurdity or the bizarre about it, even better.
In my darkest days, I joked about how if you included my catheter, my junk now was swinging just above my knees. During chemo, I joked about hair loss and how probably the only hair that would remain afterwards would be my ear hair. When my hair didn't all fall out I joked (truthfully) about how the hair loss had occurred where most people couldn't see it. I myself find it very humorous that my mother worries about opioid addiction, worries about the dangers of radiation from CT scans, and generally worries about everything except me dying from cancer.
I'm inspired by Eric Idle and his song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life", particularly the verse "You'll see it's all a show, keep 'em laughing as you go, just remember that the last laugh is on you". I might die tomorrow, so I want to laugh as much as possible today.
I don't know if this funny enough for your book. But in MSKcc you can have them use a nickname to address you by instead of your surname. MY surname is difficult to pronounce and usually gets butchered when being called by the doctor's clerical staff.
So instead of me being tuned to hearing variations of my name pronounced I told them to use my nickname 'HANDSOME'. Well you should see the people's looks when the clerk comes out to get me from a huge waiting room full of patients and loudly calls out "HANDSOME" and I nonchalantly get up from my seat and follow the clerk into the doctor's examination room area. (BTW I am handsome).
Oops. I almost forgot that sometimes I pretend that I didn't hear me being called, just to make them call me "HANDSOME" again.
As I was preparing for a Lupron shot, the nurse checked my blood pressure and stopped, saying it was 190 over 100. She called my Oncologist who calmly replied, what do you think your pressure would be if someone was about to give you that shot. Needless to say, I suffered no ill effects.
I'm optimistic by nature so it's tough to be "down" about anything for more than a few minutes. I can usually find something funny to say to people and I have one oncologist whom I can always make laugh. Laughter is really the best medicine; indulge in it often.
When I had my Foley catheter before I had a TURP I commented it would be a great time to get into a beer drinking contest. Didn't happen, but I would have won hands down.
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