quiet reflections, roller coasters & dreams of remission.

[greatjohn]

Wow, Just Wow.

"Feeling optimistic after hearing the

New Radiologist Oncologist's

Plan of treatment 🥳

**he even mentioned the "c" word...cure"

This memory from exactly one year ago popped up today on my Facebook feed. What an amazing rollercoaster this past 12 months has been. I went (at the date of this post) from having 3 metastasis...one on pelvic bone too small to biopsy and two in the lymph nodes in my pelvic area ...to just after this post having almost a dozen rounds of radiation to those three spots (oligomastic treatment) in hopes of having a LONG remission or possible C U R E. After radiation PSA went down to appx 1.0 for the first time since I did Chemo 3 years ago AND My 3 little spots which on a scan had either shrunk in 1/2 or completely disappeared...

Only to have my PSA climb back up so rapidly (hence the rollercoaster analogy) to now it is 20.9. ....and my Metastasis have now gone to about a dozen places...in bones...all over my body. Femur left side, right and left clavicle (collar bones) two vertebra in mid section of my back, humerus bone on right side and several other places including my sternum. So I stand now trying to decide on my next course of action...with the memory of how this one went...sadly, so fresh in my mind.

**on a bigger scale learning experience. Things which happen and seem good and promise hope...sometimes offer nothing. While things(choices) which seem inconsequential and offer nothing ...might be the best choice. I'm standing now and sometimes sitting on the marble bench...facing a beautiful "reflection pond"...looking at the doors ahead and "reflecting".

Life is certainly interesting (and beautiful)

gJohn

*pic of me "coming up from the Ganges"( AKA the canal behind our home..LOL) ...about 15 years ago.

[Don_1213]

"Life is certainly interesting (and beautiful)" Thank you GreatJohn - that pretty much sums it up.

[greatjohn in reply to Don_1213]

Yes indeed

[LearnAll]

Your picture is interesting...Massiah or Holy Ghost

😀

[greatjohn in reply to LearnAll]

Guru coming up from baptism in the Ganges... The Christ coming up from the river Jordan.Me coming from my pool and creating the illusion that I am just coming up from the canal 😇

[Hidden in reply to greatjohn]

On day at a time “ Sweet Jesus ”! 🙏

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Greatjohn , you have a great spirit . 🙏

[Magnus1964]

Beautiful picture, long life and good health John.

[greatjohn in reply to Magnus1964]

Thanks...an old pic "reworked" with some of the Facebook "photoshop" type filters.....Best of health, happiness...and JOY to you.

[Kaliber]

Im hoping for the “ C “ word for you, even the “ R “ word ( remission) would be good.

Hope this period of serenity lasts a good long time big guy.

🌸🌼🌈😊🦋🌻❤️❤️❤️

[greatjohn in reply to Kaliber]

thanks, I'm in a precarious spot...however the vista is amazing.gJohn

[Kaliber in reply to greatjohn]

😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️

[Peterd110]

Keep on keeping on, John. ❤️

[greatjohn in reply to Peterd110]

Yes I shall and hopefully along the path of least resistance 😊All the best to you on the journey.

[Shooter1 in reply to greatjohn]

Still following your experiences. Luck has been with me, still supposed to be in remission. PSA has come up 0.1 in last 9 mo and seems to have plateaued again. Next tests next week and see MO week later;. Hoping for no change again, but a little up/down would be normal... This darned new normal, no real stamina Kind of Sucks, but if I would quit doing things that beat on my old bod, maybe I would do better... Grandson visiting again for a few weeks, so I will be busy. A 5 yr old have lots of energy and snow/ ice on roads really limit the bike riding... Oh well, walks to the library and back (1 mi +) will keep us both a little worn out. Covid shot tomorrow. 70+cancer and I moved up list.

[greatjohn in reply to Shooter1]

Happy you are getting the vaccine! And have fun with your grandkids 😊

[Charlesd]

Dear Great John, I have been following you from your beginning post. Your thoughts & comments have been an encouragement to the brave men fighting this plague. My thoughts are often of you & you have been in my prayers. You have a lot of courage & fight a good battle. May God's Love & Peace always be with you. My husband had your courage & Peace. Keep on Keeping On.

[greatjohn in reply to Charlesd]

Thanks so much for your kind words. I still feel blessed by just being here and having no real pain yet.

[monte1111]

What a great picture. What a different world it was for all of us - 15 years ago. Ganges was funny; but it sure went with the picture. I think I should have stayed out of the Love Canal.

[greatjohn in reply to monte1111]

Different indeed...but you need travel back to 2000 to really see what a difference can happen over night (9/11)...

[treedown]

I remember that GJ. It was right about the time I found the forum or maybe the time I started engaging. Sorry to hear about the progression of the disease but happy for the progression of your soul. Life is a beautiful thing, one day at a time. Thanks for posting.

[greatjohn in reply to treedown]

Yes I am blessed

[Mascouche]

Despite your trials, you appear to be in a good place in your head and that is a blessing of its own. I wish you continued peace of mind brother and I physical health as well of course. 🙏

[greatjohn in reply to Mascouche]

Just read most of your journey as described in your profile... you’ve had quite a journey yourself. Thanks so much for your kind words and I wish every blessing in your future.

[RalphieJr64]

I’ve been going through the most challenging time of my life with this aggressive form of my prostate cancer. What I do is exactly what you do John, and that is to keep fighting with a good attitude and a lot of prayers. We’re still here. Riding that roller coaster proves it. Keep fighting brother. Ralph

[Hidden in reply to RalphieJr64]

🙏🙏

[greatjohn in reply to RalphieJr64]

Thanks Ralph... all the best

[Fuzzman77]

Hoping for the best for you John. I know I have been very lucky, and maybe you will be too. With all the new treatments it’s hard to predict the future. Sure has been a lot of new thing just since I was dx’d in 2014.

[Bodysculpture]

What a journey John You are a winner that's clear

[tom67inMA]

Great post! Sadly I'm in a position to completely sympathize with you, having gone from a PSA of 216 to undetectable and hoping to stay that way for years on abiraterone. Of course that ended when NEPCa appeared a little over a year after diagnosis, which was brought to the brink of extinction (at least to the resolution of a CT scan) with chemo and radiation, grew back, completely ignored the third flavor of chemo, and now seems to be responding again to the fourth. All that in just over two years. Yes this is a roller coaster.

Thank you for sharing your journey. From you I've learned not to panic when things are going the wrong way, and to enjoy life (particularly food) while we're have it.

[greatjohn in reply to tom67inMA]

Such kind words... thanks so much. Peace and healing to you .

[larry_dammit]

Good luck there John, always like to hear of a promising treatment, keep up the fight there warrior 🙏🙏🙏

[HealThyb]

your writing seems to come from an exquisite view with mindful reflection and peace which passes all understanding. What a beautiful and crazy life we all live.

On a personal note thank you for so many funny, upbeat responses in this forum. Really great to read your “take”on so many of these posts. Laughter is good medicine.

[tallguy2]

Wow, thanks for sharing this. I too am on that roller coaster. Unfortunately there is no cure yet for metastatic PCa. But having a “plan” for the current phase and the next few steps when reoccurrence happens has given me some

Comfort. May you get that plan real soon, John.

[Newyork6264]

Seems lots of us are on a roller coaster. Best of luck to you and love the attitude.

[MateoBeach]

Such a beautiful picture. And a reminder of the magnificent beauty that is your life. Roller coaster and all. Thank you for being you in this way. Ma Ganga ( the Ganges) is considered the mother Goddess (Nature) that holds us all.

[Hidden]

Hey greatjohn! This pic looks to me , like a baptism? Wonderful . Keep rockin amigo .

[j-o-h-n]

Shit......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Tuesday 02/02/2021 9:58 PM EST

[GoBucks]

I hate roller coasters. My favorite ride at Cedar Point is the French fries. Wishing you great fries and no more rides.

[greatjohn in reply to GoBucks]

Great fries...Now that is a plan!

[Zolababs]

🙏🙏🙏