After seven years of fighting this disease with chemo, radiation, ADT, and abiraterone, I suffer from fatigue, nerve damage and paralysis and nerve pain in my left foot from radiation treatment, as well as depression, and a constant feeling of uncertainty.
However, I am now free to let go of the life, career and societal conformities that defined me before I became sick. I can now pursue a life of playing with my granddaughters, volunteering, writing, painting, drawing, traveling and exploring nature. Ironically, this disease has given me the opportunity to take my life in a new direction.
I know that my prostate cancer will still inflict more pain and ultimately death upon me but I will not spend my time obsessed with this disease in the time I have. I will instead focus as much as I can on embarking on new experiences and ones that I once enjoyed as a young man.
I will continue treatments and all it takes to stay as healthy as I can, but my focus will be on enjoying life to its fullest whenever and wherever possible. This is my promise to myself.
I wish that we all find the joy between the hard times and that we laugh with our friends and family until we can't laugh anymore.