The Ongoing Quest to Navigate Life's Journeys!

[tallguy86]

This is my first post and have always believed in support groups. I am at the beginning of my prostate ca journey which actually, began in 2015 with an elevated PSA and a slow-growing ca. Now it's time for treatment. I meet with a radiation oncologist in January. Trying to maintain a balance of my body-mind-spirit. And seek ideas and information that are optimal for me. Thanks.

[Hidden]

Have you had a biopsy and bone and abdominal scans? Welcome to the brotherhood.

[tallguy86 in reply to Hidden]

Yes! And thank you. Always great to receive support and understanding ( as well as suggestions and ideas).

[redsox1967]

Hello and welcome. I did most things wrong when I started. You are on the right path by reaching out for support. My Dr Indicates Diet is an important adjunct and there is good evidence low fat low sugar and calories make an impact. I would find a Dr or nutrion expertise that believes it as well. In short there is strong evidence that fat and sugar is an feeds our cancer

[tallguy86 in reply to redsox1967]

Thanks. I have on my list to see a nutritionist as well as to continue to do research on the nutritional aspects. have always been a sugar addict LOL but have done much better over the past few years. I strongly believe nutrition, exercise, spiritual practices, mindfulness meditation, maintaining optimism, etc., are all important supports and aspects of living well.

[j-o-h-n in reply to tallguy86]

Greeting TG86, Would you be kind enough to let us know more info about yourself. (you can add that info to your profile on your home page under your user Id.

Age, Location, Treatments to date, if any, Treatment Center(s), Psa and Gleason scores,

Doctor's name(s)? Thank you. All info is voluntary but it helps us help you and helps us too.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 12/15/2019 6:37 PM EST

[tallguy86 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Hey j-o-h-n, Trust you are well and thanks for the reply. Will be 72 in January and I've been in Memphis for many years. I love the culture and climate. I live in Midtown which has lots of character and (characters-lol). I live in a 100 year old bungalow and always working on a house or yard project! I retired in 2016 and it appears I am more busy now than I have ever been. But I love my Hulu and Netflix! after depleting my energy on those tasks! Had been "watching" my Psa since 2015-probably pc began in 2014. Psa is now 11.96 and GS is 6. My urologist suggested I do something at this point. My GPS score was 40 and placed me at intermediate risk. I see a RO in January at the West Cancer Clinic. Meeting with Holger Gieschen whose speciality is pc. So, I am enjoying all of my full life!

[j-o-h-n in reply to tallguy86]

Thank you for your great response. Glad to see that you're busy on that "old" bungalow. You're in the middle of blues and rock and roll. Let's pray you have good news at your meeting next month with your R O. Keep in touch with us, we're a good group.....

youtube.com/watch?v=HJLAwV_...(Not working as expected?)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 12/16/2019 1:19 PM EST

[Hidden]

Welcome to the club! I always said ..any club that would have “ ME” as a member . I’d refuse to join. Yet here we are. Good job stalling from 2015 . That’s when I went down in flames. I crawled out of it into a clear status with adt and RT only so far . These things can push down pc . But then there are the side effects .? You don’t want pc going haywire on you ., Be proactive... You are thinking correctly to address mind body and soul now. Pc will effect the mind and body negatively . Let’s work on saving our souls and living with love and compassion .You will need both . Hold those close to you dear . Next Christmas you’ll be recovered and telling us how it went. Stay in touch and be well.. Don’t take to heart any negative stats or horror stories .. With the advancement of tech I think hope will be on the horizon for new methods . We’ ve just got to be here to see it come to fruition.. One of our fellow’s Doctor told him “ you picked the best time in history to get APC . So Go on an all out health kick . That helped me stick around so far... Meditation or mindfulness with some appreciation of this world will serve you well against our common foe . I myself did a mental self imaging of my cancer going out of my body. I had this thought every day for two years of my complications that you will thankfully never experience . I saw the vase emptying my cancer . Positive thinking and staying active by practicing daily happiness is a feat in itself . I think that you ll do well ... peace of mind it required so as not to give in to gloom or doom .Follow your own pathway to healing . For me it was giving up sugar and processed foods. Some very smart guys say that diet and nutrition doesn’t matter with of . I say that a cop out to continue bad habits . A lot of guys complain about gaining belly fat . This adds to heart risk . Adt drives that also . Take care of your heart . we could beat pc and die of a heart attach .. 😂

[tallguy86 in reply to Hidden]

Lulu 700,

Thank you for your welcome and words of encouragement as well as sharing your wisdom and experience. I have always been engaged in running, biking and hiking. Now I get to the gym three times weekly. My living a healthy lifestyle has been consistent. My optimism and daily gratitude has always added hope and was especially needed and helpful when I worked within a hospital. Your comical comment at the end reminds me when I lived in another state. A friend's brother was a health fanatic. Was all health! drove his family and friends nuts because every time a bad habit was witnessed his judging comments were sermonized. Well at age 45 he was running early one morning on a rural and scenic road. A semi-truck loaded with cheese and meat products unfortunately, hit and killed him. And the guy who was driving the truck was very obese and had numerous health problems-he had a heart attack and died thus losing control of the vehicle. So, what I find most important is to enjoy and be mindful of each moment I have and what I choose to do with each moment. I still have my sugar moments but getting better! Be well!

[Hidden in reply to tallguy86]

Hit by a ham and cheese truck ? And the poor driver too? You can’t make this stuff up . Something to tell the grandkids about . Yes, we can be in clear status temporarily like I am and feeling like I beat cancer and walk in front of a yellow cab or an Uber.. I’ve become accident prone when I was never before. I need to take care with osteo not to injure my fragile feminized physique .. After throwing caution to wind with no fear of risk my entire life. I now use caution a bit more than every before .. In the grand scheme of things , I’d take a quick death by a ham & cheese truck over slowly fading away into the dust .. . I’m not going to step in front of a bus or anything like that . But if I get hit by lightening or an act of God, that’s my lot.. just fate .. melting away slowly or rapidly is worse than a quick death , I ain’t in no hurry to dive into the grave. With this disease, once it turns with intent to kill. Death will be a reward and merciful at that time .. until that day. carpe diem ... love those around us .. How tall are you? I was 6.3 3/4 now have shrank to 6.2 and other unmentionable shrinkage occurred.. Keep living amigo .. MerryChristmas to your family.🎄🎄

[David1958 in reply to Hidden]

... I was 6.3 3/4 now have shrank to 6.2 and other unmentionable shrinkage occurred...did you have RP? Shrinkage of that most unmentionable is unavoidable with RP. That is something your Urologist will NEVER tell you. Men can be so hung up on the length of their manhood that still being alive is completely missed. BTW, I am almost 6'5" too. Just not in my handle.

[Hidden in reply to David1958]

I was 6.33/4 now6.2 .. Still have my prostate . Not a candidate for rp. I had an orchiectomy . My Johnson has lost two inches off the top I guess. Nobody cares ???

[David1958 in reply to Hidden]

I am sure you care about that 2 inches! It is a shame that surgical effects like penis shrinkage are not more thoroughly discussed. Even if I had been told that would be the likely outcome, I am sure I would still have gone through with the surgery. I wanted the prostate to be gone! There are so many things to deal with post treatment for PC. The size of my johnson was not at the top of the list.

[Hidden in reply to David1958]

Dear David . I had no rp. Still have some form of prostate inside. The dick shinkage is adt I think. I chopped the boys but not my penis. Life and avoiding pain are tops on the list ., Take care .😂

[tallguy86 in reply to David1958]

David, yes many men get so caught up with their penis and their lives are defined by it! Unfortunately, a big part of that is reinforced and promoted by society. We are sexual and sensual beings. There are many ways to get in touch and express both. After high school, I by choice, lived a celibate life within a communal group. I didn't die due to a lack of sex. Lol. However, I did learn, discover and experience entire areas and pieces of my life that continue to enrich me to this day. All of my senses were developed and used to creatively enrich my body, mind and spirit. So, your point about being fully alive is well-taken.

[tallguy86]

I am almost 6'5" and yes it was while I was in Wisconsin. When I am outdoors, walking, in a store, etc., I have found when too much is swirling around me people, traffic, (trees-lol-falling down) I just physically stop for a moment and take it all in by observing and listening. The act of stopping and being truly present in that instance I have found to be quite amazing in what I see and hear. If it's my time I want to be surrounded by family and friends, standing on top of the Grand Canyon at sunset. Morphine drip, Godiva chocolate and my final Starbucks...then a gentle push. Now I know the tourists at the bottom of the canyon will be traumatized but there is PTSD counseling for that. Be well and enjoy the holidays!

[Hidden in reply to tallguy86]

Hahahaha hehe ! The canyon is not far from

Here. You’re giving me ideas. Take care tall guy!

[tallguy86]

I visited many years ago and still have wonderful memories of it all! Can't really find the words about its grandeur and beauty!

[Hidden in reply to tallguy86]

Words don’t describe it . Take care !😎