As I write this I’m almost speechless (an oxymoron I know). I’m going to start with the bad news…….My PSA has risen 40 points to 373….one point shy of where I started in 2009 at 374. At first the Doc said let’s stay the course with another treatment of Jevtana. Maybe it was the look on my face or the fact that I said “Are you kidding me?” that brought on the discussion of alternatives. The bottom line is that the only drug(s) that has worked and worked well, the clinical trial drug and Taxotere, is not available to me because of bureaucratic red tape. We discussed several alternatives, none of which seemed acceptable so the outcome of the Doc visit is that I’m going to Duke! Yeah, Being a Gamecock I wish it was University of South Carolina Medical too but what can ya do?
That’s the good news part! Duke is one of, if not the, premier, cutting edge, cancer treatment center in the world. And it’s right down the road. I have to have a bone scan and a heart scan to make sure I’m eligible for whatever trial they decide fits. I hope this doesn’t get weird…..ya know I’m up for anything but I don’t want to start losing or adding body parts along the way.
I’ve had several people comment on their positive feelings about this route. I’ve always been of the opinion that there is not a medical practice or hospital out there that has found the magic bullet…..and nobody else knows about it. My Doc has just run through his protocol for the cancer type I have and so I think they are perplexed and out of ammo….cause I’m still Vertical!
At Duke I may get to try all kinds of stuff and since I have a history of tolerance with these drugs they could have a field day with me….and that’s fine…just cure me and not kill me in the process. This is like graduate school….and, who doesn’t want to say they went to Duke.
The back pain continues to be an issue. Once the scans are in the Doc said if I had any “Hot Spots” on my back I can get them radiated and it will relieve some of that.
I don’t know the schedule for anything yet but stay tuned.
I’ve had calls from lots of folks today, some I know and some I don’t. I will get back to you...I’m working on it.
If you know me you know of my love of animals….all of them are beautiful and some of them are….delicious!
Please continue your Prayers and Spiritual Energy and include all those that are fighting the beast, there are so many suffering and much worse than me. I'll be back in touch. Bob
Ya know sometimes we don't know why we are going
ReplyDeletein the direction our life takes us. We just have
to trust that we are swimming to what is given to us for a better tomorrow.
P.