"Back From The Duke" -----Update # 98

I got a lot of encouraging information at Duke. My new Doc is world-renowned and was even being complimented in the general waiting room by the other patients! The inevitable “waiting room talker” was singing his praises and said at “home” they didn’t give him much chance but the Doc had cured him!  He has even been invited to teach at Johns Hopkins, the rival with Duke as the best cancer hospital in the world.

The scary news I received right before I left for Durham was that my PSA had gone from 373 to 599..a 226 point rise in 24 days. The Doc said he puts very little stock in the PSA, his criteria of importance is 1) Pain level, 2) the scans, 3) the PSA. He said the scans haven’t changed that significantly since my last scan in October. His primary concern was managing the pain. There is a trial coming in July that he said he was anxious to get me in because of my history of tolerance. He was very impressed with the fact that I have had this so long and been given so much chemo and yet I’m still in “remarkable shape” (his words).

Most people have organ damage, weak bones, debilitating bone pain (as in a wheel chair) and are in overall poor health…He said, “you have none of that!” I could see the glee in his eyes. I kinda figured they would want to see why I’ve tolerated all this stuff so well.
So I’m just going to be an ole lab rat for the next few months.

The first order of the day is to relieve the pain and get this beast under control and stabilized. It’s unclear as this point if they will try a new chemo or an alternative to “bridge” between now and the July clinical trial.
A lot of what he said in the meeting is still a little foggy in my mind (like that’s news) but I will be able to better explain as things unfold. He and my Charlotte Doc are to talk to day.

The bottom line is that I’m very encouraged, optimistic and as positive as ever that I’m going to win!

Duke Hospital is a massive place, the entrance has valet parking and looks more like a high-end resort than a hospital. There is such a feeling of optimism and hope all around….you can feel it!

I’ve had a pretty queasy stomach ever since I started taking the pain medications so I got to experience something the other night that I bet most of you haven’t..…I threw up into an electric fan….it was on a small stool right next to the trashcan I was aiming for. I know it’s a little gross but you have to admit….it is funny and you just can’t make this shit up!

I told you all this Praying and Spiritual Energy was working and it really has! Please keep it up! More later! Bob