Entry 74
This is a note to let you know there has been a change in the current status of my prostate cancer.
The PC has upped its game and the challenge now is to adjust my treatment regimen to address it. As a result, my Urologist for the past 11 years, Dr Jeff Saranchuk has handed me over to the Medical Oncology department at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg to develop a new course of action.
That has happened and I am now totally in the care of Dr. Joel Gingerich. Margaret and I had >1 hour consultation with him which went very well and left us totally impressed. My other health care workers speak very highly of him and reference how smart, caring and professional he is. I think I am in good hands for the next 40 miles.
I have been up to my ass in tests to confirm the treatment regimen Dr. Gingerich described to us. Two tests this week with a bunch more to come including redoing the CT and Bone Scans to see if the PC has made further incursions. At this point the lesions on the pelvis remain sclerotic and not lytic - the lesser of two evils.
At this point I am experiencing no pain and feel fine.
My PSA went down yet again. Dr. Gingerich cautioned me not to get excited about the drop because it was likely caused by the December radiation treatment on my hip. The unexpected decrease was fortunate in that it will give us time to plot the treatment schedule instead of rushing it.
That treatment will include chemotherapy- docotaxel. Not surprising. Every 3 weeks for 30 weeks. Depending on when it starts that will last into mid to late summer. Clearly travel is not an option for me.
I’m also registered for a clinical trial and did the tests for it yesterday. Interestingly they take blood samples as well as tissue samples from your prostate gland. What? But I no longer have a prostate gland! He reminded me that I had agreed to put my prostate gland in a tumour bank at Health Sciences Centre after it was removed 11 years ago - research purposes. Completely forgot.
I am wait listed for the clinical trial of Radium 223 and probably won’t get in, but now that I am registered and tested, all my DNA information is on file for future immunotherapy treatment. Assuming I need it.
Additionally, last week I underwent a bone building/strengthening process that is administered by IV drip over 30 minutes every three months (for the foreseeable future). It will help mitigate the bone loss due to the cancer. The drug is called Zoledronic Acid or trade name Zometa.
That’s about as much as I know at this point. None of it is overly surprising to me. We knew the cancer was making its break for freedom and now we know it has been successful. We will see if medical science can slow it down.
My new mantra comes courtesy of the poet Robert Frost when he said, " The only way out is through". Giddyup!
