These are some of my earlier blogs on facebook. I will post them on this site and continue to update you with what I know, don't know, my strengths and fears as I triumphat over this interruption in my life.

First post was on Feb 13, 2009

I am on my last leg of preparing myself for Image Guided IMRT. My markers have been placed in my prostate, and I go for my MRI tomorrow for a final pelvic picture which will be used to synchronize my daily CT scan with my MR to calibrate that days treatment.

From my readings there is minimal long term side effects.......I will post weekly as to my findings and any short term side effects from my treatment. Please understand everyone's body will react differently.....I am hoping and am very optimistic there will be know side effects at all.

Doctor's prognosis is 9 weeks of treatment...

I had stopped going to the gym since Nov 15, 2008 when this all started to unfold......but, am resuming exercising vigously as I did before......I know that I will have some side effects form the Lupron, but I believe that will be minimal as well......as I plan on doing more cardio, and light weights lots of reps.

I also plan on seeng a nutrionist to discuss foods for detox as well as cancer fighting.....I currently have a friend who also was diagnose with prostate cancer......he has opted for curing himself by exercise and diet.....he will be going to his doctor next month for his first evaluation in 60 days being on his diet/exercise program. (one benifit s he lost 45 pounds so far.)

I wish all healthy recoverys.....and keep spreading the word to friends, family.......prostate cancer is becoming an epidemc and needs to be kept in check

Much love to all

Karl

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February 21, 2009

Update....

This past Friday I went for my last fitting of the Trilogy Radiation machine. I have a few more lines and marks on my body to prepare for IGT IMRT.

When this was happening it sounded like the Technicians were playing battleship with my body.......calling out all sorts of coordinates and aligning the table and Radiation head to target the prostate area.

In my case...my prostate is 80% occupied with cancer cells....9-12 biopsies came back positive with 60% of the needle as a minimum of cancerous tissue, and the cancer cells starting to evade my lopes..(Outside tissue).

I start this Monday Feb 23. will receive 180gy for 10 minutes for 45 treatments. Plus have hormone therapy (Lupron) for 6 months.

I inquire about a nutritionist......found out that I will have a weekly meeting with Michelle the in-house nutritionist. I was very happy to hear about that....I was prepared to see one to assist in eating the correct food to help with the radiation, but more of clearing my body of the dead cells.

IMHO....I believe that once you hear the words, "you have cancer" do not panic........ask your doctors questions leading up to that point of your process, and don't read or research beyond that point. You will go crazy thinking the worse. In my case I have joint pain from my ball playing days....now I thinking it is cancer.....well...after the soft tissue scans, and bone scans..... was told I have degeneration of some joints. Shoulders, Hips, Knees, Left Elbow and both ankles.....but everything else is okay.....LOL

The degeneration is not from cancer but from playing sports.....so I have much work to do on slowing the process of arthritis...more so the worrying about prostate cancer.

The other important issue....getting back on point, don't panic....listen to your doctor, research what he says....question, and if necessary get second opinions.

Even though I was told I was positive for Cancer on Jan 8....this whole process started in November 10 2008, and I will be starting my first treatment some 100 days later.

I fell good about my choices....good about my doctors, technicians, and nurses, and confident that all this energy everyone is exerting will eradicate the cancer from me successfully with minor side effects, and no long term side effects.

I will be back on Friday..Feb 27, to let you know, if Michelle was pretty...LOL, and how my first week went.

Love to all and if you wish to ask me any questions or just talk....feel free to contact me.

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February 27, 2009

Well the first week is over, made many new friends at the treatment center.

First day....little anxious and worried, maybe even fearful........I was going to start eradicating this cancer from my body......after some more thought I renewed my strength and determination, by placing faith in myself and all the support staff and doctors.

Also....I met Michelle the nutritionist, who was a pretty, youthful energetic individual...I new some how she practiced what she preached.

What she advised me after a long discussion.......only take 1 multiple vitamin....no mega doses of anything else, and stay away from any antioxidants........and let the radiation do its job, by taking vitamins, I am helping to protect all my cells, including the cancer cells from the radiation.
(IMHO....It makes sense, but I think it is a topic that is still being argued in the field of Radiation.)

Well making it through the other 4 days was easy.....and I met with the nurse on my way out after the 5th day, asking for any issues or problems. I only had 2..... The gowns they provide are to small, LOL, and the night before I had the sweats.....Actually Hot Flash, side effect from the Lupron. AS the nurse called it, Menopause....LOL

Everything else is okay........going to the Gym regularly, played softball on Wednesday night.....have lots of energy.....even was intimate after the 4th treatment and everything worked just fine.

PS. Talk to your doctors and nutrionist before treatment, to see what you can, can't, should and should not do.....I feel this is very important.

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March 26, 2009

Okay........quick update on events.......time goes quick

Made the halfway mark, this Friday will be my 25 treatment, with 20 more treatments to go with only a small short term side effect. Little pain from hemorrhoid tissue aggravated by the radiation, I am currently using over the counter remedies.

Next week starting my 26 treatment things change up a little, they call it the boost phase, where the radiation field becomes narrower, and they will shoot from more angles pin pointing more exactly on the prostate gland. From what I understand and looking through the pages in my patient book at the treatment center, the field range currently is about 3 inches wide, and they will be taking down to approximately 2 inches.

Working out at the Gym is progressing well; find myself getting back into a routine. Working out light, but high reps......current weight is 297lbs, hopefully by August back down to 250lbs, and possible start jogging again.

One of the emotional sadness’s I am going through is meeting people in treatment and they graduate from treatment and move on......and you know that the bonding and friendships formed in the brief time were real, but it is or seems like to ships passing in the night, and you hope and prayer that their efforts, and their doctors where not in vain, and that they remain clean from cancer. God I do prayer.....for all of them. Amazing the courage many of them have demonstrated......

Well I be back to discuss more......I am contemplating, using a stronger remedy for the rectal pain, but I going to wait and see how another person fairs out on it for 5 days.

Stay Well, Stay Strong, Stay Peaceful