tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8863506439736321922024-03-06T12:01:18.105-08:00LesHasCancerLes Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-53414758748736725232022-03-23T17:13:00.008-07:002022-03-23T17:13:44.769-07:00<p><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">March 23, 2022 – Back
on Track</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Well, I have
much good news and some clarification.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Kidney Stones</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I had the
kidney stone operation and it was successful.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Aside from the catheter that I had to wear for two weeks, the
urethroscope and laser didn’t change my urinary flow rate.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">The journey they took through my wounded prostate
(from Brachytherapy and a TURP) only had a little bleeding.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Not to be
undone, the after-surgery CAT scan showed that I have five more stones lurking
in both kidneys.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">This resulted in the
urologist performing a lithotripsy (ultrasound) to remove two of them on the
other kidney.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">None of these were
blocking the ureter, so no pain.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">No pain
= no more lithotripsy.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Now I wait until
one of these 2-7 mm stones gets into the ureter. Wonderful.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Note:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Waiting plus 64 ounces of water per day is the treatment prescribed by
two urologists.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I changed urologists
after the last lithotripsy because my new urologist has a relationship with my
oncologist.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">This blog isn’t
about kidney stones so I will stop to say that I need to drink more, drink
lemonade or cider vinegar, and avoid nuts—especially almonds.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">All I can say about this is %$^&*%!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">What about
the diverticulitis?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I’ve heard not a
word about that and I feel no pain, so I conclude that diverticulitis was a miss-diagnosis.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">This is good news!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">PSA</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">In my November
and February checkups I discovered that the Casodex did its thing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">My PSA has returned to less than 0.1 ng/ml
and stayed there.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Casodex for the time
being is my friend, as it has been in the distant past.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">My testosterone level is 9, so I continue to
feel tired at times and have to fight the loss of muscle mass.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Because I am
having to take Prolia for the osteoporosis caused by the hormone blockers, I
had to consult with my doctor before having a root canal on tooth #18.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I have been told not to have any major dental
work that might start an infection that could lead to the death of my jaw
bone.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I did have the root canal and all
appears to be good.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Life is good
as travel restrictions lift so that boosted me and boosted Kathe can do some
local and distant travelling.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">It is back
for a visit to San Diego in the fall.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Next Steps</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Many steps to
the bathroom to get rid of my 64 ounces!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">The best news is that constipation is no longer a problem.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Until next
time…</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Les</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-33648493137952203632022-03-23T17:11:00.000-07:002022-03-23T17:11:26.298-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Aug 27, 2021 – Rising
PSA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Since my last
post many things have changed. The main thing is that my PSA has increased from
0.22 to 0.30 in one quarter which means that doubling time is 6 months. This
concerns me and concerns my doctor so I have now added Casodex to my drugs. I
have no other symptoms of course and I did have that Axumen PET scan that
showed no growth but the concern is still there because of the rising PSA
levels.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">To add insult
to injury, I also have had a rough time with diverticulitis. I don't know what
started the flare-up but I suspect that it's my heavily-weighted nut diet. On
one night just before my flare-up I remember I had three cups of nuts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">The pain of
diverticulosis is incredible. Almost as bad as the diverticulosis itself was trying
to get an appointment with my primary care doctor.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I ended up having to go to Urgent Care.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">When I finally did get an appointment with my
primary care doctor, I discovered that the Urgent Care doctor prescribed a drug
that actually made my condition worse. When I finally did get to see my primary
care doctor I was able to also get an appointment to get a CT scan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Unfortunately
the CT scan identified a 7 mm kidney stone.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">This raised the question, “What was causing the pain?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">…Diverticulosis or the kidney stone?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">My primary care doctor only gave ma the
message to see my urologist and so didn’t help answer this.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Frustratingly I couldn’t get to talk to him
about it because of the wall of staff built around him.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Miraculously
I was able to set up a same day appointment with my urologist!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">My urologist informed me that this had to be
fixed and that the only way it was going to be fixed would be using a
ureteroscope through my urethra and bladder to my ureter, where the stone
is.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">There, using a laser he will break
up the stone and bring it back out.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">He
wanted to perform the procedure the next day!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Fortunately for me, I have very little pain, so we don’t have to go off
half-cocked. Normally this would be messy but because of my scar tissue due to
the radiation it increases the risk that my sphincter muscle gets damaged.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">This is not
to mention the risk of going to the hospital when all of the hospitals in the
area are filled with Covid patients. I'm scheduled in a week to have the
operation and I'm hoping maybe we can at least try to use ultrasound to break
up the stone. I don't think my urologist is going to say that is a good
strategy because of the size of the stone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">I will admit
that I have some fears about what's going to happen next week</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">What To Do Next</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Of course the
next step is to get rid of the kidney stone.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">While dealing with that, I will take the Casodex and see what effect
that will have on my rising PSA.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Until then I
look forward to some relaxation of the pressure Covid is putting on all of us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif";">Les</span></p>Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-15974871652379688532021-03-08T19:15:00.007-08:002021-03-08T19:17:18.426-08:00<p><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 16pt;">March 6, 2021 – End of
COVID Year</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Yes, it is
the end of the first year that we knew about COVID, but of course it hasn’t
gone away yet.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I left you last November
with a rising PSA and a desire to get a PSMA PET scan to be sure that the
cancer hasn’t run amok.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I did get an
Axumin PET scan at Memorial Hospital in Savannah.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It turns out that my hospital, MUSC in
Charleston, does perform Axumin scans, but I couldn’t schedule a scan before my
next appointment there.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Memorial
Hospital was glad to oblige.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The results
were essentially the same as the results from the Axumin scan of 2018 in San
Diego—no new growth detected. Given what I learned at the PSMA/PET seminar
about sensitivity, I shouldn’t be surprised. My PSA is now 0.20, up from 0.15
in November. This is not enough to cause any major concern.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-family: arial;">What To Do Next</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">However, the
increase of PSA starts to raise the question of when I should consider a change
in treatment.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">There have been studies (e.g.
the ARCHES trial) that show a reduction in the risk of radiographic progression
from the use of Abiraterone or Enzalutamide with Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT)
AKA Lupron versus ADT alone.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">If this is
the case, at what point should I be taking one of these either with or without
Lupron?</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">My doctor continues to say it
isn’t time; that there are only so many bullets to shoot at the progressing
hormone-insensitive cancer and we aren’t ready to use them.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">He also hinted that the side effects may impact
my quality of life.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Impact on quality of
life makes sense, even though the studies showed that with Enzalutamide the side
effects were minimal.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Note:</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Taking either Abiraterone or Enzalutamide will
cost me $11,000-$15,000/year out of picket.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Cabazitaxil
is another drug that is used to treat ADT resistant cancer.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It appears to yield a better result than ADT
alone.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">From my reading it appears to be
more like Docetaxel, my chemo drug although the studies say that its side
effects are comparable to ADT which, as I have described in the past, are not a
walk in the park.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Other “bullets”
are immune treatments, genetic treatments, radiation using PSMA to target the metastases,
and focused ultrasound to also target the metastases.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Of course some of these treatments require
the ability to “see” the cancer with radiographic scans or to capture cancer
cells floating in the blood stream, both of which won’t work with me in my
current state of the disease.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Hence my
doctor is probably right in saying we aren’t ready to try anything else yet.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">I’m going to
look for the very latest standard of care charts to help me sort this out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-family: arial;">Diet</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I have been
having great difficulty with bowel movements—mainly hard stools.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I have tried stool softeners without
impact.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I don’t think I drink enough
water but drinking water has its side effects too.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Going to the bathroom every 60 minutes or
even more often is not fun.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I changed
from 100% Bran cereal to Fiber One which helped a little.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Both of my doctors tell me I need to eat some
of the things I’ve been avoiding because of their carb content, such as beans
and darkly colored vegetables and don’t worry so much about carbs in these more
complex foods.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">So I have been doing just
that plus the water.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I’m also cutting
back on artificial sweeteners and eating an occasional apple, strawberry, etc.
along with drinking more water.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">This has
helped.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We will now see what if anything
it does to my PSA.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="font-family: arial;">COVID<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I have had
both Pfizer vaccine doses and I am waiting until April first for my wife to
have her second Moderna dose.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Within a
couple of weeks of 4/1, we will loosen our own travel restrictions (no travel)
a little and maybe get back a little of what we have lost this past year.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I hope anyone reading this will have the same
opportunity.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Later…</span></p>Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-58702392592868656472020-11-26T18:45:00.000-08:002020-11-26T18:45:25.872-08:00<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>November
19, 2020 - The COVID Year</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, the February
checkup went okay.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">My testosterone level
went back down below 30 and my PSA went up to .08.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Since then my PSA has gone up to .10 then .15
each of the remaining quarters.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Of
course I was hoping for less, but I am not in a state of panic yet.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I guess I won’t be going off Lupron for the
foreseeable future.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My diet has
suffered thanks to COVID, but I also have some new rules on exercising thanks
to Kathe. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Pandemic</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Right after I wrote
my last blog entry, we started to learn about the coronavirus. We were scheduled to go on a cruise in early
March. We decided to take our chances
when we heard the cruise line was taking precautions. We were screened verbally, our temperatures were
taken before boarding and were told to be very careful about hand washing,
getting close to people, etc. The cruise
line and most passengers were taking it seriously. We were on board when the president had his
first major press conference showing his reaction to the virus (that it was
like the flu and was totally under control).
I immediately knew the country was in trouble. I was expecting the more typical reaction of
past presidents which would have been throwing all available resources at this
serious potential public health problem.
We left the ship on March 15<sup>th </sup>after cruising the Caribbean,
expecting some screening at Customs and Immigration. There was no screening whatsoever. We headed home from Ft. Lauderdale, stopping
at Costco on the way wearing our masks.
There was an armed guard at the door and people were social
distancing. There was no toilet paper!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We totally isolated
ourselves for the next two weeks. Since
then have gone out no more than twice per week to pick up supplies. In the early days we did curbside pickups and
then, out of frustration because the pickers couldn’t read our minds for things
like substitutions, I have been going off-hours to Walmart to do the shopping
while always wearing a mask. It has been like that for the past 7 months. We have had very occasional outdoor social
distance gatherings with the neighbors we see as treating this seriously, while
avoiding those that seem to think they are invincible. We do walk the dog regularly. We now only have one dog, having lost our
Winky in September to what we think was a stroke.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In April I had some
congestion, so I had a COVID test. It
was negative, so I chalked it up to allergies. That said, I have a belief that
one of the things we always take when we think we might be exposed to people
with colds or flu has given us a small level of protection against the
virus. This is Grapefruit Seed Extract
(GSE) which has properties that help fortify the immune system. We take 10 drops in water once or twice per day. We do this especially when we travel. As a result we seldom get the dreaded “travel
cold”. You might want to check this out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Diet
and Exercise</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With spending so
much time inside it has been tough to stay on the no sugar/low carb diet. I crave more snacks than normal and there is
so little I can eat that is low carb. I
end up eating way too much containing sugar substitutes and way too many
processed foods. To make matters more
challenging, Kathe is on a diet that is way too high in carbs, so I am fending
for myself a lot. I know this has not helped my fight against rising PSA. The good news for Kathe is that she has lost
15 pounds since the beginning of the year.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In past posts I had
mentioned my chest pains that no one seemed to be able to explain, even after a
stress test and other attempts at diagnosis.
I also had another problem with being “regular” as well. On a positive
note, thanks to my primary care doctor, I took him up on a suggestion to eat
100% bran cereal instead of oatmeal for breakfast. Both problems have seemed to go away, so I
think it may have been a combination of constipation and heartburn that led to
chest pains. 100% bran is great!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As for exercise, Kathe
and I now have a rule that we can’t watch TV unless we have exercised that
day. This has forced both of us to
exercise more. I am doing weight-bearing
exercises and stretching and she is doing aerobics. I also walk the dog at least an hour per
day. We have had our days without TV,
however.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">UTI</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In April I had an
experience I had in the past. I had a
blockage in my urinary tract that was excruciatingly painful. I tried to get an emergency appointment with
a local urologist without success, then with my primary care doctor without
success, so I ended up in the emergency room where thankfully I passed a
clot. This relieved the pressure and
pain. The diagnosis was a Urinary Tract
Infection (UTI). I started a course of Bactrim
antibiotic with that stuff that turns urine into major staining agent (Cystex). I finally got an appointment with my primary
care doctor and he switched the Bactrim antibiotic with one he said was much
stronger (levofloxacin). After about 4
levofoxacin pills I very painfully pulled a tendon in my left arch while
walking. Only then did I read that insert
that came with the levofloxacin . It
warned against tendon pulls! I
immediately stopped the levofloxacin and went back to Bactrim.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, I was
hoping that my May PSA rise in May was connected to the UTI. When my PSA went up in November, I ruled the
UTI out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">What’s
Next?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have to get back
to a better diet. At the same time it is
becoming time to get a new PET/CT scan to see if anything is happening with my metastases. I know I have a low PSA, but because I have
always had a low PSA, things could be happening in there. I have been having some strange pains
recently in my cranium and chest where I know I have mets.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would like to get
one of the new PSMA PET/CT scans that hasn’t been FDA approved. My doctor back in San Diego told me he
thought he could get me into UCLA to have a PSMA scan, but I don’t live there
anymore and there is COVID to consider. From
my research the next closest available PSMA scan would be Johns Hopkins in
Baltimore. Boy, is it hard to find
things like this out!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I can get another
Axumin scan which I have found by attending a seminar is in the same
sensitivity ballpark as PSMA.
Unfortunately my hospital in Charleston doesn’t do Axumin scans, but I
am told that a more local hospital in Savannah does do them. The challenge will be how to get the right
contacts and the prescription to get the full body scan. I am requesting the results of my last Axumin
scan from San Diego in the meantime.
Note: The most available PET/CT
scan is far too insensitive to be of use to me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Axumin
seminar they said that the sensitivity is such that they can reliably find mets
when the PSA is above .79 and even when it is as low as .50. Mine is .15, so there is a question as to
whether, even with my classically low PSA, it is too early to be able to see
anything with the scan. I really need to
talk to an expert radiologist about this.
My last scan was done when I had a PSA of .03 and the result was “no new
growth”.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That’s enough for
now…</span></p>Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-89574753572915344752020-01-26T13:10:00.000-08:002020-01-26T13:29:16.187-08:00 January 26, 2020 – Back on Lupron and Prolia<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Except for my chemo summary, I left
you in April of last year after a 6-month hiatus from Lupron, ending with my returning
to Lupron (ugh). From April to July my
PSA had gone from .70 down to .11, which made me happy that the cancer was
still affected by Androgen Deprivation Therapy (hormone blocking). By July any of the positive effects of being
off of Lupron such as stirring of sexual feelings had disappeared. That’s what no testosterone will do. At the peak of the “no Lupron” period my
testosterone level went up to 345.58 from the low double digits. It was back to 18.79 in July.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In October my PSA was down to .07
and by November it was down to .06.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Osteoporosis<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July Dr. Lilly prescribed a DEXA
scan to see where I stood with osteoporosis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately the osteoporosis had progressed, so in October in addition
to my next Lupron shot I received my first three month Prolia® (denosumab)
infusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From now on I have to be
sensitive to any side effects from denosumab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An example is Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (ONJ)—in other words dying jaw
bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drug description says I need to avoid
invasive dental work or any type of dental infection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also supposed to get plenty of Calcium
and vitamin D. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should also do
aggressive weight-bearing exercises (more on this later).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the site “Consumer Lab” I
learned a lot about Calcium and vitamin D.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First, Calcium can only be absorbed in less than 500 mg doses and it
also is better absorbed with Magnesium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, if vitamin D levels in the blood are above 80 ng/ml the outcomes
for prostate cancer patients have been worse than those with vitamin D
deficiency. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ideal range for D in the
blood is something like 50-80 ng/ml.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was tested in October to have 84.2 mg/ml, which is not bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I put the 1000 mg Calcium pills
and the high dose D3 pills aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks
to Consumer Lab and a friend of Kathe’s who waxed eloquent on the reversal of
her bone density loss due to “Bone Up”, I am now taking Bone Up capsules three
times per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each capsule has low dose
Calcium (333 mg), Magnesium (116<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mg),
and D3 (333 i.u.).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taking more
than 5000 i.u. doses of D3 per day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chest Pains<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is something else I haven’t
talked about here because I have been writing them off as minor side effects of
the cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had these pains off
and on for quite a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what
happens:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(1) I am in bed and I turn over
on my side, (2) I feel a dull chest pain in the middle of my chest,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(3) I can’t tell if my heart is beating
harder but I feel a slight constriction, (4) the pain goes away within 15
seconds, (5) I have a hot flash and go back to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After saying something about it to
Dr. Lilly he suggested that I might want to wear a heart monitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could prescribe one, but because it is not
his area getting Medicare to pay might be a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to take it up with my new primary
care doctor, Dr. Sevastos at St. Joseph’s/Candler near home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did this and Dr. Sevastos (telling me he
didn’t think it was heart), referred me to a cardiologist just in case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw the cardiologist and he said he didn’t
think it was heart either, but he prescribed a stress test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried on the treadmill, but couldn’t get my
heartbeat to go above 115.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the
cardiologist prescribed a “nuclear” test where they inject me with something
that makes my heart beat fast and they take both an ECG and take images.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was quite nervous about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to drive to Savannah (45 minutes) to
have the test and I was brave to go alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bottom line:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a piece of
cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, it took 4 hours, but I was
uncomfortable for about 5 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
a little claustrophobic under the imaging machine and I had a stomach ache that
was dealt with by drinking caffeine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
results were that they didn’t see anything wrong with my heart and in fact my
heart made an above average showing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brother read somewhere that there is a
nerve in the chest that when pressured, causes similar symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my muscle loss due to the Lupron I am
sure my insides are a little more exposed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do plan to read up on this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chitosan Trial<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In November I entered a trial being
conducted by Dr. Lilly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is to test
the effects of taking 1500 mg of Chitosan twice per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lab tests have shown that Chitosan, in
addition to some weight loss advantages, may attack proteins that are behind
the growth of some forms of cancer. As for side effects, I have noticed
occasional stomach aches since Chitosan apparently interrupts part of the
dietary cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t noticed weight
loss, but Kathe has been taking Chitosan hoping that it will help in weight
loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worse side effect is that it
disrupts my supplement schedule since I can’t take anything two hours before
and after taking Chitosan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every month
after November I have had to make the 2 hour drive to have tests for Chitosan
effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week I will see if
Chitosan has had any effect on my prostate cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This last dose of Lupron was a
4-month dose instead of 3-month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
puts me out of synch with the Prolia and neither Dr. Lilly nor I are really
sure that the dosage is correct for the last month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked that the next time we go back to the
3-month dosage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exercise<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both for the cancer and for the
osteoporosis, I should be exercising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have tried from time to time to do this, but I often come up with excuses not
to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do walk the dogs multiple
times per day for a total of an hour, but that is not weight bearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Kathe, being the good coach established a
rule for both of us:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No TV without
exercising!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t watched much TV
since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><smile><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, it has made me do a lot more
exercising, not that the TV is actually worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On February 3<sup>rd</sup> I go
back for the next checkup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hold your
breath until then to read the next in the saga. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Les <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-77307009167929300752020-01-26T10:57:00.000-08:002020-01-26T13:29:58.237-08:00September 28, 2019 - My Chemo Story (Summary)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was asked by several people to summarize my experience specifically with Chemo treatments and their effects. This is my summary. For those of you who have followed my blog, you already know most of what I am writing in this post, so I won't be upset if you skip this post and go to the next post which will be my first post in 2020.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Chemo Story</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was first diagnosed with Advanced Stage IV Metastatic
Prostate Cancer on Nov 11, 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
preceded a 22 year history of fighting PCa starting with brachytherapy in
1996.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always been saddled with
low PSA readings, so both a urologist nearing retirement and one just entering
the field did not catch the move into the metastatic phase, so I lost several
years to treat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My PSA has never been
higher than 4 but the shortening doubling time leading up to 2.89 was the clue
that my then new urologist needed to get me a PET scan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being one who tends toward aggressive treatments for my
illnesses, after a second identical opinion I decided with my oncologist to
throw everything at it, including the standard protocol, diet change, and the
taking of many supplements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The medical
protocol said that I should take 6 treatments of Docetaxel followed by hormone
blocking, using a blocker like Lupron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, we decided to go with both chemo and Lupron at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before making the final decision I had started with a low
sugar, low carb diet with supplements like Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle
Root.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This lowered my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>PSA by 25% in a month and a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also read at least one study that showed
that Modified Citrus Pectin tended to enhance the effect of the chemo on the
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When chemo started, I dropped
most of the supplements and took 1500 mg of MCP per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About halfway through the chemo treatments I
also read that AHCC (mushroom derivative) was being used in Japan in conjunction
with chemo to lessen the chemo side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was no evidence of negative effects on the chemo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then took AHCC along with the MCP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early in the chemo treatments I started losing my hair, my
nails turned yellow, and I had bouts of shooting pain seemingly all over my
body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each pain attack would be in one
specific area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost my energy and
started losing muscle mass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
have the nausea that many have had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
I added the AHCC, the side effects seemed to fade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost less hair and the pain attacks seemed
less frequent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason I tell
those going through chemo to consider taking AHCC with the chemo to reduce side
effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never know whether AHCC
might have headed off some of the side effects like hair loss, but I suspect
that it might have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within a few months my PSA dropped to .06, then to .03 with
a more sensitive test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about the 18
month mark, I had another PET scan with a new isotope and there were no signs
of new growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At that point, because
the side effects from Lupron are nearly as bad as chemo, I decided to hold off
on the Lupron injections to see if my natural supplements and diet could hold
the cancer off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>6 months later I was
tested and my PSA rose from .04 to .7 with a doubling time of about 4 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately my regimen wasn’t holding the
cancer at bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went back on Lupron
three months ago and will be tested in a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this time my symptoms have been pretty tolerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In spite of my low sugar diet, my glucose
levels are pre-diabetic, so I am taking Metformin, both to lower sugar levels
and for its off-label use to help treat some cancers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lupron made me lose muscle mass, lose ALL sex
drive, gave me neuropathy in my feet, gave me osteoporosis, and, according to
my wife, has affected my brain function somewhat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do hate taking Lupron but I don’t want to
die just now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to
thank Dr. Ramdev Konijeti at Scripps, La Jolla for ordering the PET scan and
Dr. Munveer Bhangoo at Scripps for working with me on the treatment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Les Briney<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-17822540879735486562019-04-05T14:06:00.001-07:002020-01-26T13:30:50.249-08:00April 5, 2019 - Setback Time<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left you in October of last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much has happened since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, Kathe and I moved from the San Diego
area to the Hilton Head, South Carolina area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The move was extremely stressful as we (1) got rid of lots of stuff, (2)
packed 400 boxes, (3) finally sold our house in San Diego, (4) sold one of our
cars, (5) had Mayflower truck our stuff to South Carolina, (6) carried the dogs
on the plane, and (7) unpacked, trying to get rid of stuff in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime I am still off of Lupron and
continuing my diet and supplement regimen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been somewhat difficult to get an oncologist here since
they are in short supply in this part of South Carolina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several new friends have said that the locals
call this the “Low Country” which is a geographic term, but a better description
would be to call it the “Slow Country” because things don’t move at the
expected pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is the case for the
staff for one oncologist I tried to connect with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of frustration and also because of good reputation,
I finally contacted the Oncology Department of the Medical University of South
Carolina in Charleston, a 2-hour drive away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The staff there acted much like Scripps in California—professional and
to the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was assigned to Dr.
Michael Lilly who heads the Prostate Cancer Oncology group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Lilly was educated in San Diego and worked
at UC Irvine for many years so he understands my accent (kidding).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">First South
Carolina examination</b> – I went through the usual blood tests and received
some not-so-happy results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My PSA has
risen from .08 in December to 0.70 in the last 3 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This translates to a doubling time of about 4
months, predicting that 0.70 would go to 1.40 in that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Testosterone level went from 42 ng/dl to
345 ng/dl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of my tests were
pretty much normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much for going
without Lupron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course Dr. Lilly
would prefer to have more readings (wait for 4 months), but since the cancer
was invading my whole body with a PSA of 1.6 in the past, I don’t like to mess
around and give it a chance to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Going from 0.08 to 0.70 is an 8.75 times increase and the same with
testosterone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had hoped that things
would move much more slowly with my diet and supplements, but now I will be
back on Lupron next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Metformin</b> – So
I have been taking 500 mg Metformin for the past several months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am doing this because I am pre-diabetic in
spite of my low sugar diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
something about the diet that impacts my glucose levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am taking it also because of an off-label
use to slow cancer growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what has
it done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know--other than make
me lose weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to lose weight
so I eat more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My glucose levels are
lower, but I don’t know if it is having any impact on the cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Otherwise I am not feeling any side effects I would
consider to be from the cancer itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
do have lots of somewhat normal aches and pains and some residual from the
chemo like nasty toenails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For that I
went to a podiatrist for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My toes are looking much better now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ll see what’s next for the now Ex-Remission Man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-19505733658254980082018-10-23T22:15:00.003-07:002020-01-26T11:13:27.550-08:00October 23, 2018 – Follow-up, no Lupron“Remission Man Gets Checked” was the headline in the
local paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, it didn’t make the
papers because it wasn’t that exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
my September 7<sup>th</sup> checkup I had asked to stop the Lupron injections
to see what might happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My oncologist agreed,
as long as we watch my PSA and testosterone levels in 6 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was my 6-week appointment.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had the labs the day before and unfortunately the
ultra-sensitive PSA results take several days because they send the sample out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime all of my other results were
extremely normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My testosterone level
is 17, which says the Lupron is still affecting me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am now chaffing at the bit to know what my
PSA is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During this period I have been taking my supplements, watching
my diet to cut down on sugar, and doing some exercising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to exercise more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel I am wasting away, although I have
only lost three or so pounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
feel skinny, seeming that my muscles are smaller and I am not as strong.<o:p></o:p></div>
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During this period I also considered the Care Oncology
Centers protocol, mainly because of a post in UsToo! from a guy with the same
Stage IV cancer who went on the COC protocol and, without Lupron, experienced
tumor shrinkage. The Care Oncology protocol is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oral atorvastatin up to 80mg once per day, oral metformin up to 1000mg
once<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>per day, increased to bid, oral
doxycycline 100mg once per day, oral Mebendazole 100mg once per day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is managed by a tele-doctor and my labs on
a quarterly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The initial tele
consult costs $800, the meds cost $60/month, and quarterly consults cost
$295.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course none is covered by
insurance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I talked to a COC specialist and he recognized that some
of what I have been doing with my supplements constitutes a metabolic treatment
(affecting cell growth).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The COC
protocol is essentially metabolic treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He talked about the advantages of metabolic treatment and how safe their
particular treatment is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He added that
he thought in my case the treatment would stave off the cancer growth and,
using doxycycline in particular will help stop calcium from leaching into the
bloodstream.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I discussed this with my oncologist, Dr. Bhangoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said the protocol could possibly help, but
that there was so little evidence that it would help in the case of prostate
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought a lot about what he
said, what the COC doctor said, and read as much as I could find on COC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to the conclusion that I would just
continue my “metabolic” treatment with the supplements that some evidence has
shown have reduced cancer cell production and see what happens without the
Lupron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll reserve COC for later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That said, I had read that metformin, which is used to
treat diabetic conditions, may be a true anti-cancer drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was first based on anecdotal evidence
that diabetics being treated with metformin had a reduced risk of cancer and
improved cancer outcomes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since this
discovery, preclinical studies have shown that metformin impairs cellular
metabolism and suppresses oncogenic signaling pathways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words it could slow cancer cell
division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Metformin also has few side
effects, the major one being diarrhea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I talked with Dr. Bhangoo about my desire to try
metformin to go with my supplements that are also trying to also slow or stop
cancer cell division.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he could
prescribe it for me and we could start with a low dosage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am very much looking forward to getting my
prescription.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am less concerned about diarrhea
because I am having the opposite problem recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am blaming my problem on the Modified
Citrus Pectin or some other supplement I am taking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being constipated is no fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My oatmeal and veggie smoothies aren’t doing
the trick.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, next we will (1) find out what my PSA reading is and
(2) see what happens when I take metformin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Signing off for now,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Remission Man<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-67010161707036029512018-08-14T21:07:00.001-07:002020-01-26T13:29:39.897-08:00August 14, 2018 - NAD Man to Remission Man<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what should I call myself now? I was “No Active Disease (NAD) Man” in June. At about the time that I wrote my last post, I received “PSA undetectable and no radiographic disease so we can say cancer is in remission!” from my doctor. Am I “Remission Man”? Perhaps for the time-being I’ll take that name! It is certainly much better than “Chemo Man”, where I started.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my last post I said that I was going to have a DEXA bone scan for osteoporosis, thanks to the possible side effect of taking Lupron, the hormone-blocker. It took my persistent doctor at least twice to figure out how to code the DEXA scan so my insurance would cover it. Apparently prostate cancer is not enough—the code must have had to point to signs of it or a strong propensity for those without testosterone to get osteoporosis. The latter doesn’t seem to be a secret, as demonstrated by the technician who performed the scan. As I went through the waiting room full of women (not one man) the tech asked me what brought me there. I said the word “Lupron” and she said, “Ohhh, I heard about that…”.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I had the scan on July 16th. I haven’t received the official results but my doctor wrote “<i>The scan looks at the bone density of the lumbar spine and left/right femur and compares against age-expected bone density. While the lumbar spine shows mild bone thinning, the femurs do meet criteria for osteoporosis.</i>” Great! The good news is the “mild bone thinning in the spine” which means I am still 6’1” tall. This also means slightly less risk of bone breakage since my femurs are generally strong. However, it also means I need to commence on a more active attack on the osteoporosis.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The doctor went on to say, “<i>It is good we are aware of this as there are several proactive things we can do to improve the bone density. Weight bearing exercise, calcium/vitamin D (I believe you are already doing this).</i>”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am taking vitamin D3 at a rate of 5000 IU per day but I have not been taking Calcium, other than the small amount in a multivitamin. I recently learned that in order for the D to be absorbed, it is best that I also take vitamin K2. So, now I am taking D3, K2, and Calcium in addition to the other 20 or so supplement pills. I am taking between 5000 IU and 10,000 IU of D3, 90-180 mcg of K3, and 1800 mcg of Calcium. The reason for the range is that I am torn. The amount of D drives the other amounts. 5000 IU is recommended, but I have had friends that reversed their osteoporosis with higher doses of D3. I may take the higher dose for a month and get my D level tested. I also heard that oatmeal (my regular breakfast) negates the effect of vitamin D, so I have to take the D at night.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am also taking a dose of CBD oil at night. I am taking CBD because some people have experienced stronger bones after taking CBD. I figure I would try it and see. I am actually taking a 30:1 concentration of CBD to THC. THC is the stuff that can make you high, but at this concentration it doesn’t. I feel nothing when I take it. I was talked into the low level THC by the argument that the small amount of THC can help in the treatment. I do think there is suppression of good news about both CBD and THC, which is an added reason to take it. It was $90 for a 30-day supply. Subsequently I have found it for less.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the exercise, I am also doing between 30 and 60 squats plus other upper body weight-bearing exercises per day. I can and should do more, but I really dislike exercising.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also am having my DNA analyzed. I am eligible for insurance coverage because of my extensive family history of cancer (dad, mother, brother, sister, and cousins). At first I had thought that this would lead to true personalized medicine, but for that I would need the DNA of the cancer itself to be analyzed. Of course with my cancer “undetected” this is not possible. I am getting my DNA analyzed for three reasons:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do I have the proclivity toward any other cancers in addition to prostate cancer?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Should other family members get their DNA analyzed because I have particular markers?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Do I have particular markers that might make me more likely to respond to specialized future treatments?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I gave the blood to Ambry Genetics and just today heard that all of the 32 markers they checked came out negative. I guess this is good. It means I don’t have a genetic proclivity toward any other cancer. It also decreases the odds that other family members could have other markers. In fact the geneticist said that I should talk my sister and niece on brother’s side into having their DNA analyzed. This is apparently because ovarian cancer in families is very rare. I don’t think I am going to talk either into this in any case.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I see my oncologist in early September. That is when I am due for my next Lupron shot. I am going to talk to him about the possibility of skipping one dose. It may be risky but taking the Lupron is having these less-than-desirable side effects. We’ll see what he says, although I do see him as wanting to stick with the prescribed program, which says to take Lupron for the rest of my life. This is to prevent the possibility that any cancer I may have may mutate into the androgen deprivation resistant form (also with the cute name “Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer”). We don’t want that because it is essentially untreatable in the long run. The strategy is to delay until they find something that stops “CRPCa”.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Onward and upward to the next month!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Remission Man</span></span><br />
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Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-4838103336052101682018-06-19T22:44:00.001-07:002018-08-14T21:12:13.184-07:00June 19, 2019 - NAD Man<br />
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Chemo Man is now “No Active Disease Man”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was going to write that my last
PSA test showed a drop back to 0.03 after my March test was a 0.04.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course this was very good news, even
though the difference may have only been an anomaly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should explain that even getting a an 0.03 takes
a special ultra-sensitive PSA test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
less sensitive test can only say that the patient has a PSA of less than 0.06.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case 0.03 says that if there is any
prostate cancer activity, it is extremely small.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then today I underwent an Axumin™
PET scan, a new (approved by FDA on May27th) type of scan that uses and amino
acid analog called fluciclovine F-18 with radioactive fluorine-18 attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stuff is injected into my blood vein and
the drug is taken up by the prostate cancer cells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fluorine-18 emits radiation that is
picked up by the PET/CT scanner, which in turn uses a computer to produce a
detailed image. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few minutes ago I
received the preliminary results from my oncologist, Dr. Bhangoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “<span style="color: #e46c0a; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #E46C0A; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=75000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent6; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 191;">PET scan shows no evidence
of active disease. Great result.</span>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Quite frankly I was expecting much worse since this is a more sensitive
test than anything I have had before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
does, however, make me wonder if my doctors are disappointed to see nothing
while using their brand new toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I have stuck to my regimen that I have talked about in
the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did introduce a turmeric/curcumin
pill in my daily pile of supplements, even though Kathe does add some turmeric to
our shakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last month I had my yearly Medicare wellness exam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My blood work showed everything in the normal
range except for one thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was my Hemoglobin
A1C which was 5.9 % (normal is less than 5.7%).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is pre-diabetic!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My primary
care doctor said I should cut back on my sugar intake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WTF?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am on a very low carb, almost no sugar diet! It makes me wonder what I was when
I was gobbling all those cookies and sucking in that pure white sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one told me I needed to do anything then!?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I talked to several doctors about this finding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One said it could be the Lupron.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others said it could just my getting
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just Great!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now I have to work on this problem in addition to keeping
up with the cancer fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do know
exercise is one thing I can do and I know I don’t exercise enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walking the dogs several times a day is not
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am reading a good book on nutrition entitled “Beating
Cancer With Nutrition” by Patrick Quillin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I recommend it to anyone who is going through this fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t teaching me a whole bunch of things
I didn’t know, but it is reaffirming much of what I have been doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It talks about four main contributors to
successfully fighting cancer: (1) positive mental attitude, (2) good doctors,
(3) mindful nutrition and building the immune system, and (4) exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It talks a lot about mental attitude and the
contribution that friends and strong beliefs can make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This cannot be underestimated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m getting into nutrition details now, but I
can say that I agree 120% that the four contributors are why I am here today
calling myself “NAD Man”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So what is next? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am going to have a DEXA (bone density ) scan soon and
am also going to have genetics testing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stay tuned…<o:p></o:p></div>
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NAD Man<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-66897948876502210542018-03-09T20:33:00.002-08:002018-06-19T22:43:25.323-07:00March 9, 2018 - The Truckin' Man<br />
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Truckin’ Along<o:p></o:p></div>
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I just had my quarterly Lupron shot after my labs showed
that my blood work is “totally normal” according to my oncologist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently the doctors are concerned about
the liver numbers in particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
finally had another ultrasensitive PSA test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scripps now send these out, so I got the results today—0.04.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one hundredth of a point higher than
it was on 8/29/2017.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not something
to worry about at this point, but I want to keep monitoring using this test
instead of the less accurate test the lab used since 8/29.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That test cannot detect anything below 0.06.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am continuing on my diet and the supplements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also continue to talk with my peers who
have more ideas than there are supplements in the world about what we all
should be taking.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My oncologist talked with my contact at CureMatch, the
company that performs a complete analysis of a patient’s biopsy and history of
prostate cancer and comes up with potentially preferred therapies, including clinical
trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is that I don’t have
a biopsy and my cancer is sleeping right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last year I had a test to see if there were cancer cells floating around
in my blood (‘liquid biopsy”), but none were found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this says is that I have to see
progression of my cancer before we can take this step with CureMatch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could go off of Lupron, but letting the cancer
grow this way is problematic at best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of my peers have chosen to do this, but I guess I am too
conservative for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to get
off of Lupron and its side effects, but I don’t want to run the risk of moving up
my end date.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I have to do is
something else to deal with the lack of sex drive, the loss of muscle mass, and
the neuropathy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The obvious partial
answer is exercise (yuck).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am interested in Immunotherapy, but in order to have
the doctors decide whether I may be a good candidate, they need to get the DNA
of some active tumors, which I apparently don’t have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to the Catch 22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, Immunotherapy has not been that
successful due to the nature of prostate cancer in contrast to melanoma and
other fast replicating cancers that make use of a particular mechanism that the
body can be made to attack.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t like being on hold, so-to-speak instead of truly
attacking the cancer to kill it once and for all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying (with some success) to starve it
by taking away testosterone with a combination of supplements with some history
of curtailing some cancers and hoping that cancer feeds on sugar—hence a low
sugar diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just that statistics
show that this approach will likely go the way of most diets—only temporary
curtailing of the problem child.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In any case, I’m just reporting that all is good and I
still have no significant symptoms that can be pointed directly at the cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Again, thank you all for your incredible support.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Les, Truckin’ Man<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-230208764109078942018-01-14T13:17:00.001-08:002018-01-14T13:17:51.788-08:00January 14, 2018 – Happy New Year<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Since my last post much has happened, but not too much on
the health score. I had my next checkup
on December 6<sup>th</sup> which was accompanied by another Lupron shot. I actually had a scare with my PSA, which,
when I looked at the results I saw 0.06, which is double that of my previous
0.03. When my oncologist said that I was
doing very well with an “unmeasurable” PSA I asked how that was, since it was
0.06?? He said, “Didn’t you see the <
sign before the 0.06?” So the result was
<0.06 or less than 0.06, not 0.06.
Whew!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So why was this test termed unmeasurable at less than
0.06 when they were able to measure 0.03 before? The obvious explanation is that the lab used
a less sensitive assay. This is annoying
to an engineer. Don’t mess with the
tests! I would hope to have the same
test assay as I had before the next time so I have the best measure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My testosterone was 58, which is higher than my
oncologist would like it to be. It may
be because I was two weeks overdue for the Lupron shot, but now the he wants to
see me in two weeks to check testosterone in the middle of the 3-month cycle. Lord knows I don’t want my testosterone to be
lower from a side effects standpoint, but I also want to starve the cancer!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>My trip to Washington D.C.</i> </b> On December 14<sup>th</sup> I went to Reston,
VA to be on a panel for one of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Programs under the auspices of the Department of Defense. The program in which I was chosen to
contribute was the Prostate Cancer Research Program. Through a very rigorous two-tier
process, this program chooses which research facilities, from of a large number
of proposals, will get funding toward finding a cure for prostate cancer. My
panel was comprised of leading scientists, clinicians and fellow consumer
reviewers (prostate cancer survivors).
The consumer reviewers were asked to assess proposals in the light of
potential patient impact and also provide a sense of reality to the scientists,
many of whom had never met a real prostate cancer survivor. The experience was very tedious, with several
weeks of proposal reading and review preparation, but it was also
fascinating. It is incredible what we do
know about the stages of prostate cancer and equally incredible what we don’t
know. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I learned a few little tidbits that were eye-openers for
me. For example, I knew that prostate
cancer tends to be a slow-growing disease (with exceptions of course). Because of this, unlike other faster-growing
diseases, prostate cancer mouse studies are difficult because the life span of
lab mice is around 2 years and lab rats 3 or so years. In other words, unlike studies of
fast-growing viruses the “patients” most often die before advanced stages of
prostate cancer can develop naturally.
This means that scientists have to resort to all kinds of unnatural
methods to speed up or slow down processes.
This also means that with prostate cancer one of the last steps before
human trials can be problematic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I also learned that in practice the typical PET scans are
less effective after androgen deprivation treatment (Lupron) because the uptake
of glucose is less and can lead to missed tumors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Most important to me personally was that some patients
with certain genetic markers have responded well to specific genetic
therapies. Since I have a family history
of prostate cancer that goes back several generations, it is time for me to get
some genetic testing. The possibility
that I may have favorable genetic markers that could lead to successful
treatment alone makes my trip to D.C. worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for my contribution to the panel, I hope I did help to
ensure that our tax dollars go to very worthwhile research projects that will
ultimately lead to a cure for prostate cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If you are interested, this is a brochure on the
program: <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XlO460WS8QmDWuMK04hijh15Llnb74S2/view?usp=sharing_eil&ts=5a53f926">CDMRP
DoD Brochure.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><i>Next steps.</i></b> I am hoping to get my genome sequenced to see
if there is any other treatment that might be better than the Lupron. The “problem” with this is that it does
appear that my cancer is responding to the Lupron, so the doctors may not want
to okay any other treatment. This brings
up the subject of Protocol. Apparently
every disease has a treatment protocol that doctors follow (often somewhat
blindly) and insurance companies expect to pay for. For prostate cancer at my stage the protocol
is to treat with Lupron or similar androgen deprivation drug and if that shows
a drop in the PSA, continue. If the PSA
drop is sluggish or there are painful side effects of the cancer in the bones,
chemo is called for. After chemo when
the cancer stops responding to the androgen deprivation therapy Lupron or
similar drug (Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer), then there are some drugs
that are called for. These deal mainly with
the side effects since at this point there is no cure. Fortunately in my case I am not there
yet. I believe this is (1) because we
broke protocol and went with chemo and Lupron out of the gate, (2) my general
health was pretty good going into it, (3) I made dietary and supplement changes,
(3) I’ve maintained a positive attitude, thanks in large part to a wonderful
support network of family, friends, doctors, fellow church members, and God’s
help.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, since I am doing well, there will be a desire on the part
of the doctors to stick to protocol and not try anything new. I don’t agree. I think at the least I have to prepare for
the next phase. Hence I will be pushing
to get my genome sequenced to see if I might be a candidate for other
treatment. That’s my next step.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the meantime, I thank all who read this for your
support.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Les, Supplement Eater Extraordinaire<o:p></o:p></div>
Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-10185646438613942702017-10-24T10:37:00.001-07:002017-10-24T10:40:23.810-07:00October 23, 2017 – What’s Happening Inside Me?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
did see my oncologist on 8/31 as promised. I also
had my Lupron (androgen deprivation or hormone blocker) shot right after the
appointment. My oncologist said I looked
good and my labs were also generally good.
My PSA is still at 0.03 but my testosterone was higher than he would
have liked. [That just shows that you
can’t keep the old boy down, even with hormone-blockers.] <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">My
oncologist is operating under the theory that testosterone feeds prostate
cancer. Hence he would like to see it
below 25. On 8/29 mine was 53. This could have been because I had chosen to
get the Lupron shot two weeks after the 90 day mark. It could also be that some of the supplements
have had the effect of raising my testosterone level. BTW 53 is pretty low, since men my age
usually have around 278 ng/dl. I used to
have 450+. Those were the good old days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
have gotten back into my exercise program, doing push-ups at night and going to
the gym to do strength exercises. I
think this is helping my stamina and posture.
I don’t go overboard because I am afraid to end up like Arnold
Schwarzenegger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">I
have become more active in UsToo, an online organization of men fighting
prostate cancer. I have learned quite a
bit just by hearing other stories. I
also learned about a doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester who is going for
the cure in patients with Advanced Stage IV Metastatic Prostate Cancer like me. More on Dr. Kwon later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Palliative vs. Curative</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. Let me explain that my treatment and the
treatment of practically all patients at my stage of the disease is palliative,
which means that the doctors try to keep it at bay with the expectation that it
can’t be beaten in the long run.
Curative is treatment designed to rid the body of the cancer once and
for all. The problem is that curative
treatment still has relatively low win odds and the patients often go through
more aggressive, invasive treatments while the doctors attempt to kill all of
the cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Do metastases replicate the same cancer throughout the
body?</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">In the past it was thought that this was the
case. If so, if one is able to kill one
cancer, it would be possible to kill them all.
Unfortunately perfect replication is not the case. As cancers spread, they tend to mutate into
different forms. As a result, either
draconian treatments have to be given to kill everything that grows (chemotherapy),
or multiple different treatments are called for to get rid of all of the now
different cancers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><i>Dr. Kwon.</i></b> Going with a curative approach Dr. Eugene Kwon at Mayo uses a different type of PET scan to find
tumors. It is a C11 Choline Pet
scan. My hospital doesn’t do C11 PET scans. Dr. Kwon says C11 scans are more accurate in
finding small tumors. As I understand
his process, once he sees that there aren’t too many tumors, he then tries to
gather information about each tumor, either by biopsies or other means. He then develops treatment plans for every
tumor. The treatment may be radiation,
chemo, or anything else. He has had some
real successes with this multi-treatment approach, but he admits to having
failures as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
question is whether I should subject myself to Mayo. At one point I was ready to jump on a plane,
but I’m a little reluctant now, in small part because of Kathe’s and our schedule
and in greater part because I am doing pretty well now. Of course catching this early as possible
would be best. At the same time I don’t
particularly want to find out that I am not a candidate. In any case I have ordered copies of my
reports and scans to be ready to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">My schedule</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> I have been fortunate enough to have been
nominated and then chosen to be on a team that will be evaluating research
proposals applying for grants from the Department of Defense in the area of
prostate cancer. It is called the DoD Prostate
Cancer Research Panel - Cell Biology. I
am the lay consumer on the panel. I will
be going to Reston, VA in the end of December.
It will be interesting being a lay panel member surrounded by renowned
medical scientists. I have been included
because the DoD wants to make sure that the grant choices take into account the
patients who might be recipients of the research. I’ll have to write my critique of each of the
applications.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Sugar feed cancer?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">
While I was corresponding with several others with the same cancer as I
have, I mentioned my avoidance of sugar and carbs as part of my dealing with my
disease. I was pointed to an article on
the Memorial Sloan Kettering website that said that it is not true that sugar
feeds cancer. The article said that
people have falsely concluded that because cancer attracts the glucose in the
radioactive cocktail taken for PET scans, glucose must be what cancer thrives
on. Well, needless to say, I would like
to believe this and eat some cookies that I have craved for a solid year, but
based on all of my other reading I can’t accept this anywhere near 100%. What MSK does say is that sugar and carbs
lead to obesity and obesity in turn does seem to increase cancer growth. I’m not gaining weight but I do think a low
sugar, low carb diet is good for me, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">So, what is happening inside me?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> This I truly want to know. The doctors say that the only indicator of
growth is PSA. This makes me want to get
a PSA test every few weeks, but my doctor and my insurance provider have
something to say about this. The other
possible indicators are secondary effects of cancer in my bones. As a result I am concerned with every ache
and pain that it is the result of growing cancer. My aches and pains don’t seem to be getting
worse in general. I do feel dull pain in
my chest when I first lay down on my side, but this goes away. This could be due to my exercise to some
extent. I also feel sharp pains
different places in my legs from time to time, but this may be Lupron side
effects. Recently I was feeling a little
dizzy and had a slight headache. The
headache could possibly be the cancer in my cranium, but the pain seems to have
subsided. The dizziness is likely due to
the Lupron. I’d like to get more PET
scans, but I heard that the doctors are reluctant to do this because of that
glucose attraction mentioned above. Of
course the cost might be the real reason.
It may just be true that there isn’t much of a change, but I want
feedback to help me know if the diet, supplements, and exercise is helping stem
the disease. This lack of data is quite
frustrating!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Les, Chemo Man</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<br /></div>
Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-58528312391856646062017-08-17T16:38:00.001-07:002017-08-17T21:55:31.727-07:00August 17, 2017 - What Am I Taking After Chemo to Fight This Cancer?<div class="MsoNormal">
I am taking a step back and rethinking all of what I am
putting into my body to continue this fight against my cancer. Whatever I am doing seems to be working. I won't know for sure for another two weeks when I get my next PSA test, but I can't complain about my current health.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I'm using a three-prong strategy:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>SUPPLEMENTS</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Vitamin D</b>
– There is a school of thought that says that deficiency of vitamin D is a
major contributor to the spread of cancer.
Another says that many holistic therapies require the combination of
vitamin D and the therapies to be effective.
Several sources say that the ideal preventative is to be sure that you
have 4000 IU/day of D. A very well
balanced meal will provide 1,250 IU so I am sure to take 4000 IU in a D3
capsule every day. It is possible to
overdose in D but the amount would be much higher than this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Modified
Citrus Pectin</b> – This has been shown to improve outcomes of chemotherapy. Its active mechanism is blocking cancer cell
aggregation, adhesion, and metastasis because of its effect on galectin-3. It can also have an effect in chelating toxic
heavy metals. I am taking 1/3 the dosage I was taking during chemo.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>AHCC</b>
– One study showed that AHCC could enhance the activity of natural killer cells
in test tubes and animal studies suggest that AHCC has antioxidant effects and
can improve the response of the immune system in chemotherapy-weakened immune
systems. This has not been proven in
human studies but is used with chemotherapy in Japan. It was shown to lessen the effects of chemo
on the immune system. I took it mainly
for this reason. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Turkey
Tail</b> - When I was researching this article I ran across Turkey Tail (AKA
Cordyceps or CS) mushrooms, taken in liquid, liquid capsule, or powdered form. The ongoing studies have shown Turkey Tail to
have many anticancer effects, such as attacking cancer stem cells, inhibiting
metastasis, and it has even shown to protect against bone loss. I am going to switch from AHCC to Turkey
Tail. .<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Saw
Palmetto</b> and <b>Stinging Nettle Root</b>
– Taken together, the chemical theory is that this attacks free cancer
cells. All I know is that it reduced my
PSA by 20% in only two weeks. It is said
to have similar effects to Finasteride without side effects.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Broccoli
sprouts</b> – Although broccoli itself is definitely good in an anti-cancer
diet, the benefits of broccoli sprouts have been shown to be much greater than
mature broccoli. This is because sprouts
contain an abundance of myrosinase, which is an enzyme needed for the formation
of sulforaphane, the cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory component in broccoli. Broccoli
has myrosinase, but cooking can destroy it.
Anecdotally, a friend who has had recurring bladder polyps is taking
broccoli sprouts and after taking the sprouts for a month, experienced his
first polyp-free exam.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Multivitamin</b>
– I take one Costco senior multivitamin tablet every day. I am hoping that this will make up for some
of the vitamins and minerals I don’t get in my diet. This is my main source of vitamin C. I could probably stand to take more vitamin
C.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Omega 3</b>
– I take one fish oil capsule per day with the intent to deal with cholesterol.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]--><b>Magnesium</b>
– I take this to deal with swelling in my feet, thanks to the hormone-blockers
that my doctor has me taking.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><b>Potassium</b> – I take this to deal with
neuropathy and tremors. At first I had
these symptoms by now I have practically none of these symptoms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><b>Rhodiola Rosea </b>– This is a Russian herb
that is an adaptogen that helps the body heal from physical and emotional stress. The Russians have used this with Olympic athletes
because it improves their performance in strenuous exercise. It has also been shown to increase mental
performance and last, it has killed bladder cancer cells and leukemia cells lab experiments. Last, it does increase the lifespan of fruit
flies by 25% in repeated experiments. I
have noticed that in taking it I feel more energy, regaining some of the energy
I have lost due to the hormone-blockers.
Note: There are some possible
drug interactions, so no caffeine, no anti-depressants, no P-glycoproteins and
no substrates of Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Biaxin, Cardizem, Sporanox, Nizoral,
Ketek, grapefruit juice erythromycin, etc.).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>DIET</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The main premise that I operate on is that sugar feeds
cancer. Carbohydrates are converted to
sugars in the body. Hence carbs are
bad. Secondarily, it is said that
processed foods with all of their chemicals also has a causal relationship with
cancer. Also, consuming an overabundance
of certain foods can indirectly or directly cause cancer to grow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On the plus side, we all have been indoctrinated to think
that leafy dark green vegetables are good for fighting cancer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Other than these “truths” there is a lot of noise around
the best diet for people fighting cancer.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Budwig Protocol – This is built around
flaxseed or linseed oil and cottage cheese as well as vegetables, fruits and
juices. Processed foods, sugar, and most
other dairy are no- nos.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Ketogenic Diet – This is a high-fat,
adequate protein, low carbohydrate diet.
The idea is that the fat replaces the carbs, putting the body into a
metabolic state called ketosis. The body
is then living on ketones instead of glucose, that has many health benefits,
not the least of which is a treatment for epilepsy. This diet has lots of chicken, fish, beef,
pork, cream, butter, mayonnaise, low-carb fruits and vegetables. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Atkins Diet – This is close to the Ketogenic
diet. The modified version of this diet
places no limit on calories or protein.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->The Paleo Diet – This is a diet based on what
cave men and women ate, so there is no dairy, grains, or processed foods. It includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, roots,
meat, seafood, and coconut oil. It
doesn’t include the farm-grown vegetables like corn <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All of these diets have one thing in common: limit sugar/carb intake. But which one?
Many doctors prescribe the Ketogenic diet to patients that have
cancer—especially brain cancer. This may
be a good choice, but it does have its side effects and is not all that appetizing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The real problem is that the medical profession has not
collected the data and therefore doesn’t have the evidence to correlate
particular food intake and particular forms of cancer. The only thing that is known is that certain
foods provide certain benefits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So, Kathe and I have formed the <i><b>Les & Kathe
Cancer-Fighting Diet</b></i>, consisting of the following:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Trying to eat only organic foods and avoiding
all processed foods.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Drastic reduction of sugar and carb intake.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->As
a treat, the limited use of natural sweeteners such as coconut sugar, monk
fruit sugar and some stevia <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Avoidance
of manufactured sugar substitutes such as saccharin and aspartame<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->No cow milk and reduction of all milk products<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Use
of coconut oil and almond milk<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Limited
intake of hard cheese and plain yogurt<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Increase of leafy dark green vegetables<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Limited intake of low sugar, antioxidant fruits
such as blueberries and strawberries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->No high sugar fruits like mangos, oranges, cherries<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Smoothie every breakfast - The smoothie consists
of one solid cup of spinach and kale (little frozen pieces), pea protein
powder, turmeric powder, unsweetened almond milk, potassium/magnesium
supplement, chia seeds, blueberries or strawberries, broccoli sprouts, and
walnuts.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->We eat chicken, tuna, other fish, some beef, and
(I eat) some ham <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Snacks consist mainly of walnuts, pecans,
macadamia nuts, almonds, almond butter, and occasional fruits such as apples or
white peaches<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Kathe
has picked up a Paleo Sweets recipe book, so we have had some cookies with a
little maple syrup or honey as sweetener.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Lots
and lots of water. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
We will both admit that the diet gets boring.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b>POSITIVE ATTITUDE and LOW STRESS</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is the woo woo part.
We both feel it is essential for the immune system and for healing that we
maintain a positive attitude. This is not
always easy if the patient is in pain or suffering in other ways, but
maintaining a positive attitude is much easier with the support of my loving wife, friends, relatives,
and a strong faith that God will help in helping maintain a positive attitude
and in giving us wisdom to make the right choices.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It is really important to minimize stress. This is not easy in today’s environment. Avoiding the news is nearly impossible. We try our best, realizing that there is so
little we can do anyway. There is political, social, business and, last but not least, financial stress. This last one is not easy when we know how much these drugs
and treatments cost and may cost in the future. To our benefit,
Kathe is a Medicare guru, so I have the best supplement insurance available. So far we have had to pay very little out of pocket (I won't mention the supplements and organic foods).
I therefore thank Kathe and <a href="http://medicarequick.com/">MedicareQuick.com</a>
for this major stress-reliever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Next appointment:
August 31<sup>st</sup> with the oncologist and labs <o:p></o:p></div>
Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-44522719319504371122017-06-22T22:30:00.004-07:002017-06-22T22:38:15.329-07:00June 22, 2017 Maintaining Diet and SupplementsNot much has changed since my last post. The only major thing is that the PSA results came back at .03, which is half of what it was at the end of chemo. For this I give credit the Lupron and my regimen, plus lots of positive thinking and continuing great support.<br />
<br />
I am still having some swelling in my ankles and legs that I am able to control with compression socks. I am avoiding diuretics, largely because they really don't help. I suspect that the swelling is a side effect of the Lupron, but I can't test this since the Lupron lasts for three months. I'm starting to eliminate a supplements one by one to see if I find one that is contributing to the swelling.<br />
<br />
On the diet front I am constantly fighting the desire to eat sweets and am constantly exploring the world of "no sugar added" and "sugar free" foods. Practically all have just as many carbohydrate grams as the sugar items and as we know, our bodies convert carbs to sugar. So these sugar free and no sugar added foods are not the answer, but a few bites here and there help.<br />
<br />
I also started first taking a carb blocker and now a sugar blocker. I don't know if this is having the right effect, but I do notice if I take these I am more regular, which is a desirable side effect.<br />
<br />
I have been having minor stomach aches. I suspect that it is because I am not religious in taking broccoli sprouts pills right after meals. I'm trying to control this better.<br />
<br />
As for my general comfort level, I am still feeling pretty good. In spite of the doctor's predictions that I would be fatigued as a result of the Lupron, I am feeling pretty close to normal, able to operate for full days with a minimum of fatigue. The only thing that I notice most is the stiffness when I get up from sitting. Much of this is in my legs and I attribute it to the water retention and also to the lack of exercise. Exercise is one area that I really need to work on. I walk 45 minutes per day, but I need to do more.<br />
<br />
I'm taking the following: (1) Magnesium, (2) Potassium, (3) baby aspirin, (4) Saw Palmetto, (5) Stinging Nettle Root, (6) Broccoli Sprouts, (7) Sugar Blocker, (8) AHCC+ for immune building, (9) Modified Citrus Pectin (1/3 dose per day), (10) Multivitamin, (11) Omega 3. I also have a loaded smoothie with protein powder, lots of frozen kale and spinach, frozen fruit, and almond milk every morning for breakfast. I am consuming prodigious amount of walnuts, pecans, almonds, and macadamia nuts as snacks. Then there is the low carb/low sugar diet, although I do have some fruit and a small piece of hard cheddar and some yogert from time to time.<br />
<br />
So far, so good...<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Ex-Chemo Man, Les<br />
<br />
P.S. The hair is slowly returning to my head and face!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-82011080963891856612017-05-25T15:57:00.003-07:002017-05-25T15:57:38.147-07:00May 23, 2017 - Post-treatment Follow-up - Great results<div class="MsoNormal">
I last left the blog a month ago with a problem of swelling
ankles and lower legs. Since then I went
to my primary care doctor, Dr. Vaccari, for a general exam and advice on my
swelling. She is very thorough, having
asked me 100 questions and prescribing an EKG and Ultrasound scan of my legs. I had both of these done and no problems were
shown. The end result is that Dr.
Vaccari thought the swelling might be from my other treatments and suggested we
watch to make sure the swelling doesn’t get worse. Since then the swelling has actually subsided
considerably. I am wearing mild
compression sox, am watching salt intake, and am taking magnesium. From my wonderful church nurse I borrowed a
compression machine that will reduce the swelling mechanically. In any case I foresee that the swelling will
soon disappear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the rest of this blog post I hope you don’t mind a
duplication of my post on Facebook:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We just returned from the oncologist. This was the follow-up after my PET scan on
the 22<sup>nd</sup>. This is the
appointment that most cancer patients dread because it is the report card on
the chemo and hormone-blocking treatments for the past 4 months. I’ll admit that I went into the examination
room with some trepidation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dr. Bhangoo came in and handed me the results of the PET
scan and with a smile he said, “’Looks very good.” In other words it looks like I got an A in the
test. The words on the scan report are “Stable
to slight improvement in osseous metastatic disease.” In other words the
treatment appears to have stopped the spread and even reduced the signs of
cancer in several areas.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I should explain that back at the beginning of all of
this, the doctors told me that the PET scans are unlikely to show shrinkage of
cancer because cancer in bones leaves scar tissue even when it is no longer
growing. This explains the somewhat understated
results. The bottom line is that we
appear to have kept the cancer at bay.
As Dr. Bhangoo said, “We now just have to keep it this way for the years
to come.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The next step in a few days is to check the PSA numbers
to make sure they are down around the 0.06 that was the case the end of March.
I will also get another hormone-blocking shot that will last for another three
months. Then we another PSA and
testosterone test. The PSA will be the
marker we will continue to watch.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the meantime I will continue to limit sugar and carb
intake, have Kathe’s wonderful smoothies every morning and continue to take
Modified Citrus Pectin, Saw Palmetto, Stinging Nettle Root, AHCC, and Broccoli
Sprouts. I also need to get back on an exercise
routine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I am feeling very good, all things considered. Kathe and I will celebrate our good fortune tonight
by having a Brazilian dinner. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I don’t have the words to convey how thankful I am for God’s
and your support throughout this ordeal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Les<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-50559582325502132412017-04-15T20:34:00.002-07:002017-04-15T20:34:52.420-07:00April 15, 2017 - Last Chemo Treatment Subsiding - New ProblemIn my last post I was saying that I was at a physical low, due to the accumulative effects of 6 treatments of chemo. Well, I am getting back to normal with one exception. One day last week I looked down and my ankles had disappeared! They had swollen, as had my legs to some extent. I've never had this so I started research and discovered that this could be due to a blockage (not in my case since both lower legs were swollen), to a heart problem, due to some vitamin deficiency, or (last) something in the diet. I took magnesium pills and raised my legs above my heart and by morning the swelling had gone down about 90%. Then it came back within hours. I called my doctor and he said he would prescribe a diuretic. He was less concerned because the swelling was in both feet and legs and I had no redness. Kathe wondered if it might be a new protein powder that we started around the time of the swelling. She convinced me not to take the diuretic while we went back to the old protein powder. So far the swelling is much less, although it hasn't gone away completely. Like most of the other things that have hit me, this one is not debilitating at all--just annoying. I like seeing my ankles.<br />
<br />
With chemo and hormone blocking it is a lot of little symptoms. The good news is that they are little symptoms, not big ones.<br />
<br />
Now, I'd like to see some hair growth!<br />
<br />
LesLes Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-8305577225151498152017-03-31T21:48:00.003-07:002018-01-14T13:52:57.882-08:00March 31, 2017 - Two days after last chemo treatmentI am in that period that is the low point from a stamina standpoint and this time I feel the most fatigued. However, I am still hanging in there. We saw palliative doctors on Thursday. The purpose of palliative care is to deal with patient problems post heavy treatment or surgery. Palliative doctors are therefore very sensitive to patient needs. The doctors we met at Scripps in Hillcrest had me give a rundown on my status. Without bragging, I think they were impressed by how well I was handling the chemo. They congratulated me on this and how good I looked. I don't know that they would credit the natural supplements, but they did credit the diet.<br />
<br />
I had hoped palliative care would be sharing with me some natural approaches to ensure that my outcome is the best. Unfortunately they do come from the medical profession that has little training on these approaches. I will have to go to a naturepath. The bottom line is that I don't think I will need palliative care help for now.<br />
<br />
In my last post I didn't mention a few side effects. One is watery eyes and nose, which apparently does happen along with hiccups when taking steroids. The other are these small muscle twitches at random places on the body, which may be the Lupron. They are just somewhat annoying, but not debilitating.<br />
<br />
I'm starting to go out without hats, just to get some sun on the top of my head. That way when I do start growing hair (I hope), I won't come across as a light head. :-)<br />
<br />
After our appointment we went to have poke bowls, which is one of Kathe's favorites. It was a beautiful day. So was today.<br />
<br />
Next step is to have a PET scan in two months to see if things have changed in my bones. In the meantime we will be watching my PSA closely. The Lupron shot will last another three months. After that I am planning to go the naturepath route without the Lupron hormone blocker, monitoring PSA very closely.<br />
<br />
Les<br />
<br />
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-14871967717290477112017-03-14T11:55:00.001-07:002017-03-14T11:55:45.456-07:00March 14, 2017 5th Treatment and Still Going StrongThe trip to New Zealand was successful. We made it back without getting sick or having any medical incidents. I gained 4.5 pounds eating on the ship. It was the lure of "no sugar added" that had me eating way too many carbs. But it tasted good!<br />
<br />
I thought it might be helpful to mention some of the chemo side effects in this article. It is important to note that chemo in my case is a combination of Docetaxel and Lupron, the hormone-blocker. It is not easy to separate the impact on me from the two. However, I do know that the Docetaxel is primarily responsible for my lost head hair (60% and the rest is thin) and lost facial hair, for my various digestive problems (stomach aches and some constipation), for my single dark red fingernail, and for the thinning of the mucous fluids in my mouth, and for the reduction in ability to taste foods. The Lupron is probably primarily responsible for my loss of muscle mass (best guess of 10%), loss of libido, and the loss of some of the feeling in my lower legs. Kathe says that she thinks I am not quite as sharp-minded, but I think this is more a function of general fatigue (I'm operating at about 85%). I will also admit that my patience level is lower than it was before chemo, so I don't try as hard to remember little details like the name of a restaurant from several months ago.<br />
<br />
Kathe was worried about changes in mood and demeanor, but I don't think I have changed much other than a slightly lower level of patience and slightly higher emotional level (thanks to Lupron). I still remain positive about the outcome, thanks in large part to the wonderful level of support I am receiving.<br />
<br />
So what's next? I have one more treatment in two weeks and then we wait for bone scans and tests in a couple of months. This is because chemo effects take longer when the cancer is in the bones. During the period of waiting I intend to continue on the diet and supplements, adding Saw Palmetto and Stinging Nettle Root to the regimen. The Lupron will continue to have an effect for two months.<br />
<br />
Thank you all for the birthday and well wishes!<br />
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-10236047721998303442017-02-21T19:54:00.002-08:002017-02-21T19:54:27.797-08:00February 22, 2017 - Traveling With Chemo<div class="MsoNormal">
We made it through the 13 hour plane ride and onto the
ship. All went pretty normally. The only major impact has been a totally
screwed up schedule for pill-taking and meals.
This time the chemo is slowing me down more than before, but I am still
able to make my way to the buffet! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Actually we are in a class on the ship that allows us to use a specialty
spa restaurant. The portions are almost
comical. The first night we had a small
steak, about 3 square inches in size, accompanied by a single spear of
asparagus cut in half and two cherry tomatoes, each cut in half. There was a salad that was about 4 forkfuls
and an appetizer that was about three spoonfuls. The piece de la resistance was a small scoop
of "no sugar added" ice cream. I visited the buffet later that
evening. :-)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am truly trying to stick to the low sugar diet, but the
temptations are many. On a good note,
Kathe probably won't gain weight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Seriously, I am having about 5 small meals per day. We have gotten the ship to make smoothies for
us using our powder, which means we don't have to use the Nutrabullet we so
carefully packed. I can usually find
enough greens, meat, and other items to very roughly stay on my diet. The toughest to find on a cruise are fresh
veggies and nuts. In the last port I
bought a couple of pounds of cashews, macadamia nuts, and walnuts. This is much better than many of the
available snacks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to note that I am experiencing some loss in taste,
but I am convinced that the AHCC+ that I am taking is returning some of my lost
taste buds. I am much more religious
about taking the 1 gram dosage per meal now.
I CAN taste the food--I just need to ask others if they think something
is really tasty or bland. Sometimes it
isn't me at all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing that you should know is that <st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region> have very strict rules on
bringing non-processed food and medicines into the country. Definitely leave your pot at home! Anyway, my
point is that we would have had any nuts confiscated, had we tried to bring
them in. As it is, we faced a hassle on
my medicine coming into NZ and are worried about <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region> because I don't have the
"scripts" or the pill bottles for my many medicines and
supplements. <st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place> is the most strict. The only good news is that Australia is our
last day, although parting with several hundred dollars of pills will make me
very annoyed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did wear a mask on the plane and on the way to the ship,
but have not used the mask on the ship.
I am trying very hard to avoid being close to anyone. I wash my hands at least 10 times per day. So far so good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One thing is a pain in the tail. Largely due to the chemo and liquid intake, I
have to use the bathroom every two hours.
When traveling this can be annoying.
I have managed well so far. 'Lots
of bathrooms in <st1:place w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bottom line is that I am continuing to do much better
than I thought. I only have the
occasional stomach ache due mostly to trapped gas and am about 20% more tired
than usual.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Signing off,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Traveling Chemo Man</div>
Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-89902039171681434232017-02-13T14:28:00.001-08:002017-02-13T14:29:45.508-08:00February 13, 2017 - Next treatment tomorrowSo this is my second attempt at posting. I inadvertently erased the last post...grrr. <br />
<br />
I am doing pretty well and we are managing with the two diets. We're eating a lot of vegetables and I am eating a lot of nuts, nut butter (without sugar) and some meat. I am also eating a lot of eggs. So far I have only lost a pound.<br />
<br />
I visited my oncologist and he says that I am looking good and that I appear to be ready for the next treatment tomorrow. We'll only know after my blood tests tomorrow morning. I asked him about my 0.17 PSA and he said that he would rather it be 0. He said that it might be possible that my baseline is 0.17. This may be the case since for many years I was 0.1 before they could test accurately enough to show the hundredth place. The key will be if it changes from the value at the end of the chemo.<br />
<br />
I was musing about what I will do after the chemo. I am taking the Modified Citrus Pectin and the AHCC and may continue with this regimen, adding some more natural supplements. These are some of the supplements that people have pointed me to:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Sugar free diet</div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Saw Palmetto<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Stinging Nettle Root<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Tumeric/Cucumin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Modified Citrus Pectin<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
AHCC<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Vitamin C<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Broccoli Sprouts<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Graviola<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
Meringa<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div>
What to take??? <br />
<br />
My really helpful next door neighbor, Bob, pointed me to an article about a book that should help. I bought it and it is on my Kindle for reading on our trip. The title is "The Healing Platform: Building Your Own Cure". I am looking forward to reading this book to help me build my recipe for prolonging my life.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We will be gone on our trip for the next two weeks. I hope all will go well while I am on chemo number 4.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Les</div>
Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-29277187563258952512017-01-31T21:12:00.002-08:002017-01-31T21:12:22.663-08:00January 31, 2017 -- And things were going so well...We had a setback today. Kathe's doctor called and told her that she has dangerously high cholesterol levels and that she needs to do something about it right away. Although she has always had higher-than-normal cholesterol levels, this is especially high. Her high level is likely due to our diet because in addition to the green veggies, few fruits, no refined sugar, etc. it also contains high fat to keep me from losing weight.<br />
<br />
Sooo, we have to now go on two separate diets which means double the work every meal and double the cleanup, not to mention the confusion when we go food shopping. I will have to pitch in on the meal prep, in addition to the cleanup, which I have been doing.<br />
<br />
Of course the pain that having the two diets pales when the health of both of us is concerned. I am hoping and praying that Kathe will be okay. We both hate the idea of her taking statins, so diet will be the first order of business. Now we need to go to the grocery store!<br />
<br />
LesLes Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-37194657164854394272017-01-25T12:17:00.001-08:002017-01-25T12:17:50.692-08:00January 25, 2017 - Third Treatment - Low PSAWell, I went for my third chemo treatment yesterday. All went well with the only side effect being the need to go to the bathroom very often. Since I last posted I started taking AHCC, a derivative of mushrooms that is used in Japan mostly to counter the negative effects of the chemo treatments and to also build up the immune system. I had postponed taking this until after the first phase of the chemo treatments because I was concerned about taking too many supplements that may have a negative effect on the chemo. As I mentioned before the chemo does its major lifting in the first week after treatment. Anyway, I think the AHCC is having its effect. I actually grew some facial hair since taking it. <br />
<br />
I was going to stop taking it during the first phase of treatment number 3 but after more reading and a talk with my doctor, I think I may continue with it during this phase.<br />
<br />
Now for the best news: My PSA is now 0.17, down from above 2 just before starting chemo. This is the only marker for progress before bone scans that I will have at the end, so the number is very encouraging. It makes me that much more committed to the treatments, diet, and supplements!<br />
<br />
Again, I also want to thank all of you who have given me powerful words of encouragement and also to my wife, Kathe, who keeps me on my regimen and is following the diet as well. We both miss our sweets!<br />
<br />
Les<br />
<br />
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-74242523404053405822017-01-12T16:05:00.000-08:002017-01-12T16:05:39.641-08:00January 12, 2016 - 8 days since 2nd treatment - weightThis time was a little worse than the last time, but still tolerable. I am mainly a little more tired. I am getting over the cold 100% with a cough a few times/hour. I did go through some periods of constipation and the usual shooting pains at night but overall I am feeling pretty good. I am seeing some muscle loss in my upper body, so I really need to do some exercise!<br />
<br />
The major issue for me right now is weight loss. I have lost close to three pounds and as a result I am trying to gain it back. Yesterday I "cheated" on my diet and had a bowl of chili. This morning I was at least a pound heavier, probably thanks to the carbs.<br />
<br />
I've been trying to stick to the low sugar diet, but I am not going overboard by avoiding all food-based sugar like that found in apples, bananas, and berries. I am concerned about the glycemic index of 147 with my last blood test that was taken an hour after I had a breakfast smoothie. Next time I will fast before my test. I am also going to get my PSA test next time to see if I am making progress.<br />
<br />
So far so good. Thank you all for the words of encouragement! They do make a difference.<br />
<br />
<br />Les Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-886350643973632192.post-44628899030862793452017-01-04T17:20:00.004-08:002017-01-04T17:20:45.756-08:00January 4, 2017 - Day after treatment #2I'm still on steroids so I am feeling fine. The treatment went well and apparently my blood work showed that I'm okay to continue. I noticed some high numbers like glycemic content at 147, which was alarming for someone supposedly on a low sugar diet. Then I realized that we had just had breakfast consisting of a mostly veggie smoothie and some fruit. My previous reading of 84 was after fasting. My vitamin D is in the low range so after asking my doctor, I will be taking 2000 IU of D3 with calcium to ensure best immunity. My leucocyte number was low and platelet count high, but I don't really know what that means (yet). <br />
<br />
I was hoping to get a new PSA and testosterone test, but Dr. Bhangoo said they don't test this until later because the results would have no effect on the treatment plan. I am just impatient to know that this is working and to know whether my taking Modified Citrus Pectin is helping or hurting the treatment. I guess I'll have to wait or pay out of pocket for the tests that may not show anything yet anyway.<br />
<br />
I'm wearing my new Stetson leather fedora and Kathe says I am "hot". I don't know about the hot except that my head is warmer.<br />
<br />
LesLes Brineyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06886071069732914680noreply@blogger.com1