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In the home stretch
I am down to my final 56 days of ADT (hopefully forever but we'll see) after finishing SBRT in June. I REALLY want to thank everyone here who reached out to me when I was in a very dark place about this whole prostate cancer thing, especially northoftheborder and robertmizek. I was sad and angry which was out of character for me. I'm actually a very mellow guy IRL.
FWIW, I've become active in my IRL support group and I see myself in some of the guys who are just being diagnosed so I am paying back the help you all gave me by trying to be helpful to them.
If any doctors, nurses, or others associated with cancer care read this:
1. Nurses and radiation techs--you are the unsung heroes who calm us down and your kindness is boundless even on those likely stressful days when the radiation machines break down and you're stuck working until 9 or 10 at night fitting everyone in for their treatments. That said, radiation techs: I hope I never see you again 😃
2. Dosimetrists--most people don't know you exist but you do an awesome job. I've had very few side effects from radiation (so far--knock on wood) and a lot of that is due to your very careful mapping and planning. I know most of you never meet the patients in person but some of us know you're out there!
3. Doctors--you have to have professional detachment but I do appreciate the position you're in. People who respond well to treatment disappear while those who don't continue to see you for long periods of time and you have to keep a distance to keep your sanity.
My ONLY advice to doctors and nurses is that you REALLY need to be more forthcoming about the side effects of ADT. "Some guys get hot flashes and some have ED" just doesn't cut it. Attend a support group sometime and you'll see how many guys are totally unprepared for what happens when they're on ADT. You give out great literature and discuss radiation treatment at length. You should do the same for ADT vs. just jabbing people with it and sending them on their way.
I think, with help from a great psychologist I'm seeing, that I'll be OK soon. I'm down from thinking about prostate cancer 16 hours a day to maybe an hour. So, thanks again everyone.
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Not to mention the fatigue some get and the brain fog almost everyone gets after ADT.
There’s a book about this written by Richard Wassersug PhD. This really covers it. Amazon has it.
Androgen Deprivation Therapy: An Essential Guide for Prostate Cancer Patients and Their Loved Ones
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4 ReactionsThat's a wonderful post. It's made me so happy, @scottbeammeup , watching your progress, and I'm glad that when you ring in the new year you'll already have been off ADT for over 2 months and feeling more like your old self every day.
Fingers crossed that you won't need our support any more in 2025, but do drop by once in a while and let us know how you're doing. ❤️
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7 ReactionsI do wish you the best on your journey and certainly hope you will be stopping by. Best to all.
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5 Reactionsscottbeammeup, Awesome post. Thank you for speaking up for all of us.
Yes, though no radiations, I have more non-PC surgery coming up. And you reinforce my practice of thanking the Good Lord and the whole team for the surgeon's and team's gifts and tender hearts in making me better again.
God Speed, Buddy!
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4 ReactionsYou are so correct esp. when I m driving and can’t remember the roads to take to get somewhere, it’s annoying. Lol
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2 ReactionsBest wishes with your surgery, @grandpun ! I hope your personal faith and your surgeon's skill carry you through to the best possible outcome.
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1 ReactionYes, the doctors do need to be more open about the side effects and length of them. I experienced many if the effects and was at a loss as to what was going on, the thing that helped was being past of this group and reading what others were experiencing. Thankfully, I’m doing very well and my numbers are great, and after 18 mths since ringing the Bell the side effects are subsiding.
I wish you all the best.
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4 ReactionsTERRIFIC post, scott! I have learned so much more from this thread and all those members - and more - mentioned in your post than any MD, nurse or website.
Congrats on your accomplishment and here’s to a long, long healthy life to come!
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4 ReactionsI told my med. oncologist the side effects will kill me before the cancer.
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1 ReactionDon’t know if I’d go that far but yes, the side effects were, at times unpleasant. If we were given a little heads up on them, then maybe it would be a bit easier. Not that anything about PC is easy. Don’t give up, we’re Warriors and we can do this. We are stronger for it.
All the best to you.
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