TD - A Journey Through Prostate Cancer

Sending good healthy vibes your way, TD!

(((())))

Health update

- Prostate Cancer ... Still doing hormone therapy and feeling the side effects. Next follow up with the radiation oncologist will be in December.

- Kidney Tumor - Had a follow up in September with my urologist to review the CT Scan. The tumor is still growing but will wait until next March/April before doing anything. The uro believes he can do laparoscopic surgery to remove the tumor and part of the kidney.

- Kidney Stone - the CT scan for the kidney tumor discovered a 5mm kidney stone in the ureter of the other kidney. I am scheduled for Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment on October 27 to blast the stone into smaller pieces.

- SFG - I am still gardening. Getting ready to plant the garlic. Still have kale, leeks, parsnips, cabbage and bunching onions to harvest. I'm also still building compost piles.

Thanks for the update, TD.  I've been wondering how you've been doing.  The treatment process is lengthy, but it seems hopeful.

It's good to hear from you. As Donna wrote, the process(es) are lengthy. We are all pulling for you.

Thanks for the follow up, TD. You got this!!

Was just thinking of you, thanks for the update.  As my good friend, Bill, always says " I'm still on this side of the dirt, and that's what counts". I am amazed and inspired by your resilience.

Thanks for the update, TD!  Sounds like a plan.

Thinking of you, TD.  Hope the shock treatment went well today, 27 October. 

Kelejan wrote:Thinking of you, TD.  Hope the shock treatment went well today, 27 October. 

+1

TD, do you have an update for us?

sanderson wrote:

Kelejan wrote:Thinking of you, TD.  Hope the shock treatment went well today, 27 October. 

+1

TD, do yo CTu have an update for us?

The shock wave lithotripsy procedure for the 5mn kidney stone went well. I was given mild sedation but was awake.  They hit the stone in the ureter with 3000 shock waves. They gave me a strainer to filter my urine . I've passed some very tiny bits but no large fragments. I will have an x-ray and follow-up with my urologist on Nov 17th.tobsee if the procedure worked. If it didn't turn I may need more invasive laser treatment.

TD, I feel for you! Hubby has had several kidney stones. They're awful, I know...

Know I think good thoughts for you daily!

AtlantaMarie wrote:TD, I feel for you!  Hubby has had several kidney stones.  They're awful, I know...

Know I think good thoughts for you daily!

My poor hubby years ago had to have surgery to remove a kidney stone and it left a six inch scar.  In hospital for a couple of days.  Years later his sister had surgery, but it was keyhole and left a very slight scar. In and out the same day. I had to laugh when they were comparing scars.

I hope all goes well with you TD and still thinking of you.

I am one of those lucky people who have never had any surgery.  The nearest was when I was prepped for a biopsy for breast cancer, and the head person who diagnoses the x-rays came back from holiday that day, looked at the plates and suggested that I wait and come back in six months.  I came back and all was well.  That was nearly thirty years ago and all is still well with me.  What made me feel better was   that I had no breakfast and I was given a lovely breakfast that went down very well.

Another thing connected with that episode was when my doctor called me in to give me the news.  He had the letter from the hospital, and leaving the room, as I was a printer at the time and did typesetting, I read the letter upside down on his desk, and the first few lines stated that I was a 37 year old who looked a little older, but I was actually 57 at the time. 

Sorry to take over your column, TD.  Please forgive. I do chat a bit too much at times. 

Good thoughts and prayers coming your way, TD!

Looks like the shock wave lithotripsy for my kidney stone was a success. I passed a number of bits of the stone. My urologist said they could not see anything on the follow-up x-ray. They will check again in a few months when I have the CT Scan for my kidney tumor.  I also signed up to have laparoscopic surgery to remove the tumor and part of the kidney. That will not happen for a few months at my request. Just before Christmas I will have another 3 month injection for hormone therapy and a follow-up with my radiation oncologist for my prostate cancer. Praying I get a good Christmas present from him.

Happy to hear of your progress, TD.  It has worried me with the Covid-19 that you may not get the treatment you need, but it does sound that you are being looked after.

I know it is a bit early but I wish you have good news from your oncologist for Christmas

Oh, SO glad to hear this TD.... Did they figure out what kind of stone it was?

AtlantaMarie wrote:Oh, SO glad to hear this TD....  Did they figure out what kind of stone it was?

The stone fragments have been sent for analysis but the urologist thinks it was a calcium-oxalate stone.

Great news, TD!!!!

TD,

That's such wonderful news!

I'm happy your kidney stone treatment was a success. Good news.

Have you now stopped rattling around inside now, TD? 

Kelejan wrote:Have you now stopped rattling around inside now, TD? 

That is funny KJ.  Nothing showed on the last x-ray. Hopefully I won't make anymore if those nasty things.

Stay away from rhubarb, TD- it's loaded with calcium oxalate

Yardslave wrote:Stay away from rhubarb, TD- it's loaded with calcium oxalate

No more rhubarb, spinach, almonds and other things that have very high oxalate levels. With other medium oxalate level foods I consume calcium (e.g., fortified oat milk) at the same time. That way the calcium and oxalate combine in the gut rather than in the kidneys. I am also drinking two to three litres of water and other fluids per day.