May 5, 2007: Friends

Saturday evening and great friends are unbeatable. They brought everything for dinner; Italian beef, salads, etc. It could have been bologna as far as I was concerned. It was the nourishment of my spirit and hope that was most welcome.

The support from friends is incredibly healing. I had to get around before they arrived about 5:30, to get my shower and try some slacks. I have a pair of trail pants that the lower leg zips off. That was pretty good to accommodate the bag. I was up and down. Sit, stand, trips to the head, eat my dinner. It worked pretty well.

The only problems I had was a little bypass leakage and some pain. I can't seem to avoid either. I called the doctors office and was told that happens. I was foolish in wearing slacks that required a belt. The belt put a bind around my abdomen that at one point felt as if I was tearing something as I sat down. In my present condition I was in free-fall when I went to sit. That painful.

We talked and shared. I can't say enough about how good this has gone. I had not suffered with cancer! I had no symptoms. I was lucky enough to be regular about my annual physicals since my heart attack five years ago this month. The following year I had my first physical including PSA, DRE, colonoscopy.

Everything was good. The colonoscopy discovered a pre-cancerous polyp and a couple of routine polyps. They were removed and I needed to return in three years. Don't skip a colonoscopy! That is one screening test that can cure or prevent cancer. Snip and its gone.

The following year I had an elevated PSA. It was repeated and still elevated. That was my first encounter with Dr. Goldrath. I went through the history and examination with very little embarrassment. But I had to schedule a TRUS (Trans-Rectal Ultrasound Scan) and needle biopsy. Prep is similar to that for a colonoscopy. While lying on my side, the probe (about like a curling iron) is inserted and the image is viewed for evaluation. The doctor prints some images for my file and uses the view to guide the placement of the biopsy; a spring loaded needle jabs rapidly to collect a core. The needle is about an eighth of an inch wide and two inches long. They are so fast that there is virtually no pain. Especially when one considers that this is fighting cancer (maybe).

This was May, two years ago. My daughters wedding was just days before. I felt lucky; there was no cancer! It probably was something else like prostatitis.

That July I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II. Oh well, I can live with that. It was certainly better that cancer!

And through it all, I have had great friends and family supporting me. Even though I let them down. I was the bad guy who smoked, who didn't take care of myself, who seemed to beat the odds. Now it was all catching up to me.

At my November physical I started with one thing and another. But over all I had no additional blockage in my coronary arteries. They did a Bilateral Carotid Doppler Ultrasound to check for blockage. That was good. No eminent stroke. Repeat the colonoscopy, a couple more polyps. And this oops. I sometimes find it hard to believe that I have battled three major killers and am still on top.

I have my scars. Figuratively as well as literally. I can't do what I could five years ago. On the other hand, I can do something I couldn't a month ago. I can get away with peeing my pants a tad. But, when I think of how this might have gone without the heart attack I am astounded.

I know that I wouldn't be getting physicals regularly. I had made an appointment and went in just because I was fifty and thought I ought to get a baseline. The doctor took a history and asked about complaints. I had a history; but, I had no complaint other that being over weight.

He listened to my lungs and heart, ordered no tests, suggested that I walk to lose some weight. I am pretty sure that due to my disappointment with that experience, I would not have gone again. I would have had colon cancer developing and it would probably have killed me before I knew that I had adenocarcenoma of the prostate.

This all adds up to being truly blessed. I have had really great luck and great friends.
Morning's at seven; The hill-side's dew-pearled; The lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn; God's in his Heaven - All's right with the world!