Two weeks to go! But who cares…
In two weeks, I get the pleasure of more tests ~ and another shot of Lupron. I said I wasn’t going to worry about it, but I don’t think that’s really possible. But I shouldn’t. I spoke to David Emerson today. He is a very nice gentleman living in Kansas and fighting cancer just like me. It’s not often I can say this with this disease ~ he’s younger than I am. Like my friend Walter he is enduring chemotherapy, but to talk to him, you would never guess that. I can honestly say that no one case has inspired me more than David’s. It was reading his blog, and a few others, that inspired this blog to be started. He has the same taste in music, he is also a Christian, he has a wonderful family he is very close with. He also has a 11 year old son. Ruth and I a 21 year old. Aside from that, we have a lot in common. David also started non-profit organization ~ www.flhw.org and has attracted international attention on prostate cancer. As I told him today, he has been a very courageous and inspirational influence on me. For that I am very grateful.
Keeping the day consistent I also spoke to another person I have never met ~ Swimom ~ Vicky. Her husband, Paul, has battled two cancers and like Bill in my last post, was already online when I arrived on the scene. But like when talking to David, it felt like I was talking to an old friend.
In two weeks I find out that we are at status quo. Right now I have every reason to believe that it will go well. If not then it won’t be pretty. But seeing the way David, Walter, and so many men like them are battling, I have to count my blessings. And thank the good Lord, too.
Amen
September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
I talked about my prostate cancer friends today because this month is prostate cancer awareness month. Since I am one of the stricken I believe I have a duty to bang the drum again. I will add names every day to the memorial and survivor lists below. Both, in their honor, and for you to know, too. It may surprise you. For those who receive automatic updates on my site entries, you will only receive update notices when I update my journal entries above. So if you read every day you’ll see some new names added. Here are some “fun” facts that I will grow every day, too:
- 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer.
- Every 19 minutes a man dies of prostate cancer.
- In men whose cancer has escaped the prostate, like mine did, only 31% live 5 years.
- Prostate cancer is second leading killer in men behind lung cancer.
- If you have a brother or a father with prostate cancer it is 100% more likely you will have it at some point in your life.
- Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in America.
- 219,000 will be diagnosed this year in The United States alone.
- Approximately 25% of diagnoses occur under the age of 65.
- Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms for many years. By the time symptoms occur, the disease may have spread beyond the prostate
In Memory…
- Dan Fogelberg, 56 ; Frank Zappa, 54
- Bill Bixby, 58 ; Telly Savalas, 69
- Merv Griffin, 82 ; Jerry Orbach, 69
- Earl (Tiger’s Dad) Woods, 74 ; Johnny Ramone, 57
- Bobby Riggs 67, Ric Masten 78
- Timothy Leary 75, Don Ameche 85
- Francoise Mitterand, 79 ; Dick Sargent 64
Survivors…
- Norman Swartzkopf ; Ken Griffey Sr.
- Arnold Palmer ; Joe Torre
- Rudy Giuliani ; Roger Moore
- Robert De Niro ; John Kerry
- Nelson Mandella, Stephen Stills
- Harry Belafonte, Colin Powell
- Bob Dole, ; Chuck Tanner
