No More Catheter (YES!)

When I woke up this morning, I was so looking forward to my catheter being removed. For men who have a catheter for life, I truly feel for each of them. I don't know what I would do if I had a catheter for life. For an active man, the catheter limits so many activities, including walking, bike riding, lifting weights, traveling, working, relationships, sex, etc.

I arrived at the doctor's office just before 12pm. After a brief wait, the nurse called my name and escorted me to one of the exam rooms. She asked me if I had been leaking any urine from the tip of my penis. Apparently, leakage with a catheter is an indication the bladder is going through muscle spams and trying to use the urethral to urinate. When I told the nurse, I had a little leakage, she decided to wait until Dr. Porter was available. Dr. Porter was just finishing up with another surgery. The nurse came back into the exam room and said she just got word from Dr. Porter to go ahead and remove the catheter. While there is risk of the bladder and urethral not working correctly, Dr. Porter felt like 2 weeks with a catheter was enough to give it a try. I was not nervous about having the catheter removed. I was more nervous about my bladder and urethra not working correctly and having to insert a new catheter. I just prayed in my own way for my bladder and urethra to work after the nurse pulled out the catheter.

Before the catheter is removed, the nurse fills up my bladder with a specific amount of water. There are 2 reasons for this: 1) to see if the bladder and urethra work after the catheter is removed; 2) to test the amount of water left in the bladder after the catheter is removed. The sensation of being filled up with lots of water is difficult to explain if you have not been through it. Once the water was inserted into my bladder, the nurse prepared to deflate the balloon that keeps the catheter in the bladder. Within less than 5 seconds of excruciating pain along with screams and moans of pain, the sound of water flowing was music to my ears. Even though I was in pain, the fact that the catheter was out and the bladder and urethra started working was a wonderful feeling of relief.

The nurse then measured the amount of water relieved from my bladder. Approximately 10% of the water was still in my bladder, which means 90% of the water was relieved through the urethra. This almost made me cry knowing I would not need to have another catheter placed inside me. The nurse brought me my first incontinence pad. They are not bad provided you can control when and where you are throughout the day. For the first day, I was unable to control my continence. I had to use 15 incontinence pads the first day. The doctor said to not be surprised if you use more than 5 pads today. I blew those expectations out of the water - pun intended! (LOL)

Great News from Dr. Porter

I have not posted for a few days because I don't have Internet at the house due to the storm and weather conditions. Once I have Internet at home, I will fill-in some of the days that are missing.

I met with Dr. Porter this afternoon for my first post-operation appointment. Dr. Porter asked how I was doing. I said, "Except for the catheter and the pain at the tip of the catheter, I am doing well." He checked my abdomen area to make sure all of the incisions were healing appropriately. He noticed I was healing better than most. He took off the bandage that covered the hole where the JP bottle was placed.

About 50% of prostate cancer surgeries require the JP bottle, which is used to help with draining of blood in the abdomen area. Dr. Porter said I had more blood than normal which is why he inserted the JP bottle. Imagine a tube from within your abdomen draining to a bottle. The blood is drained from the bottle when it fills up.

Before discussing what to do about the catheter, Dr. Porter had the pathology report from my prostate and lymph nodes. Great news! The results suggest he got ALL of the cancer, however, we still have to wait for the PSA test - 6 weeks after surgery. Dr. Porter removed both tumors by removing the left and right side of the prostate, was able to save both nerves, and removed 8 lymph nodes in the pelvic area. My chances for being cancer free are excellent!

After recovery, I will need to look into lymph node therapy so I decrease my chances of getting sick and infections. Lymph nodes are used to fight infections found in the body.

I was hoping to get the catheter removed today because it is a pain in the ass to walk around (private or public) with a bag of urine. With the bag, I get more looks than a supermodel. (LOL)

Dr. Porter said he could remove it today. But, there are risks. If the urethral was not completely healed, there is a chance my bladder would not drain (naturally) and I would need to go back into emergency room to have another catheter inserted. This time, it would be inserted while awake. No thanks! I had already felt what it was like to have your bladder fill and not be able to drain it, and then the thought of another catheter being inserted while awake was not fun. The downside is I would have to keep the catheter in until next Monday because of the holidays. The doctor's office is closed through the Christmas weekend. So, the catheter is still in - it sucks!

Soon, I will post some pictures. They aren't pretty, but they are reality! (LOL)

If I don't get a chance to post before Christmas, Happy Holidays to family and friends!

foldit - solve puzzles for science

The Computer Science & Engineering and Biochemistry departments from the University of Washington have collaborated together to create a science game. The game is called foldit. The game enables others to contribute to "important scientific research." Some of their goals include finding answers to fight life threatening diseases:

• Cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• Alzheimer's

This game provides anyone with an opportunity to help in the fight of these diseases. If you like to solve puzzles and you want to do your part in helping to find cures for diseases, go to the website, create an account, and start playing.

Cancer Sucks!

My doctors told me I would probably not recognize my battle with cancer until I was going through treatment and recovery. In one day, you go from being a person who exercises regularly, walks normal, and has all of his normal male functions without any additional equipment, to being a completely different person physically.

Hours later you wake up with a catheter, a tube in your abdomen, two IV's, 5 holes in your body and medication to cope with the pain. Then, there is the non-obvious results - incontinence, impotence, etc. You feel like an old man, but in reality I am in the group of younger men who just happen to get prostate cancer.

I am sad for the other men who are going through what I am going through. I thought I would be more emotional after treatment and during recovery. Maybe, I realize the importance of being strong to get through the next 6 weeks. During the past 2 months, I've cried or gotten emotional at unpredictable times. I am sure it will happen again.

In 6 weeks, I will have my first post-surgery PSA test to determine if there is anymore cancer remaining in my body. Right now, I am not prepared for any results other than negative. I have to think this way so I can remain positive about the results.

Everyone - thank you for your positive thoughts! Please don't just read this website. Learn from it because some of the information I have provided might prevent you or someone you know from getting cancer.

I want to say thank you to family, friends and colleagues for your emotional support! It means a lot to me!

Back to Seattle for an Emergency

After leaving the hospital and arriving home safely, I started to notice my catheter was not draining and my bladder was filling up. Doctors call it a "retention" issue, which requires urgent care. After talking to Dr. Porter's nurse, she said to get back to the doctor's office ASAP. The drive to Seattle seemed to take forever.

When I arrived at Dr. Porter's office, I was taken immediately to one of the exam rooms where the nurse (Jacki) irrigated the catheter by injecting saline into the bladder. It is the equivalent of filling a person's bladder up from the opposite direction and then extracting the saline along with any blood clots. The nurse found a lot of clots which is what caused the catheter to be blocked. Jacki was funny and gave me some tips on how to create a distraction if this happens again - wiggle your feet. (LOL)

If you have never had a problem with your bladder being clogged, just imagine a balloon inside your body increasing in size as the kidney feeds the bladder. Once the blood clots were removed, wow - what a relief! The sound of a waterfall from my bladder was so wonderful. (LOL)

After leaving the doctor's office, I arrived home safely. I am relaxing comfortably with an occasional walk. For those who know me, I am so-so bored. (LOL)

Discharged from Hospital

This morning I am being released from the hospital. Dr. Porter arrived at 7:30am. I am tired after sleeping off and on throughout the night for about 6 hours. Dr. Porter checked my J.P. bottle (a bottle connected to a tube that is inside my abdomen) and decided to remove it. Talk about pain - it was quick but felt so painful as Dr. Porter removed it.

I have been walking since 5am. The more I walk, the sooner the CO2 leaves my body. The CO2 is used during surgery to make room in the abdomen. The CO2 makes the abdomen seem bloated. The CO2 and shifting of organs causes gas. The thought of how my insides feel is scary to me.

I am going to walk some more and then use a "breathing" device that I will take home with me. The "breathing" device is required so I can get my lungs back to their normal breathing capacity.

Just Out of Surgery

I am out of surgery and recovery. I am lying down in my hospital room as I update my blog.

The doctors and nurses started surgery at 12:30pm and finished at 6:30pm. After I was placed on the operating table near the robotics, I remember feeling dizzy. Six hours later I woke up in recovery feeling tired, sore, and HUNGRY! The pain is not bad because I am medicated.

The doctors estimate surgery time to be approximately 4 hours. The (male) nurse told me it would be approximately 5 hours. The reason the surgery took 6 hours is because Dr. Porter wanted to save both nerves and he had to remove some of the lymph nodes above the prostate. After 4 hours, family and friends did not hear from the doctors or nurses. Family and friends started to worry because there was no communication from doctors or nurses for about 2 hours. Five minutes later, an update was provided. I was out of surgery.

I did not get to see Dr. Porter tonight. After recovery, I was taken to my room on the 11th floor. While still groggy, family and friends started showing up. I remember being grumpy because my mouth was as dry as the Mohave Desert. All I wanted was some ice chips. The nurse said she had to check to see if I could have ice chips. What? I was ready to get out of the bed to get my own ice chips. I must be feeling ok if I being a grump. (LOL)

It's getting late so I am going to sleep. Goodnight!

Leaving for the Hospital

This is my final posting before surgery. Depending upon how I feel after surgery, I hope to post again today.

To be totally honest, I am so nervous and a bit scared. I had a decent night's sleep, which is good.

I don't have a lot to say this morning. I am somewhere numb. I want to thank family and friends for their support.

C-ya!

12 Hours to go ...

In 12 hours, I will be on my way to the hospital. While I am nervous, I know I made the best informed decision. I am comfortable with my decision for surgery and my choice of surgeons.

I have completed my preparation for surgery. I am tired and hungry. I have to fast for 24 hours before surgery. I don't think I have ever in my life gone 24 hours without food. (LOL)

Less than 24 Hours Before Surgery

Tomorrow is a big day. It might be the biggest day of my life. For the past few months, I've thought about what tomorrow will be like. I've had doctors tell me I won't feel like I have cancer until I am going through treatment. Why? Because if you were to see me today, working out, living life normally, you would never know I have cancer. Tomorrow, you will know. You will see a person who can barely walk, surgery scars on my body, wearing a catheter, and in pain. Physically, I will be different. Mentally and emotionally, I will be different too. I go from having an erection with ease and being able to control my body for simple tasks like going pee to not being able to get an erection and wearing a pee bag with the catheter. My life will change in less than 24 hours. These are the facts. Here is the good news. I have a new battle to fight!

Today is "national" surgery preparation day. (LOL). At 1pm, I had to take 2 Duculax pills. Duculax is used to cleanse our your system. To make sure I don't get dehydrated, I need to drink lots of fluids today. At 6pm, I use the first Fleet enema. At 8pm, I use the second Fleet enema. Then, I have to take a shower and scrub off as much bacteria as possible. I plan to go to bed at midnight after enjoying my last meal (chicken broth) before surgery.

Two Days to go ...

Less than 48 hours from now, I will be resting in the hospital after having gone through a 4-5 hour surgery to remove my prostate. The past week has been full of some sleepless nights. I am so tired, which has me concerned because I wanted to go into surgery feeling great and at 100%.

In less than 16 hours, I start preparing my body for surgery. Tomorrow, the details will be told. For tonight, I am going to rest and relax.

Yesterday, I bought the 2009 Shelby GT500. Everyone kept asking me if I was excited. It is more surreal than excitement. I will be excited when my 6-week results (after surgery) come back negative.

Do Not Drink From Water Bottles Left in Car

Certain types of plastic containers can leech a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). The chemical can mimic the female hormone estrogen. Given to animals at high doses it can cause all sorts of health problems ranging from infertility and obesity to several types of cancer.

There is no question that Americans are exposed to the chemical. A study by the CDC estimated that 92.6 percent of Americans age 6 and above had measurable BPA in their bodies.

The chemical industry has maintained for years that the high dose animal experiments do not show any human effects and the FDA, which would regulate the chemicals, has said there is no danger. Many scientists have continued to look for possible danger in both animal and human studies.

The National Toxicology Program, a division of the National Institutes of Health, issued an alarm. The agency said there was a possibility BPA could be causing brain problems in fetuses and children and prostate and breast problems in adults.

The actual quote from the draft report concluded “there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures. The NTP also has some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

The designation of “some” concern is equivalent to 3 on a danger scale of 1 to 5. You can see the report itself here. A few members of Congress have issued calls for the FDA to ban the plastics. So far the FDA has not responded.

If you want to avoid bottles with BPA look on the bottom for very tiny numbers enclosed in arrows that look like this. The number 7 indicates BPA. The numbers 3 and 6 indicates the presence of similar chemicals that some scientists and environmentalists believe could be cause for concern.

The Effects of Aspartame on Cancer

There are studies that conclude aspartame could have carcinogenic effects. For those who do not know about aspartame, it is used in diet drinks. Some studies show aspartame poses no risk to human health, however, the studies were financed by the company that created the sweetner, G.D. Searle and Company. My suggestion is for each individual to do their own research and come to your own conclusion.

Speed is Great Medicine for Pain

I have always been a car guy. When I was a teenager, I owned a 1965 Mustang and a 1967 SS Camaro. Both were fast cars. I only wish I had kept both of them.

With the American car industry suffering and my BMW having problems, I have been shopping for a new car. The last time I bought a used car (BMW), I did not get the value out of the car. I am done with BMW and Mercedes - owned one of each - no more!

The 2009 Shelby GT500 is a classic. In 2010, the style will change as Ford moves away from the classic look - not sure why, but Ford is going in a different direction. Dealers had been selling the GT500 for amounts above MSRP because they were in such high demand. The economy has slowed down the sale of new cars. With only 10,000 GT500's made in 2009, the car is sure to be a collector item. The dealer who owns the car has sponsored Prostate Cancer marches for the past 3 years. I've had discussions with the owner and sales manager about their best deal. If I decide to get the car, I hope to get the car for MSRP (a very good deal). This car put a smile on my face as I touched the 6-speed transmission while the engine rumbles. WOW!

Three Days to go ...

In approximately 72 hours, I will be in route to Swedish Medical Hospital for surgery. I feel the stress levels rise each day. I am still at peace with my decision for surgery vs. radiation. Although I have been told what to expect, I do not really know how life will be like after having my prostate removed. Dr. Porter had me sign a consent form to have the lymph nodes removed from above the prostate if he found them to be enlarged. When I wake up Monday evening, for sure I won't have a prostate and possibly without the lymph nodes near the prostate. Lymph nodes are used to fight infections, however, there are other sets of lymph nodes in the body.

Four Days to go ...

Today was a busy day with work, finalizing my living will, having lunch with Tektronix colleagues and friends, and an evening of fun (beer and pool) with some of my friends (Jeremy, Kevin, and Adam). As the day of surgery approaches, family and friends become more important.

I am so exhausted after getting very little sleep during the past 3 nights. I am hopeful I can sleep tonight.

Prostate Cancer or Your Ability to See?

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is not much fun. Having one of your eyes removed knowing you only have one good eye for the rest of your life is not much fun either. Knowing that your one good eye is not as good as most eyes is another factor to deal with.

Even though we don't have a choice, how many of us would prefer to have prostate cancer compared to having one of our eyes removed? My answer might surprise you.

A friend of mine, Scott, put my prostate cancer into perspective. Scott and I both have a friend, Jeremy, who had one of his eyes removed surgically 4 to 5 years ago. Jeremy had gone through more surgeries and more medication than an emergency room at a hospital. I watched Jeremy suffer while his quality of life with his family declined.

Major events in our lives can change you for the good, or you can blame the problem on the rest of the world. Once Jeremy had his eye removed and had recovered, he knew he had to start preparing for the day when he might lose sight from his other eye. It was time for Jeremy to get a guide dog. Jeremy had to attend a guide dog program in Portland, Oregon where he met Sam. Most people can't relate to the loss of one eye, however, with Sam, there is an instant understanding of what Jeremy needs and what Sam can provide.

To conclude, prostate cancer will not kill me. I did not choose to get cancer, but I would rather have this fight than to suffer how Jeremy did. I witnessed what Jeremy did and what he had to overcome. I will survive and be stronger as a result of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Helping others with Prostate Cancer

Most of you have heard of the "Make a Wish" foundation for kids. The foundation works hard to help kids realize some of their lifelong dreams. Fulfilling a child's dreams can give them hope and happiness. For those who have donated to this worthy cause, you should feel proud.

Men also have dreams. Since being diagnosed with cancer, I am pursuing some of my dreams. I am fortunate to have the means to fulfill some of my dreams. Other men may not have the same opportunity. For this purpose, all revenue from my blog (advertising, products, etc) will be donated to cancer research and an organization to help fund dreams for men with prostate cancer. I still have to work out the details of what will become a 501 organization, but I am excited to get the chance. I am also hopeful to get a few sponsors to help out with the program.

Five Days to go ...

Another night of restless sleep. The stress must be getting to me and impacting my sleep. For those who know me, I "rarely" have sleep problems.

Since I can't take any medication for sleep (or staying awake), I will have to revert to using some toothpicks. :-)

Panel Recommends FDA Approve Prostate Cancer 'Vaccine'

In March 2007, ABC News issued a report about a new prostate cancer treatment called Provenge. The treatment known as "active cellular immunotherapy" was developed by Dendreon Corp, a Seattle-based company. While the FDA has not approved the treatment yet, I had heard from one of my doctors that the treatment might be available within one or two years. I will do the research and provide an update later. For more details about the ABC News report, go to this link. While it is too late for cancer survivors, there is hope in reaching the goals of this blog.

Six Days to go ...

Today was not one of my better days. I did not sleep well last night. My mind is on surgery and recovery. I am more tired each day as I approach the day of surgery.

I did pick up my prep medication and items at the pharmacy. Less than $10 for items that will clean me out. Food and drinks cost a lot more to fill you up. Come on, there has to be a little humor throughout this process. (LOL)

I had lunch today with Kevin and Mark. The 3 of us (plus many more) were once a part of the AT&T Wireless "blue" team, a team of men who have become close and remained in contact with each other. Some of us have known each other since February 1995.

2007 Estimated US Cancer Cases

This PowerPoint slide from the American Cancer Society (ACS) is the number of estimated US Cancer Cases for 2007.

Prostate cancer is the highest among all cancers with 29% or 766,850 men. Yet, prostate cancer has the least amount of funding compared to lung and breast cancer.

Together, we (men) need to promote awareness for both screening and prevention.

If you are a prostate cancer survivor and you have a son, you might be saving his life.

One Week to go Until Surgery

Throughout the past 4 months of testing, diagnosis and deciding on treatment options, the emotions have been up and down, but the up and downs were usually spread over days or weeks. Today, the roller coaster ride of emotions were compacted into one day.

This morning, I was at Swedish Hospital in Seattle to have some more pre-op tests performed. The tests included:

• EKG
• Chest X-rays
• Blood drawn (note: this blood sample was somewhere between 10 to 15 times over the past 4 months)

After the EKG test was completed, the results are sent to a computer. The computer found a problem by analyzing the EKG results. The nurse indicated there is a distance between 2 pulses (or beats) that is wider than normal. The nurse said she needs to send the results over to Dr. Porter (my surgeon) to have him analyze the results. It might be a heart murmur. In some cases, they use medication to control the condition.

I started to choke up and shed a tear when the nurse told me what she found. I said to myself, "another issue to deal with." I told myself I am not going to worry about this! The good news is doctors now know about the condition and will factor it into the surgery process. The bad news is this is one more issue for the doctors to deal with. The doctors are going to earn their money! :-)

After more than 3 hours at the hospital, I drove down to Starbucks on Capitol Hill for coffee (some of my family and friends are laughing right now). I left Seattle in time to make an 11:30 business luncheon in Redmond Town Center (RTC). After lunch and another appointment, I finally got back to my office to do some work. I didn't realize how exhausted I was from the hospital visit in the morning.

After work, I drove to Ford of Kirkland to look at new vehicles. With prices so low, this might be a good time to trade in the BMW since it is having problems. Some of you know I own a 1964 1/2 Mustang (purchased in 2006). I am in the process of restoring the vehicle. Readers of this blog can follow the restoration process by going to 1964 Classic Mustang restoration blog. While looking at new vehicles, I saw a 2009 Mustang Shelby GT500 (10,000 cars only) in Vista Blue with white racing stripes. I dreamed about the 1965 Fastback version of the Shelby GT when I was a teenager in the 70's. Keep checking back to see if I decide to purchase the vehicle.

What is really cool about my experience at Ford of Kirkland is meeting the owner's wife (Amy) who is a breast cancer survivor and the owner (Jim) who sponsors both breast and prostate cancer awareness. Jim and Amy have given away new cars to cancer survivors during these events. I recommend going to Ford of Kirkland for car repairs, parts, new and used vehicles - they are good people. Cancer not only touches a lot of people, but it can also heal a lot of people!

As to surgery, I am still anxious yet nervous. I constantly try to imagine the experience during the day of surgery and the week after surgery. I don't think anyone can prepare a person for how they will feel during the day of and the days after prostate surgery. Once I've gone through it, I will do my best to express my feelings.

Five Things to Help Lower the Risk of Prostate Cancer

A healthy prostate is essential to every man's well being. Yet most men don't give this internal gland much thought, until a problem develops. In recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Depend® is putting the focus on prostate health by teaming up with Zero, the project to end prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of male cancer-related death in the United States. The good news is that the number of deaths can be dramatically reduced through prevention, early detection, and appropriate treatment. Take a look at the five things you can do today to help lower the risk for yourself or someone you love with this simple list compiled by Zero:

1. Get screened.

Detecting prostate cancer early increases a man's odds of survival to nearly 100%. Screening can detect a precancerous condition called HGPIN (high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia), allowing a man to take action to slow, or possibly even prevent precancerous cells from ever becoming cancer.

Men over 50 should be screened every year. African American men and those with a family history of the disease should start at age 40 or 45.

2. Eat right.

Of course a healthy diet can go a long way in maintaining all-around good health. But did you know that certain foods can help fight prostate cancer? Here's what's on the menu good prostate health:

Eat your veggies. Three or more servings a day of cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cabbage, can help reduce your risk of prostate cancer by as much as 40%.

Slice up a tomato. Early studies show lycopene, found in tomatoes, can reduce the risk and slow the growth of prostate cancer.

Add some soy. Soy-based foods contain isoflavones, believed to slow cancer cell growth and lower PSA levels in men with early prostate cancer. This might be why countries with high soy consumption have far lower levels of prostate cancer than the U.S.

Try more mushrooms. Mushrooms are a great source of selenium. Studies have shown men who regularly took selenium had half the risk of prostate cancer.

Take Vitamin E. A massive study is underway to confirm that Vitamin E supplements can reduce prostate cancer risk by over a third.

Enjoy fruits. Along with antioxidants, fruit contains fructose, a key player in the ability to process Vitamin D, a major prostate cancer fighter.

3. Drink right.

Here's to good prostate health! Here are some of the top beverages when it comes to fighting prostate cancer.

Drink your coffee. A new study says coffee is the biggest source of cancer-fighting antioxidants, 1,299 mg daily, for the average American adult. Tea came in second at 294 mg.

Sip some tea. Green tea is rich in polyphenols, believed to slow the growth of cancer. A study of men with HGPIN found that men taking green tea supplements developed prostate cancer at a far lower rate than those who did not. Polyphenols are also found in red wine and pomegranate juice.

4. Lower that cholesterol.

There's one more reason to keep the cholesterol on the low side! Research shows high cholesterol levels are strongly associated with prostate cancer. So learn what you can about a diet that promotes good cholesterol.

Hint: Avoid the "western" diet - high in the type of fat found in meat and dairy products.

Hint-Hint: Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish like salmon, increase your "good" cholesterol, and may actually help prevent cancer.

5. Get some sun.

A healthy dose of sunshine can have positive effects for good prostate health. Sunlight is key to processing Vitamin D. Men with increased levels of Vitamin D may have as much as 45% reduction in risk of prostate cancer.

Calcium lowers Vitamin D levels in the body, and high levels of calcium are associated with far higher risk of prostate cancer. So, watch your calcium consumption, eat fruit, and get plenty of safe sunshine exposure.

Anyone has time for these five easy steps-especially when they just might add years to your life or the life of someone you love!

Source: www.depend.com

Say it, Fight it, Cure it

Wristbands are popular among adults, teens and children to bring awareness to cancer. One of the popular sayings on wristbands is "Say it, Fight it, Cure it". Another popular saying is "Cancer Sucks", which is how a lot of cancer patients and survivors feel.

I am researching wristband companies who offer wholesale pricing. Readers of this blog will have an opportunity to purchase a cancer awareness wristband. One of the criteria for choosing the right company is to get their commitment to help raise money for cancer awareness. A portion of the proceeds from each wristband will go to cancer research funding. Keep checking back for updates.

MammoVan

In the past week, the Bellevue Reporter and Redmond Reporter have advertised locations where mobile mammography vans (aka MammoVan) will be located. The MammoVan is part of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance's effort to bring breast imaging services to women. For convenience, the MammoVan is usually located in grocery store parking lots. For a complete calendar listing, go to www.seattlecca.org. The MammoVan concept is a great idea!

Now, what about bringing prostate cancer testing services to men. A simple PSA test (blood) or PCA3 test (urine) would be easy to perform in a mobile van. After all, blood mobiles are often used to promote blood donations. Why aren't there any mobile vans for men to get tested? Would men want to be tested in a public scene? And, where would the vans be located; at a local sporting event, local bar, golf course, or poker room? How would the van be funded? All of these questions need to be answered because prostate cancer needs to be diagnosed in the early stages.

Nurses Interview

Yesterday, I received a scheduled call from a nurse at Swedish Hospital, located in downtown Seattle. Swedish Hospital is where Dr. Porter and his staff of doctors and nurses perform Da Vinci (robotic) surgery.

When the nurse called, she was very friendly. The purpose of the nurses interview is to give the hospital a chance to ask important questions. Some of the questions were related to surgery while other questions were not. I had prepared a list of questions before the call. The answers to the questions are listed below:

• During surgery preparation (10am to 12pm), I can have one visitor at a time
• Visiting hours are from 11:30am to 8:30pm, however, the hospital is flexible provided visitors are being quiet so not to disturb other patients
• There is no limit to the number of visitors (per patient) on the day of surgery
• Visitors can join family and friends in the surgery waiting room or the waiting room of the floor in which the patient is on
• Surgery preparation is scheduled to begin at 10am and surgery will begin at 12pm. Surgery is scheduled to be completed between 4pm and 5pm
• After surgery, Dr. Porter will join family and friends in the waiting room to provide details of the surgery
• I am permitted to use a voice recorder during surgery preparation and after recovery
• I am permitted to bring my PC so I can post on my blog. The hospital does have Wi-Fi. I have been wanting to get a Mac, so maybe I can bring the Mac
• I can bring my mobile phone to the hospital, however, I may not be able to use it to make or receive calls depending on what medical equipment is on the floor. Anyone who is visiting, please do not call my mobile phone. Instead, just show up and check with the receptionist at the main entrance. When I am able, I will call family and friends. I won't be receiving phone calls until I know how I feel. Obvious, visitors can tell how I feel in person.
  
• Most Da Vinci surgery patients are discharged the day after surgery assuming there are no complications. Visitors can visit on the 16th (come early if you want - 9am or after). If I am discharged it would most likely be sometime between 1pm and 5pm. I want my lunch before I leave. (LOL)
• I will be given pain medication while in the hospital and while at home. If I seem groggy when you visit, just know you can't have any of my drugs. (LOL)
• The nurses will have me up and walking sometime after dinner and/or before bedtime. This is to reduce chances of getting pneumonia and blood clots. If you visit during this time, you might bring something to keep you busy because I am not your entertainment. :-)
• The interview nurse told me I am to shower the night before and the morning before. I will be the cleanest person in the hospital. :-)

After all of my questions were answered, the nurse asked me a lot of questions. Swedish Hospital is thorough when it comes to surgeries. As the nurse said, we want you to have a successful surgery and to be as comfortable as possible before and after surgery.

Ten Days to go until Surgery

Surgery is almost here. With only 10 days to go, today is the day I stop taking aspirin or blood thinners (Aleve, Ibuprofen, Advil or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), vitamins, fish oil, and/or herbal supplements. I am only permitted to take Tylenol. On the Sunday before surgery, I have a list of things to do to prepare for surgery. I won't get into the details today because I will share them on the day I need to do them. See, you have something to look forward to.

Blast from the Past

I was driving to get a haircut when my friend Mark called. Mark and I worked together for years at AT&T Wireless. We had some fun nights on the town (at the vendor's expense). And, we also had some late nights playing poker. I had not talked to Mark in more than a year so it was great to hear from him. I am envious of him - he is doing nothing but unwinding!

I am fortunate to have so many friends with whom I have worked with over the years. Friends and family have been so supportive.

2007 Cancer Research Funding

In 2007, research dollars for breast cancer was almost 2 to 1 over prostate cancer. Women are doing a great job of bringing awareness to breast cancer. Just the other day, I read an article where a mammogram van was going to be in front of a local grocery store for free mammograms. These are possible because of the funding being received. Every week, pink ribbon marches are being sponsored and attended.

The problem is with men. Yes, you, me and any man reading this article. We don't want to talk about prostate cancer because some of the topics are embarrassing. Let's work together to increase the funding for prostate cancer.

Surgery - Only Two Weeks to go

I am somewhat anxious to be done with the surgery and start the road to recovery and survival. Right now, there is not much to do except wait. If you saw me in person, you would not know if I have cancer or not; I look and feel healthy. Be kind to people because you never know if they are burdened with some disease that is not apparent on the outside.

I find myself being a bit rebellious when it comes to my diet. While I know I should be eliminating some of the foods I've enjoyed in the past, I am treating myself (just a little bit) prior to surgery.