The Best We Can Do.

 Let me tell you what this is and, mostly, what this isn't.

1. This is simply my observations, reactions, and thoughts--medical, lifestyle, and Theological--about my diagnosis with and treatment of my prostate cancer.
2. Why?
   Well, I'm blessed to have a great many people who take interest in my situation and pray for me and Kathy (my wife). This will allow them to keep up.
   Writing helps me think things through, so I'm writing this for me as much as for anyone else.
   I'm told that about 1 out of 8 American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC). Most of them are like me, older. Evidence that I might have PC, first showed up in an elevated PSA count when I was 75. I was 76 when the cancer was confirmed by means of a biopsy. In short, I figure my journey might be of help to some other guy.
3. What this isn't: I'm not advising anybody. I'm not qualified. I will pray for you. Check out what I say. If I have it wrong, let me know. 
4. I won't let this site become a place to debate alternative therapy. I'm just telling my story.
5. I don't know, yet.

I'll just make two quick observations, one medical and one Theological, and one step of progress today.

First, I start radiation treatments on Monday. I'm told that I'll receive 28 of these treatments, 5/week, so this phase of my treatment will take about 6 weeks. I'll talk a bit about the hormone blocker drugs that I've already started, next time I write. Yesterday, the doctor who is overseeing the medication part of my treatment said, radiation "burns up" the cancer cells. The nurse practitioner, who was managing my diagnosis, described radition as "scrambling the DNA" of the cancer cells. Whichever picture is most nearly correct, I'm confident that the radiation will not be good news for the colony of unwanted cells I'm sitting on right now. My attitude is, Let's git-r-done."

Second, from a medical viewpoint I had and still don't have any clear, palpable indication that anything is wrong. Looking back I can see that my frequent need to get up at night (Do I have to go to the bathroom because I wake up, or do I wake up because I have to go to the bathroom? One of life's mysteries.) was an indicator. I had just chalked it up to getting oder.
I'm glad I followed my doctor's advice and had my PSA checked. Elevated PSA doesn't always mean cancer, and cancer doesn't always mean aggressive treatment, but I'm glad I found out.

Third, we live in a fallen world. The entrance of sin into the world brought all sorts of destructive problems. Cancer certainly is that. A relative, and fellow pastor, puts it this way, "Nobody can outrun the curse." A guy I used to know, who is with the Lord now, used to say, "You didn't think you were going to get of this thing alive did you?" The "thing" is life. One of my doctors told me that I probably won't die from PC. It is a reminder, though, that I will leave this world. Ultimately, I'm trusting the great physician.

Until next time.