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Update on Jeff & Becky's journey

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Prostate Cancer
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2busymom
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 118
Posted 1/4/2007 6:15 PM (GMT -8)
Hey everyone. I haven't posted in quite a while - but I have been checking in periodically to see how everyone's doing. We were busy enjoying our new Marine getting to be home for a whole month. He's now at Marine combat training, and it was harder saying goodbye this time than the last.

Jeff has his first PSA test this Friday, and we will see the Dr. with the results on the 16th. This has been hanging over our heads since they found cancer in one area of the margin. Jeff's recovery has gone pretty well, although he still has random times of soreness inside, but it's gone pretty quickly. He's pad free now, which he's thrilled about. No luck so far on the erections. The first time he took a full dose of viagra there was a bit of reaction but with the worst headache he'd had in his life. With the cialis the headache isn't so bad, but he has it 2 days in a row.

It is a bit discouraging - I know it usually takes a while, and statistically we're in a good place - 45, no problems before surgery, both nerve bundles spared. I guess it's the knowledge that you could always be in the percentage where things don't go back to normal. There's definitely some response with stimulation, especially if he's standing up, but very little laying down. Jeff jokes about the Dr. wiring him up wrong inside. He's usually pretty up beat, but every so often it really hits him and it breaks my heart. At one point he started to kind of withdraw and we ended up having a big fight. It was good for us to clear the air and talk through some fears. Jeff didn't want to burden me with his struggles because I'm dealing with the issues with my dad's cancer, but that made me feel more alone in dealing with Jeff's cancer. But we're good now.

I leave this Friday for 10 days to be with my dad in CA. He is not doing well, and my sister and I are going to fly out and give my brother a break, and hopefully get some clear answers from the Dr. When I see what my dad is going through I know we have so much to be thankful for. We have all the time in the world to heal, and he doesn't and can't. I would appreciate your prayers and wishes as we go. I get back the night before we get Jeff's test results, so the next couple of weeks are going to be kind of intense. I find I don't get anxious, I get tired. And weepy! I feel like such a baby sometimes! But the Lord keeps encouraging us along the way. The Sunday before Christmas during church we were singing about God’s power and Him holding the universe in place, and I started crying because it occurred to me that if I really believe He can do that, I should be able to trust Him with some tiny nerves inside of my husband. Then the sermon was about God being a “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” When our Pastor asked if we needed to see some might from God this Christmas, and be filled with His peace, I started crying more. Basically I was a mess the whole service! It didn’t help that it was the morning after our big fight.

Last night in the middle of writing this my son called from Camp Geiger – one of the Marines in his platoon snuck a cell phone into his equipment, so here they were out in the boonies calling home. I needed to hear his voice – another TOTALLY unexpected blessing, just when I needed it.

I hope this new year is full of unexpected blessings for everyone on this site –

Becky
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Izzyblizzy
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 411
Posted 1/4/2007 7:03 PM (GMT -8)
My thoughts and prayers are with you, becky. You have a lot on your shoulders :(

I wish the best for Jeff's results on the 16th, as well as for your father. You have probably covered this before, but being fairly new, what type of cancer does your dad have?

My thoughts will also be with your proud Marine.

Have a safe trip, and please let us know your results on the 16th, as well as everything you find out about your Dad.

Thoughts, prayers, and hopeful wishes sent to you and yours,

Tanya
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spinbiscuit
Veteran Member
Joined : Apr 2006
Posts : 818
Posted 1/4/2007 7:19 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Becky & Jeff,

It is good to hear from you again, and that Jeff is recovering well. My prayers will be with you, and your dad this week as you fly out to California. Good luck to Jeff and you on the 16th, and our thoughts and prayers will also be with your brave son.

Glen
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jetguy
Veteran Member
Joined : Sep 2006
Posts : 750
Posted 1/4/2007 7:22 PM (GMT -8)
I mostly don't respond to posts like yours. My excuse is that I'm a radiation guy instead of a surgery guy and a bunch of other excuses that I've thought of. The real reason is that I don't have the courage to deal with your heartache. I hope and wish and want the best for your and yours. That sound weak as I read it, but it is heart felt.

Bill
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2busymom
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 118
Posted 1/4/2007 7:47 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks Tanya. My dad has a very rare cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma. It does not travel through the lymph system, but along nerve routes, invading the coverings around the nerves as it goes. It usually begins in the major or minor salivary glands of the head and neck, and basically invades the nerves and tissue of that area. When it metastisisees it usually does so in the lungs and liver. My dad's has spread to those areas, along with his spine and hip. Those areas aren't causing him any problem at all, fortunately. People can live quite a while with it in the lungs and liver. It is very unpredictable - sometimes a person can be cancer free for 15 years and then it is found again in the lungs. It can go dormant, or come back with a vengance, and that's the case with my dad. He had a spot on the roof of his mouth 3 years ago, and had surgery and radiation. Unfortunately, he didn't see a specialist for this type of cancer, and they didn't treat it aggressively enough. He should have had a body scan 3 years ago and didn't. This summer his face started to go numb and his lymph node swelled up. A biopsy on the roof of his mouth showed cancer, and a scan of his head showed it had taken over the right side of his face - jaw, hard palate, sinus, septum. Initially they were going to perform surgery and radiation and remove it all, requiring a year long recovery. But when they did a body scan they found the rest. They determined they would shrink the cancer in his face and hip since those were the only areas bothering him. Of course they had to go through all the approvals and mappings and more tests, and by the time they got to his face it was Nov., and it had grown rapidly, causing him to lose his vision in his right eye, invading the nerves and causing extreme swelling and pain. The cyberknife radiation they used did shrink it considerably, for about 3 weeks. Now it looks worse than before, although the tumor itself isn't as painful as it was. Now he's receiving external beam radiation twice a day for 30 days, and the pain is from the burning and blistering it is doing to the inside of his mouth and throat. He cannot swallow pain pills and is on liquid vicadin. They finally gave him IV therapy when my brother called the Dr. because he's dropped to 115 lbs. Supposedly they are going to give him a feeding tube. These are things we asked for in Nov. My dad isn't very proactive, and of course now in his condition I don't think he could be if he wanted to. My brother is doing all he can, but his schedule limits him. My dad's girlfriend is very helpful but not very forceful.

So my younger sister and I are headed out to see if we can be the squeeky wheel that will be heard. It's very hard being all of the way across the country (I'm in NC, he's in CA and my sis is in PA). We would've gone right away, but we found out about my husband's cancer 3 days after we found out about my dad's, and initially we really thought they were going to be able to get my dad's condition under control.

One thing I've learned from this situation is that you have to get as much info as possible, ask every imaginable question, and be an advocate for your own health. We've alreay told the Dr. that if Jeff's PSA is still high we want every possible scan/imaging test we can have before we start radiation. We won't be taken by surprise again, if we can help it. This site has really helped me to know what kinds of things I should be asking the Dr. The first few visits I didn't say much. Once I found this site I went in with a page of questions I'd written down!.

I see by your signature that you are still deciding what course of action you will take. You should be able to get a lot of insight from the folks on this site. They are wonderful.

THanks for your prayers, hopefully I will have good news to report on both my dad and Jeff -

becky
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2busymom
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 118
Posted 1/4/2007 7:58 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you Glen and Bill - your encouraging words for me and my family means so much. I think you men going through this are very brave! The fact that you are able to share with strangers, and by your sharing provide help, insight and hope is VERY courageous. Thank you!

bec
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Izzyblizzy
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2006
Posts : 411
Posted 1/4/2007 8:06 PM (GMT -8)
wow, becky! I am so sorry.

Makes me very *grateful* that we *only* have prostate cancer. I am counting our blessings.

We have our final consultation with our robotic guy tomorrow and will make final decision.

Again, have a safe trip and i hope you can make some difference in your dad's outcome.

Take care of yourself and update us when you get back or have time.

Tanya
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biker90
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 1465
Posted 1/4/2007 8:36 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Becky,

When I read your post about your Dad, I just shut the browser down not having any words to express my sorrow at what he and you guys are going through. I echo Tanya's sentiment that I am so glad to "only" have prostate cancer. My prayers and thoughts are with in your very difficult time.

Take care and try to find some way to have a little break sometime soon.

Jim
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2busymom
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 118
Posted 1/4/2007 9:21 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks Tanya & Jim. I don't know how my dad is doing it - I can't get out of bed when I hava a headache with a sinus infection. He has surprised even the Dr.s with his strength.

I will get to spend a few days at my sister's in PA with my 2 little nephews before I leave, and a day on the return trip. They're 3 & 4 and more like grandkids than nephews. I'm really looking forward to that. I will also get to see my mom and grandma and brother and his family in CA, and it's been about 2 years since I've seen them, so that will be nice too.

In Feb. the ladies on our church staff are going to NY city for 3 days to see a Broadway show - so I can pamper myself a little bit then! And the day after Jeff's results we get to see my son Caleb, very briefly, before he heads off to Pensacola for more training. So there are many things to look forward to.

Tanya, I hope your meeting goes well. Just bring a list of all your questions and you'll be set!

Thanks again for your prayers & encouragement -

becky
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M. Kat
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2006
Posts : 715
Posted 1/5/2007 4:04 AM (GMT -8)
Becky - it's wonderful to hear the positive attitude you have through all of this. I know that a lot of it comes from your strong faith. when I get teary eyed during church services, I sometimes think that it is because of the good Lord being there with me. crying can be very comforting and releases stress, so cry all you want. I know what you mean about your Jeff getting frustrated with the lack of erections. My Jeff will get frustrated and pull away from me, and then I have to encourage him with hugs and kisses and just generally being there for him. take care of yourself as you travel throughout our country and you do have some good stuff to look forward to. God bless....kat
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ed from pa
Regular Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 42
Posted 1/5/2007 11:01 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Becky, hang in there, Jeff is on the right track. With the Lord all things work together for good. All of Jeff's numbers look great. We will be praying for you, I served in the Marine's during vietnam, we will be praying for Jeff.

ed from pa

Jesus Christ Big C

cancer small c

Semper Fi

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2busymom
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 118
Posted 1/6/2007 8:07 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks Ed & Kat. This week started out kind of tough. I really missed my son, and then my brother sent a picture of my dad and he looks so bad. I had a good cry and prayer time in the shower Thursday. I know the call from my son was from the Lord - we weren't supposed to be able to hear from him until Monday the 15th. We found out that his MOS will be building airfields and landing strips, and that he will be a foreman. After he graduates from MCT on the 17th he will be going to Pensacola for 6 months of schooling. That was also an answer to prayer, because that's only about 12 hours away. I've heard the base is beautiful. It was kind of funny, when Caleb was home on leave he told my husband that when he's done in the service he would be interested in working with him in construction and eventually taking over his business. This was a real surprise to us. Then he gets this MOS which will have a lot of engineering and construction aspects to it. (This was his 2nd choice for an MOS. The first was firefighting). So I thought it was pretty cool that he was assigned to something that fits what his plans are for the future. The down side is they told him up front he may be sent to Iraq because they're having to build a lot of airfields there, but we'll just have to wait and see. They did tell him that he will probably get his choice of being assigned to Cherry Point, and that's only 2 hours away from us. We're praying that that works out - otherwise he'll be in San Diego. Thanks for serving Ed, especially during such a difficult time. What was your MOS?

I'm at my sisters now, and totally enjoying my nephews. It's such a nice break to be with little boys and their "little" issues - potty training, no kicking while you're wrestling with each other, keeping "potty talk" in the bathroom, eating your dinner if you want some icecream. I knew they would cheer me up. And I've been asked to come play downstairs, so I'd better go.

Thanks again for your prayers, they mean SO much -

bec
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