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The Michael Milken Story

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Posted 6/16/2007 12:51 PM (GMT -6)
Many of you have heard of Michael Milken.  He is a billionaire who was caught up in the white collar savings and loan and SEC scandals in the 80's.  I am not hear to provide testimony to his crimes, but rather to mention him as I know him.  I was installing phone systems in the early 80's and did his headquarters at Columbia Savings and Loan in 1982.  I had to train him on how to use his telephone.  I was 21 years old and naive as to who this gentleman was.  I later heard about the S&L crisis and his involvement and thought "wow that was a dirty guy". 

I was wrong.

Here's his story with prostate cancer...Gleason 9, positive DRE, PSA 24, multiple lymph node involvement.  He was told 12 to 18 months.  I saw him in the booth of a Angels/Dodgers baseball game yesterday and he is matching every dollar donated by Major League Baseball this year.  He also started the Milken foundation back in 1982 dedicated to cancer research.  When he mentioned that he was diagnosed when he was 47, that really rang a bell and made me research this.  It was in 1993 that his diagnosis was made.  Stage IV.  14 years ago.  And still going fine.  He has written a book on surviving prostate cancer.  I just ordered it.  For all of us advanced prostate cancer people...this man is inspirational and has dedicated his life to using his influence to get the proper attention to prostate cancer research. 

Say what you will about the history of him, for today he has provided me the strongest hope that I will survive this and it is possible to beat the odds at ANY stage of this disease.  I highly recommend that you read about him at www.mikemilken.com.

He was nice to meet, even better to read about.

Tony

Age 44

PSA was 19.8

Stage pT3b (stage III)

Gleas 7 (4+3)

Prostate removed 2/16

PSA now 0.0

HT, Radiation in progress.

 

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 6/16/2007 9:56:27 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/16/2007 4:47 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Tony

I was fascinated to read your post and hopefully we can learn more about how Michael Milken has survived for 14 years in such an advanced stage of PCa when he was first diagnosed. As you well know, you and a small group of members here are having to deal with advanced PCa. I have a keen interest in this because I too, along with many others, could reach the advanced stage some day even if we have been treated with surgery or radiation. We need to continue to educate ourselves about new advances to combat PCa, especially in its advanced stages. Without going into details I had a brief encounter with this gentlemen early in my career. I am not one to sit in the judgment seat about his past sins as I believe that he fully paid for them. He is a brilliant man who took a wrong turn in his life, but God had another mission in mind for him. Among his many charitable endeavors, he established the Prostate Cancer Foundation and has spearheaded getting big dollars into PCa research, including some of his vast wealth. I think his contribution to PCa has been enormous and we would not have achieved the treatment advances that have occurred in the PCa world in the past decade without him. God Bless you!

Dave
Posted 6/16/2007 9:53 PM (GMT -6)
Agreed Dave,
This individual is valuable to PCa research. I recommend a review of his history as it is great testimonial. I was amazed. In addition he did another ballgame today and re-iterated his commitment. I can list a dozen or two screen names on this site that should be interested in this story.

I will NEVER give up. Thanks, Mike!

Tony
Posted 6/17/2007 1:28 PM (GMT -6)

Hey Tony,

Since I know I'm one of the posters you're speaking of I will get that book ordered!  Isn't it  incredible how we cross paths with others and somehow it comes back to us.  Six degrees of separation maybe?!!!  tongue

All the best and thanks for passing on the hope,

Susan

Posted 6/17/2007 3:28 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Tony, glad to hear from you. I will be ordering this book. You have been a huge inspiration to me and others. I hope that your treatments are going great. Live for the cure! that is what it is all about. Love Courtney
Posted 6/17/2007 4:22 PM (GMT -6)
What is the name of the book?
Posted 6/17/2007 4:24 PM (GMT -6)
A Call to Action?
Posted 6/17/2007 5:45 PM (GMT -6)
Yes...Call to Action. Here's how to order... http://www.mikemilken.com/philcareer.taf?page=call_to_action Tony http://www.mikemilken.com/philcareer.taf?page=call_to_action   Post edited to add direct link… :) «   bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum   Post Edited By Moderator (bluebird) : 6/20/2007 9:07:16 PM (GMT-6)
Posted 6/19/2007 9:18 AM (GMT -6)
Hi All,
I just completed my daily IMRT treatment. Dr. P. may be viewing this site as he wrote down the address. He is my RO. He was inquisitive as to the mental therapy I found here, and if he reads this blog then well, welcome Dr. P. I had my "tatoo's" done today and I have to say they would not have been my first choice for a first tattoo. MOM or RUTH, or Jesus, may have rang up before "DOTS". But it was another non-eventful day in the IMRT world. I read more on Milken and believe he has a diet he has stuck to during his long battle. Well I'm drinking the pomagranite juice and it's not too bad, just don't over do it. I have always stuck to vegi's so that was not an adjustment. Less red meat and more dietary fiber other than that the silver bullet appears to be his determination to win this battle. I hope he does. Anyway, good morning to all. I feel great. Gained 9 pounds and will try to reverse that as my blood preasure is rising. I have never had to take BP medications but i think the other stuff I am taking is changing that. Any thoughts?

Tony
Posted 6/19/2007 11:41 AM (GMT -6)

Yo Tony!

Pomegranate juice - Remember the site I gave for for the young(er) guy with pc?  Well, he gave his smoothie recipe with the pom juice...very very good.  We try to have one every day.

Sounds like you're eating well.  9 pounds...hmmmm...hate to have you go on the bp stuff...are you walking?

Milken's diet has gotten quite a bit of attention.  Have you read Dr. Snuffy Charles Meyers book on Diet & HT?  Go to: Prostateforum.com  Let me know what you think.

Thanks for being a beacon,

Susan

Posted 6/19/2007 1:35 PM (GMT -6)
I am walking, but I have a bigger problem...I'm eating too much. Plus I think I am retaining water. I get up in the morning at 6:30 then drink a ton of water for my IMRT treatments. They say they want a full bladder for treatment. Plus I am not walking as far because it's 110 here this week. Pick a time and its hot. I'd walk before treatment but I'd have to be up at 4:00 to have enough time to drink enough water after coolong off. I am drinking Pom every day. I know it is being researched as a progression inhibitor so there must be something there about this juice. Doesn't taste too bad so I get it straight up. I also have a pomegranate tree though its way too early to start picking those.

I am working out today so say bye to the 9 pounds (and 15 twin brothers I should lose anyway).

Tony
Posted 6/19/2007 2:16 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Tony

It sounds like you are being "water logged"! I hope you don't drown! When I was taking my proton radiation treatments, I only had to drink about 14-16oz of water about an hour before my radiation treatments in the morning which apparently filled my bladder according to the scan they did before treatment each day. I wonder if you are drinking more water than you have to before treatment. Some guys worry that they will drink too much and can't hold it while under the radiation gun. How much water were you asked to take before your treatment each day? As we all know, drinking more water than less water is considered healthy for cleansing the body and keeping it into good running shape. Good luck on your radiation treatments. I am on your cheering team all of the time. You have a wonderful attitude considering what you have been going through. Yeah to a very positive attitude!

Dave
Posted 6/19/2007 2:45 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Dave,
My radiaologist suggests 24 ounces as I have a larger bladder than normal AND because I don't have a prostate . When surgery was complete they of course remove the prostate and the bladder tends to fill the void in the prostate bed. For that reason, a full bladder is very importatnt so that it "lifts" itself out of the target area. Because I am on HT I believe that I am retaining water as well. So heavy hydration coupled with this heat wave and HT---9 lbs. Dang. I am working out more hoping to get rid of the extra poundage. I weigh in at 209 and would love to get back to 180-185. When I was diagnosed I was around 194, so losing weight is something I just need to do.


Tony
Posted 6/19/2007 3:28 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Tony

They say you should learn something new every day of your life and you just taught me something that I was not aware of. I am sure that your information on bladder expansion after PCa surgery will be of interest to other readers here. Good luck in getting your weight down--the older you get the harder it is to contain weight!

Dave
Posted 6/19/2007 3:51 PM (GMT -6)

Tony:

Glad to hear the IMRT days are "non-eventful" and hope they continue to be easy on you.  I was under the assumption that one of the side effects of HT could be weight gain - could be one more reason for the extra lbs. 

Continue to do well and take care.

Dutch

Posted 6/20/2007 2:20 AM (GMT -6)
Always thanks for your guys support, Dave and Dutch,
On the IMRT, I am expecting some slow down around treatment 28 they say. Lasting about 15 to 45 days. My company wants me to work from home during that time. I can do it but I hate the idea. My work has for some reason always been my solace. And I am having good success for my new employer. I have good momentum and don't want my treatments to slow it down. Anyway, Dave I'm not sure I'd call it bladder expansion, but rather shifting. When a prostate is removed, at least a centimeter of Urethra is removed as well. When the urethra is re-attached it is "stretched" and pulls the penis one way and the bladder the other. This stretching can cause incontinance and ED just in and of itself. I'm OK everywhere here except my bladder has been pulled into the prostate bed. This is common for virtually all who have had this surgery. Not a big issue but when you have to have additional radiation therapy, you don't want to "burn" those muscles or the bladder.

Dutch, I am certain the HT is an issue...And I'm sticking with the story...But that's only if excercise and dieting don't work.

Tony

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 6/20/2007 2:47:15 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/20/2007 9:17 PM (GMT -6)
Hi ~ Tony & Ruth,   Sending   “Special Thoughts” to both of you…   Letting you know we are keeping you extra-extra close in our thoughts and prayers…     Kisses to Mickey, Sebastian, KC, & Dirty Harry…. xoxoxoxo   In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy     «   bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum HealingWell’s   ~     official bookstore         Buy books via    (link)…>>     WellnessBooks.com   This is a major way that we help raise funds to keep the site alive and growing.                    WellnessBooks.com has literally millions of books available through Amazon.com.    
Posted 6/20/2007 9:56 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks Lee,
It's unfortunate to report but KC has disappeared. He was my cat but I came home one day and he never showed up. He never left the yard very far. We don't know what happened but we miss him. Mickey is eating his portions though and he's getting to be like two cats.

Tony
Posted 6/21/2007 5:27 AM (GMT -6)
Tony - it sounds like you and Mickey need to go on a weight loss plan. HA HA! you know what you need to do and you will lose the weight. I'm glad your treatments are going along fine. We also had a cat disappear one day. we don't know what happened to her as she was not an outdoor cat but it was after we had moved so we assumed she tried to go home. take care!! kat
Posted 6/21/2007 9:04 AM (GMT -6)
I think if I would just eat off the floor, that Mickey would reduce my portions significantly. But then the cat door would need home improvement.

Thanks for your support Kat!

Tony
Posted 6/15/2010 12:00 PM (GMT -6)
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=8908513


I'm not sure how many of you saw Michael Milken and Whoopi Goldberg during the Yankee game last week, but I was fortunate enough to catch it and wanted to share. My point in sharing is not to solicit money for the cause, but instead to share hope. Milken made the comment that "more advances have been made in the last 12 months in cancer research than in the last 20 years" and it reminded me to hold on to hope. It is my hope that a cure will be found and coming for a man that has shattered the odds, I believe it! Cheers to a cure in our lifetime!
Posted 6/15/2010 12:21 PM (GMT -6)

Wishing you the best Tony, and thank you for sharing.  It does give hope to all!

Aimzee

Posted 6/16/2010 1:01 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks for the post Doting! I liked it...

Also very sweet Aimzee. I posted this three years ago when I was just starting out. I continue to do well and for that I am very thankful to a higher power...

Tony
Posted 6/17/2010 9:15 PM (GMT -6)
Tony- I joined HW recently and have to tell you that you are an inspiration. BF is around your age with similar stats and I always refer to your spirit and stamina (as well as others here!). I wish you the best during IMRT. It is uneventful with some fatigue. I have been fascinated and have hope through Michael Milken's story. Thank you for sharing that he is still going strong and still forging forward with research. Gives everyone good hope. Dont worry about those lbs. You will get rid of that in no time. Minor stuff compared to what you have been through. I am always complaining about my "mid-life" lbs and have not gone what you guys have been through. All the best!
Posted 6/18/2010 12:24 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Hope and Prayer,
I am treatment free right now. I had my IMRT in 2007. After surgery and starting hormone therapy. i am running undetectable PSA's today. A blessing indeed.

But your wonderful comments make for a great day. Thank you so much for the kind remarks. What I say I have been through is meeting wonderful people during trying times. I have no regrets...

Peace and Love!

Tony
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