Positive Thoughts

I have always been fascinated by human
beings' will to live. This fascination has been greatly magnified with my diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The will to live is a deeply embedded force that resides within every person. People with prostate cancer---all cancer patients including me---seem to develop a protective yet realistic positive attitude that guides our journey.

Biologically, a positive attitude may or may not alter the course of destructive cancer cells. But I think that we are better able to cope with disease-related
problems and may respond better to treatment when our thoughts and actions are positive.

Recently, there has been a shift that we all have noticed in the treatment of cancers including prostate cancer. It relies on a balanced, focused approach.

Healingwell and your posts drive home my premise. I see TV commercials and your threads and posts emphasize the need for treating the "complete person."

We talk about the need for positive emotional and psychological balance. We
emphasize good nutritional and exercise programs. In short, we have become more proactively involved in the treatment of prostate cancer.

And there is the added advantage of not having to fight prostate cancer alone. You and all the members of HealingWell always tell me I'm not alone on my journey.

The people who love us are a tremendous asset in our treatment. I have read posts by wives and parents and other loved ones who sometimes seem to lead the charge. And projecting a positive attitude will help them feel better, too

It's our combined positive attitudes, our willingness to share with and encourage each other that make us a force to be reckoned with.

Someday, a cure for prostate cancer will be found. And it will be found by people like us who believe the impossible is possible.

All Good Thoughts,

Vet

---------------------------------------

Diagnosed:12/03/05
Age: 54
Biopsy: Gleason 10.
Hormone Therapy: 12/15/05
open Surgery: 2/14/06
EBRT: 6/5/06 thru 7/25/06
Diagnosis: T3b Seminal Vesicle Involvement, Gleason 5 + 4 = 9
Current PSA: .01

Post Edited (veteran1) : 7/4/2007 12:33:50 PM (GMT-6)

Well stated Vet...I would like to add that I think a positive attitude DOES alter the course of this disease. While it may not sound right scientifically, and even that might not be true, it does promote ones mind to keep vigilent and searching for the holy grail of cure.

It is my belief that a positive attitude also:
> Improves quality of life
> Keeps other "bio-issues" from impeding your health. If you feel good maybe you get over a cold faster, or don't let it keep you down
> Bring sunshine to your loved ones...they see you feeling good so they feel better
> Promotes positive energy, energy that you can use to fight this disease
> Allows you to help others, which is why I want to be here
> Simply put, makes ourselves more complete. I don't want to have this disease get the best of me and feel, darn, why did I waste my time feeling sorry, or scared.

Vet, I have noticed that you are making great contributions to this site and from my heart to you...thank you.

Tony

Vet ~

Your words are so Powerful and Heartfelt…

               and the message from Tony to you is so true!! 

                     Vet ~ Thank you for touching our core…

           

 

Tony ~

You truly are a “guiding light” for all of us.

    Thank you for allowing us to walk with you and Ruth…

             and for always accepting our support in the manner that we offer it. 

                     Thank you for “You”!!!

 

 

In Heartfelt Appreciation to 2 Very Special “Gentle” men……

~ Lee & Buddy ~

TC, Buddy and Lee,

Thank you for your kind words. I do research threads. Still, it seems that I learn
so much more by reading posts like yours.

All Good Thoughts,

Vet

Vet,
Thank you for your input on this subject. I always read what you post for your honesty and meaningfulness to where we are. This is a tough place to be simply for the REASON we're here. After all - everyone here either has or loves someone with prostate cancer. You know, on the one hand I'd like to not have a reason to be here, run away and never come back. On the other there is no where else, no where else, that understands what we're going through in this same way and so "every time I try to leave you pull me back in"!

Tony,
As you stated - we do help each other with positive/realistic (and I see no difference in the two) attitudes. With our words, our actions and love we give hope. Thanks for doing that for so many of us. On the subject of hope - I have come to believe that hope is a variety of things. Some hope for a cure and well they should. Some hope to walk this journey with love and compassion. Others hope to learn how to live with this disease, really live, for the first time in their lives. Hope, I've come to believe is suited to every person where they are. I don't know if I'm saying this very well...I do know you know what I mean.

Lee & Buddy,
You're so good to all of us here. Your love for all of us is evident and so much appreciated.

Grateful to be here,
Susan

---

Husband Diagnosed 11/17/05 Age: 63 No Symptoms
PSA: 7.96, Positive DRE
Biopsy Right: 6 of 6 Cores Positive Biopsy Left: 1 of 6 Cores Positive
Gleason: 4+3 = 7 Stage: T2B N0 MX
2/09/06: LRP Restage: T3A NX MX
3 mo. PSA Post Surgery: 11.8, 12.9, 13.9 Bone scan, CT scan, Endorectal MRI, Chest XR - neg.
9/06/06: 6 mo. PSA: 18.8 CT shows distant lymph node involvement
Restage IV Start HT Lupron 3 mo. shots
12/06/06: PSA 0.8
03/07/07 - PSA 0.3
06/06/07 - 0.1

Vet/Tony-

As someone who skips over the "flowery", colorful (literally) posts and those which invoke religion, I'd like to thank you for each of yours' above.

I'm at a particularly stressful part of my fight, after having thought I had the beast beaten and now finding it's reared its ugly head again, and appreciate each of your well written and thought out posts. Thank you.

-Gordy

Gordy,
My best wishes include your safe return to remission. I believe the intent of Vet's thread here is to express that this disease is best fought with a clear positive approach. I firmly believe that is necessary. I am on the fourth week of radiation, post surgery and hormone treatment, and I still have no adverse side effects. My only explainanton is my desire to just keep on moving on. I am looking forward to a great day with a friend who lost his leg in a motorcylce accident and his wife is going through a tough time with her surgically repaired leg six years after that same accident. I changed my original plans of going riding my off road toys. Why? Because they are here for me, and I am more than happy to be there for them. (and it's 116 here in Vegas today and they have a pool...lol)

Susan,
Susan, Susan, Susan...I won't let you leave this site. You are so much needed for so many here, you have become a poster I always read. You and Don, are definately like me and Ruth. My hope is that one day we meet and share this friendship, and I get to play my music with your family. That's called a dream, and I still have them. See what a positive attitude can do?

Tony

To all the Freedom Fighter Members of this Forum on this 4th of July Independence Day-

CC - that was an uplifting post, thanks. You expanded on what Vet started, Tony added to and it gave me something more to think about...freedom.

Freedom, in my little world, creates the environment for choice. That choice happens in my head and goes to my heart. I have to make the choice to be positive/hopeful fairly often as I don't think it comes naturally to me. The more often I make this choice the freer I become. If this sounds easy, I certainly don't mean it to because it's darn hard. But the payoff is great.
That being said the alternative is a dark and lonely place. I've been there as many others here have been and I do not want to go back.

All the best to you,
Susan

Vet, I agree with your statement that a positive attitude will not change what cancer cells do, but it will (WILL) change how we deal with those cells. 

Illigitimi Non Bu Carborundum,

Bill

Don't let the B's wear you down.  Even if the B's are cancer cells.

Read all of your insitefull posts. In bad situation
now. puter not workin very well.
New one on way about 2 weeks. Will still read posts on site. Will reply wen puter arrives.
,
,Vet

Post Edited (veteran1) : 7/8/2007 12:55:51 AM (GMT-6)

Hey Vet,

We will all be right here ~ waiting for your return!!! You will definitely be missed.  Glad to know it’s only temporary. WOW… you’ll be blown away with your new system.  We are with Buddy’s new one!

See you realllllllll  ssssoooonnnnn   Hugs     from ~ Lee & Buddy

Vet,
Like so many of your posts, this one made me stop, think, and be thankful for the progress I have made. We all can sometimes be so tied up with our problems, that we forget to remind ourselves about how far we have come.
Thanks for that!
Best,
Mike

---

June 2005 - Age 53 PSA 4.8 at regular physical
October 2005 - After several rounds of anti-biotics, PSA 5.2 at Urlogist
November 2005 - Biopsy negative
July 2006 - PSA 5.9 at regular Physical
October 2006 - After several more rounds of anti-biotics PSA 8.1
November 2006 - Second biopsy - Positive
December 2006 - Gleason (3+4=7), Tumor T1c, CT Scan and Bone Scan Negative
January 2, 2007 Robotic Prostatectomy, University of Rochester Medical Center - Tumor confined but larger than thought, only one nerve able to be spared. Margins clear.
February 2007 - Three to four pads a day, no erection with viagara.
March 2007 - Down to two pads a day, had first intercourse with Erecaid pump and bands, otherwise still flat tire.
April 2007 - First Post-Surgical PSA 0.02 and a great relief! Down to one pad a day. Still unable to achive erection without pump.
May, 2007 - Still one pad a day, even try a smaller pad on occasion. Slight improvement on the ED.
"If patience is a virtue, I feel like the most virtuous guy on the planet!"

Vet - It sucks when the ole puter goes bad on ya.

Is that the only problem you're having? You can em me here at HW if you need.

Thinking of you & hope you're well... (well aside from having pc...oh, you know what I mean)
Susan

Post Edited (myman) : 7/8/2007 2:04:22 PM (GMT-6)

"A healthy attitude is contagious, but don't wait to catch it from others.  Be a carrier."

                                               - Anonymous

Dutch

 

 

Silly me!

Vet, when you said your puter was broke I first thought that that's no big deal, we can use Viagra!...Then I read on and you stated a new one was on the way. Wow, I thought, they sure are making strides in the bio-sciences. I was thinking I never gave it a pet name, either. LOL, when you get your new COMputer, hurry back!!!

I am getting to literal. I seriously did not get it.

That or I guess if your new puter can keep you busy for two weeks I need one, too.

Sigh,

Tony

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 7/8/2007 7:42:34 PM (GMT-6)