I've been remiss

I've been quite remiss at posting.  At guess that is what happens when you are newly married, take a nice long honeymoon, the spring real estate season is in fully swing and you have to make a serious decision on what to do with the cancer growing inside you.

On June 15th I had my yearly biopsy, a little early because my PSA results had come back extremely high, indicating a possible increase in growth of the tumor.  On July 10, I had my consultation of the results and there had indeed been growth and the discussion of what type of treatment or surgery needed to take place.  After Steve & I spoke with my urologist (surgeon) and with my 2 radiation oncologists, it was decided that I was not a good candidate for radiation and that the best option for me was to go ahead and have the surgery.  So, on August 16th, I had a radical prostatectomy at Duke.  According to my surgeon, Dr. Judd Moul, my surgery went extremely well and was practically a textbook example of how it was done.  While I was told what to expect, I have since realized that surgeons while telling you the truth, don't tell you everything (and probably for good reason as no one would probably have surgery ever again).  Recovery has been slow and painful.  I was in the hospital for 2 days coming home on the 18th.  After 25 days at home, I went back to work a few hours a day on September 11th.  That itself has proven to be a challenge.  First was the blurry vision caused by one of the myriad of meds that I was on for the first 2 weeks after the surgery and then there is the inability to sit for more than a couple of hours at a time.  I'm still searching for that perfect cushion that helps.

So here I sit (actually propped up on my hip).  The good part: the pathology report from the removed prostate was good.  There actually were 2 tumors as it turns out, not just one.  The margins from the removed prostrate were very good with no evidence of any spread.  The not so great part: the emotional toll, the psychological toll that this whole thing has taken on me and on Steve.  Also, the physical repercussion from the actual surgery itself and permanent change in my anatomy.  It is trying to say the least.

So those are the highlights of the last couple of months.  But hey, I'm alive :)

Honeymoon!

7 day Royal Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Phillipsburg, St. Maarten and then back to Ft. Lauderdale.  3 Full days at sea.  Glorious!!!!