Should have posted sooner, but things jus kept changing!

Back in April I posted that Jim seemed to be developing resistance to the hormone treatment that had kept his prostate cancer at bay for about 12 years. They told us it would happen eventually, but still scary and surprising to get to that point. His PSA had risen to about 5, and it should theoretically be zero, at least just after receiving the hormone treatment.

Lots more doctor's appointments in May and June. Trip to Cleveland for an ultra-sensitive pet scan to see if the cancer was growing (results negative). (Got to Columbus that day before they called and said "oh, wait, can you come tomorrow, the isotope didn't pass the QA test, we'll have more isotope tomorrow" - REALLY????) Talked to several oncologists, a surgeon, even got a recommendation from a noted national  specialist in this area. Finally determined  that a clinical trial made the most sense, as it was testing the effects of a slightly different drug from one already on the market, one that had less side effects and could be given earlier, before sign of a tumor.

So Jim goes in for the base level testing required for the clinical trial. Lots of paperwork, scans, and another PSA test. Result is like .7. WAIT! that has an extra decimal point (lower is good). Hmm, must be a bad test result - let's repeat. WAIT, second test is like .3. Ok this is good that it's low, but now he's not eligible for the clinical trial.

So lots more talking to doctor's - why would this happen? do we trust this result? what treatment now? Doctors decided one of two things happened. Either the 5.0 test result was an error, or taking Jim off a medication had jump started the hormone treatment into working again. They aren't exactly sure which, so now they are watching him like a hawk, testing his PSA every 6 weeks instead of 3 months, and double testing it. And it's continued to stay low, two more results under .5. So they'll keep testing until it rises again, and keep on with the hormone treatment. And the "cancer cloud" seems to have blown on past us again, at least for now......maybe because it's settled over other dear friends, unfortunately. :(

So we focus on the good parts of life, and the extra birthdays we get to celebrate, and look forward to the birth of our first grandchild in December. For now, for us, life is good......

Cancer still sucks

It's been a while since I updated this blog, as everything has been pretty status quo. Well, the kids keep growing up, but in terms of Jim's and my health, everything has been pretty status quo - until recently. Jim has been going every 3-4 months for a checkup with his urologist, and it seems that the hormone therapy they've had him on isn't working so well anymore. This was expected, they told us when they started this therapy that at some point it would have killed off the less aggressive cancer cells and the more aggressive cells would start to develop some critical mass. And it looks like it's that time, as normally the hormone injection drives his PSA down to nothing, and then it slowly builds back up over the next several months, but the last two injections seem to NOT have lowered the PSA.

So several scans later, it's a good news/not so good news situation. Good news is that Jim still has no evidence of a tumor or growth anywhere, including lymph nodes and bones. Bad news is that the next treatment they would put him on tends to only be covered by insurance when there IS evidence of disease. So really, we're supposed to just wait until he has a tumor??? Well the urologist is trying to get insurance to cover it, and in the meantime, Procter has a GREAT benefit where we can get a second opinion from the best doctors in the country for various diseases, so his records are being sent to the prostate cancer experts to see what they would recommend. He feels great, and in fact he will be running the Cap City half marathon with Julie at the end of this month. Here's hoping all that healthy living will help keep things at bay a while longer. Prayers appreciated, as always.

Teri

Another Year of Blessings!

I had been meaning to update this blog, not sure if anyone still reads it but it does seem to carry on "our story", and can't believe it's been almost a whole year. A year of great blessings again. Kids are all doing well, Jim and I continue to get good checkups. Jim did have to take another hormone shot this past year, as he does every 6-9 months or so, but the shot continues to keep his PSA down, and this last one didn't seem to be so bad with side effects. So he continues his "elevated PSA, no sign of active disease" status, and they continue to say there are new treatments coming out of clinical trials when the hormone shot DOES stop being as effective.

I had a bit of a scare in November, when the routine mammogram turned NOT so routine with those dreaded words "We noticed an abnormality. Likely nothing, but we need to check it out". Couple days of anxious waiting for a biopsy report before the GREAT news (received the day before Thanksgiving!) that indeed, it was nothing! Just a reminder to never take those things for granted! I did manage to loose 15 pounds this year, which I am really proud of - turned out a low thyroid level was lurking there unnoticed, and once that was addressed, all the calorie counting and exercise finally started to pay off - I'm pretty happy about that, not quite done though.....

So this Christmas finds us counting our blessings once again! Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year to all!

WAAYYY overdue for an update!

I've been meaning to reflect and update on what's new since the last time I blogged, but didn't realize it had been 3 months! It's good news in that there's not much news, as opposed to three years ago when there was lots happening on the cancer fighting front.

For me, the finetuning of the "Build a New Boob for Teri" project continues. I had a little cosmetic touchup in early December, with one more coming later in February. A tattoo, to be specific :) Making the rebuilt part look a little closer to the original version. 

I also had a couple of OTHER implants - two cataract surgeries later, I am contact lens/glasses free for the first time since I was about 9! It's so wonderful to be able to not only see again (didn't realize how foggy those darn cataracts had gotten), but also have my vision corrected internally instead of with something I have to wear - I can wake up at night and see the clock! I am just now getting used to NOT reaching for my glasses first thing in the morning.

We had a great holiday! All the kids were back home, at least for awhile, both Thanksgiving and Christmas. How blessed are we!  We were able to stay home this year, no soccer tournament out of town to hurry away too, went skiing together and saw some Christmas sightseeing in Cincinnati, before the kids started to go their own ways again.

Jim started the year with a visit to his oncologist. Not surprisingly, since it's been last Feb since his last hormone shot to keep the prostate cancer volume low, his PSA was elevated, and so he was given another shot. But the doctor said that therapy is still working, since the PSA is rising as his testosterone rises, and NOT ahead of the testosterone, which is good news. He continues to run and work out and feels good, except for the hot flashes that will likely return in the coming weeks from the shot.  We are both happy we are able to get around, and (mostly) keep up with the kids, at least for awhile longer!

Happy 2014!

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.....

and the pink ribbons are all over the place! Three years ago I was starting chemo, and this October finds me lots healthier (though STILL struggling to loose weight :( ). I also just had some "finishing touch" surgery on my reconstruction, one more little step to go, but I'm "filling things out" nicer these days. Much luckier than others, as Jenny and I flew to California last month for the memorial service for her boyfriend Mike's mom. Her breast cancer had come back late last year, and though her treatment last winter/spring looked like it had been successful, seems like things had progressed to her liver unfortunately. Very sad loss for his family, makes you realize how lucky you are that you get another day/month/year. We also said goodbye to Jim's dad in August. After a great 95th birthday party for him in July, he wore out and left us a month later. True to what they say, he had prostate cancer, but that wasn't what he died from, his heart just wore out.  Jim ran the prostate cancer run here in Sept as well, a sign that he continues to do well, his PSA stays low, he hasn't had to take a hormone treatment for awhile,  and he looks healthier than ever, so we hope things continue to stay that way. And several walked the Komen Race in Cincinnati in Sept with us as well. Will do that again in Columbus in May, if anyone in the area wants to join us, they've opened registration already, in honor of October Breast Cancer Awareness month. Here's to a time when we don't NEED to be as aware, because we don't see cancer affecting as many!

Today is my birthday

Aren't I lucky to celebrate another one? I am reminded how lucky I am, especially since hearing of two friends who lost their battles with cancer within the last two weeks.

Lots of good news with the Deans of late......Amy committed to play college soccer at University of Akron, where she will start in fall of 2014. Kristin graduated from grade school, leaving me a sniffling mess for a week or so recalling the kids' younger days and how quickly that time is flying by. Jenny moved to Marietta Oh earlier this summer :( to start her Physicians Assistant Program studies :). I got to go to Virginia with Becky for a week at AAU basketball Nationals, where they finished 6th and we got some sightseeing in as well. Steve is home with us working for the summer, and I've enjoyed the time with him a  great deal.  Julie and Shea spent a week at Hilton Head with us on vacation. We celebrated Jim's dad's 95th birthday with his family earlier in July. I hope I live that long, and I hope that many friends and family come celebrate with me! And I'm grateful for all the fun times, both big and small, that I get to experience along the way!

Julie, Shea, Jenny, Steve and I walked in the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure in May, and I've started a team to walk in Cincinnati's Race for the Cure, hoping to walk with more of my Cincinnati friends  and celebrate life and hope more often. Want to join me?  Google Race for the Cure Cincinnati and look for Team Dean Double Jeopardy, or email/call me. If you can't join, maybe you'll make a donation so we can keep fighting this disease that is affecting too many families and taking too many people too young. And in the meantime, enjoy every day.

A Good Week.....

Things have been status quo for awhile, and status quo is not a bad thing, but its been a busy week, with good outcomes so far. Last week Jim had his every 3-4 month checkup, and his PSA continues to be low, as expected, but you always worry when you go for those PSA checks. Then this past Saturday, Jenny, Stephen and I joined Julie and Shea at the Komen Columbus Race for the Cure. What started as an overcast day turned into a great day for a walk, always great exercise but also doing our little bit to give Julie more grant money in her job with Komen. When I'm surrounded by a sea of pink shirts like that and realize how many folks are dealing with cancer, and I see all those "In Memory Of" tributes people wear, I'm reminded that life looks pretty darn good because you are still here!  And life will look a little better next week, and I hope I will too, as surgery on Tues, May 21, should wrap up most of the "Build Teri a new boob" project just in time for summer.  :)