Okay, I'm back.  I still have a cold.  I still have cancer.  But - I did get rid of that shitty attitude I had yesterday, thankfully.  [Special thanks to my wonderful daughter, April, for calling bullshit on that last post...]

Let's get back to talking about cancer treatments.  My doctor has prescribed both Leuprolide Acetate and Casodex.  The Leuprolide is in shot form and I get my first one on Monday.  I'm actually taking a generic for the Casodex (Bicalutamide - 50mg).

According to my doctor, the two drugs are designed to put the cancer into remission until other treatments begin.  Let's discuss these two drugs one at a time:

Leuprolide Acetate:

According to the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) - not to be confused with my son's favorite beer, PBR - is a synthetic nonapeptide analog of naturally occurring gonadotropin-releasing hormone used in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. [Note: Palliative means that the treatment is not a cure; merely a means of minimizing the effects from, growth, or spread of a disease or condition...]

Basically, this is a hormone therapy, with several possible side effects too numerous to list here.


Casodex:

I started taking 50mg/day three days ago.  There are also a litany of potential side effects with this drug. The drug is an 'Anti-Androgen, meaning it blocks the production of that male hormone.


According to WebMD, the two drugs work in conjunction to prevent the production of male hormones - the idea being that cancer cells feed on the hormones, and removing that food source arrests the growth of the cancer.

Yesterday, one of the few things I did accomplish (after 11 phone calls and much frustration) was getting an appointment with the Urology Department at Loma Linda University Medical Center.  My appointment is scheduled for February 27.  I will keep you posted, certainly.

Am I a little bit concerned about hormone therapy?  Yes, I am.  But this is not a long-term thing, just a stop-gap until the actual treatment begins.  In my case, I'm fairly certain at this point that my 'treatment' will be a prostatectomy, or surgical removal of the prostate.  (I have to laugh - whenever I hear the suffix 'ectomy' it reminds me of my drill sergeant from boot camp who used to regularly threaten us with an 'anal encephalectomy.'  In his vernacular, this meant having your head surgically removed from your ass...  Ah, memories.)

Well, this is a bit of a 'dry' post this evening, but this is where things are at.  If you've stopped in to read about the prostate cancer treatments, etc. your doctor may have a different approach, so you may or may not find this information helpful, but there it is, nonetheless.


Tonight's final words go to Mani:

"Dear Mr. P.,

This year has been my favorite year of any school year I have ever had and it is all because of one reason: you.  You have been the most kind, hilarious, warm-hearted, all around brilliant teacher I have ever had MY ENTIRE LIFE!  It's no wonder every single one of your students love you.  The highlight of my day this year was coming to your class.  I have never seen a teacher connect with their students the you do.  From you, I have learned how to be an all around better person and that's the true mark of an incredible teacher.  You will be the teacher I will remember for the rest of my life and, hopefully, one day tell my kids about.  You have left your mark on this school as the greatest teacher to have ever taught here. Mr. P, I love you very much and hope that one day I could be half the man you are. Please stay in touch.

PS - Who will I give my apples to now?"

Mani, you are already a fine young man, as evidenced by your incredibly kind and unselfish words.  As for your apples, perhaps you should eat those yourself - an apple a day keeps the doctor away, right?

Good night, all. Be good humans.

Carpe Diem