Regarding hormone therapy and side effects (remember, Androgen Deprivation Treatment - or ADT - halts the production of the male hormone, Androgen, thereby reducing testosterone, thereby removing 'fuel' from the cancer):

I have been regularly experiencing two rather significant side effects from my hormone therapy.  Thankfully, man boobs is not yet one of them!  No, the two seem to operate in tandem, and they are: Headaches, and 'disorientation.'  I use the quotes here because I don't know quite what to call the feeling.  I can describe the feeling, but the appropriate word remains just out of the grasp of my conscious being...  All I can say is it feels like my head is under water.

I don't know how many people are reading this blog who have also been on this type of therapy, but I'd love to know your experience.  Please leave a comment below - especially if you found relief in some way; heck, even if it was just minimizing that feeling of weirdness, I'd be happy :)

As for the headaches, well, I keep trying different things.  Staying hydrated, eating regularly, monitoring my blood pressure... Today, I tried a cup of coffee mid-day to see if caffeine might help.  It didn't.

Well, I suppose I'll just muddle through on trial and error...  My surgeon wants me to discontinue Androgen Deprivation Treatment, and I agree with him 100%.  Think about it - I don't want 'Deprivation' treatment - what fun is it to deprive yourself?

SPECIAL NOTE TO READERS AND PATIENTS (OF ANY KIND):

Wait, we're going to do this as a sideline reporter at a college basketball game, talking to the coach at halftime:

Reporter:  "Hey, coach, how do you feel after that first half?"

Coach:  "Well, my bladder is acting up, and my blood pressure meds are killing me - I gotta pee!"

Reporter:  "No, coach - I meant how did you feel about the way your team played?"

Coach:  "My back teeth are floating over here, but I can say we went in with a good mindset, and we felt prepared."

R:  "What did you do to prepare, coach?"

C:  "Well, I read my book on prostate health, and I read about the treatment options, and I wrote down a bunch of questions for my doctor..."

R:  "You were ready for these guys, weren't you?"

C:  "Oh, yeah.  We felt really comfortable in our game plan."

R:  "If that's the case, what happened there right at the end of the half? Why did you have to call back the doctor's office?"

C:  "Well, I'll take full responsibility for that blunder...  You see, I was ready to discuss treatments, side effects, long-term prognoses, etc. I mean, I had notes!"

R:  "And then?"

C:  "And then, that sneaky son-of-a-gun pulled an audible."

R:  "Who? The other coach?"

C:  "NO!  This whole basketball thing is just a metaphor for my visit to the surgeon...  When he said he wanted my off of EDT, I assumed he meant the shots - and before you ask, yes, I know what assume makes!"

R:  "So, basically you froze up like a deer in the headlights and didn't follow-through, just like on your putting stroke."

C:  "Cripes, stop mixing metaphors on me - we're not talking about golf!  We are talking about basketball - I mean cancer, dang it!!!  Stop trying to confuse me with your tricks, your high-fallutin' education, and your perfume, and that hair spray..."

R:  "Okay, coach.  Fair enough.  How would you describe your performance at the end?"

C:  "Just like a deer in the headlights..."

R:  "Back to you in the booth...."


Okay, so prepared is good, but don't be afraid to relax and LISTEN to your doctor when next you visit.  If I had asked that simple follow-up, "Cool.  No more 'lupron' shots.  What about the Casodex?"  Unfortunately, I will not know the answer to that question until Thursday, when my doctor returns to his lair - I mean, office! In the meantime, I'm shopping online for a bro - or is it a manziere?  I hear Victor's Secrets has a sale this month on minimizers...  Now, where did I put that credit card?

Please, save us, Kat!

"Mr. P!  You are my favorite teacher, by far! Everything you have done this year means so much.  You have one of the most caring hearts and you honestly deserve the best.  One chapter of your life is ending, but a new one is just beginning, just like the rest of us. Keep in touch!  <3 Kat!!!"

Wow, three exclamation marks - the Russian judge only gave me two :(

It's after midnight, and I'm thinking sleep is good for preventing headaches, too.

Good night.