Hismones 03/22/25

Halfway! Friday marked treatment 22 of 44 and so far I haven't had to miss any. Making sure the bladder is full upon arrival is required, and based on that struggle emptying the bladder immediately after treatment is also necessary. What do I think after half of radiation is done? I wish I'd have known and had more explained before starting this process, but I think we will get through okay anyway. I'm getting more control of diarrhea by reducing fiber intake and using Immodium, but hormone therapy is something I don't wish on anyone. I don't know how female cancer patients who are placed on long-term hormone therapy handle it,but I'm hoping their experience is different. Chronic fatigue with joint pain and feeling like I'm losing my gender aren't encouraging outcomes. I did have a positive visit with a new doctor Friday, a vascular surgeon. I was referred by my cardiologist due to blockage in the carotid arteries. This referral sets me up for closer monitoring. The surgeon said my level of blockage is well controlled with medication and will see me in six months for a fresh ultrasound evaluation. And last but not least is the way I drove at a local race track this week! On Wednesday, I took my daughter's '99 Miata to Motor Sport Ranch at Cresson (between FW and Granbury) to drive for the first time as a Novice at the SCCA Track Night in America event Wednesday. I may be old but I am slow! My left arm was a bit sore from waving so many other drivers by to pass, but I had a very good first experience. I plan to return on a day in which I can pay somewhat more to have an instructor's help, because I can tell the car is much more capable than I am at this point. At 73, I'm realizing a decades-old dream of driving on a race track. God and my wife and daughter are good. I even had the unexpected free excitement of spinning when a car close in front of me had a coolant system failure and dumped antifreeze on the track. I saw the car off the track ahead of me, hood up and steaming, and slowed down a lot but didn't see the liquid on the track in time. I spun harmlessly, not hitting or breaking anything (or needing to change clothes!). I plan to go to the track this weekend to contact an instructor and in May to drive again. By then, radiation treatments should be ended. I'm viewing videos by the Prostate Cancer Research Institute based in LA, CA that suggest hormone therapy for 70+ age men may not be necessary, so once the PSA tests are showing low or no activity, I may press for stopping the hormone pill at least for a while. As someone cleverly said, "We'll burn that bridge when we get to it." All the best to you this weekend!