Hismones 6/18/25

"Your shoulders are crap." It's been a busy medical month. Having blown through coinsurance due to radiation treatments and taking hormone therapy, I decided the time had come to deal with other medical issues. On June 4th, I had thumb arthritis surgery, removing the trapezium bone and replacing it with a tendon from my forearm. Two weeks later, I have the very first hard cast of my life (keeping the thumb immobilized during healing), never having broken bones as a child. I had a routine colonoscopy June 16th which discovered a couple of polyps but nothing seemingly consequential.Then today,I had evaluation of my shoulders since my left shoulder started hurting while driving the Miata at the track May 10th. I kept hoping it would heal but the pain just wouldn't quite go away. So after lots of x-rays and the report from the shoulder surgeon I had seen in Dallas last year but had since retired, along with a physical exam, the new local specialist gave me the news. Both rotator cuffs are completely gone and not repairable. He said, "You must have a high tolerance for pain and be a person who can function without rotator cuffs" (He said I'm severely arthritic, bone-on-bone in both shoulders). He gave me a steroid injection in the left shoulder and wants me to try driving on the track again to see whether the shot helps relieve the pain. He said the only reason for shoulder replacement would be to relieve pain because there would be no additional strength with rotator cuffs being missing. Since my right arm will be in a cast for a while and I'll begin therapy sometime in July, it will be August before I can drive again. And in cancer news, I keep taking Orgovyx and will have my PSA tested again in July. Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota, and local support groups have been invaluable. Thanks for reading! Next week? Just one doctor appointment, an ENT hearing evaluation. Now, to find a foot specialist. I'm thinking of taking the nickname, "Lucky." All things considered, I'm one very blessed guy. :-)

Hismones 6/1/25

Speaking of diet: when I comment that I'm attempting to "go vegan" with my eating, please understand that this is not prescriptive for all men. A plant-based diet has not been shown to prevent prostate cancer, but it has been demonstrated to limit prostate cancer growth and stop rising or even lower PSA once diagnosed. A vegan diet is especially challenging because our social meals are primarily meat-based, and it requires planning and creativity,including getting all the nutrients needed that formerly came from meat or meat products. I'm not suggesting to all my male friends that they revolutionize their diets, but for my fellow prostate cancer patients, it's a good thing to do. And unlike other cancers, prostate cancer is not fed by sugar, curiously, but being diabetic doesn't help, so control sugar intake. And have a nice day! :-)