Hismones 02/16/26

"You only have 55 left," my sweet wife said right after my first Sucralfate enema today. I'm prescribed two daily to take for four weeks. Hopefully, this soothing medication will help heal the radiation proctitis that started a year ago. I'll have more updates after meeting with the gastroenterologist tomorrow. Now for the excellent news: I met with the medical oncologist's PA today, who shared last week's blood test results: PSA <.01 (called undetectable, based on their instruments' sensitivity level) and Testosterone <10 (doing a good job of starving out any remaining cancer cells). I have another PSA blood test in three months...and another follow-up colonoscopy. If PSA continues to keep its ugly head down, I'll be able to discontinue hormone therapy in late June but continue to have PSA tests at 3 month intervals. If you haven't watched the hilarious PSA screening commercial, "Relax Your Tight End," that aired during the Super Bowl, here's the link. https://www.relaxitsabloodtest.com/ I've started counseling with a longtime friend and professional counselor to help me navigate the various issues of life and treatment, and we're working first on coping with anxiety. I grew up without healthy coping skills, and he has some excellent researched concepts that are already giving me some relief. I didn't get where I am overnight and won't get out overnight, either, but I'm grateful to be taking steps toward improved outcomes.Tammy and I had a fun Valentine's overnight trip just an hour or so away at a BnB and toured a bit of the countryside. On the Saturday return, rain was falling so heavily that I was driving under 50 in a 70mph zone, quite uncharacteristic for me! I continue exercising at home MWF and at the local Y TTH. I spend considerable morning time in bathrooms and get really tired during the day, but hopefully by Tammy's October birthday (90 days or so after stopping hormone therapy) I'll begin feeling more normal again, whatever normal may be for age 75. Thanks for your prayers and friendship!

Hismones 2/5/26

I don't want to pooh-pooh effective treatment, but I had a personal phone call from my gastroenterologist this morning that he has sent the prescription to treat my radiation proctitis with Sucralfate in the form of enemas to be applied twice daily for four weeks (56 total!). "Oh joy, oh rapture!" (cowardly lion, "Wizard of Oz") I may not be able to take these without help, so Tammy is especially excited. Maybe there will be a clear path ahead (pun intended) to reduce my 5+ sit-down toilet experiences daily. In other news, I had a great time traveling to the Houston area to visit our daughter and family and to sing with the Southeast Texas Singing Men and Women at a church in Pasadena (TX). What I noticed during the trip was that my right leg and hip and becoming much less tolerant of driving. I see a pain management specialist in the coming week as a consultation for injections in the hip (hamstring tear), but I'm not sure what to do with the shin pain that also accompanies time behind the wheel. Stiffness, pain, and fatigue continue, but I keep exercising at home and at the Y. I've had the interesting experience of repairing a Kitchenaid mixer this week and changing filters (and now diagnosing and ordering the replacement for a broken internal hose) in a Dyson vacuum. Friday-Sunday, I'm scheduled to be a corner marshall at Eagles' Canyon Raceway outside Decatur for World Racing League enduro races. (Fortunately, a porta potty is handy. :-/) Tammy continues to be incredibly patient and supportive as I hobble around and try to keep myself busy...better to burn out than rust out, no? I still need to purchase and plant a replacement tree for our front yard, hopefully that someday our grandkids can drive by and enjoy. (If you need any, I recommend Texas Tree Farm in Ennis which has varieties not readily available locally.) I'm ready for lunch, then rehearsal and a north central Texas Singing Men concert at Southwestern Seminary this evening. Life seems to go on, and I'm pretty sure I'll be pulling for the Seahawks Sunday evening. :-)