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!