Cancer Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos: Prostate Cancer Treatment Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos

Friday 17 May 2013

Prostate Cancer Treatment Sign Ribbon cells Horoscope Symbol Tattoos Research Zodiac Sign Ribbon Tattoos

Prostate Cancer Treatment About

Source(google.com.pk)

I live in Brooklyn, New York and own a small commercial real estate firm in Long Island, New York. At my last birthday (March 10, 2012), I turned 61 years old. I do have to say that in the past my birthday did not hold a lot of meaning for me, but this year I celebrated and thanked G-d that I had another birthday. I look forward to celebrating many, many more.

I was diagnosed with Thyroid Cancer and had a partial thyroid resection in 1998. Once I got over the initial shock of being told I had cancer, I quickly was able to move on and put it in my past.

In 2001, at the age of 49, I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Having prostate cancer was not a surprise since my father had it, his only brother (my uncle) died from it and my first cousin had already been diagnosed. I had a laparoscopic prostatectomy at Mass General Hospital in Boston and then suffered a recurrence of the cancer in my lymph nodes along with micro-mets in my blood in Dec 2005.

Since I also deal with an arthritic condition my rheumatologist sent me for an MRI in January of 2006. The MRI results were fine from the arthritis side, but it showed that, unknown to me, I had a 10cm tumor in my left kidney! Now being diagnosed with primary, clear cell renal cancer, I had a radical nephrectomy in January 2006.

Then in May of 2010 I paid a visit to my dermatologist for an annual “skin check.” After showing her a spot on my leg that I watched grow over a three month period I asked her to biopsy it. She was adamant that it was nothing, but I told her I wasn’t going to eave the examining room until she took a sample of tissue. Although I didn’t have any physical discomfort, my mind kept yelling at me that I had a problem. So, to appease me she took a sample, without any surprise to me, she called me and reported that I had a thin melanoma. I had surgery to remove the lesion on June 11 2010.

In September of 2012 I had a bunch of atypical cells removed from a spot about 10cm from the original melanoma.

I am a four cancer survivor!

Currently, I am monitoring all four cancers and having treatment as needed. I do suffer from many of the side effects that are come with the various treatments. These include varying degrees of incontinence, impotency neuropathy, confusion, and hot flashes to name a few. You can read about my prostate cancer numbers in the ABOUT section of this blog.

I have found that arming myself with information and getting all the support I can has allowed me to get through all of these minor bumps. I have honed my skills and become responsible for my own health care. I make my own decisions with the consultation and the expert advice of my physicians. I know that ultimately I am responsible for my own decisions, I have become the empowered patient.

I have developed advocacy skills with the goal of furthering the support for cancer research, education and survivor support. My activities have included providing testimony at government agencies, reviewing grant applications, running both live and internet support groups, speaking at cancer related conferences, health fairs and other gatherings, writing and meeting with diagnosed cancer patients to help them navigate their realities.

My mom (lung ca), my father-in-law (colon ca), my office manager (brain ca) and a very close friend of long standing (kidney ca) all died in the past six years so I am, unfortunately, well versed in metastatic disease, mourning, and loss.

However, I remain generally optimistic about my life.

I am blessed with a loving and supportive wife; a circle of caring family and friends; and lucky to have found good doctors.

Each day is a blessing which I truly appreciate and enjoy. I have learned that there are things in this world that I can not change, but I can embrace them and accept them as they make up who I am.

I look forward to sharing my journey with anyone who may be interested.