LifeNow

As of today, I've completed 27 of the required 40 radiation sessions. On Thursday, the radiation therapy shifted from radiating the entire pelvis to simply radiating the area surrounding the prostate location. What that means is less radiation my tissues have to deal with and even somewhat shorter sessions. It also means a reduction in what my radiation oncologist, Dr. Shasha, calls 'the laxative effect' of radiation aimed at the pelvis.

So far, the side effects remain manageable for me. My digestion has been fairly normal, due as advised to avoiding a large number of items normally part of my daily diet – fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, coffee and alcohol, among others. It will probably be at least two more months before I can slowly return to my normal diet.

I also received the results of a detailed genetic test, which found none of the variants known at present to be associated with cancer. When I got the report I was amazed at the number of genes that had been tested -26! One variant was found to be an uncertain finding, meaning that three labs thought there might be a relationship to cancer and four labs rejected that evaluation. I was advised that result will likely be shifted to 'negative' as more research is completed. I was also given a bit of advice to pass on to direct relatives, which would be principally my son, Paul, but also potentially my brother and sister.

The treatments I am receiving at Memorial Sloan Kettering are very standard treatments that could be provided most good medical centers across the county. However, when I am at MSK, I know that all the patients I see there are dealing with cancer of some type. When in the waiting room, any men who have been asked to drink a cup of water are other men undergoing the same treatment as myself. I see many of the same guys every day.

What happens nearly ever day is one or two patients ringing the bell that signifies their completion of radiation therapy – always greeted by clapping from all the rest of us & good wishes for their final departure. In less than three weeks, that will include me!