2012 Montana Challenge

I just started the 2012 Montana Challenge; this challenge requires a team of 5 people.  Jerry and I here on the night shift found three others that are just as excited.

Patty

Lisa

Suzan

We came up with a name; “The Psycho Babblers”

 Our team is to exercise a minimum of 150 minutes per week each to reach a goal of 10,000 minutes.

This challenge will start April 29^th to July 28^th

We get extra points for drinking water, participating in active events like the VA2K which is on May 16^th and then another one June 2^nd  The whole team will attend to gather extra points!

All in all we plan to have fun. I was made team captain and this will entail logging our team minutes and bonus points.  We will take pictures and be sure to beat every other unit FOR SURE!!

     On another subject this challenge kind of helps me out with a goal I have. The goal is like a pie if you will, in that one piece of pie equals a small goal and as each goal is accomplished they all will make me whole.

     The book my daughter told me to buy is called, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I found myself saying I would only read, “The note to the reader”, and then Glady and I would start the project.  After reading that intro I really started to think, How can I start this project without acknowledging or in Gretchen’s words, “identify what brings you joy.”

     I had to take time to think about that. Should I start with generality? Then move to a more detailed look at the whole pie? Well, I just did not know. But as it goes…I am happy to be sharing this with my daughter, because I am lost at times.  Never the less I did come up with what my goals are and it will take many pieces in the pie to make me fully happy.

Me again!

These days all I do is think about D.
     I am trying to keep up with the Skinny on my Fat, but no slimmer for it. I have to say a visit to my doctor had me asking, why? Why is it so hard for me to drop weight and keep it off or continue loosing? All he could say is, "At your age unless you have a complete flip on Diet, Nutrients, moreover Exercise you will yo yo."
     I have changed my routine and decreased my caloric intake, not even a dietitian could attempt the best  nutritious make over. She told me your next step might have to be a drastic change.
     Drastic? Okay, like what the heck does that mean!
    
I have to really change the way I look at food, what I put into my mouth must be worth every bit of amazing and all along EXERCISE ALWAYS! see I have no problem dropping the weight, I understand the whole reasoning of how to, increase exercise decrease calories. But how do I maintain this?
     I have been in and out of the gym all week, I feel burnt, yet No thinner for it. SO I get this trainer, she says the spill about increase exercise decrease calories...OK! OK! OK! I get it you... 23 year old born perfect never had a child shit head....
     So off I go back to the gym,              WHAT EVER
 Well, I am happy to have the GYM, and I am happy to have the ability to try and try again. I guess. I will continue till I just trick my body into thinking I am skinny.

The Power to make a Choice is Coping

Coping, hum?
     I guess it is time to make decisions. This process is so hard, so much information out there. I know it is best to get your info from your doctor, but how do you know what to ask if you don't read everything you can get your hands on?
    In case you have not figured this out yet, my hubby and I are in this together. We want to make the most qualified guess. We want the Best of the Best. See we have a wonderful urologist, but he only does open prostatectomy. With the help of the nurse at  Dr.Grossmen's office, they sent us to Five Valleys Urology  in Missoula. Next we researched the office and Dr.Simmons. We searched him, from opinions of previous clients to malpractice situations. Dr.Simmons seems to be A number 1 on paper and referral.
    Of all the research we looked over the Da Vinci surgery system   this seems to be the best most accurate, at least we hope. Also Dr.G.R.Simmons is certified in the Da Vinci system.
 
     Now, you might think all is taken care of, the plan is in motion. The next step will be an appointment to the Dr. Simmons. And yes we have made the appointment called the insurance and the hospital to be sure they are on our PP list.
     But, due to the seriousness of this issue we continue to read. I was reading through the American Cancer Society  and I then came upon a page...

Study: Robotic Surgery Does Not Lessen Common Side Effects from Prostate Removal 

      So, what am I to do with this information? Do I show D, will this bring us back to the beginning after we found out? Will it confuse him giving him less optimistic outlook on an already confusing situation. or just show him?
     Well, I sent him the study, and he read it through and through, then he came upon another study that had him rethinking everything...

Study: Dutasteride Helps Men Undergoing Active Surveillance for Prostate Cancer

     I Don't know about you, but I am so confused. I can't imagine how D feels. All we do know is D is going to keep his appointment with Dr.Simmons and go over these studies with him.
    The Coping in my eyes is knowledge, and the only power D has with cancer is making his own choice. Thank God for the researchers, the men in the studies and their outcomes.
 
     The active part I play is the same part I have always played, Shannon, Shann, wife, best friend, Just all around partner in life. I would be no where else. I only want to be with him. We will get through this and move on to all the really cool things we have planned. I know from experience emotional health is the best support. Men that have a good support of family live longer than those who are divorced, widowed, or single.
     

Part 2 The Prostate and my thought process

Afraid,
     That better explains the feelings I have, but did not know how D felt. I asked many times on the way home, but he would just say, "Okay" Now I know he had thoughts he did not know what to do with. I felt helpless.
     When you grow up in the time line D and I have, "The Big C" Is the worst thing that can happen to anyone.

     This all started when we went to see the doctor for other reasons. Mainly to change D's blood pressure medication because his regimen had side effects like a nagging dry cough, and poor control. Of course the doctor ordered blood work.
      D's PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) was with in normal limits, yet slightly under 4 nanograms/millaliter. But between 4-10 men have a 25% chance of having prostate cancer. Following a PSA level the next screening is DRE (Digital Rectal Exam) at that point the urologist noted a hard palpable area, and  a biopsy was recommended.
     I think the first thing we did was go home and call D's Dad, come to find out his dad has prostate cancer and underwent a prostatectomy.

     We really did not want to think about the outcome. D and I felt we would deal with things as they evolve. Then a call came to see the doctor for a followup. When we arrived we were kind of nervous but laughing as usual and D is his comedic self, always making me laugh.

     The Doc went right into the final Diagnosis. out of the 12 specimens collected ONE, specimen  number 3 concluded Adenocarcinoma involving 2 of 2 cores, Gleason Score 3+3=6 of 10 carcinoma involves approximately 60% of right apex biopsy tissue.

     The Gleason Score
Gee How to explain that, well lets say this method is used to classify how the cell looks in cancerous tissue. The less the cells look like normal cells the more malignant the cancer, two numbers each from 1 to 5, are assigned to the two most predominant types of cells noted. The two numbers are added together they give us a Gleason Score. Higher numbers indicate more aggressive cancers.
So D's is 6
the scale
Low 2,3, or 4
Intermediate 5,6, or 7
High 8,9,or 10

Next time we will talk about COPING & TREATMENTS  

The Only thing on my mind is Prostate Cancer

The Only thing on my mind is Prostate Cancer.
     Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate is a small, walnut-sized structure that makes up part of a man's reproductive system. It wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body.
     I am so upset when I hear people say, well if your going to have a Cancer this is the one to have. So completely bullshit in my eyes.
 My husband and I are so happy these days we have our worries and concerns about life, but all in all we have this amazing fun sex life, we have an amazing bond with each other and share an enormous respect for each other. After all we have been through so much in the last 30 years.

     Imagine if some one came up to you and your best friend and said, " I know your only in your fifty's but I am handing you an expiration date, first the sexual aspect of your relationship will end soon. then we are knocking off 15 to 20 years of your life expectancy. Oh and that is pending on the success of the path you take in respect to treatment and the gifts and abilities of your surgeon, you may or may not have complications, of;
Difficulty controlling bowel movements and in some cases the use of a colostomy.
Difficulty controlling urine, and in some cases having a super pubic catheter placed indefinite
Infection, including in the surgical wound, lungs, bladder or kidney
Injury to the rectum, spasms in your bladder.
This also depends on co morbidness, Like... Diabetes and High Blood pressure, Both of which my husband has.
 Let me put this in perspective, What will you be doing in 15 years?
The relative 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%
The relative 10-year survival rate is 98%
The 15-year relative survival rate is 91%
Last Medical Review: 02/27/2012
Last Revised: 02/27/2012 studies from the American Cancer Society

My Hubby will undergo 
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy 
 1, The surgeon removes the prostate gland from the surrounding tissue. The seminal vesicles, two small fluid  sacs next to your prostate, are sometimes also removed.
2, The surgeon tries carefully not to damage nerves and blood vessels.
3, The surgeon reattaches the urethra to a part of the bladder called the bladder neck. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.
4, Many surgeons will also remove lymph nodes in the pelvis to check for cancer.
5, The surgeon may leave a drain, called a Jackson-Pratt drain, in your belly to drain extra fluids after surgery.
6, A tube or urinary catheter is left in your bladder to drain urine.

I am angry sad and mad all at once. I am also thankful and blessed. we have much to be thankful about, like insurance.