Dad's Blog #4

Well, two Provenge cycles down, only one to go.  I had the second of three infusions yesterday afternoon, Monday (3/21), up in Marina Del Rey.  Things went well.  In fact, the issues we had with the chest catheters not working Friday resolved themselves and now both are working fine.  If they will stay clear for a couple of weeks, we will be in good shape going into cycle #3. 

When we got to the office the treated white cells had not arrived yet from New Jersey.  But the folks on the oncology team were their usual proficient selves and got Patty and I settled in, blood samples taken, and dosed me up with benedryl shortly after we arrived.  As usual, I blurred-out after the Benedryl and don't remember much. 

I sort of remember Dr. Lam, one of my oncologists, coming by.  Great guy.  We exchanged pleasantries, he asked some questions of us and then asked if we had any questions for him.  I seem to remember most of my responses were followed by Patty laughing, apologizing to Dr. Lam, and saying "it must be the Benedryl".  A clue I guess, to the intelligence of my responses.  The rest of the infusion was a blur but I gather it went fine. 

Things began to clear on the way home.  Patty got us back to Orange County safely.  We realized we had both kind of skipped lunch and were pretty darn hungry.  We stopped at Cafe Rio in El Toro.  I had a salmon taco, which tasted particularly good.  Always a good sign after a cancer treatment.

I went to bed early and woke up this morning feeling a little achy.  I was told to expect this after the second treatment.  No bigge, I felt well enough to get out the door for my regular Tuesday breakfast with my fellow retired buddies Artie & Jim.  So not too bad.  I think I will take it easy today.  Maybe tinker a little on the truck while Patty is over at Adam's watching the babies.

So I guess that's it for now.  Thank you for being there for us.  We will keep you posted. 

Steve

Dad’s Blog #3 (1 ½ cycles down 1 ½ to go)

We headed out yesterday morning, Friday (3/18), at 5am to HemaCare in Van Nuys for the second round of leukapheresis.  This is the process where they harvest my white blood cells for modification to help fight the cancer.  Again, the HemaCare people were great.  They set both Patty and I up, side by side on comfy recliners with individual computer screens, snacks and movie DVD’s to pass the time while my blood circulated through the centrifuge machine. 

Early into the appointment we did have a little excitement though.  After much fussing and consulting, the nurses were unable to get the two venous catheter ports in my chest working correctly.  Without access to a high volume of blood to supply for the centrifuge machine we are pretty much dead in the water.  While I was conjuring up all the negative consequences of this, the nurses pow-wowed and decided the best bet was to find a vein in my arm to do the job. In walks Danny, the youngest nurse in the crew (I thought he was a trainee), with the BIGGEST needle I had ever seen.  Thankfully he snagged the vein on the first stick.  No big deal.  And definite props to Danny.  Everything went well from there on out.   

The courier picked up the blood cells before lunchtime and we headed out.  We stopped at the Katella Deli & Bakery again for lunch on the way back.  Seems like we are establishing a tradition here.  Pretty goooood food. 

Come Monday we’ll head back to Marina Del Rey for infusion of the modified cells.  We are hearing each infusion amps up the immune system and to expect some minor reaction (aches and fever).  We’ll see.  But so far, piece of cake.

Well, Patty says its time to pull the plug.  We will update you on how things go Monday.  As always, we love you all.  We are doin good.  Thanks everybody for your offers of help and for thinking of us.

Steve

Dad's Second Blog (first cycle in the bag)

First off, Patty and I want to thank everyone who has responded with kind words, and thoughts via facebook messages, comments on the blog and just checking out Friday’s blog to see how we are doing.  It truly makes things easier knowing so many people care, and are pulling for you.  Thanks.

Patty set up for the kids and grandkids to come over Sunday afternoon for a nice informal dinner. Thanks sweetie.  A nice way to kick this thing off.  Life is good.

Yesterday I started the first of three infusion cycles for the “Provenge” treatment.  We started out the day going to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach.  I had to get the sutures removed that were put in a couple of weeks ago installing the venous catheter ports in my chest.  These ports are required for the every-other Friday blood separation procedures in Van Nuys.  They are no big deal.  But I will have to wait until the ports come out in April for my long awaited re-entry into the ocean.  Stand-up paddling/surfing, and the rest will have to wait because the ports represent a risky avenue for infection.  Bummer.  Oh well water is mighty cold this time of year.   

So when we arrived in Marina del Rey yesterday, the little cooler with my white blood cells was back from blood cell boot camp in New Jersey, waiting for us, and ready to take up the cause.  The infusion process took about 90 minutes.  And went without a hitch.

The last part of the procedure requires that we wait about an hour while they observe me. This is to make sure there are no allergic reactions.  This was no problem for me because the infusion process incorporates a very large dose of an anti-allergen - Benadryl, which in even small doses makes me sleep like a baby.  The rest of the day was pretty much a blur.  Which is why this blog did not go out last night.

So that should be it for now.  It will be a couple of weeks before the next treatment cycle.  As you can see Patty was unfortunately unable to participate in this blog and limit my rambling.  Maybe next time.  She is out picking up grandkids from school and doing some grand-babysitting today.  And I think I am feeling well enough to go and do a few errands of my own.  So I will get to it.  Again, thanks for your caring and checking on us.  We will keep you posted.

Steve

Here Goes, Dads First Blog (ever)

Thanks Trev for setting this up, I am sure it will be a big help for your mom and I.

As most of you know I have been battling some health issues for the past several years. Recently though, these health issues sort of formed a perfect storm and knocked me on my keister.  The primary issue was constant pain that developed on my right side, and progressed from my hip down to my foot.  At about the same time my prostate cancer markers were jumping around and some of the ongoing cancer treatment had to be modified and intensified.  Early last year these issues and others combined and forced me to stop working and focus on my health. 

A lot of tests and diagnostics came next.  No cancer was found, but considerable degenerative spine issues were thought to be at least part of the problem.  Eventually, in October, spine surgery was done.  Surgery was followed by much rehab, and things seemed to be getting slowly better. 

Then by chance, late in 2010 a post surgery follow-up MRI on the right hip turned up an anomaly on the lower spine.  This was followed up with a bone scan a few weeks ago.  It was confirmed that my prostate cancer has decided to come out and be visible on the right side of the sacral spine.  Not good news, but the “modified and intensified” treatment mentioned earlier already puts us on track to address what is going on with my cancer now. 

A new prostate cancer treatment was approved by the FDA just this past summer.  It’s called Provenge.  It is an immuno treatment, first of its kind approved by the FDA for cancer treatment.  Supply is very limited at this point. But because my doctors were involved in the clinical trial phases for approval of the treatment, they are getting some of the first few slots for treatment on regular patients.  They had signed me up some time ago and we started treatment this week. 

We will also be incorporating what I like to call a “chemo lite” cocktail periodically, which worked well for me in the past and wasn't too hard on the body.  This should give the Provenge regimen some extra punch. 

Finally, my cancer docs are watching two very significant clinical trials which could be a next step for me depending on results from the Provenge treatment.  Both are showing good results for guys in my stage of the disease.  One of them in particular is showing dramatic reversal in progression for an extremely high percentage of those receiving the treatment.  We are fortunate we are working with these guys.  They are good.

3/4/11 - So that takes us to today.  Had my chemo Wednesday and first step in the Provenge regimen today.  Today, Friday, we showed up in Van Nuys at 6:30 am.  They set me up and essentially ran the total volume of my blood, twice-over, through a centrifuge machine to separate out the certain immune cells they wanted.  When they were done, a courier was standing by to pack them in a cooled shipping container that was shipped to New Jersey tonight.  They will concentrate and condition the cells over the weekend.  The treated cells will ship out in time to get to Marina Del Rey Monday afternoon to be put back into me and go after the cancer.  The new cells will build over time and train the other similar cells in my body to hopefully help defeat the cancer.  Very High Tech.  And not nearly as destructive is chemo and radiation. 

Let’s hope it does its thing.  We are kind of pooped tonight.  It has been wild couple of weeks, but Patty and I are both feeling good about things.  And bless her heart, hopefully Patty will chime in and help me with this blog thing.  Possibly keep me from rambling so long in subsequent blogs.  Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers, we love you all.  We will keep you posted.

Steve