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