Antram's Bits

February Test Results

2012-02-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

The latest test results show Mike's PSA at 48.2. Last month's number was 39.23. At this point, NOT doubling is a good thing. Rising, yes. But not at an astronomical rate. Grateful for small favors.

January 2012

2012-01-30T18:22:00.000-08:00

OK, so this time it wasn't a whole eight weeks. Long enough though right? But life has become a little more complicated. Mike's dad has been in the hospital since early January. He had a minor heart attack but tests revealed a few other issues. Dad has liver cancer. We visited him this weekend and really enjoyed visiting with him. We hope he will be able to come home soon.

Mike's latest meds worked for a while to keep the PSA down but it has started to rise again. So we are down to the bone strengtheners to slow it down in the bones. He has been working for 3 months now and it looks like a really good fit for him. So very happy and grateful for that.

Much love to everyone. I'll try to post even sooner next time.

Eight Weeks Later...

2011-12-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd better get back to posting. The first class of my Computer Security course is almost done. The semester ends Sunday night. Yay. Looks like we will be going to SoCal for the Christmas weekend. Just a short trip. Mike's PSA is up to 31 again but at least he still feels OK. He's lost quite a bit of weight though.

Philip just got his driver's license today - Hooray! Now he can drive himself to work and back. On the down side, his insurance is nuts. Glad he's old enough to pay it himself.

The best news of all is that Mike is working again and we now have insurance for everyone. Huge relief.

Hope to see everyone in a week or two.

Long time no post

2011-10-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

I'll try to do this with a list so it doesn't run too long.

Mike's new medication is great. He feels good, his PSA is down to 17, he is off pain meds and driving.
Philip is still waiting for word from MEPS.
Gregory is doing pretty well in school. He's in 8th grade now.
I am going back to school. Classes start Monday the 24th. Getting a certificate in Computer Security. Also learning new software to get me back up to speed on Technical Writing in the 21st century. About time.

Mike's New Diet

2011-08-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

So, the doctor was plenty surprised by Mike's appearance today. I've been telling him for weeks that he's too thin. Does he listen to me? Oh, HAYELL NO! Well maybe now he will.

The doctor tells Mike that he has to start putting on weight and pronto. He insists that Mike start eating carbs. High calorie carbs. As in, a Krispy Kreme a day. He says, "Wait here a minute." He goes out into the nurses office area and grabs something and comes back in. He says, "I'm going to put you on the diet that all the doctors here use. It's called the M&M diet." He then takes Mike's hand and pours a bunch of peanut M&Ms from this candy jar into it. He tells Mike that he has to eat them all before he can leave the office!

So, you think next time he might listen?

PSA down to 22

2011-08-05T07:43:00.001-07:00

Just a quick update: After about two weeks on his new medication, Mike's PSA has dropped to 22. Good news for sure.

Time to sell the RX-8

2011-07-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

For a larger image go to
http://catalinacom.com/RX8.jpg

Update

2011-07-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Mike is home and is now keeping down solid food. He even cooked last night with help from Philip. We have a doctor's appointment today and another one tomorrow so we will be getting at least some test results from prior to his hospital stay.

Mike has also started taking Zytiga. This is a very promising new drug and we are excited about it.

A big huge thanks to Dolores for coming out to help both last week and again for the week coming up. I couldn't have done it without you.

Home Tomorrow?

2011-07-13T23:38:00.001-07:00

Looks like we may be able to get him home tomorrow (Thursday) if he can keep anything down. They found no ulcers whatsoever during the scope. The pancreatitis is going to be an issue though. He's still in a lot of pain and far from feeling better.

Still in the hospital

2011-07-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

Mike took a turn for the worse today. He started throwing up his clear liquids. Gastroenterologist recommended a scope to check out his plumbing for a bleeding ulcer. The numbers on his blood tests are saying he has a bleeder somewhere. I will try to keep updating. Hopefully, if this is a bleeding ulcer, they will find it, cauterize it and he will start to improve.

Pancreatitis

2011-07-11T04:04:00.000-07:00

Trip to the ER last night turned into overnight observation. CT scan shows inflamed pancreas and lymph system in abdominal area. I will try to post updates either here or on Facebook.

4th of July Holiday Weekend 2011

2011-07-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

The weekend was so wonderful. We were able to see so many members of the family AND wish Mike's dad a happy 80th birthday. Thank you Pam and Alan for once again being the most incredible hosts anyone could ask for.

After having some really rough days, Mike finally found some relief with the right pain management. We are both so grateful for that.

We received the results of Mike's blood tests taken on Friday before we left town. The last PSA reading was not a false spike. He is now at 30.5. His doctor has called the insurance in order to start him on Abiraterone. He also has a scan scheduled for tomorrow.

I will continue to update as I get info.

Pain Management

2011-06-26T12:24:00.000-07:00

We are working on getting a pain medication that will not make Mike so sick. I'm thinking that a pain management specialist is our next call. We are on medication #3 in a week. Mike is still not sleeping and not eating. But I think this latest medication is helping in the appetite area.

His PSA is at 27.

Mike's Birthday

2011-06-24T23:03:00.000-07:00

Today is Mike's birthday. He has not eaten anything solid in days. I'm worried. We bought him chairs this year. New chairs for sitting at the dinner table, a new recliner with auto controls for his back pain, and a wheelchair.

He may not be happy with me for posting this. He may even be much better by next week. But I don't want to hear that no one was told how things were going. We will be down in California next week for Mike's dad's birthday. We will be staying at my parents' house. Our time will be spent with family.

I am learning to cook. Or maybe learning is the wrong word. I am cooking. I will never be as good as Mike. But the kids are still alive so it is edible (despite what I thought).

I have cancelled my trip to DC for the end of July and we have cancelled our vacation as well. He just isn't up to it. DC was on Mike's bucket list. We may still get to go but I cannot take him from the area and his doctors until I feel he's up to it.

SOLD

2011-06-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Mike's motorcycle sold. I think he was fairly happy with the deal he struck. He continues to look for work but I find I can not encourage him to find any at this point. He is so tired that he "rests" almost all day. (He doesn't take naps you see.) His taste buds have improved since getting away from the chemo though, which is great for him. He's enjoying his own cooking again and it taking every opportunity to make the "weekend" dishes during the week. Which is fine with all of us of course.

Everyone is home all day now. Gregory is out of school for the summer. Philip has heard from MEPS; they want more information. And I am still plugging away in my home office. Mike seems ready to sell his car but I'm not ready to see him sell it. I was able to convince him to hang on to it for a while. I still hold out hope that Philip will actually learn to drive and take the Honda to work. No, he doesn't have a job yet. But PetSmart is very interested and is very close to the house. His best friend, Josh, is working there and they need the summer help.

We will be down in Southern California for Mike's dad's birthday on the July 4th weekend. We'll be staying at my parents' house (thank you Mom and Dad). We decided not to go to the Dana Point condo for the week in July as we usually do. With all the uncertainty of what everyone will be doing work-wise, we felt it was pushing it to take the vacation. Also, I would have had to leave early for another trip to D.C. anyway.

This year I will most certainly try to take in the National Portrait Gallery and take as many pictures as the docents will allow. *smirk* I've been working very hard on the portraiture lately and feel that I may actually be able to make some more money doing both the ad agency and painting. And it makes me feel good.

Motorcycle 4 Sale

2011-06-05T10:14:00.001-07:00

Mike was laid off on Friday. Time to put the motorcycle up for sale. 2005 Honda Shadow Aero 750 with modified (super comfy) seat. Only two owners. Asking $4,000.

PSA 12

2011-05-31T20:18:00.000-07:00

I finally have something concrete to report. Mike's PSA has dropped to 12 from 17. The doctor (and Mike) believe the chemo is not the reason. After at least 8 rounds of the latest chemo, it has stopped being of any benefit.

We were told that Mike's leg will not go down and the best we can do is make sure it doesn't get infected. The doctor prescribed some anti-biotics to have on hand just in case. He also feels that staying on the Lupron is critical at this point. So that's where we will be for the next few months at least.

2011-05-19T22:29:00.000-07:00

Mike's PSA is at 17 as of the last test. He's on every therapy they can throw at him. Insurance runs out on May 31. I'm so tired.

Everything Negative

2011-04-01T22:58:00.000-07:00

Which is a good thing. Mike's blood test came back negative for both Hepatitis and HIV. Also, we are now sure that the situation was confined to dates AFTER Mike's biopsy.

Dr. Kaplan

2011-03-17T07:50:00.000-07:00

So it looks like Mike's urologist has been suspended for re-using needles. We're pretty sure that Mike is clean but his next blood test will most likely include a test for hepatitis. Stuff like this wears you pretty thin.

Oh, and Mike's PSA is at 10.

Today just keeps getting more fun. Mike has some swelling in his leg. Appointment for tests at 1 p.m. I'll try to keep the blog updated.

Good News, Finally!

2011-02-18T07:03:00.000-08:00

Mike's newest scan came back looking really good! The cancer is not growing right now and we're in a holding pattern. Doc will just keep him on chemo until he thinks the benefit of that has run out.

On Saturday, February 12, Mike and I met Allison DuBois and Joe. She was very helpful to us. Thank you, Allison. Mike and I had a wonderful time and were able to talk about so many things afterward.

Nevada Governor's Inaugural Ball

2011-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

Mike and I attended the Governor's Inaugural Ball on Friday night. I have to say that the staff at the Wynn were the best I have ever encountered. They were all helpful, friendly, and engaging. I bought a tux for Mike for the event. He's always rented, but after buying Philip one last year for Gorman's Prom I showed him that buying can cost the same as renting, so he gave in.

Mike and I had a lovely time and I was lucky enough to be introduced to the First Lady as the Chair of her husband's council on Developmental Disabilities. But the best part of the night was that Mike and I were able to dance a little. It had been too long.

2011

2011-01-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

The new year has started off with a slightly lower PSA score. Last test showed a 5.1. So that's always a good thing to hear.

On another note, the Infiniti started to wheeze the death rattle. Many many thanks to my Dad for swooping in and helping me out with a new car. (You too Mom!) Thanks to them I am now scooting around in a new Chrysler 300 with a 0% loan at nowhere near retail. It just doesn't get any better than that and I can't say how grateful I am. Thank you again, Mom and Dad.

One Week Later

2010-12-27T22:38:00.000-08:00

Mike's numbers continue to rise. In the last week we've seen an increase to 5.9 in the PSA score. He's had two of the Jevtana treatments and will have another blood test in 10 days. I guess we'll see where we are then. It's getting harder to post these numbers.

The New Numbers

2010-12-21T17:05:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not sure what I can say about the new chemo. Mike's PSA is still rising (5.6) but maybe we will see a small drop after a couple more treatments. That's not a bad thing as holding steady is considered progress right now. He has been scheduled for at least three more treatments of Jevtana. After that we will reassess and regroup.

Thanksgiving was really great this year. We were able to see so much of the family. And now we hear that Mike's dad has come through his surgery with flying colors. Way to go, Dad!

Change of Plans

2010-12-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

There was a change of plans for the next round of chemo. When we returned last week, the doctor had decided NOT to continue the Taxotere. So Mike is now starting four rounds of Jevtana. That's the plan for the moment anyway. Everything is so dependent on what the PSA numbers are after treatment. I've heard and read that Jevtana is also well tolerated. Mike is convinced he will lose the rest of his hair. But honestly, the man has been concerned about his hair since I met him 25 years ago.

It was so good to see everyone at Thanksgiving. Seems like things are changing so fast that we don't know each other at all anymore. I guess that happens as the kids get older and the adults have more time to pursue our own career goals and hobbies. It was funny to hear someone ask why I would go with Philip to a division seminar for the Coast Guard. I'm working with both the local and federal level of the Auxiliary now.

Mike's temp job lasts until the end of this month. After that we are continuing the search for more permanent employment. Lately I've been thinking of going back to work for someone else. Looking at whatever options are available at the moment which means a government job may be a good fit. Imagine, I could do work for the government and they would actually PAY me. LOL. Naw, couldn't be.

One more time.

2010-11-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Well, the news was not good this time around. Mike's PSA is up to 4.22. The doctor would still like to go one more round with the chemo at the beginning of December. After that, we'll have to look at what options are left.

PSA is 3.57

2010-11-11T18:15:00.000-08:00

As it stands now. Meaning after the third treatment but before we have the results of the fourth. Mike had his fourth treatment today and they will do some more blood workups next week. Depending on what the results are, the doctor may order more chemo. Mike is tolerating it quite well so we may need to go more rounds with it.

Also, it looks like we will come down to SoCal for Thanksgiving this year. Get your dinner requests in now. Chef Mike is coming to town.

New Hair Cut

2010-10-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

Since Mike's hair has been making it's escape during chemo, we thought we'd try something new. So this morning I gave him a modified "high & tight" cut. He looks good, huh?

Next round of chemo is this Thursday, October 21. Test results should be available by Monday, October 25. I'll keep everyone updated.

Second Round - Blood Test

2010-10-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

Mike's PSA result came back today at 4.34. Better. Still not great. However, we have been scootin' around together quite a bit lately and trying to have some fun in between treatments.

Mike at the Smashmouth concert.

Scene from our Laughlin weekend. This was Oatman, AZ.

No, I did not get out of the car.

Disability Awareness event in Las Vegas

Second Blood Test - First Round

2010-09-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

PSA is now at 5.56 and his white count is up. That's a good thing.

First Blood Tests - First Round

2010-09-22T14:14:00.000-07:00

So, after the first treatment the first blood tests were taken a week later. So far the PSA is down to 5.6. Good news. His white cell count is down as well but that was to be expected. I have all the boys washing their hands as soon as they get in the house. Don't care where they've been, just don't want them tracking germs in.

There will be another blood test right before the second dose of chemo on Wednesday, September 29. I will be out of town from Sunday, September 26 until that Wednesday. So I'll be there to check on him right away.

Update

2010-09-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Mike has tolerated the first chemo treatment fairly well so far. He says he's feeling pretty good actually. I suppose if anyone can "breeze through" chemo, it would be Mike. We hope it continues to be easier than expected. As soon as we have any more test results I will post them.

Mike was just recently hired through a temp agency to do some work for IGT in the department of a long time friend of ours. I just want to thank Will McMaster for giving me a call and letting me know about this availability. Will is a real friend and a good man.

Chemo starts today

2010-09-09T06:13:00.000-07:00

Today he starts the chemo. I didn't realize it but they don't let spouses in for that.

The Other Side of the Coin

2010-09-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

We were very glad to hear that the bone scan and CT scan came back clean. However, the doctor continues to see a rise in Mike's PSA. We are now just over 8. So it looks like he will be starting chemo treatments. Should be finished inside of twelve weeks, starting asap. Fortunately it is a one hour treatment every 3 weeks, 4 treatments total.

Bone Scan Negative

2010-08-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

Got the results back recently. The scan and CT were both negative. No bone metastasis is good news. It means we are still at stage 3 and holding.

Bone Scan Today

2010-08-23T10:15:00.000-07:00

I'll try to post results as soon as I know anything.

In the interesting new category - I found a reference to a real Antram (not Antrim) family crest. And darned if it isn't a Griffin! LOL. So I'm redoing my entire coat of arms to reflect this.

New Job

2010-08-15T23:24:00.000-07:00

Mike will be starting a new job tomorrow. It's temporary and contract work but it's work.

Vacation was lovely but...

2010-08-02T23:25:00.000-07:00

Mike's PSA is now at 5.06. I'll try to keep everyone updated when there are more tests scheduled.
Other items: Found out that Philip cannot enlist in Coast Guard this year. Has to wait until next year.
Gregory will be starting 7th grade at the end of this month.
And that's kind of all I can manage right now.

WSOP 2010

2010-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Looks like Mike will be joining the tournament this year. So glad he's decided to try it. He's picking his satellite carefully for maximum payoff to the Main Event. The Main Event starts in July but there is plenty of action going on right now.

Happy Father's Day, Dads!

He Passed. NO, Philip passed his finals!

2010-06-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

Crap. As soon as I typed the headline I knew I would have to clarify it.

Anyway, Prince Philip will be graduating with his class. He called us today from school to say he'd passed his English final and pulled his semester grade up. We were very happy NOT to have to deal with summer school.

However..
He comes home with the paper that the teachers have to sign that says he passed each of his classes. HE CAME HOME WITH IT. As in, the paper he had to turn in to the office today that tells the school admin that he CAN graduate.

I swear, after this last infection I'm so weak that he's just gonna kill me. Someone please use my ticket for the graduation if I'm 6 ft under by the 11th.

Prom 2010 and St. Viator Foundation

2010-04-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

April 24 has always been a busy day. First of all it's David's birthday. (Happy Birthday, Little Brother!) This year he turned 40. Amazing.

This year it was also Bishop Gorman's Senior Prom AND the St. Viator Foundation dinner. For those that don't know, I have been involved with the St. Viator function since Philip was 5 years old. The kids that he grew up with at St. Viator mostly went to Bishop Gorman High School. So when Midori Bernal asked Philip to attend with her, I was thrilled. He would get to go to Sr. Prom with the kids he grew up with. Between dropping him off, taking pictures, forgetting the corsage, and me trying to get to the hotel for my event, it got more than a little crazy that night. There was so much more that went on but I'm mostly trying to forget it.

So this year:

Philip only took one girl, not three like last year.
We bought Philip his first tuxedo instead of renting.
The St. Viator event was a masquerade ball.
I won my 12 noon Mass parking spot again thanks to Susie Portz. I had to leave early and Susie took over the live bidding for me. God, I love that woman.

Anyway, here are some pictures.

Good Faith in Prince Philip

2010-04-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

In an effort of good faith on my part, I have shot some graduation pictures of Philip. I know he can do it (and we had the lighting set up for Philip's friend's pictures anyway).

I'll post a few more on my artist's blog at http://lantramart.blogspot.com.

Good News and Bad News

2010-04-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

Which do you want first? Good news? OK.

The good news is that Mike's tumor is considerably smaller after the 8 weeks of radiation.
The bad news is that his PSA is up again. The score was 3.9 yesterday.

I give up guessing what all this means. So I'll just give you my humble opinion. The tumor in his prostate has shrunk because that's what radiation does. It zaps the sucker into oblivion. What I'm not convinced it does is erase the rest of the cancer from anywhere else. That is what his body is fighting right now. The stuff that has already spread. His radiation was very specifically targeted to the largest problem areas. So, while the score is not terribly high, it is rising.

Sorry so long

2010-04-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I posted. I plead stress. Anyone wanna argue with me? No? Good. OK, back to being civil.
We had a very nice visit with Steve and Sherry and Elise Relf last weekend. Elise turned 21 so we felt even older than usual. Also Mike's mom and Tony came to visit. We really had a lovely start to the boys' spring break. So now that Easter is over and the boys go back to school tomorrow, I need to get back to some serious work. Deadlines are looming.

Philip is 18

2010-02-28T20:42:00.000-08:00

When the hell did that happen?

Post Radiation Test Results

2010-02-18T16:13:00.000-08:00

I'm not feeling up to asking for a drumroll here.
PSA now stands at 3.7
Testosterone Levels still at 22.

The Sell-Off Begins

2010-02-17T16:53:00.000-08:00

Anyone need a piano? This week’s task has been to look around at the larger items that we do not use on a daily basis and try to come up with a list of what we can live without. As much as it pains me, the piano is at the top of this list. I love our piano. But the boys no longer take lessons and it is worth a lot of money. Hopefully I will be able to sell it for a reasonable amount.

Ultrasound Results and Other

2010-01-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

The doctor's office called us back with the results of the ultrasound test. Kidneys look good. Just some minor swelling which may be due to the radiation. Also, the ultrasound showed that the tumors in Mike's bladder have shrunk, which is what we were hoping the radiation would do. So the doctor's appointment next week is cancelled (also good).

In the Bummer column: Mike has a cold. So the anti-biotics for the bladder infection, the full series of radiation treatments, and the virus are all making him very tired. Hopefully next week he will feel better.

Post Radiation

2010-01-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

So we are finally post radiation. Mike is very tired and now has a bladder infection. The doctor has given him anti-biotics that make him very tired so he's sleeping more during the day. Tomorrow we have an ultrasound appointment to check on some other issues. Test results and any other post radiation treatments will be posted as I know them. Much love to everyone.

Final Radiation Treatment

2010-01-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow constitutes the last of Mike's series of radiation treatments. These treatments have taken their toll as we expected. To celebrate the end of them, and just for the heck of it, Mike will be going down to So. Cal. on Friday for a poker party (what else?). To those of you who will be there, I'd just like to say, bring only what you can afford to lose.

2009-12-26T18:23:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T08:59:00.001-08:00

Thankful for Family

2009-12-10T22:22:00.000-08:00

After Thanksgiving weekend, we went up to Big Bear to a "cabin" that my brother David and his wife Suzy had rented together with my parents. The place was really large and just fantastically well equipped.

It always amazes me what passes for a cabin up at Big Bear. The boys had a real blast with the snow, and their cousins Sarah and Julia. Both the girls were under the weather but were really well behaved. The boys also got to go inner-tubing down some slopes and had a really terrific time. Thanks to my family for providing this much needed break to us on Mom's birthday weekend. We loved it.

Mike's Resume and Product Pages

2009-11-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

I have uploaded Mike's current resume and a sheet of current product designs.

Feel free to pass them around.

http://catalinacom.com/MikeAntramResume.pdf

http://catalinacom.com/MikeAntramProducts.pdf

Yes, It can always be worse

2009-11-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

And so it is. Mike was laid off today. His company shut down their R&D division and laid off three directors, of which Mike was one. The next person to say, "God won't give you more than you can handle," gets clocked. God didn't do this to us. Shit happens.

Radiation Starts Tomorrow

2009-11-15T18:12:00.000-08:00

Mike starts his radiation treatments tomorrow (Monday, November 16, 2009). This will go everyday except weekends for the next 8 weeks. So this will go until January 8, 2010. The radiation therapy is called external beam radiation therapy or EBRT. If fatigue sets in it should not be until toward the end of the treatments. Hope for the best.

Mapping

2009-11-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today Mike went in for his mapping appointment. It's basically an ultrasound test that pinpoints the areas they will irradiate. The interesting part is how they mark the spots so that they know exactly where they will return to each day. They tattoo a small dot in the four places directly on the body. So now Mike has his motorcycle and four little tats. He's such a bad ass.

Radiation is a Go

2009-10-30T22:25:00.001-07:00

So we've had our consult with the radiologist and it was decided that Mike would start 8 weeks of radiation therapy. Which means we will be here for Christmas so if you want to see us you need to make your reservation at Hotel Antram now. His treatments will be every day except weekends and holidays. Tuesday they will map out a treatment and then start sometime after that. This is not the seeds/pellets. This is the shoot em up, shrink em down kind. So we hope anyway.

Radiation

2009-10-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

So the doctor has not given us the information I wanted. He simply told Mike that what he needs now is radiation to stop the growth of the prostate. Yes, I know that makes no sense. I'm all in here folks. Mike is just happy that the bone scan came back clean and now they are saying the lymph system is clean. He did not ask why they don't just remove the prostate and the tumors from the bladder if this is true.

No News

2009-10-12T17:05:00.001-07:00

Still do not have the results of last week's tests. Hopefully tomorrow.

So Scans are Next

2009-10-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Some days I just wonder WTF doctors are really thinking. Do they actually believe their own nonsense? Only one week later and it's up again to 7.75. A false test result? A temporary spike? Bullshit.

So now we get the scans done on Thursday to get a better picture. Then next Monday it's back in so we can see where we go from here.

A Break in Our Regular Programming

2009-10-01T16:46:00.000-07:00

My Current Charity Project

Not Good

2009-09-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

Mike had his three month PSA test yesterday. We're in trouble. His PSA has more than doubled for the second time in 6 months. You recall that we got it down to 1 at the beginning of the year. Then three months ago it had risen to 2.5. I was worried, the doctor was not. As of yesterday his PSA is 7.5. Now worried has given way to frantic. This thing is determined. But so are we.

We are consulting with his doctor to figure out what is next. I'm sorry that I couldn't post better news for everyone. Mike is doing very well after his surgery and says he feels fine. He's still working and looks great. So those are good things to hold on to.

Like a Racehorse

2009-09-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

So the old man is peeing like a racehorse. Or as he says, "like a 20 year old." (Like he can remember.)

Anyway, we are all very happy. He still has a couple of days on the antibiotics and there may be a few clots but overall the doctor is happy with his progress. He will not have to go in to see the urologist again for three weeks.

In two weeks he will be going in for his quarterly PSA test AND some other scans to see where we are now. He has a full day of testing and scans on the 8th of October. As usual, I will keep updating.

A huge thank you to my mom and dad for coming out to help with everything. It was a HUGE help.

Doctor's Appointment

2009-09-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Going to see the urologist tomorrow at 1:50 p.m. Many thanks to Dorothy Reynolds for picking up Gregory from school! These schedules are killing me. If only I could sleep well.

Home

2009-09-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

We're home and Mike ate dinner. He will be on some pain and antibiotic meds for a few days. It took the doctor and nurses to convince him that he should not be thinking of going to work for a few days. "But it's outpatient." Yes, dear. That doesn't mean you can drive and go to work.

In Recovery

2009-09-22T13:25:00.001-07:00

Mike is in recovery. He will be there for about another hour and then they will move him to a room for another hour or two. He seemed to be doing OK on the morphine. I will update as I have info.

Surgery

2009-09-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

We will be at the hospital early and surgery is scheduled for
10:30 a.m. I will have my phone and computer but there is
no guarantee of a wifi connection. It's an older hospital.

I will update everyone as soon as I can.

Recent pictures

2009-09-17T18:44:00.001-07:00

Philip's costume for Anime Vegas.

I also made two more costumes for his friends.

Can you say

"sucker?"

Picture of Us at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. When did we get old?

Who Me?

2009-09-15T22:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes people ask how I'm doing. My standard answer is "eh." Not today. Today I need to vent. Today, the best thing that happened was my meeting with the Feds who came to interview the Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities in order to make sure we are doing our job. Yes, that was the BEST part of my day. Clients cutting me off at the knees by giving me files that are SO wrong they kill 4 full pages of a magazine with the inaccurate page count. Little man's school calling me 30 seconds before I go into my meeting to tell me that he is refusing to enter English class and can they count on my help to talk to him tonight? After I brought in a desk for him to school so he could be isolated, and ordered a set of textbooks for use at home, and just talked to him last night about this very thing? You know what? No.

Not to mention my hand is still killing me from where I punched the headboard Monday at 2 a.m. I am so stressed out that I've been having some pretty bad nightmares. It was a particularly bad dream about someone who made me very upset. In the dream I punched this person. In reality I almost broke my hand. The hand I use to lay out the magazines that are all late now. Did I mention that the headboard is carved hardwood? Like this only in dark wood. Those vines hurt like hell in a head on collision with a fist. So I guess you could say I don't sleep well.

So I leave the meeting early, telling the lovely people from the Federal Government that I must go see to one of the very people the council serves, my autistic child. I drive the half hour to get there to have a transportation worker tell me that I cannot park near the busses that take the disabled kids. I explain to him that my son is with those kids and it has been a very bad day for him and sometimes he does not recognize my car so I parked close. He tells me it doesn't matter and I had better not be doing this everyday and the Deans would be out to talk to me. So I did what any sane woman would do. I very calmly told him that I did not do this every day, and turned my face fully to him so he could see the tears rolling down my cheeks. He ran away. (Wuss.)

When the child finally made it out to the car I was informed that tonight's homework was out of the textbooks that I ordered but have not arrived. Lovely. At home the phone rings so that the school can send me a recorded message saying that the boy had an unexcused abscence in English class. No kidding! I'm expecting the truant officers at any time. I think they may show up before the textbooks. And yes, my hand still hurts.

Pre-Admit

2009-09-15T01:07:00.000-07:00

Today was the pre-admit paperwork and tests. They took the usual samples of blood and urine but also did a chest X-ray. Chest X-ray? I asked if hubby was sure that they knew what surgery he was having. He said, yes. He asked too. So I guess this is to make sure he is OK for surgery. Fingers crossed.

On another note:

My heartfelt sympathies go out to Lisa Anne Niemi (Swayze).

Surgery

2009-09-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

What a fun day yesterday was. Not. Sorry, haven't had my coffee. I'll just stick to Mike. The meds for enlarged prostate are not having a pronounced effect. An effect, yes, but not nearly good enough to prevent further complications. So now we are headed for surgery. It's an outpatient procedure.

Message from John Vesely

2009-09-07T07:35:00.000-07:00

Sent a link to the blog to John Vesely thanking him and letting him know his kindness was broadcast to the whole family. Thought I'd share his reply with everyone.

You have a new direct message:

secondhandjohn: Thats awesome!!! Thanks for letting me know.

Secondhand Serenade Concert

2009-09-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe how fantastic the Secondhand Serenade concert was! I was able to upgrade our floor general admission tickets to the table/seated area so that Mike and I could sit and put less of a strain on him after his recent ER trip. I explained to the security gal the situation and not only did she get us a table, she took care of extra drinks and then... wait for it... went to talk to the backstage security to apprise them of the situation. The next thing we knew, John Vesely himself came out from backstage to meet us! I could not believe it! I told him how much his music meant to me and was helping me throught this difficult time. He wished us all the best, hugged me and shook Mike's hand. I cried the rest of the night and sang to all the songs. Thank you John, from the bottom of a grateful heart. To hear John's amazing music, head to www.secondhandserenade.com or hear one of my favorites here: Your Call.

Second Place

2009-08-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

Just so you know, the Mikey Man came in second in last night's tournament. So he did come home with a profit. His buddy Tim, however, continues to have the worst luck at cards we have seen in a while. Sorry Tim but out first? Twice? Dude.

Cath is still out. Life is much better. Also I would like to thank Stereodevil for helping me with the wifi router issue. Mom, next time you come out you won't need to hardwire to the Cat5 anymore. You can power up in your room.

No Sleep Last Night

2009-08-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

But that's a good thing! Mike was up every hour to go to the bathroom. "Like a champ" was how he put it. So it looks like he's doing much better now and no catheter! Huge relief. What a week. So guess where he is tonight? Yup, playing poker. But no soda and no flask. Water!

Thank you to everyone for your prayers and well wishes.

Doctor's Apt. Today - Wed.

2009-08-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

So the cath came out today but not with much progress. So we are playing a waiting game. It may have to go back. Interesting side note, Mike passed 2 blood clots. I'm thinking they are the blockage. It would explain the problem with the cath yesterday. I mentioned it to the doctor and he gave me the "isn't she cute, she thinks she knows anything" look. So I'll be doing my own research tonight.

Update

2009-08-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

Another doctor's appointment tomorrow and most likely the cath will come out. Bladder spasms are making it difficult now to even use the cath. Bag is not filling but he's still managing to go so no ER visit this time. I'll update tomorrow when we know more.

Enlarged Prostate

2009-08-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

So the verdict is an enlarged prostate. The surprise is how suddenly the whole thing happened. Not that slow, over time, kind of thing. So we try pills first. Then, if that does not work, we go for a laser surgical option.

Next appointment is on Wednesday. We'll know more then .

Again, thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers, and thanks Mom and Dad for all your help. A special thanks to my angels.

Doctor's Apt. Today

2009-08-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Urologist appointment today at 10:50 a.m. We will keep updating the blog on any news or change in Mike's condition. So far there is no consensus on what caused the blockage on Saturday. We hope to know more today. Might have to wait for lab results or CT scans. Again, I'll update the blog as soon as possible. Thanks everyone!

Trip to ER

2009-08-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

So we had a little scare today. Mike needed a trip to the ER early this morning. He's fine now and they think it's just an infection. He is home and we will go see the urologist on Monday. I will let everyone know if there are any changes. Much love.

Poker Tourney at the Fiesta Henderson Take 2

2009-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

And the Mikey man wins again! The regulars at the Fiesta are getting to really dislike poor Mikey. This time he was generous and agreed to split the pot three ways among the top three people so they did not get down to just one winner. So that was still $300. Nice. He may need to hire bodyguards.

Vacation - Comicon 2009

2009-08-01T14:52:00.000-07:00

We actually made it to Comicon this year! You may or may not remember that last year we were stuck on the 5 Fwy for over an hour moving only 5 miles or so. We eventually gave up as the entire freeway had just been shut down. This year we made it. And the boys got to meet Peter Mayhew. For those of you who are not Star Wars fans, Mr. Mayhew played Chewbacca. He says for his audition all he had to do was stand up. He's 7'3" tall.

Vacation - Jet Skiing

2009-07-31T15:12:00.000-07:00

Vacation this year was a real blast. The boys were both old enough to do things they'd never been able to before. Since we did so much, I'm going to take events item by item and post them over the next week.

But first, I have to thank Pam and Alan for all their wonderful hospitality! Yes, that includes the poker and the tequilla and the internet access.

So the first pic is of Mike, Gregory, Philip, and my brother David as they prepare for a wild hour of jet skiing. This activity was courtesy of David. Thanks Dave!

Poker Tourney at the Fiesta Henderson

2009-07-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday at 11:30 there is a poker tournament at the Fiesta Henderson Casino. Mike has played in it once before with a friend. Today he went by himself. There were 30 players in the tournament. And....

The Mikey Man came in first!

$400.00 for First Place.

He came home VERY happy.

And then do you know what he did? He made shrimp fajitas and margaritas for dinner.

God, I love him.

Daniel Negreanu

2009-07-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

So Mike and I met Daniel Negreanu today. We saw him on Sunday at the start of a really bad run of luck both with his play and his health, which were certainly connected. By today (Thursday) he had already lost 5 pounds and on him it really showed. But he's feeling better and we were happy to see him up and around.

He signed a hat for me and his book for Mike. Very nice guy. Very willing to give advice and props for good play to the other players there.

Kind of funny how he came to sit on Mike's left. I was on Mike's right and when Daniel came in the room he asked where the best seat in the house was. I told him, "Right here," and patted my lap. He immediately walked to the OTHER side of Mike. Oh well.

Latest PSA

2009-07-06T12:53:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's now at 2.5. I'm calm. No sense in panicking. Four is the magic number anyway right? As long as we're under 4.

The Poker Brat

2009-07-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Mike and I went to the WSOP Main Event at the Rio Hotel today. What timing! We arrived just as the one and only (thank goodness) Phil Helmuth was making his entrance. Phil dresses up for this every year. In 2008 he dressed as General Patton. In 2007 he came dressed as a race car driver. This year he was Caesar. No doubt with Harrah's blessing. Harrah's owns the Rio and Caesar's Palace.

We were also lucky enough to catch sight of Daniel Negreanu. He passed so close to us that I think he may have brushed Mike's shoulder. There's a possibility that Dan's luck not only rubbed off on Mike, but that Mike's luck took poor Dan. Immediately after we saw him at the break, Dan went back in and crashed and burned. He's out.

Mike's New Helmet

2009-06-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Helmet has arrived!

So what did he get?
A poker theme of course. What else?

Happy Birthday Gregory!

2009-06-18T19:44:00.000-07:00

11 Years Old Today.

Mike's New Toy

2009-06-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone told me that I couldn't tell him no. So it's all your fault.

Honda Shadow Aero VT750.

Julia Therese

2009-06-08T19:46:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share a picture of me with my new Goddaughter, Julia. This is my brother, David's, new baby. She is absolutely beautiful.

I had a terrific weekend in OC at the baptism. Ate way too much. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Prom 2009

2009-05-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

So Philip has moved up since homecoming.
He had THREE dates for the prom. Yes THREE!

Mike was so proud.

22 Years

2009-05-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Remission?

2009-04-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've received a few inquiries about what the new PSA score means to Mike's cancer. Is he cured? No. Is he in remission? Good question.

I think an analogy is in order. Think of the PSA score as the number of people that respond to a fire. When the score is high, there's big trouble going on. Lots of people trying to help/respond/contain the damage. It's simply a count of responders in the body. The higher the score, the worse the fire. A normal PSA is below 1. Mike started at 68. We're down to 1!

The treatments he's receiving are like an outside source of water needed to put the fire out. As the fire is contained and doused, people leave the scene. The score goes down. That's good.

HOWEVER, the fire itself is not the problem. The building is still burned to a crisp. No amount of water can make the building look and act as if nothing happened. Not only that, but the fire got into the main infrastructure of the city. The local fire department had no effect on it because their hoses were burned, their trucks melted, etc. The fire is out but the damage is irreperable.

The hope is that the arson that started this blaze will lay low for a while since everything is soaking wet. This is as close to "remission" as it gets. The cancer stops growing. We keep throwing water on the area and hope that things stay cool for as long as possible.

So now we wait. And yes, at some point the arson may show up again.

PSA Down to 1 !

2009-04-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

One. Uno. Singular. Lone. Prime. Digit. ON.

Crestor

2009-04-01T19:58:00.001-07:00

Mike had an appointment with his internist today. They went over some bloodwork from the last appointment. Mike's cholesterol was a tad high (268) so the doctor put him on Crestor. We'd had it checked a few months ago and it was not that high. He put Mike on red yeast at first but that did not help so now it's Crestor.

On a sad note: my Grandpa Harry Griffin passed away yesterday early in the morning. We will most likely be taking a trip down to So. Cal. He was 89 years old.

Sounding the ALL CLEAR!

2009-03-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone for your prayers.

Mike's polyp was benign.

No colon cancer!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to start drinking.

Results on Wednesday

2009-03-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Results of the biopsy from Mike's colonoscopy will be in on Wednesday afternoon. He has an appointment with the Gastroenterologist at 4 p.m. We'll post information as soon as we can.

Some good news - Gregory finished his 5th grade D.A.R.E. program.

You can watch a short clip below. The little girl giving Gregory the high-five is Rachel. Her older brother has high functioning autism. She helps Gregory stay focused in class sometimes.