10 days it is...

Since my last post.
Its been an interesting 10 days for sure. Surgery went ahead as scheduled last Tuesday. According to my surgeon, things went well and from what he could tell, every thing else looked normal in there, so now we just have to wait for some pathology results which should come in a few weeks. And then we see what challenges need to be faced if any.
My stay in the hospital was actually not to bad other than missing Tammy and the boys.
I very Grateful to all the staff at the Rockyview General Hospital take took part in my care.
Starting with Tammy who was nothing short of the best Partner I could ask for. Dr D. Metcalf and the operating team: Dr Pitka and nurse Veronica and many more who`s names I forgot.
Also the entire nursing and support staff of unit 71, including Mark, Brynn, Carroll, Diane ,Kara and also the night shift nurses who helped me through a wicked migraine on my first night.

A big MERCI to all friends and family who got get well messages to me through Email, phone calls Tammy`s Facebook, my Facebook and in person. Some from as far away as Scottland!!

Through some very good luck I was in a private room for both nights of my stay. I actually lied in bed awake in the morning for the first time in years and actually did not mind it. I was able to leave for home after 2 days rather than the normal 3 , which , funny enuff, I was a little nervous about. I wanted to be home but had come to realize this was a fairly major operation and felt a little nervous about not having all this world class medical help at the press of a button.
Its all good now. We still have a very good support system in Calgary. Tammy and the boys are amazing for me.I`m finding putting my body in a slower gear easier than I thought. I`m too damn scared to hurt it worse and then be in more trouble later I guess. But I don't want to be lazy.So for now I`m enjoying just hanging back in first gear. Actually paying attention to the birds that have taken residence in our yard and trying to learn about them with Matt and Shaun. Also going through some planning Ideas with Tammy regarding the next Garden projects after I`m well again.

As for what I did this past weekend,I enjoyed very much The Canadian GP yesterday. About time we have some real Racing in F1 on a consistent basis. Hats off to the Chicago Blackhawks. And now FIFA world cup soccer Time!! Go Go Deutschland!!!
Now I have to go warm up the Xbox.

Later....

The countdown has started.

Hmmm. May 4th, that was a while ago. A few things have changed since then. Mainly for us, the date of my surgery was pushed back to June 8th from May 21st. After thinking about it I thought it was an OK thing. After all the original date was the Friday before the long weekend...
As someone once told me "don`t buy a car built on Friday or a Monday..."lol. So I hope Tuesday the 8th is a good choice.

I was just reviewing the robotic procedure I`m about to go through. I did find it reassuring.
I`m not sure If this is normal but the procedure I`m very comfortable with and confident about.
What I`m unsure of is the 2 to 3 days in the hospital. I`m a little worried I will be bored silly.
I`m sure the time off at home will be a great thing for my whole being. Docs say I can expect 4 to 6 weeks without being allowed to lift more than 10 pounds. The garden projects will have to wait. Good thing the soccer World cup will be on. I`ve decided , following Matts lead to choose Germany as my favorite. Matt chose Italy because certain man named Enzo is from there and Matt loves his cars. So me being a fan of Porches and Mercedes-Benz......

As for work, Today Friday the 4th was my last day. I`m very grateful for the bosses I`ve had over the last few years. They have allowed me to grow within the company and have supported me and my family during some tuff times . Thank you .

I was assured today that I will have a job when my recovery is complete. That is always good to hear from the brass. Means we may have a pergola in the garden by the fall after all. :-)

I had a meeting with my family doc last Monday. Had not seen him in a few months. He was very happy with my weight loss and overall health and feels I`m on the right track for a good recovery. Sure helps to hear that.

So hopefully I`ll be able to post an update in 10 days or so. I should be able to find the time I think..

So I leave with another quote from "Anticancer": "we can`t live healthy on a sick planet".

And here is a link that explains the procedure I will undergo.
http://www.cpcn.org/arch_0054_robotic.htm

A plus tard.

Patou

Am I in trouble??

Wow . Thanks to you all for the positive feedback and responses to my first attempt at the Blog.
Now I guess I`m supposed keep going.....
Alright then, let me get my Soap box.
Uhum....

The book, Anticancer by David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D.

He also has some stuff on youtube and a Cancer beating web site. www.anticancerways.com

Tammy got it for me when we got the news. Its been a great help in making me change my outlook on many things as well as understanding a little better what I`m fighting, how to fight it and also for who.

Basically my first step were to make changes to my diet. Hello Skim and soy milk. Tofu is even on my shopping list, Ya really!!! I know, who knew? The banana stuff is pretty good too.
Lots of protein from nuts instead of red meat. ( that's a big adjustment) Very little processed meat now goes in this pie hole. Oh, and way less sugar too. Green tea as much as possible.
Although I must say, I love That Coffee shop That starts with a star and finishes with a buck but I could not drink the Green Tea latte . I drink alot less coffee now also.
The lost weight is a bonus, because my first thought was to improve the "terrain " where my fight is taking place.

Here is an exert from the Book: "If we all adopted this organic, balanced way of eating, we not only help our bodies detoxify but also help the planet recover its balance."

Now that may seem like a lofty goal, but if we all try to do some "preventative maintenance " to our bodies, odds are we may be around longer to enjoy this life and if you are as lucky as I am, the ones we love will have us with them longer also. And help mother Earth at the same time.
Makes sense in my head anyways.

Am I right? I don`t know yet , but for now I feel great and have learned to slow down and smell the flowers a little more. Even if means I have to get off my ATV to do it. ;-))
I don`t see myself as perfect, after all I did have a great weekend Playing in the Rockies on our ATVs with Jean, Kathy, Matt and Shaun. So ya I`m still burning some fossil fuels, but By putting less demand on the red meat industry, I feel I`m helping the earth a little more. Maybe I can explain that in the next post. I promise it won`t be 3 weeks.
BTW I`m not a vegetarian , just more picky now. But I don`t know whats gonna happen when I have a chance at Lorraine`s fabulous butter tarts. I think I`ll have to use it as "therapy". Ya that's it.....;-)

A plus tard mes ami.

Its a start.

Prostate cancer. Yes its hard to accept. If you are reading this, its probably because our lives have crossed paths at some point in time or we are still very much involved together.

I have been debating over the last few months how and who should know about this situation.

I was a bit concerned about putting it on Facebook, so I thought I would give this a try.

Thanks to a very good friend, I thought it was a good idea. (merci JB)

I hope to post something at least once a week to start anyways.

Its just gonna be me and my thoughts. There might be the odd reference to F1 or the redwings...



So, Obviously, I`m sure the first few words got your attention.

Some friends from long ago have heard rumours and have asked the question about my health.

Thank you very much for your concern and for the good wishes.

My wife and I received the news back in late January that yes, I was diagnosed with the very early stages of prostate cancer. It is very treatable and still contained to my prostate.

My doctor put it this way" its not a Death sentence, its an inconvenience." at first I was more pissed of than anything. I did have some moments of fear and I still do, but a few very good people have sent some very encouraging words and thank you to all who have. It has helped.

I like to think of it as an eye opener.

Thanks to my wonderful life partner, Tammy, I started doing regular check ups at the age of 40.

So when my doc saw changes in my blood along with a slight physical change from my DRE, he decided to "look deeper". (pardon the pun, lol). Thank goodness he did.

Early detection is the key. Yes its gonna be a tuff summer, but from what I`ve read and learned , I m lucky because its early and I still have the opportunity to continue living a full and active life after surgery. I know some men and women who are in the midst or much more serious battles than mine. My thoughts are with them for sure.

May21 2010 is the sched. date of my surgery. We have a brand new urology center here in Calgary as well as the prostate cancer center, a great source of support and information.I am fortunate to live in a city where this will be done 20 minutes from my home so it will be easier for my kids to drop in while i`m in the Hosp.Following that, life should be fairly normal within a year.

I`ve begun to exercise more by running at least 10 miles a week. I know its not much.

Right now , I feel great. I feel better that last fall because this has made me look at all facets of my life from my diet to my stress levels to exercise. The good thing is Tammy is a healthy eater herself and a very good runner so she is a great support to me. Although I prefer the tread mill so I can catch up on Sports high lites while running. I`m lucky to have her.

So for those of you who read this, Regular check ups are a good idea. If you have men in your lives who are at or near 40 tell them to get to know the terms DRE and PSA. It can save their lives.

So my friends , I will leave you with this: I`m planning on starting my "Bucket list" if things go well, I should still be around for a while to strike it all items off.



Take care My friends.

Au Revoire.



PG