Thursday, February 9
Two mornings ago, Laurie and I dutifully prepared for and then drove to Portland – our OHSU pilgrimage. Undoubtedly, we both would have preferred a snowy mountain destination for the day, but secretly I was pretty excited to get hard data feedback on the efficacy my phase three drug treatment. My PSA had been on the uptick ever since August, the end of chemotherapy. It was now 5 weeks since I started taking maximum doses of Enzalutamide.
We were old pros at this. No Google maps to navigate, understanding the traffic patterns, cruising through the new construction and our favorite parking attendant on duty! The hospital was packed – people all about the lobby and elevators, spilling out of the 3rd floor blood draw unit and backed up on the 7th floor hematology/oncology ward. Was there a post holiday sale of some sort?
Despite the massive crowds, we were ever so friendly and politely greeted by the reception folks. Timely and efficiently we were ushered into all three of our appointments. FUN is probably a strong word for our experience, but ‘pleasant’ sure does the trick!
Armed with all your well wishes and prayers, our questions and a huge degree of anticipation Dr. Beer enters. He starts to ask how I was doing. Laurie seriously tries to read his face (like an expert poker player). She intensely wants that hard PSA data point. Somehow, Dr. Beer realizes this and says: “Oh, you would like to start with the PSA data.” Momentarily, we both freeze, perhaps subconsciously dredging up memories of one year ago. Firmly planted in our minds is the most recent test date (12/19/16) and PSA value (12.51). How would this one compare?
We hear 12.2! 12.2, are you kidding me? 12.2, really? 12.2 felt like that much dreaded, but not disastrous tie baseball game when you are 10 year-old little leaguer. It was like making the front end of a one-on-one foul shot situation and still being down by one. It’s like passing your driving test at 16, except the parking part. Boo!
So there we sat with data clearly showing a break in the upward treading of PSA, but only the slightest bit of improvement. Dr. Beer’s comments reinforced our wishy -washing feeling. He said: “not great, but not bad.” I felt, his inference that he was hoping for a far better result. We listened for a while, asked a few questions and then exited. I hugely appreciated Dr. Beer’s calming, empathetic and optimistic twist. We accepted his recommendation to continue Enzalutamide for 6 more weeks and get another PSA data point.
We move on to the Lupron shot, get our parking ticket validated and say our goodbyes. Laurie and I strongly bond on the drive home. Not until day’s end do we realize how emotionally exhausted we were. We plop down in bed, warmly hug and happily fall asleep in one another’s arms.
Good Nite my friends!
For all you data lovers:
Thanks for the update Mikey, and more importantly thanks for not including any math homework along with the attached graph. Not sure I remember how to take the derivative, set it equal zero and solve the equation.
Dr. Beer seems quite insightful. “Not great, but not bad” says a ton. Again, it appears prudent spending time in the present has way more value then looking too far ahead.
GMa could put it so succinctly in her old world Maltese, paċenzja. “Patience”, my boy!
First of all, Hugs are always amazing! They are like hot, melted chocolate drizzled lovingly on a mound of ice cream, the “dyno” that takes your breath away, the green flash of awe as the sunset sinks below the horizon and yes, they also help with “Dis-ease” too. Keep close, those mates that hold you with so much compassion that you never want them to let you go. Get as many of those loving hugs per day as your arms can hold! Now for the PSA, the good news is that it did lower. I’m betting there were so many pesky cells running loose that the Enzalutamide needed those first weeks just do an inventory and start rounding them up. Now for the next 6 weeks, the drug has the opportunity to kick em out of the house! I bet it just takes some initial time to get things going. I’m sure it’s frustrating to hear, however, hang in there! Hugs and more hugs coming your way!
Mike and Laurie,
Thinking about the many times I’ve wondered “how are things going with Laurie and Mike..” and then checked your blog, I want you to know the comfort I get in knowing Mike’s latest news and thoughts. I know there must be many more of us checking in than you hear from (you don’t need to know what I think each time I read your news). It just seems time to say thank you and best wishes from Mikeal and Connie in Roseburg
Well I hate to plagiarize, but I ditto what Mikeal Jones had to say. It’s true…How many times you cross our minds and wonder “how are things going with Laurie and Mike…” and then before I start a lengthy email I will check your blog. I’m always amazed and happy to hear your positive attitudes. Which, (Laurie, you know how positive I can be ;)) gives me comfort of knowing Mike’s latest news and thoughts. Like Mikeal you don’t need to know what we think each time we read your news. It just seemed time to check in and say hello and best wishes from Marty and Rob