An Update on My Cancer Fight

My life’s been crazy since I had the PET Scan two weeks ago that was ordered because of abnormally high PSA counts in May.

The results of it didn’t come back as ‘unremarkable‘ as I had hoped. The bottom line read, “Overall findings are suspicious for active prostatic malignancy.” While reviewing it, I guess you could say my jaw dropped. I was numb again.

It’s been two years since first being diagnosed with cancer and having gone through all the previous tests and radiation therapy, I’m tired. Drained mentally so to speak. While if that weren’t enough, both oncology and urology want another MRI.

Sure, one more test sounds simple. But guess again, it is not! Remember I have an ICD and the MRI, because of its magnetic field, can play havoc on electronic devices like the ICD. Even still, that is not enough as my device is made by Abbott (St Jude) and it’s lead wire is manufactured by Medtronic. Cut to the chase, hospitals don’t like doing crossover MRI scans in fear of fatalities and lawsuits.

When it all started in ’23 I had literally jumped through hoops to have one. Blue Cross didn’t want to pay for it and only two hospitals in SE Michigan would even do it. One was too far and the other, fortunately, is where my cardiologist practices out of.

I received the most recent order and was told the same hospital where I had radiation therapy would schedule it. But past experience told me I’d be doing so at my cardiologists’ hospital, as I had gone through the same ordeal before treatment began two years before. I made staff aware of this. Yet that hospital assured me (actually the scheduling department) they would do it. When the call came back the following day from an imaging department staff member and she said, “Oh I’m sorry we can’t do it,” all I said was ‘I told you so, yesterday‘ and laughed at her as I hung up.

I dialed the other hospitals scheduling department and spoke with a tech from the imagining department. He put me on the callback list for a schedule, but we continued talking. He remembered me from ’23 and other visits pertaining to my ongoing heart condition. Long story short he informed me they would only do two MRIs of my nature within the lifespan of the device implanted.

Immediately I’m thinking, the one in me was put in just before I had the first MRI. Meaning I’ve only one left over the next five plus years (battery life on them is about seven years) and what the hell will happen if something worse comes along before then?

I know what you’re thinking, what can be worse than cancer. My point of view is if I can make it ten years fighting the disease without the test, why give up the last one now? What happens if I’m in an accident a year from now and need it as a lifesaving measure? I will have already had two and the ICDs life span would still be at least four years away. I’d be left without a test. No, that’s not a suitable solution for me especially when the PET showed no signs of cancer only an increased PSMA uptake. But not much larger from the decreased value on the other side of the prostate that was zapped with radiation two years back.

After bringing my concerns to both oncology and urology, by phone, I was told to cancel the MRI for now and given another order for a PSA test.

And yes, it fell on my birthday, Friday the 13th. In a lighthearted gesture, the phlebotomist attempted to have the staff sing me ‘Happy Birthday‘. It was kind of her, but in reality, I am so damn shy it’s unbelievable. That’s why I don’t talk much on my social media posts. I’m fine with writing, but…

Before the results came in later that day, I had another appointment with my primary doctor as well.

Doc and I have gotten close through the years, and she’s caught a few troublesome things in me medically that have been lifesaving. Including this cancer. We first connected back in the covid days after my old primary began playing hide and seek because of the virus. I needed someone stable that would be there. Someone I felt safe with, and Doc and I clicked like fish and chips from the get-go. We’re friends now as much as having a doctor-patient relationship. That’s special.

While there, her receptionist did the same act as the phlebotomist had and began singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ I was ready for this. A month prior, when I scheduled the appointment, Doc had said, “We’ll Have Fun,” when discovering my birthdate was the same day. The checkup went well, and I left smiling. She’s got a way.

Early that evening my test results came in. Unlike before when I saw the ‘abnormal‘ warning in February, the labeling didn’t affect me mentally. Honestly, I had destined myself for a ten or eleven range. Yes, I was anticipating the worse. But much to my astonishment it had lowered once again to five point seven. Still above normal, but down two point five points within a month. I am happy.

Then the ‘Waiting on a Miracle‘ for my oncologist’s thoughts began. But I wouldn’t see him until today (Wednesday 6/18). There’s nothing like trying to enjoy a birthday with thoughts of uncertainties & the possibility of more cancer tests waiting in the horizons.

All weekend I remembered Doc and her encouragement. Along with a birthday call from an aunt who helped raise me and the fun I had at Comerica Park watching our Detroit Tigers play the Cincinnatti Reds as each brought more happiness. God, I love baseball.

It was at the game; I gained more strength as I recalled a partial quote from the late James Earl Jones who played Terance Mann in ‘Field of Dreams‘. “I spent all my misery years ago. I have no more pain for anything,” read part of his line in the movie.

Couple that with reading later, “OK. I love you. Bye,” in a story, I knew I was ready to move on. Misery wasn’t getting the best of me this time! Now is the time to shine, I told myself, and to show others cancer is beatable even with setbacks.

An old friend once posted the quote, “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” Well, I have changed. And with that mindset I went into today’s oncology appointment knowing that, if need be, I’d ring this damn bell once more. I Will Survive!

After my oncologist came into the room, and our pleasantries were said, he began to speak. Admitting he wasn’t aware of the MRI test limitations set by the hospital pertaining to my ICD and lead wire, he agreed it was too soon to use our last test.

He proceeded to explain his and my urologists concerns about the possibility of my having early signs of prostatitis. Seems the cells that had increased on the left match those on the right that had faced the radiation in ’23. Our best option now he says, which I agreed, is to wait a little longer. During which my regularly scheduled three-month PSA testing will be done every two. As perhaps it’s still a bounce one would expect after the original treatment. But now only time will tell.

I’d like to thank everyone on social media that wished me a Happy Birthday. A couple hundred blessings that truly brought a smile! Y’all mean the world to me. And somewhere along the way, I honestly hope this gives someone inspiration to keep on fighting. Cancer Sucks but like Napolean Hill once wrote, “Tough times never last. Tough people do.” And you really are tougher than you think!

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