We're Halfway Through!!

Hello again, family and friends.

To say that the past week has been a roller coaster of ups and downs would be an understatement.  After the inspection of the first townhouse last Tuesday, we were both pretty down.  Although most of the necessary work was cosmetic or clean-up, we both felt that it was much more of a fixer-upper than we want to deal with.  Besides, after the repairs were complete, it still needed some appliances and a garage door opener which would have taken some time and effort to have installed.  It was questionable whether or not the carpets could be cleaned/saved.  Owning a townhouse is a huge compromise for us, let alone owning one we didn't much care for.  

Our Second Home??

The evening before the inspection I spotted a brand new listing for a corner unit about a block away that looked very nice, but the listed price was very high for the neighborhood.  On a whim, we called our realtor and asked if we could look at it the next day.  She agreed and scheduled a viewing Wednesday afternoon.  There was no comparison!  It is a bit larger and in much better shape.  It also has a lot more natural light (because it is a corner unit with a SW exposure), all appliances, and a garage door opener.  After seeing it, we knew we would never have been happy with the other one, so we made an offer on the spot.  That same afternoon we drove clear across town to return our rental car to the airport and have dinner with my aunt, who lives on  the east side of Portland.   By the time we got home late that evening, all necessary forms were on the computer and ready to sign electronically using a very slick electronic signature program--DocuSign.  Long story short, with very minor changes our offer was accepted by the next morning.  On Thursday, right after therapy, we met with the realtor.  Rejecting one real estate deal and signing a new contract, literally within minutes, was a very new and different experience, and a bit overwhelming.  The inspection on this one is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.  Since we are dealing with the owner (not a bank-owned foreclosure), closing should move much more quickly.   Ironically, if the bank that owned the first one hadn't dragged its feet, we might have closed before this one was available.  It is nice to know that Someone is looking out for us. 

 Little Rowan is still growing like a weed.  His "due date" is Tuesday, so it will be interesting to see how much he weighs, etc., and what his doc says at the appointment that day.  They all came over for dinner Friday evening.   Rowan was great, just like the last time they were here, and we had a very relaxed evening.  Kathy went over to visit this afternoon and to see Doug and Kathy Reimer and Jendy Riemer Newman, who also stopped in to meet Rowan and say hello. 

On the health front, reaching the halfway point in the treatments on Friday was a milestone.  As we mentioned in our last post, I have been juggling a lot of medications.  Somewhere in the mix, my immune-system-compromised body consumed something it doesn't like.  As a result, hives have erupted on my arms, and from my neck to my knees.  They itch like crazy and there is nothing I dare take for them until we find out what caused the reaction.  I even stopped taking two medications which gave me a lot of relief from the direct side effects of both hormone therapy and radiation, so I'm also dealing with those issues again.  Oatmeal baths and hydrocortisone cream help, and I have a homeopathic pill for allergies made from ground honeybees that seems to help.  What's next?  Eye of newt?  I've never had a reaction like this and, all of a sudden, have gained a huge amount of empathy for those who go through life dealing with allergies.  We'll just take one day at a time, knowing we are in the home stretch.  

Laughter is a great medicine, so we'll be looking for funny movies, videos, stories, to add to the therapy.   
Here's one for you:

A man walks into a doctor’s office.  He has a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear and a banana in his right ear. 

“What’s the matter with me?” he asks the doctor.

The doctor replies, “You’re not eating properly.” ~~Thanks, Brian! :)

We appreciate all your prayers and support very much as we continue on our journey, especially at this time.    

Have a great week!!  Wherever you are, may March come in like a lamb (and go out the same way!)

Shalom,

   Barry and Kathy

Time Flies When....

Hi, Wonderful People!

We can't believe a week has already gone by since our last post.  It is even harder to believe that I have already started my forth week of radiation.  By mid-day Friday, I will be half way through!!  One of our little chores this week is to trek to the other side of the city to return our rental car to PDX airport.  They don't seem to like renting for more than a month at a time.  A month!!!  Sometimes it seems like we've been here only a few days, and sometimes we can't remember when we weren't here.  Humans are very adaptable creatures.  Luckily, we were able to snag the next month's rental from the Hillsboro airport, which is only five minutes away.

With hospital appointments, building a paper trail with our realtor, and visiting Grandson Rowan and his family, we've been on the go, and truly appreciate periodic quiet moments in our darling temporary neighborhood.  At the same time, we greatly miss the peaceful view of Frederick Sound from the windows of our Petersburg home and all of our wonderful friends there.

There's a good reason that the radiation department is closed on weekends--the body(s) needs some "down" time to heal as much as possible before the next "RADS" (how Kathy refers to radiation).   Past weekends began with a general "puny" feeling, but improved by later on Saturday.  This weekend some of the side effects really knocked me for a loop.  Sunday morning was particularly rough, but by Sunday afternoon I felt much better.  Perhaps it was the healing power of the snuggle time with Rowan, but I even got in a couple of 15 to 20 minute power walks during the afternoon and evening.  I feel much better all around today even after another round of treatment.  We have appointments with the oncologist tomorrow and the naturopath on Thursday.

The visit with the naturopath (shaman) last week resulted in a request for a complete blood workup to check for suspected anemia, a recommendation for adding chicken liver to the diet (to improve the red blood cell count, if necessary), increased yogurt intake (Kathy's been pushing it already), recommendation for "slippery elm" lozenges which should coat the digestive system from top to bottom, "throat coat" tea and turmeric/curcumin capsules to reduce inflammation, and black cohosh to relieve hot flashes from the hormone-blocking therapy.    All of a sudden, I feel like I'm using remedies to counteract the meds/remedies that I'm using to counteract the side effects.  We're trying to stay on top of the side effects as much as possible by utilizing natural remedies and altering diet. 

"Inflammation?" you ask.  It's not the external "sun"burn on the skin, often referred to as radiation burn.  (No way to sugar-coat this.)  My self-diagnosis is radiation proctitis, an internal wound/inflammation of the rectal area behind the prostate caused by radiation, and it's mighty uncomfortable for a lot of reasons.   To say the least, it is a real pain in the rear.  Hence, the slippery elm to coat my system from stem to stern.  Acetaminophen helps pain, and the turmeric capsules we got from the shaman help reduce inflammation.  Apparently, turmeric is the best natural anti-inflammatory available, and it does seem to help.  It was not accidental that both chicken liver recipes we have tried so far contain turmeric.  Mine was an Indian Suka.  Kathy's was a more classic pate'.  While they were edible, in the end, they still tasted very much like chicken liver.    

 I'm Hooked for life

Truly, though, I am learning that one of the very best therapies around is the relaxation and contentment that comes with cuddling and interacting with my favorite newborn, Rowan.  We recently read a quote: "When your newly born grandchild holds your finger in their little fist, you're hooked for life".  So true!  Therefore, we try to get over to visit him and help Erika and Brad whenever and however we can.   Their neighborhood is also a great place for daily walks.  

It seems that my walks there have been gravitating more and more toward the townhouse.  We haven't signed final papers and don't have access to the inside, but I keep looking around the outside for anything that might need to be done if/when we close on it.  Tomorrow afternoon (Tues.) is the inspection.  If that goes well, we can begin working toward making it move-in ready before we return to Alaska. 

Caden and Mickey

While we've been wishing for a return of the spring-like weather of last week, we had a phone call from our almost-six-year-old grandson, Caden, today.  It was wonderful to hear his voice!  He is vacationing with his parents, our son, Matt and daughter-in-law Cascade, in warm California.  He was very excited to tell us all about his day in the Magic Kingdom.  His favorite ride was "It's a Small World"--one of our favorites, too.  We won't get to see them on this trip to the west coast, because they head back home to Massachusetts later in the week.  Thank goodness for video chats!

The past week has been much colder and wetter than the previous week.  The walks we have taken have been more an attempt to maintain a level of exercise than to enjoy the outing.  Regardless of the cooler weather, we are seeing more spring flowers and even an occasional rhododendron in full bloom.   We constantly strive to find ways to keep side effects to a minimum and energy levels at a maximum so that we can enjoy our spring in Oregon.   

We're so glad to hear that longer daylight hours are creeping into the lands up North.   Your little notes and tales bring us laughter and a feeling of support. 

Celebrate Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday or whatever makes you happy!

Take care, live strong, count blessings! 

Shalom,

Barry and Kathy

Happy Valentines Day!

Heart-felt Greetings, Family and Friends!

One of the benefits of spending this time of year in Oregon is seeing flowers on Valentines Day without having to go into a store.  It's been a lot of years since we spent a spring in Oregon, dating back to when Barry was in college in Corvallis in the mid-'70's.  We hope you have all had a wonderful day wherever you are!

It's becoming much easier to find our way around the hospital. We're wondering if that's a good thing, but at least we don't have to spend a lot of time searching for our appointments.  The first new appointment this week was to meet Dr. Weizer of the Integrated Medical Team.  It was nice to talk to someone who seems to take a personal interest in what we are going through.  We'll be working with him/them on side effects of both the radiation and hormone-blocking therapies.  He was happy to see that we're already well onto the diet thing and taking good care of ourselves.  

In fact, he had Anti-Cancer: a New Way of Life, a book we've become very attached to, in his office.  Like the author of the book, he is also a cancer survivor, who felt there is more to treating cancer than the purely technical surgery/chemo/radiation treatments, so went to med school and now treats people holistically.  He suggested several herbal supplements and has ordered blood work to rule out low Vitamin D and anemia.  I'll do labs after treatment tomorrow.  He has also suggested a few items to include in our diet which should prove to be very interesting, to say the least.  For example, I looked online last evening and was totally blown away by how many recipes there are for chicken livers.  The culinary adventures continue! 

Sunday evening our friend and neighbor from Petersburg, John Hoag, dropped by to visit.  That provided an opportunity to invite Erika, Brad and Rowan over for dinner.  It was their first social outing and Rowan was a little champ.  Our temporary home here has a natural gas barbecue, which I'm just getting used to.  I guess I shouldn't have experimented with a beer-can chicken.  Thankfully, everybody was a good sport about having "blackened chicken" for dinner.  At least the rice pilau was delicious, and the the inside of the chicken was amazingly tasty and tender.    

John asked to hold Rowan for a few moments.  We weren't quite sure if he was getting his grandpa fix, just wanted to be one of the first of our friends to have the privilege, or if he was trying to make his wife, Linda, jealous.  Rowan has a lot of growing to do to catch up with John.  

Brad and Erika are doing great and we think it was good for them to get out.  Rowan is still pretty little, but is now over his birth weight and growing over an ounce a day.


NEWS FLASH - It appears that we will be part- year neighbors of Erika and Brad.  We made an offer on a bank-owned townhouse about five short blocks from their house, and our offer was accepted today.  Subject to the results of the standard inspection, we could close within 10 days.  

For some time, we have been kicking around the idea of being able to spend more time in this area without having to stretch Erika and Brad's generous hospitality.  It has been a buyers' market, which is beginning to turn around.  We made an offer on a similar townhouse in November, but were unsuccessful.  We originally looked over a broader area until Erika told Kathy how nice it would be to put the baby in a stroller and walk over to Nana's house, limiting our search area.  The picture at the left says it all.  It is not our dream home, and will take some planning, time, and effort before it is move-in ready.  We think it will be a great jump-off place for our future adventures. 

Thanks so much for your friendship and support.  It helps us immensely to know that you are with us on our journey. 


Shalom,
     Barry and Kathy

We're 1/4 done!!! It's time to meet the "Beast"

Good evening family and friends. 

Today marked the end of the second of eight weeks of treatment.  The time is going very quickly, and it is an interesting experience, to say the least.  The scientific side of me is full of curiosity, so I've been asking a lot of questions about radiation therapy and how it works.  I thought I would share some of what I've learned about the treatment. 

Radiation Control Center

The control center is shown at the left.  It is the brains behind the operation.  All three screens are programmed for only one patient at a time.  There is another full bank of screens for another patient to the left of these.  Each patient has their own treatment plan entered into the computer.  My day starts by going into the patient dressing room and donning a gown.  I then go into the patient waiting room until called into the inner sanctum by one of the technicians.  I have to verify my name and date of birth each time before heading into the treatment room. 

The "Beast"

The entire radiation unit is shown in the photo at the right.  The radiation head is at the top of the image and the computerized tomography (CT) head is to the far right.  The checkerboard panel is a pickup unit for the CT scanner.  There are two of them, but only one is visible in this image.  The platform is where the patient lies while receiving treatment.  The technicians actually took a couple of shots of me on the table, but Kathy ruled that they were unsuitable for posting.  Once the patient is on it, the platform is elevated and the entire machine rotates completely around it.  The gray ring is the mechanism it rotates on.

I lay down on the platform with my feet and legs in the mold and my head on the pillow.  A bit of the mold  (blue) is showing under the sheet.  The technicians then position me using laser beams on the three tattoos which I received during the simulation (it seems like months ago).  Once I am in position, they do a CT scan.  The CT head is extended and goes all the way around counter-clockwise.  The information from the scan is fed into the computer and minor adjustments are made to the platform to compensate for any small change in location of the prostate gland from the previous day.  Once the platform is in the proper position, I hear a distinctive buzz which signals that the radiation head has been activated.  The head then does a full turn around me in one direction, stops momentarily, and then goes completely around again in the other direction.  If you are not interested in minute details, please skip to the next paragraph.  The first rotation delivers 103 cGy of radiation, and the second rotation delivers 97 cGy of radiation for a daily total of 200 cGys of radiation.  For those of you unfamiliar with the physics of radiation, as I was, one gray (Gy) is the absorption of one joule of energy, in the form of ionizing radiation divided by one kilogram of matter.  One centigray (cGy) is equal to 1/100 Gy so I receive 2 Gy/day. 

As complicated as it sounds, if all goes as planned, the whole process only takes about 15 to 20 minutes.  Kathy has been wonderful, and even though she is not allowed in either the patient waiting area or the inner sanctum, she has accompanied me to the hospital every day and has been an unbelievable amount of support. 

I think we are doing pretty well.  I can feel the accumulated effects by the end of each five-day series.  It comes on mostly as fatigue and a general feeling of malaise, but not yet to the point where it is debilitating in any way.  In fact today, after treatment, I walked nearly two miles to Costco to have some of the baby pictures printed.  Of course, I grazed a bit while waiting for them to be done.  I'll have to admit, I felt pretty tired by the time I walked back home.  

Our visit with the oncologist last Tuesday was encouraging.  He showed us the dosage information and talked about the long-term expectations for the treatment.  He gave me a prescription which is helping to relieve one of the side effects.  We talked to him about other methods of dealing with side effects, and on Monday I have an appointment with a naturopathic doctor with the Providence Integrated Medical Program.  Hopefully we'll get advise on how to minimize or eliminate some of the other side effects without more prescription drugs.  The program also provides evidence-based advise on diet and lifestyle during treatment.  Hey, I'm open to anything.  

Our frequent visits to see Erika and Brad and to spend time holding our precious grandson, Rowan, are emotionally uplifting and incredibly therapeutic.  We are so happy that they are close by.  Rowan has been gaining about an ounce a day and has already surpassed his birth weight.  He is often alert when we visit, and it is wonderful and fun to interact.  Some of his expressions are so thoughtful and so serious, I can't help but wonder how he sees his world. 

Thank you all for all of your prayers, positive thoughts and support.   

Shalom,

    Barry and Kathy 

Love at first sight

Isn't he precious

Snuggle time with Rowan

                  

Hello from sunny Hillsboro, Oregon!                                     

All is well in Hillsboro.  Many of you are our FaceBook friends and have seen these images, but we think they are worth posting again.  When we last wrote, we weren't sure how soon little Rowan would get to go home, but they kicked him out of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in less than 24 hrs.  The little guy surprised everyone, passed all his tests, and was ready to go home with his parents by Friday afternoon, at 2 days and 5#3oz.  We were able to visit them at home that day and part of every day since (meals on wheels).  He is already gaining about an ounce a day and is just the sweetest little thing.  Having a new baby to cuddle takes away much of the negative aspects of what we are dealing with.  We planned the treatment to be available for the birth, but didn't expect it to be quite this soon. It has been a busy weekend, but we wouldn't trade it for anything.  If having to receive treatment made it possible for us to be here for Rowan's early arrival, then it is well worth it~~Barry's words.  It's fun to watch all the new activity going on in Rowan's household (it IS Rowan's house, Erika and Brad only think it's still their's).  The new parents are a great team!

Dos Amigos

Greeting Rowan

Brian and Tina Lynch visited us over the weekend and spent Friday night here.  They were on their way back home to Petersburg from a month in the Bahamas.  It was great to see them and to catch up.  Tina made a special Korean seaweed soup for Erika, a tradition for new mothers, and she's has been eating it daily ever since.  We wonder if that has contributed to both mom and baby doing so well.    

The weather this past week has been fantastic - below freezing at night, but in the low 50's during the day.  The full moon this evening was spectacular as it was still low on the horizon just as the sun was setting.  Even with all the other excitement and activity, we have been trying to get out to walk as frequently as possible.  

The therapy progresses.  I'm just starting week two, and am already experiencing some side effects which I didn't expect to occur until much later in the treatment.  Most involve getting up much more frequently than I'd like at night and learning where all the public facilities are in case I need them during the day.  Nuff said.  Since these were among the initial warning signs of the cancer and because the situation had improved so much since I started on the medication in November, I was really hoping all that would be behind us.  I can live with the current level of discomfort and inconvenience, but really hope these side effects don't get any worse.  Every Tuesday I meet with the oncologist after treatment and believe me, tomorrow I will have a whole list of questions.  We'll have more to report after tomorrow's appointment.

On the plus side, it turns out I AM receiving the image guided IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy), which is the state-of-the-art technology.  Maybe the machine is worth two city blocks.  Before we left Petersburg, Bridget Wittstock gave me a book to read called "Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer" and the treatment I have been receiving is 100% in line with Dr.Walsh's recommendations for my situation.  Dr. Walsh is the Distinguished Service Professor of Urology, The John Hopkins Medical Institutions, so should know what he is talking about.  That was very welcome affirmation!  It's always nice to have a second opinion from a top doctor in the field, even if it comes from a book.   

It tears my heart out sitting in the patients' waiting room and talking to some of the other patients about their experiences battling cancer.  Please pray for strength and healing for everyone impacted by this insidious disease.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts, prayers and positive energy.  Knowing we have the support of so many special people brings us a great deal of comfort.  We are blessed in so many ways and all of you are part of that blessing.

Shalom,

   Barry and Kathy

He's Here!!!

Rowan Bracken Probst

The proud parents with their precious son

Hello again family and friends,

After a long labor, Erika and Brad welcomed Rowen Bracken Probst into the world at 12:02 p.m. today.  He weighed in at 5lbs. 10oz, which is a perfect size considering he is exactly 4 weeks early.  We were able to sneak in for a few minutes to greet him and snap a few pictures.  All three look amazing.  He is definitely a keeper!!  Thank you all very much for your thoughts, prayers and positive energy during the long labor. 

My treatment was at 9:12 this morning - yes they time it to the minute - so I went right up to the labor and delivery waiting room right from radiation. Well not exactly right up.  Radiation Oncology is on the lower level in the East Wing and Labor and Delivery is on the third floor in the West Wing.  It is a huge complex.  It would be very easy to get your daily exercise just walking the hallways.  Kathy was in Erika's room by the time I got up to the third floor, but at that stage of labor I wasn't welcome.  I should have gone back to the car at that point to get my camera, but wasn't sure we would get a chance to see him today.  By the time we found out Rowan was born and we could visit I had to rush outside, cross the street to the parking garage, go up two flights of stairs, head back across to the hospital down the hall and head up the elevator all at very brisk pace.  By the time I got back upstairs, I was exhausted and Kathy was already in the room greeting our new grandson and congratulating the proud parents.   The pictures are precious and I'll always be glad I had the camera with me and took the time to retrieve it from the car.

We took some time this afternoon to go over to Brad and Erika's house to help make it a bit more ready for their return from the Hospital.  Brad will stay at the hospital again tonight.  We did some sorting and washing newborn clothes and straightening up in the nursery.  To be totally honest, Kathy washed and sorted clothes.  I put away a few things and went for a long walk.  Erika was very close to being ready, but I guess no one is ever  totally ready.  We feel blessed to be here and to be part of this exciting time.  

Treatment is progressing well.  I've had some questions from blog readers regarding why the full bladder and concerns about gas, etc.  Well apparently, keeping the bladder full and the bowel empty helps keep the target area clear and minimizes collateral damage to surrounding tissue.  The good news is that I really don't have to consume liquid to the point of pain to meet that objective.  

Because I knew I'd be spending extra time at the hospital today anyway, I took the time to look over the machinery a bit before they kicked me out to bring in the next patient.  Those minutes count, you know.  I pretty much determined that one could probably buy a city block in a well-to-do downtown neighborhood for what the entire set up must have cost.  The radiation generator is controlled entirely by a huge bank of computers with programs individualized for each patient.  The unit rotates completely around the body in both directions and emits radiation at varying doses through the full cycle. A series of movable tungsten "leaves" control the amount and direction of the radiation dose.  The bed is made entirely of carbon fiber so the radiation passes right through.  They position the machine with laser dots on my tattoos then adjust the position slightly as necessary with a CT scan from the same machine to account for any movement of internal organs and particularly the prostate since the last treatment.  The procedure is not considered a full image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), which is the current state-of-the-art, but it is an image calibrated form of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) which is right up there with the best of the best.  Pretty darn impressive technology.

Thank you has always for your thoughts and prayers.  It has already been a wild ride and we have seven weeks and two days of treatment left.  Can't see how it can get much better than this.

Shalom,

     Barry and Kathy