It is now 10:00 AM Wednesday morning, January 11,
and I am in Santiago, Chile. In one hour I will get the
results of a biopsy which was taken one week ago
testing for prostate cancer.
Ordinarily, I would tell only my close friends and
family should the results be not good. If ok, I would
have told virtually no one. I decided to write this
before I knew the results, because I felt the
information would get out one way or another, and I
wanted there to be only one official story. Here is
that story.
Two weeks before I left on the Journey my PSA, a
blood test which can indicate the threat of prostate
cancer, had jumped up 50%. This is not a good sign.
I took a re-test a week later, and the same bad
results. I was prescribed an antibiotic and told to
have another test in 4 weeks, which I did here in
Chile two
weeks ago. Prior to leaving LA, the urologist in LA felt
the odds were that I did not have cancer, and if I
did, I could start the treatment after the trip was
over. I also did not want to disappoint anybody, so I
decided to start the Journey. The results here were
still bad. I consulted my urologist in Los Angeles, and
the urologist here, and they agreed that I was now
in a high-risk category and should have a biopsy
performed. Last Wednesday I had the biopsy
procedure. Folks let me tell you, getting a biopsy for
prostate cancer is not a pleasant experience. I
wisely took my doctor's advice and spent the night in
the hospital.
In one hour I will know the results, and my bags are
packed to come home if that is the recommended
course of action. My bags are also packed to
continue the trip. I did tell Gael about this as there
have been numerous trips to the doctor and hospital
here in Santiago. Of course Umberto knows as well.
The following paragraph will have those results.
I have just returned from the hospital and I do have
prostate cancer, and to make things much worse, it
is of the aggressive type. Only more tests will
determine if it has spread. The urologist's advice here
was to return home immediately, have scans done,
and then have the appropriate treatment.
I have just made my plane reservations and will be
arriving in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon, January
12. Naturally, I am shook up, but equally upset about
disappointing Gael, Lori, Vija, and Cindee. Gael will be
flying home in a few days, and Umberto back to Italy
next week.
One dreads hearing this type of news, but it is what
it is. My Irish grandmother Ryan used to say "never
complain and no moaning." I will continue to send out
the Newsletters once a week and make comments on
the blog and make plans for the cruises in August to
Alaska.
I am also sorry to disappoint you, the Newsletter
readers.
Sincerely,
