Stephanie Summers's Blog

Doing great!

Steve has completed 4 weeks of radiation, 2.5 weeks left to go.  Steve is showing no effects from the radiation, however he has had some side effects from the hormone treatment. The most tiring thing is driving back and forth to Ottawa every day.  Hopefully, when this treatment is done he will get the all clear.  Now that would be nice news!

Steve starts his treatment!

We went into Ottawa Friday for Steve's consultation for his radiation treatment.  When we were almost finished they asked Steve if he was ready to start.  So away he went for his first treatment.  We head back tomorrow for six and half weeks of radiation.   It will be tiring everyday, but it will be good to put it behind us.  So far Steve has been tolerating his hormone treatment, so I am hopeful that he tolerates the radiation as well.  We should be able to put the car on cruise to get us there as we have made hundreds of trips over the years.  Let's hope retirement has less issues!

Good news for me!

I couldn't quit smiling as I left my doctor's appointment on Monday.  I had just heard that my breathing test was holding status quo, rock solid, which is unusual, most see a steady decline.  He could not explain why some patients decline, while patients like myself  level off.  I said maybe it is lifestyle?  He said he would keep me on his roster in case anything changed, but he was discharging me from the clinic.  Yippee yahoo!  Has I was leaving the hospital I ran into Dr. Atkins.  I hadn't seen him since he discharged me from medical daycare 5 years ago, after my bone marrow transplant.  He called me by name and that felt really good.  Good Day!

Back to reality!

Well the wedding was wonderful!  Everything went off without a hitch.  Jessica was a beautiful bride and Cam a handsome groom.   However, back to reality.  Steve's appointment in September confirmed that the prostate cancer was still in existence.   Not the news we expected to hear.  We were hopeful that the removal of the prostate through surgery would eliminate the cancer.   He has started hormone therapy  and in another week he will start radiation therapy.  Today he had his CT and tattooing for the radiation.  We will soon be spending a lot of time at the cancer clinic.  Not the happiest place I have every spent time.

Happy Times!

Our daughter's wedding is in 5 days!  We are so excited to see our daughter marry a wonderful man and are excited for them to start their lives together.  Steve is feeling really well and it will be wonderful to see him walk Jess down the aisle.   I am so thankful that I have been given a 2nd chance at life and that I get the opportunity to see my daughter get married.  I know just how blessed I am!  Life takes such wild twists and turns and we never now what is ahead for us.   While in the church today preparing for the wedding I took the time to thank God for giving me more time with my family and for allowing me to see my daughter get married.   This weekend is going to be exciting and fun! 

Feeling Good!

I had my 4 month check up last week and I am doing great!  Dr. A said I was their poster child!  Steve is also doing really well, starting to get his physical strength back.   Just in time for our daughter's wedding in 11 days.  It is such an exciting time for us.   We are both thrilled to be feeling so well and will be able to truly enjoy ourselves.  Let's pray for great weather and an excellent day for everyone!  Kurtis (our son) will be home next week for the wedding and for the Spencerville fair.  Life has its hurdles, but it also has its many blessings, we just have to focus on the blessings!

Couples cancer!

Couples cancer - okay I agree that sounds strange, however I know far too many couples that have both been impacted by cancer.  Could it be because they both have been exposed to the same environmental impacts?   Maybe one persons radiation and/or chemotherapy treatments can actually affect their partner? Who knows!  When I got cancer I thought okay 1 in 3, well that should be it for my little family of 4, then my husband was diagnosed.  So 2 out 4, the odds are getting worse or your chance of getting cancer is getting better!  Prevention is still key, it most likely saved my husbands life.  Life is tough, but it is worth fighting for!

Very fast

We were advised by the urologist April 26th that Steve had Prostate Cancer.  Within weeks Steve saw doctors and technicians, by early May he had an appointment with the Prostate oncologist and within a week of that he had MRI's, bone scans, radiologist appointment and prostate educational seminar.  It was all very quick leading up to his surgery on May 31st, just over 1 month.   You tend to hear horror stories about our medical system, however I must say that both myself and Steve have obtained first class care from everyone involved.  Very fast!

Crap Shoot

My wonderful husband is recovering really well from his prostatectomy on May 31st. They removed some lymph nodes and tissue as the tumour was outside the capsule of the prostate.   The nodes and tissue came back clear, however the tumour was rated a 9 on the Gleason scale (aggressive) so they are recommending radiation treatment.  This is a big decision, kinda of a crap shoot, if no cancer cells moved outside the area then radiation would not be necessary, however the big question is what if they did?  Radiation has very damaging affects.   Steve will make a decision in the fall once everything has healed from the surgery.   Meantime he is doing great!

Anguish!

Well my mouth biopsy came back negative - great news! However, my husband was not so fortunate.  A prostate biopsy came back positive for aggressive prostate cancer.  Why?  Causes of prostate cancer are not defined.  There is no history in my husband's family and he had absolutely NO symptons.  I had insisted he go for a routine check-up.  Now we wait!  The doctor is referring us to a specialist, but told us an immediate prostatectomy was required.  Learning the news made it a tough weekend on everyone.  We now have another fight on our hands!