Category: Health

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Day Two of Radiation – Aug 13

After a night of repeated, sleep-disrupting hot flashes, my second morning of radiation treatment began. I felt a level of contentment and peace of mind as I headed out to the Durham VA Oncology department. I now had some knowledge of what to expect, which provided a greater level of calmness. Angel Mary drove me to the appointment.

I had a couple of goals and questions for the staff. I wanted to obtain a screenshot of my radiation process. I wanted a consultation with a Nutritionist for dietary suggestions for inflammation and cell repair following radiation damage. And, I wanted a consultation with Physiotherapy for muscle exercises to strengthen pelvic floor control.

Following my treatment, I stopped at the coffee kiosk at the VA. When attempting to pay for a coffee and a poppy seed cake slice, I was told it had been paid for already. I was stunned. I ask who had paid for it as no one was close by. The young lady at the counter said that lady paid for it, as she pointed to a woman with her back to me overlooking a laptop on the counter nearby. I turned back to the barista and asked, why would she pay for this. She answered, an act of kindness. Again, I was stunned.

There have been multiple times in my life when I have given a random act of kindness at a Tim Horton’s drive-thru or a toll booth. I know the good feeling from paying it forward for no reason other than a good life experience.

This was the first time I had been the recipient of a random act of kindness. As I said to the staff and the wonderful lady benefactor, you are making me leak. I was so shocked and emotional, that I had to sit down to regain my composure.

Coincidence? On the way to the VA, I said out loud, that it seems like some people get some financial benefit from their cancer, mostly illegally. I was wondering if there existed some financial aid for seniors or veterans surviving cancer treatment. And, boom! Somebody, out of nowhere pays for my coffee. Was it a financial reward? Was it a reminder that no matter what happens to you, remember to stop and pay it forward? So many possible lessons and exams combined into one experience.

While contemplating that event, on the way home, another impactful experience manifested before my eyes. Nearby Hyco Lake is known for its Great Blue Heron population and boisterous rookeries. Seagulls have also been seen when the winds blow hard on the N. Carolina coast and the birds head for calmer air. So today, when I noticed a white bird on the way home to the lake, I initially imagined a white Seagull. As I looked closer, I notice it was too large for a Seagull. As I came alongside, it stretched its neck slightly to show the well-known image of a heron in flight, neck tucked in close in the perfect backward S, and its wide wings pushing it forward. It was an incredible sight.

I have never seen a white Heron and was sure it was rare. When I Google-searched I discovered that it is indeed rare to see a white Heron and I also learned of a native message associated with a personal visit by a white Heron.

It is said, this special creature just wants to remind you to follow your unique path without looking back.

Again, it made me leak.

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Metastasis

For my lifetime, I have experienced great fear, concern, apprehension, and dread of two simple words. Cancer and metastasis.

From the age of twelve, when my Pop was diagnosed and treated for Prostate Cancer, physical illness has been a forefront thought.

I am on a journey of self-protecting self from self. Cancer, if understood properly since research changes our perception more rapidly each day, is the cell’s infrastructure and protein generation produces abnormal cells.

I am in the process of reducing the size of the aberrant cells and then radiating them so that they die and are absorbed.

During this process, I am advocating for my own health needs. It has been a challenge to gain respect and compassion from the VA healthcare system from the Urology and Oncology departments.

To receive the treatment I need, I have uploaded an mp3 to my YT channel of a letter to the Oncology department admin Joseph K Salama.

Next week I am having internal beads inserted for radiation focus. Radiation therapy begins Aug 11 and finishes four weeks later.

The major side-effect of the chemotherapy so far is lethargy and power surges. The flashes happen at all times, not just at night. They can bring on a feeling of gonna vomit, which is very disruptive.

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Fourth & Goal May 2022

May 20, 2022, marks the beginning of my prostate cancer treatment. I began taking Bicalutamide TID for thirty days. This chemical starves the cancer cells of testosterone, which encourages cancer cell growth. It also has a long list of side effects, fatigue being one. After the first dose, I slept for hours during the day.

Treatments coming up include a bone scan to rule out metastasis to the spine or pelvis. Then an injection of a potent testosterone inhibitor to reduce the PSA measurements even lower. Following an MRI to map the reduced prostate size for radiation therapy alignment.

Once radiation begins, there will be daily treatments for four weeks, M-F. Following radiation, there will be regular hormonal blocking injections for eighteen months. Although longevity is expected to be better than without treatment, there is no guarantee cancer will not return either in the prostate or typically in the spinal cord.

I am being seen at the VA by a resident, Alex Joseph Gooding along with Dr. Lee, both from Duke Hospital. So far Dr. Gooding has been helpful, however, lacks complete honesty and has advised the Rad/Onc department has no means to convey to patients a written treatment plan. Although Dr. Gooding has agreed to provide his personal rendition in writing, I am shocked at the lack of professionalism for such a life-impacting treatment. Even dentists provide patients with a treatment plan including timing for procedures.

With trust and confidence being considered, I requested Dr. Gooding avoid the use of any team member of Dr. Gingrich from the VA Durham Urology acting on my case. The case against Dr. Gingrich with regards to ethics and legal responsibility continues to be developed and filed with the appropriate authorities.

With regards to diagnosis, the timeline to now has been studded with agonizing patient failures from the VA establishment along with delays caused by poor communication from the VA Urology department and the pandemic conditions of the last two-plus years.

Here is a post I made on Reddit/Army

If you’re a Vet with a prostate, listen up.

I was twelve when my Pop was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was seventy-two at the time. He endured a radical prostatectomy and went on to live many more years.

That event impacted the rest of my life in so many ways, not the least was I would begin testing my PSA in my early thirties during every annual checkup. In the back of my mind, the thought lingered that my Pop’s history would someday find a roost in me.

Faithfully, each year’s physical included a PSA test. PSA is a method of measuring the possible advancement of prostate cancer. Normally, a PSA number is low, one to three. With age, men’s prostates begin to enlarge, and the PSA tends to increase slowly.

In my case, I began to see three to four PSA readings in my VA checkup. I certainly had enough time to research the most current treatments and outcomes leading to the least lifestyle discomforts.

Being proactive toward physical and mental health is critical for every Vet. If it’s to be, it’s up to me, when it comes to health care is just good thinking. So, my journey began.

As I reached the same age as my father, it became obvious my DNA was not going to be talked out of expressing itself when the PSA reached five. I knew it was time to act. This is when the VA healthcare system began to lose its luster for me.

The latest medical research indicates that an MRI be initially used to define any abnormalities in the prostate and suggest if any cancer cells have spread to bone or lymph nodes. In addition to a diagnostic tool, the MRI imaging is then used to define an area for biopsy for the final diagnosis of cancer. Five years ago, I began asking for an MRI. I was shocked at the response of the VA urology department.

My initial request was literally scoffed at by my VA urology clinic, and I quote: “The VA is socialized medicine. We can’t afford an MRI for you.”

His alternative was we will schedule you for a blind biopsy. When questioned about the invasive procedure and the complications that can arise, I was left with a take it or leave it solution. I chose to leave it and search for a better solution.

Fast forward five years and this is what I have been able to do to vastly improve my cancer outcome. I started by persisting in getting an MRI, which required convincing another department to order it. The urology department responded to the results on my health chart with a short note stating that “he was offered a biopsy multiple times and declined.”

It was time to stand my ground. Through internal messaging, I began requesting to have my file transferred to another VA facility, while at the same time requesting a transfer to Community Care.

Following the initial transfer decline and two years of persistence, I received notice of Community Care acceptance. I would now be seen at one of the best US cancer clinics. Suddenly, the care I needed was being covered by the same system that refused to listen to my requests and put me through years of unnecessary suffering.

In conclusion, when it comes to prostate cancer treatment, the VA may not be the best treatment choice, however, by being persistent, Vets have the ability to take some control over their treatment outcome. The latest non-invasive treatment for localized prostate cancer is HIFU, a high-intensity focused ultrasound. The accuracy of treatment is considered a “cure”. It is an outpatient procedure with little to no side effects.

Prostate cancer is often overlooked due to the symptoms not showing up until after a metastatic spread.  If your father had prostate cancer, your probability is very high. If you have not had a PSA blood test and you are over 50, request one.  Stay safe. You’re worth it.

Back to the VA

I was seeing Dr. Robertson at Duke for a possible HIFU treatment. Following an MRI/Ultrasound overlay biopsy, a Gleason 8 score excluded HIFU as an option, due to the score alone.

When he referred me to Dr. William R. Lee at Duke for a radiation consult, I was returned to the Durham VA facility as Dr. Lee has hospital privileges at both Duke and the VA. Understandably, it is less expensive for the VA to use his services there. I found him to be knowledgeable with a fair amount of bedside manner. He does have an inflated ego for his importance and lacks humility in patient communication.

This process of treating my cancer feels like the football adage, fourth and goal. I have added anything is possible and everything is on the line. Stay tuned.

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IBID

Hey, my friend. Some good news. The VA has agreed to cover all my costs to an outside urology clinic, Southside Urology, Danville, VA. They specialize in Prostate conditions.  2. New peer-reviewed study to American Urology Conference has a urine test out of the UK, 94% as accurate as biopsy for benign and aggressive cancer presence. Also, Mary & I have a local, black, female, famous bodybuilder coming to our home gym each week to work out with us, keep us responsible, and motivated. That has been a dream of mine for a long time. 

Hoping to receive my booster soon. Then home to Canada.

Love ya lots. Love to all, Arun & Rose.

For now, James & Mary

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Message to Punkaj

Hey Pankaj;


As we all prepare for the circle of life

There are two things our minds can control

The thoughts that we think to remain in the now

And an attitude fresh from the soul


That’s a little diddy I made up while on my two-mile trek every morning at the nearby nature trail. Some jogging up the hills we lovingly named Agony & Heartbreak. Mostly fast-paced walking – about 4700 steps. We have been at it for some time. Having a local fitness trainer – Veronica coming tomorrow to start some accountability. Mary is eagerly participating. 
I think about the newest rise in the Covid situation and ask the universe to look after you. I hope all is well with you, Arun and Rose.


As a follow-up to my question regarding PSA 13, I have recently received the results of an MRI, which I attach. As it looks very possibly like early prostate cancer, still encapsulated, it does show elongated abutment to the prostate wall. My next understanding needs to be my options for post-biopsy. The steady rise in PSA, in the absence of other symptoms, is enough to nudge me toward some pro-active measure of radiation or otherwise. I would rather not be even a few years older facing this, and a 10-year longevity window if left untreated is not an option. Every other health measure on me is not only WNL but felt by….only a few. 


On another note, the new launch of Rapidgo Driver is hours away. One of my coders has been struck by Covid in Pakistan, and I am waiting on one last link to connect everything. I attach the pitch deck created by my friend in India. I saw Uber’s first pitch deck when they were asking for not much more than we are, pretty funny looking back to 2007 marketing. 
Stay safe, my friend. The world needs you.

Love ya lots!

James & Mary

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Out Of The Fog & Into The Sunrise – The End of Hep C

Celebration Day – I received the online verification of my Hep C results. In their words; “NOT DETECTED”. What a great day to be alive. This is the payoff from looking after my health over many years. Incredibly, the VA has run out of money for Hep C treatment except for those who have stage 3 and 4 liver damage.

I feel like I have been living in a fog and have finally seen the full sunrise. Yay!

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I’m Healed!

Today marks the end of an ara of fear for me personally. Today I took the last dose of Harvoni, the chemical that has rid my body of the Hep C virus.I still have to have it confirmed by a blood test that the viral load on my liver is reduced to zero. This means that the virus has been completely irradicated from my body. I will still show antibodies, however, my immune system will be abe to stand down from combat for that virus. Science is amazing.

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Life Changing Event

You will hear a lot of people say that they have had life changing events. Here are a few of the medical life changing events that have totally changed my life for the better

  1. At the age of 8yrso I discovered one day that I was allergic to pollen. My pop made wine every few years and the family would go off onto the local park land and gather Elderberry blossoms by the bushel basket full. It was my job to rub the blossoms over a large screen covering a 20 gal crock. I had done my job and went to the subdivision next door to see some childhood friends. I remember, vividly sitting on the curb, rubbing my eyes. Before long, my eyes were swollen shut and I had to wander back home in total disbelief of what was happening in my body. Little Jimmy endured the testing; scratches on my back and arms to determine all the things I was allergic to, which were, pollen, animal dander, grass, just about everything in my surroundings. I couldn’t sleep on my back or sides for days after each of multiple tests. And then, I spent every summer and fall, traumatically enduring my eyes weeping and red, my nose constantly running, and red, and my mind not able to focus on much else other than the torment. Well, smart, adaptive Jimmy dealt with it until age 30. While living in Canada, I learned that I could go through a three-year program to desensitize my body to the antigen and stop making histamines. It was a total commitment to going to a doctors office, without missing one appointment from start to finish, every day for a month, every week for over a year, then every month for nearly a year. I had to restart after 5 weeks when I moved to Kingston to attend Queen’s University. After the first year, I was symptom-free, yet had to continue to attend for a shot regularly. Suffice it to say, that endurance changed my life on a significant basis. Least of all being able to avoid antihistamines circling my body for 4-5 months every year, causing drowsiness, total brain voids that had huge impacts on my performance in school and work.
  2. In 1997 I was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in my cervical spine. It turned out to be two adjoining discs. The pain I endured until it was diagnosed was excruciating. I would take Percocet every four hours just to take the edge off the pain. It never went away until I woke up from a five and a half hour microsurgery procedure. Without the medical intervention, my life would be unbelievably different today. Here are some X-rays of the titanium plate with four screws. They took bone from my hip to put plugs in between the vertebra.

After four weeks, the surgeon could not find the seams around the plugs because it had healed faster that he had seen in 40 years of practice. I am convinced that taking Nutrilite and other vitamins before and after surgery made a huge difference.

The third event involves Hep C. As a cardiovascular pump tech, I would be covered in blood after each open heart surgery. It was my job to clean the pump as well as technically run it. There was a drain in the floor of the clean room near the OR. I would simply empty gallons of blood onto the floor and wash it down the drain. I never used any protection as in those days, we worried about giving something to a patient, not what they could give to us. Being exposed to that much foreign blood and not protecting myself led to me picking up the Hep C virus. It was years later in Canada that I learned that I had Hep C by being turned down to donate blood, which I had done to the 25-gallon level by that time. Who knows how many people got my infection. And then, I lived with the knowledge that I could be stricken at any moment with an irreversible liver disease. The cost of the meds is pushing $80,000. Thanks to months of follow up with the VA, I got it covered, and expect to be 100% free of the Hep C virus in a matter of weeks. Simply amazing. I love science.Me, last night with the bottle of Harvoni pills that will rid my body of the Hep C virus. I love science!

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Workout Nordictrack

In my opinion, the best thing you can do for your future health is to get a good exercise method and do it until you can’t move anymore – and then keep going. I bought a new treadmill to stay fit. I really have no excuses anymore. I have time, money, space, great health to start. I have some goals of 17% body fat and 170 lbs. Excited! I am keeping the gym membership as well. $25/mo and great equipment. It is also a half hour to and from.

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What are You Eating?

Sugar has the highest lobbying group next to military. Look at how much sugar is added to ketchup. One-third by weight is plain sugar. I say an interview with an executive of Heinz. They asked him why add sugar to a vegetable product. He just smiled and declined to answer. It is about profit and most people will choose sugar over no sugar. Here is a visual of how much sugar is in a few products.