Wednesday 26 September 2018

Change of plans

I recently underwent further radiation for a tumour growth on my lower spine nerves and am quite immobile now, resting most of the time in an at-home hospital bed. Unfortunately, due to my recent health complications, we are going to have to cancel the music event at our place this weekend.  We apologize to everybody. We were hoping to have a great time with all our friends but it is not possible in my current condition.

For those of you who would like to see me over the next week or two for a short one-on-one visit or small group visit, please contact Kathryn by email at kconstantopoulos1970@gmail.com or by text at 416-779-0981 to arrange a day and time to visit. Feel free to bring instruments if you play them and if I feel well enough I will join you and if not, you can play for me.

Wednesday 12 September 2018

Uncertainty

Last Thursday, September 6, 2018 was a big day. Kathryn and I made that familiar trip to the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, roughly an hour long drive from our home in Guelph. On the way there, we wondered what state we would be in on the way home. Happy, sad? Would it be good news? Another miracle? Would it be bad news? A nightmare?

We were hoping that Dr. H., my clinical trial oncologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre, had some more tricks up his sleeve and able to perform some more magic as he had done previously on the recent Triton2/Rucaparib clinical trial.

Unfortunately this was not to be. No miracles, no magic. I guess “sad” would describe the state we were in on our drive home.

I am now out of the clinical trial that I've been party of since March, and at this time, there are no clinical trials that Dr. H. and his team are aware of that I might be eligible for. That being said, we are still always on the lookout for one that may be suited for me.

We wonder if there is still a thread of hope for clinical trials.

Today, September 12, 2018, we had an appointment with the radiologist at Grand River Cancer Centre to address the pain I've been having in my legs and back/spine over the past few weeks. At times this pain is unbearable so we are hoping that radiation will help and we’re now in the process of scheduling that in. It will likely start next week.

Dr. H. has also proposed a new hormonal therapy drug called Xtandi which has a chance of lowering the chance of prostate cancer progression. Xtandi is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen medication which is used in the treatment of prostate cancer. It has been studied in men with advanced prostate cancer that no longer respond to treatment.

We wonder if there is still a thread of hope for more success with hormonal therapy treatments.

That all being said, the prognosis that we received last Thursday, September 6 was not good and was unfortunately measured in mere months. Sometimes doctors can be brutally honest and personally I prefer this approach. Yes I must try to be strong and hopeful but the facts, charts, stats, predictions are reality and at some point need to be accepted. I still however believe in miracles, hope and prayer.

Over the next few weeks, we'll have to see how the radiation treatments have an impact on my pain, and hope that the new drug Xtandi helps to at least lower my PSA level which now continues to climb higher. Also, I just received an oxygen machine which is helping me to breathe better as my oxygen levels have been fairly low lately below normal levels.

As for some good news, we have decided to set a date and new venue for the “Music Jam Afternoon”, an afternoon in which I hope friends and family can just drop in get caught up and play music or just watch and chat.

We will provide the instruments and have everything set up on our backyard deck, including electric piano/keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, ukulele, violins, harmonica, miscellaneous percussion, as well as mics and amplifiers.

The “Music Jam Afternoon” will be held on our Backyard Deck tentatively on Saturday, September 29 from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. It is meant to be a "drop in"-type event in which you can feel free to come at any time and stay for as long as you like. Bring your own instruments if you like. Stay posted for more details to follow, please contact us for address and RSVP myself or Kat if possible . . .

It will be a “BYOL” event - “Bring Your Own Lawn Chair”.

We will provide some food such as perhaps ordering a few pizzas and munchies as well.

Hope to see you at the “Music Jam Afternoon” event and if you have any questions about it please let us know.

As always, your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated!

New venue for the “Music Jam Afternoon” event - Our Backyard Deck.