Yep, I've been told that I have the "Big C". Diagnosed with prostate cancer in January.
Not great news but imminently survivable. Most men that reach age 80 will die with prostate cancer but not from it. It's that prevalent in our Western society.
I've been going through the "clinical staging" process for the last two months. Bone scans, MRI's, biopsies etc. So far, no spread, so due to my age (I'm 62) surgery is indicated. The down side of the surgery is a very low potential for incontinence and impotence if the surgeon can't spare the nerve bundles that control those things. Not good!
I'm looking into the new procedure called "Davinci Robotic Surgery". I've seen some video of it and it's pretty cool. Being a "techie", it really seems the way to go. A lot less time in the hospital and much faster recovery. No work, no eat! I'll be down for four weeks at least if everything goes well. Need to build up the war chest a bit for that much time off.
Rather than cut you open from navel to nuts, the robotic method works through 5 small incisions in the abdomen with robotically controlled tools and manipulators. the tools and manipulators are actually able to do things the surgeon cannot do due to a better range of motion. Plus, the whole thing is done under magnification so the surgeon can see much better and be much more precise.
I'm waiting to see my Urologist now to discuss the options and timing. I'll keep you posted.
Dana
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Getting "Hooked Up"
In my last post, I told of the move to a new home. As any of you that have done so recently knows, getting all the places notified of you new address can be a pain.
One of the benefits of being a "techie" and virtually living on the Internet is that this part went rather smoothly. I use a password manager to keep track of all the places I visit and/or do business on the Web. It's called "Roboform" and it's a huge time saver. It can be found at http://www.roboform.com/ Check it out. One of the features is the ability to set up a profile that will "auto fill" forms for you with all the proper information. It is password protected. I simply marched through the many "passcards" I had for all the various sites. Click on a passcard and the browser goes to the site's login page and RoboForm logs you in. Then I just went to each profile or "My account" section and used the saved profile to change all my info to the new address etc. I handled the changes on over 150 sites in about two hours.
The next hurdle was getting my DSL transferred to the new location. Whoa! Big Shock! I had been paying for and getting 2+MBs speed at my old location. Sweet! But that was not to be at the new digs. Because of the increased distance from the Central Office (CO) I could only get about 700 KBs down. Only 1/3 of my previous speed. Oh Well! It works okay for now. Nothing I can do about it anyway but hope for a "booster" station somewhere in the future. I use satellite for my TV so no high-speed cable access. I've been on DSL since 1999.
The transition did not go smoothly. The were supposed to kill the service at my old location and start it at the new place the next morning. No such luck. It finally took an on-site call from AT&T tech and a new dedicated line to my computer room to get it going.
My business depends on the Net, it's where I get my work. I planned for such outages and have a high speed data plan (SprintPCS) and Ev-DO card for my tablet computer. I had to run on that for four days till AT&T got it together. It was well worth the $60 a month that costs me.
I remember not all that long ago when I ran a company with 8 crews in the field, no cell phones and only pagers for contact. Seems so primitive now. He He !
Later, Dana
One of the benefits of being a "techie" and virtually living on the Internet is that this part went rather smoothly. I use a password manager to keep track of all the places I visit and/or do business on the Web. It's called "Roboform" and it's a huge time saver. It can be found at http://www.roboform.com/ Check it out. One of the features is the ability to set up a profile that will "auto fill" forms for you with all the proper information. It is password protected. I simply marched through the many "passcards" I had for all the various sites. Click on a passcard and the browser goes to the site's login page and RoboForm logs you in. Then I just went to each profile or "My account" section and used the saved profile to change all my info to the new address etc. I handled the changes on over 150 sites in about two hours.
The next hurdle was getting my DSL transferred to the new location. Whoa! Big Shock! I had been paying for and getting 2+MBs speed at my old location. Sweet! But that was not to be at the new digs. Because of the increased distance from the Central Office (CO) I could only get about 700 KBs down. Only 1/3 of my previous speed. Oh Well! It works okay for now. Nothing I can do about it anyway but hope for a "booster" station somewhere in the future. I use satellite for my TV so no high-speed cable access. I've been on DSL since 1999.
The transition did not go smoothly. The were supposed to kill the service at my old location and start it at the new place the next morning. No such luck. It finally took an on-site call from AT&T tech and a new dedicated line to my computer room to get it going.
My business depends on the Net, it's where I get my work. I planned for such outages and have a high speed data plan (SprintPCS) and Ev-DO card for my tablet computer. I had to run on that for four days till AT&T got it together. It was well worth the $60 a month that costs me.
I remember not all that long ago when I ran a company with 8 crews in the field, no cell phones and only pagers for contact. Seems so primitive now. He He !
Later, Dana
I'm Still Here! (damn)
It's been a while since I've posted here. Lots going on. Last time I talked of getting out of LA. It almost happened! A certain "health" challange cropped up that requires I stay a little longer. This is where my doctors are located and it wouldn't be all that convienent to commute from the SLO area for appointments and treatment. Oh Well, this too will pass.
I did manage to get out of the one-bedroom dump I was living in. My new wife came complete with three dogs and a cat. That was a bit much for the space so we found bigger "digs".
Looking for a rental here in LA is no fun. The ads depict a palace but most turn out to be suitable for raising farm animals. And they still want a crap load of money for them. The landlords out and out lie in the ads. Things like saying there is a garage when all there is, is a metal frame and a canvas tarp. One place advertised "four car garage parking" Guess what? A falling down lean-too with plywood leaning against the front for doors, holes in the roof and many posts holding up the collapsing roof timbers blocking access to anything but a bicycle is not four car garage parking by any stretch of anyone's imagination. Sheesh! What balls some people have.
Well....we lucked out and found a great place at last. The landlord had been raised in the house. They then completely remodeled it for their son. New plumbing, electrical, HVAC, custom paint, crown moldings, refinished hardwood floors throughout and a complete new kitchen with new appliances. Even a new washer and dryer in the garage. Nice detached two-car garage (the real deal) and a huge fenced back yard for the dogs. They are in heaven.
We are still in the process of moving the last things in. We overlapped the rent for a month so we had time to do it right without a huge one weekend thrash. Smart move. You do get a little smarter as you get older. Last thing to do is my garage. Bringing the last things over this weekend.
TTFN, Dana
I did manage to get out of the one-bedroom dump I was living in. My new wife came complete with three dogs and a cat. That was a bit much for the space so we found bigger "digs".
Looking for a rental here in LA is no fun. The ads depict a palace but most turn out to be suitable for raising farm animals. And they still want a crap load of money for them. The landlords out and out lie in the ads. Things like saying there is a garage when all there is, is a metal frame and a canvas tarp. One place advertised "four car garage parking" Guess what? A falling down lean-too with plywood leaning against the front for doors, holes in the roof and many posts holding up the collapsing roof timbers blocking access to anything but a bicycle is not four car garage parking by any stretch of anyone's imagination. Sheesh! What balls some people have.
Well....we lucked out and found a great place at last. The landlord had been raised in the house. They then completely remodeled it for their son. New plumbing, electrical, HVAC, custom paint, crown moldings, refinished hardwood floors throughout and a complete new kitchen with new appliances. Even a new washer and dryer in the garage. Nice detached two-car garage (the real deal) and a huge fenced back yard for the dogs. They are in heaven.
We are still in the process of moving the last things in. We overlapped the rent for a month so we had time to do it right without a huge one weekend thrash. Smart move. You do get a little smarter as you get older. Last thing to do is my garage. Bringing the last things over this weekend.
TTFN, Dana
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