Ed, I will pray that all will be o.k. - keep us posted. Hugs to you!

Praying for good results.

Joyful I love your outlook on life and your journey. I'm praying that this is a small bump in the road and you continue on and win.

I'm with the rest of the posters, praying for a good outcome

Add me to the list, OJ. I love your outlook on life!

My DH had prostate cancer and it is one of the most treatable cancers around. Hope you get a no cancer result tho.

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone.

Things are going along O.K. Had some discussion with brother about his experiences, just over 10 years ago.

Son called yesterday to ask how I was taking things, and I said that all was fine, not worrying.

I'm to have CT scan on Tuesday ... with report later.

I'm at home ... chilly, but sunny, and did some cleaning up in garden this afternoon. Friend living temporarily in his RV parked here has stick into his computer that connects to internet: slow, though.

He and I spent some time repairing the mail box to which the snowplow had dealt some blows last winter and I'd got a message to get a new one ... but we did repairs on the old: that should pass muster. If I got a new one ... and would need to check out in the near to moderately deferred term ... I figure that I'd want to take it with me. Do you figure that there may be mail in heaven (or elsewhere) ... or do folks message one another by mental telepathy? (Smartphone ... or s.g. a lot better?)!

Yeah ... I agree: topside the grass is preferable (as long as one is in half decent shape).

Talk to you all later. Again ... I appreciate your good wishes and prayers.

ole joyful

My prayers and good thoughts are coming your way, ole joyful.

Your posts are always positive and uplifting. I hope all the good 'vibes' from the KT will be positive and uplifting for you.

Strangest thing,...I just read a post you made in 2003 and did a search for you, wondering what you had to say lately. And found this. Wishing you the best and sending up the prayers. I have learned so much from your posts over the years and enjoyed your outlook. Please keep up the good work. Everything is going to be fine.

Hey joyfulguy, how did the scan go?

How are things? Waiting to toss around some humor.

Keeping the positive thoughts flowing your way!

Went in in the morning, parking about 6 bucks an hour and it was to be a long issue, I'd heard ... so, parked half a mile away - 2 hour limit.

Had some forms to fill out - called me before completed: my number was "407" the number of a toll road around Toronto that the government sold to private agencies, then sold abroad ... and now, if one hasn't paid tolls ... provincial gov't. in their role as collection agency collects the toll next year on behalf of that foreign owner ... or you don't get your vehicle licence renewed. Which information had to be imparted and commented on to the staff at the establishment, of course.

They took a series of pictures in my natural - i.e., clothes on, metal off - state.

Big machine whirred while dropping a big box, reportedly a camera, down just over my nose: I was somewhat envious of the Koreans, who generally have much flatter noses: we're called "long noses" (among other things) over there.

Slowly moved down over my body, picturing me as I was (I ass-ume).

Then they shot some radioactive stuff into my veins and sent me on my way, in under an hour ... telling me to drink lots ... and pee lots, and come back in about three and a half hours.

Went my way ... and on my return there was plenty of space where I'd parked earlier ... so I got a good portion of my exercise for the day.

Had done as I was told ... and before they put me on the table, told me to go pee again.

Same procedure over again.

At the end I asked the fairly young woman whether she had any news to offer ... and she said that, not being a doctor, she could make no report ... and if she did, her job would be endangered.

So - I have yet to learn whether I lit up like a Christmas tree!

They called the next day? day after? to say that they are sending a letter, but that I'm to visit the urologist on May 14.

My body has spoiled me - haven't had an Aspirin in the house in years. I find that as I give more active consideration to there maybe being a brick wall across my path, in a recognizable future, I find that it shifts my style of thinking somewhat.

When I called daughter, to tell her that I might be on a shorter leash than I'd been anticipating, so should really make some inroads on decluttering the house, so as not to leave an almost insurmountable task to my survivors ...

... she laughed ... and said that most folks would want to travel ... visit relatives and loved ones, etc. ... but her Dad ... was about to house-clean!

Well ... it is spring, after all ... isn't it?

And my winter work isn't done - if I'm to do major gardening ... the decluttering should have been done while the snow was a-blowin'!

And patching the shirts/pants, etc. as necessary in preparation for the season! Not done!

(Some of my friends say that I COULD buy new ...

... but .... but ... if I'm gonna' (maybe) need 'em for less long than I figgered!)

Life DO have its problems!

Well ... maybe I could be buried/burned in 'em - bein' as they'd be fairly new, thus reasonably respectable.

Hope you're having a great day - the sun is shining and it's warm, here.

What's that you say - that my garden seeds are less than half bought?

Oh, well - tomorrow's another day!

ole joyfuelled ... I think

P.S. It does rather please one that, when one calls a loved one to impart what may be some troubling news ... the loved one can see something in the story to engender laughter.

Their Mom, 20 years head of food service in a substantial hospital, had taken early retirement, had 10 years to travel, have hobbies and enjoy life with friends ... then was laid low by, irony of ironies - colon cancer. At age 66, and the kids said that, in the ordinary course of things, she'd have retired the year before ... and I suggested that she'd have been sick for much of that year.

A while ago, at an investment group that I've attended for years. I said that the ex- had got a raw deal - and a guy said that, apart from getting stuck with me, what else? She, 9 years younger than I, has been dead for ten years ... and here I was, still running around!

o j

Here's to hoping that it's all contained in the prostate.
As far as the tasks that have been left undone, just shrug your shoulders and do what you want to do.
New clothes do have a way of making me feel good, maybe you also?

Hugs and prayers that the outcome will be you living for another 10 or 20 years :-)

Enough chatting, get to work!!!!! Even without the report you have jobs to do so get cracking. Your daughter is right to laugh, we can't take ourselves too seriously, after all this is just nature doing what it does. My hunch is you're gonna be around for quite a while so clean up.

(((( Ed, I hope you know you are always in my prayers! ))))

One upside: Prostrate cancer generally is slow growing. If you are over 75 yr old, you'll likely die from something else.

I don't know how I missed this, but I'd like to add my well wishes, Ed. You are in superb health otherwise, and I do agree with Jemdandy. Keep on keepin' on!

Yamaha's right, it's time to plot some 1st class pranks on your deserving friends. :-)

It's nice that you still have your funny bone intact, OJ. :) And I add my agreement with Jimdandy as well. I think all the physical work you do plus the frugal living can only mean you'll be with us a good while longer! Chin up, and listen to your Auntie Yaya. Ha!

When I was talking to the resident urologist, he said that about 80% of men over 80 have prostate cancer ...
... when I suggested that they die WITH it, not OF it, he agreed.

When he said that he felt that a biopsy was indicated, and that he'd discuss it with his overseer, when the overseer came in, a bit briskly, when he announced that it was to be a biopsy ... I wondered whether I, as a participant in the situation, was to have any addition to the discussion.

But ... sometimes I can keep my mouth shut (sort of).

May 1 is Emergency Measures Appreciation Day ... we had a fire truck and EMS vehicle at the village church this morning and the staff had materials relating to safety measures, smoke, monoxide alarms, need for escape plan, etc., then paraded into church and had their services recognized.

Lady with kids talked of calling 9-1-1, then got a couple of calls on cell phone, ignored them ... then answered, said she was tied up, to call later ... and referred to God's calling to us ... and do we recognize it ... and how do we reply?

I suggested to a neighbour that sometimes it's really the devil calling ... and s?/he tries to make the message sound as much like as though it were from God as s?/he can ... and it's up to us to choose one from t'other! Not always easy!

Hope you're having a great day - sunny, warm day here: landlord's seeding. I'm to check what seeds I need, and buy some, later, I expect.

Garden's cleared, ready for cultivation.

ole joyful

All the best to you, and prayers too! As to the comment that most men over 80 have it and die with it and not of it, that's what I've heard as well. Obviously it doesn't matter what I have *heard*, the fact that your doctor agrees is what matters! :)

OJ, did you clear the garden or did you have help? I hope it is the latter!

No residual problem from the visits to the horse-pital: none even as I finished the treatment. No pre-prep needed for the bone scan ... but I'm to take nothing on board that's in any way opaque after midnight for the next one - at 8:45 a.m. on the 14th, according to the letter that arrived yesterday.

Pulled most of the stakes to aid the landlord's cultivating and ran the hand cultivator across the rows at intervals to, grab any miscreant strings, as they get tangled in the tractor cultivator.

Landlord has cultivated it so it's ready for seeding - he planted corn on Sunday and Monday.

I was doing income tax today - there'd been an extension from usual April 30 due to the Revenue Agency's error, and I got the copying all done and ready to go ... but have none to pay, so there'll be no penalty for late mailing, and I plan to post it from our small rural post office, tomorrow ... just a small effort to keep it open a while longer.

ole joyfuelled ... with a bit o' help from taxes avoided

That's nice of you. :) Glad you're not out there plowing the back forty but I'm sure your landlord appreciates your efforts.

Joyful, that's what hubby's specialist told us as well. Actually 50% of men have it as they age, and they die "with it" not "because of it".

Glad to see you're doing well and keeping busy, as usual!

Landlord surprised me ... he took the small bulldozer and scraped a bit o' dirt from higher ground down into a low spot in a couple of places ... likely will cultivate again, to even off some of the rough spots.

Had the usual coffee at the Old Farts' club at church this morning ... now yakkin' here ... should go home soon, as it's warm, I bought milk (senior's discount, today) ... and hadn't brought the cooler: old and forgetful, I figure.

o j

I've been MIA for a while, so hadn't heard your news O.J. Glad to hear you are in good spirits, and will add you to the prayer list.

In recent discussion with the urologist's office, when I told one lady of one my Grandma's (born about 1862, died about 1951, so close to 90) sayings, "You should never cross a bridge till you get there", she said that she loved that - that she was going to use that one.

Later, when I called to see whether the upcoming scan, then visit to the urologist's office would entail one trip or two, the younger woman who heard the grandma story said that she liked it, as well, and would use it.

Sometimes the good seed that one sows bears worthwhile fruit ... and even after much time has elapsed.

ole joyfuelled

OJ, I'm convinced you have a lot of years left in you. And your cause of death will more likely be something like being shot to death... by her jealous ex-husband. :)

Cynic, you need to bump this to the top every day until OJ sees it. :) I think he only has computer access when he gets to the library.

Much less complicated to search out females who aren't encumbered by other males ...

... who can get troubblesome ...

... or so I've heard.

(Haven't had any BBs around my middle, though - so far).

ole joyfuelled

LOL@ cynic.

I guess I missed these posts. OJ, we're all hoping you're around for quite a while. Besides, one of these days you are actually going to have to wear that new underwear your son bought for you a few years back. Thriftiness will only take you so far.

I am embarrassed ... ashamed ... that I haven't provided an update - I thought that I had.

The CT Scan was a week ago today, then a visit to the urologist, and they say that there is no indication of cancer in any other location.

Aren't talking of intervention, at present ... just to check the PSA in three months, and will take action if there's a significant increase ... which would likely indicate migration.

Library in city was open Sundays till a couple of weeks ago, Monday was a holiday and I've not been away since.

Working getting the garden cultivated and the seeds planted - probably something like 3/8 of a mile in, so far. Was planning to get several more seeds today, but only got a few.

Time's running out at the library, so that's about it for now.

I hadn't checked this earlier today, as I'd thought that it was pretty well outdated, with my good news having been passed on.

Sorry about that.

I'm thinking that I need to be somewhat more considerate of my body, considering that it'll be busy convincing that cancer that it should stay indoors and not go running around to other places.

Like, for example, getting a better measure of sleep.

Talk to you all later - the cleaner's going around swabbing the keyboards.

ole joyfuelled

Very good to hear, OJ!!!!

When hubby got his prostate out, there was an 8-week follow-up. His PSA level had to come back as 0. If it were any other number then they'd be looking at his bladder for cancer, as that is next to the prostate.

Fingers crossed that you have a low PSA in 3 months.

(((((ED!!!)))))

I expect that it'll be nearly like the current number, as the cancer is still there as it was before. They'll be concerned if the numbers increase somewhat rapidly, as that'll indicate that it's setting up shop in another location.

You know what these franchise outfits like to do!

Should be careful of my comparisons, though ... as daughter is working as a franchise consultant.

Thanks for the good wishes, folks.

ole joyful.

So very glad to hear your good news, OJ! Keep on working in your garden as it'll keep you young. :)

Sending my good wishes to you. I used to post on Gardenweb a long time ago and I remember enjoying your posts.

Seeing your update has started my day off with a smile. Thanks, ol'Joyful...keep up the good work! Now, go out and pull some weeds!

sooey

I didn't read every comment as I'm a bit lazy. I read the first few then skipped to the bottom. I hope you are doing well today. That you got your clothes mended and the spring cleaning done, the seeds all bought and the garden started. sounds to me like you have a busy summer ahead and you don't have the time to be sick. Visit your family if you can fit them into your busy life. If you didn't get most of it finished by now, you can do it in your spare time. sounds to me like you don't have that much spare time as you are always busy with life. Feel well and take care of yourself.

Prayers are flying your way. Hope everyting works out for the best for you.

I would like to add my best wishes for good test results, Mr. Ed. I somehow missed the earlier posts, I always try and read your posts. I admire your wisdom and the kindness you show to the people here.

I hope things are going well by now and that you are going to get your garden planted.
Sue

Sorry for the medical issue, Ed, but...so far, so good!

I've missed the first part of this story. What caused your doctors to investigate?

I'm interested on behalf of my DH, who hasn't had a PSA test in five years, on his his doctor's advice. Because his numbers were always excellent, and because prostate cancers grow so slowly, his chances of mortality from this type of cancer after age 72 were considered almost nil. He was adopted as an infant, so he has no family medical history.

I had more blood tests this year than usual - about 4 vials.

The one showed high prostate numbers, at 18.9, and they tend to get nervous at 20 or so.

That brought on the biopsy, and when they found cancer in half of the dozen cores (only a tiny amount in the quadrant that had cancer in only one of three cores), they calculate me to be at intermediate risk and wanted to know whether it had established outposts in other locations, so sent me for bone scan, involving them taking shots of my body at about 10:00 a.m., shooting some stuff into me via intravenous and having me come back upwards of 4 hours later to see whether some parts of my bones lit up like a Christmas tree. Then had a CT scan a week or so later, and visited the urologist's office on the same day, to hear that they hadn't found any cancer in other locations.

They figure to keep an eye on the PSA number every three to six months, and start looking if the numbers start rising rather quickly. Didn't make any noises about sending me to the cancer clinic.

Did some stool samples, as well ... answer came back that the colon seems unjeopardized.

Part of the trouble with a good many cancers is that they operate so silently ... until it gets late in the game, often too late to do much to counteract it.

ole joyfuelled

Are you sure your numbers are that high, OJ?
When hubby's tests came back, he was 12.4 and they were sending him for more tests at that point. Normal PSA is 4.

I'd thought that I'd heard 18.9, I think on the requisition for the advanced work. Then heard 18.5, then 18.9 again ... and they say that's the real number.

They did find the rascally stuff in half of the cores.

And ... as some say ... the PSA tests are somewhat inclined to errors.

I think the resident, with whom I've had the most dealings, knows her game: she asked a substantial number of questions. And the urologist, though I've had fewer dealing with him.

ole joyful

Ah, thanks for the 'rest of the story'. As I said, so far, so good. There's nothing *elsewhere*.

We know several men who have had the radioactive 'seed' implanted - some had it done five or ten years ago now.

Jasdip -- I just asked DH what his scores were running when he did have the PSA tests. He thinks it was 0.2 -- or maybe it was 2.0 -- anyway, year after year the same 'big nothing'. (I have my perfect cholesterol, a gift of nature. He has this. LOL)

Hoping all keep on keeping on for many more years!

We go again in July (6-mth checkups) so we're hoping for the big goose-egg result again.