TOUR AMERICA, 2021: PARADISE OAKS RV RESORT, BUSHNELL, FLORIDA

A Different Kind of Summer Again This Year

February 19, 2021

Temperature 59 Degrees

Our First Trip to The UF Proton Health Therapy Institute

It went off right at 5 am.  That very intrusive, extremely annoying alarm clock of ours.  However, we couldn’t ignore it because we needed to be up and out since we had miles to go and hours to drive.  We were on our way to The UF Proton Health Therapy Institute.  Today I would meet my care team and my doctor.  In addition I would also be given their assessment of my prostate cancer.

Sitting here thinking about the day I must say there were definite high points, really low points and some humorous moments.

The high points.  I am definitely in the right place at the right time.  I have a fabulous care team.  Each and every one is caring, compassionate, friendly, and extremely professional.  I am extremely fortunate to be under their care.

My nurse and case manager is Petrolyn Johnson.  As she stated I am your point of contact and am now in charge of everything that will happen to you at the Institute.  I will be in constant contact with you and if you have any questions never hesitate to call.  I could not think of a better person to entrust myself to. 

Bottom line, I am absolutely confident that we have made the right call entrusting myself to their care. 

The low points.  I met with  with my doctor Dr. Randal Henderson who informed me of what he and his staff had found.  The long and short of it is I have a very aggressive form of prostate cancer that has begun to spread outside of the prostate.  How far has it gone and where?  Further tests are needed.  One of which I’ll be taking this coming Thursday.  However, he firmly believes that with a combination of hormone treatments and proton radiation it can be eradicated.  As for the hormone treatments, they will consist of a shot every three months for the next two years. 

As for the treatment plan.  We begin with the first hormone shot within the next couple of weeks.  We give it three to four months to begin to do its thing.  Which is slowing the growth and spread of the cancer.  Then we begin the proton radiation treatments.  That’s the plan as of now but that could change in an instant based on what is discovered by the tests I’ll be undergoing this Thursday.

Another definite low, there is a 50/50 chance of the cancer coming back in ten years.  I can live with that.  Ten years is a lifetime.

The humorous moments.  One of the side effects of the hormone treatments will probably be a life of hot flashes.  Barbara could hardly contain herself when she heard this.  Then there was the waiver I had to sign to agree not to try and father any children after my proton radiation treatment.  Really?   

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  To say that our world was rocked today would be an understatement.  We’re both trying to digest what we’ve been told.  I can guarantee you that it was definitely not what we were expecting to hear.   But it is what it is and there is no sense getting all teary eyed about it.  Time now to fight like hell to over come what’s trying to destroy me and I guarantee you that is just what I am gong to do.

Thanks for taking the time to read our blog.  We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!