YANA - YOU ARE NOT ALONE NOW

PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT SITE

BRONZE

Mick Stamm lives in Abilene, Texas, USA . He was 50 when he was diagnosed in March 2006. His initial PSA was 2.86 ng/ml, his Gleason Score was 3+3=6 and he was staged T2a. His choice of treatment was Radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) with no subsequent chemo, radiation or other therapies at this time.. Here is his story.

My dad received a prostate cancer diagnosis in 1987, and opted for "watchful waiting". He eventually died from complications arising from it in 2003. That was a long hard "life and death" stretch; we were concerned every inch of the way.

More presently, I have been dealing with my own personal diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation since 2006. I eat healthy and natural as possible. I own a bicycle and canoe; exercise regularly and am presently training for my first ever 26.2 mile run in Austin, Texas.

I am reminded constantly, there are a lot of feelings, views, concerns, emotions, learning, compassions and issues associated with that which "binds" us all.

I have been inquiring about starting a real time support group or point of contact for people local to my area regarding PCa. Things are in the mill, but nothing concrete yet.

I will continue to remain available, vigilant and if at all possible to be of assistance to others.

 

UPDATED

November 2008

 

 

I just had my 2 1/2 year PSA. It has been previously 0.00, courtesy the VA. This time it came back registering 0.01 . They have a sent a request for a "re-test", for which the blood draw will be conducted on Monday morning.

My civilian Uro doesn't have the results as the VA hasn't faxed them to him yet. He will know on or before my next scheduled follow up visit with him on 11/14.

I am trying to be at peace with this as it might be nothing. My last go round nearly drove me bonkers though and sometimes I am prone to worry/anxiety. Worry helps nothing but build stress which is very unhealthy.

I am 53, I eat right, sleep 10 hrs a night, run 180-190 miles per month - I run my second ever 26.2 mile marathon in two weeks, for which I've been in 4 months of advanced training - drink maybe a beer or glass of wine per week and do not smoke. A pretty lady, does however, still catch my eye.

Later: I am back from the San Antonio, TX Marathon. I finished in 04:03:00. The completion time was 53min:58sec faster than the last one I did in February of '08 in Austin, TX.

The 2 1/2 year follow up PSA tests I had done last week and the week before were measuring 0.01; both of them. Previous to those, I had been getting 0.00 measurements. My Civilian Uro indicated 0.01 is still medically considered to be zero.

He likes the fact that I eat well and as natural as possible, that I watch my weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. He is proud that I keep up with my running too. He said he would like to see me qualify for Boston (I need to shave another 28 min off my time) and that I should return to see him in another 6 months. He thinks I may go on annual follow up schedule with his office after that.

Best regards, Mick -- Abilene, TX

 

UPDATED

February 2009

 

 

Mick reports that all is well and says:

I am still running; training for the Oklahoma City Memorial marathon right now and prepping the yard for our upcoming spring season, which is right around the corner.

 

UPDATED

September 2009

 

 

2009 Sep 12 update from Mick:

May 10, 2009, was my 3rd RRP anniversary. PSA was still .01 The Uro put me up to annual visits instead of every 6 months. Will report back after the next visit in May 2010.

I am still running. I ran marathon #3 on April 26 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as part of the "Memorial Weekend to Remember". The run was in memory of the lives lost in the Federal Building disaster.

I am currently in training for marathon #4 which will be Oct 17, 2009. I am not sure where all this running is going, but it helps keep my mind off of PCa issues, gives me something healthy to do and an activity at which I can at least strive to improve.

I might get off the road and take up trail running next training season. I would like to travel a bit. Maybe I could meet other survivors, run and see parts of the country at the same time.

Cheers, Mick -- Abilene, TX.

Mick's e-mail address is: dolphin_79605@yahoo.com