I normally don't get into....

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

....the asking for prayers for a friend of a friend of your sister's second cousin's wife's ex-husband type of thing....but this is one of our best friends, so I thought I'd ask anyway.

As I mentioned, one of our best friends was diagnosed with prostate cancer a little over a month ago. Last week while we were gone, he went in for radiation. They were going to try that first then see how things were going before they tried surgery and chemo. I know nothing about cancer, radiation and chemo, except that the treatment usually makes you feel sicker than you did before the treatment. They thought they caught it early enough that he had a good prognosis....

.....until today. Terry got an urgent phone call from this friend. He was in a lot of pain and wanted Terry to take him to the ER. I don't know anymore than that because Terry just called and I couldn't talk long because the boss is here.

This friend is only 52 years old. He has a 16 1/2 year old son and has recently been in the most stable relationship he's had in a long time. Life had been going good for him - now this. So if you could, please send a good thought or prayer his way.

Thanks.

[ramanth]

Poor guy. Many healing vibes sent!!

[Roxyluvsme13]

Sending Prayers and Hugs (((((HUGs))))))) ((((PRAYERS)))))

[mina'smomma]

Prayers for him from here too

[lvpets2002]

So sorry your freind of a freind is having such a hard time now.. No problem with me & my girls sending lots lots of ((((( prayers ))))) (((((( hugs ))))) ..

[Sus]

to my rule and do my best to send some good energy his way...
and Bella promises to send a little loving head bumpie and an extra special purr...

Lots of love,
Sus and the Bellacat

[jenluckenbach]

Prayers for your friend.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Thanks so much everyone. I'm about ready to leave work, so I'll find out more and update tomorrow. Hopefully it's just a side effect of the radiation and he's ok by now....

[dogzr#1]

That happended to my uncle. He died (hope i don't worry you) from that cancer. They found it early enough so they put him on medicine for it. Then he was getting better so the doctor didn't prescribe it. He got sick the next week because he wasn't on the medicine. He was only 40years old. It was soo tragic because it was so unexpected. Prayers are one the way

[rg_girlca]

Prayers and positive thoughts on the way for your dear friend.

[kuhio98]

Your friend is in our thoughts and prayers. Do you know if his cancer was caught early or is more advanced? Do you feel comfortable asking him? Bobcat had prostate cancer in 1999. It was caught in the early stages. His doctor implanted radioactive seeds (like grains of rice) in his prostate, right on the cancer. The seeds stay "hot" for 70 days and they completely killed the cancer. He didn't need chemo nor radiation. He has been completely cancer free for 5 years now.

Perhaps this isn't an option for your friend. It worked for Bobcat. He was never sick at all, though he did have to wear a catheter for quite awhile until all the swelling went down.

[slick]

Debbie, please add my thoughts and prayers for your friend. Normally prostate cancer is curable if found early enough. It has happened to someone I know. He's in his 70's and in complete remission now. He went though radiation as well.

Radiation and chemo take a big toll on the body and yes, it can be painful and make you extremely sick. There are other meds now that can help with the nausea.

I'll watch for an update tomorrow.

[CalliesMom]

Prayers for your friend! He is far too young.......

[Anita Cholaine]

Prayers and positive thoughts for your friend.......(((hugs)))

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by kuhio98
His doctor implanted radioactive seeds (like grains of rice) in his prostate, right on the cancer. The seeds stay "hot" for 70 days and they completely killed the cancer. He didn't need chemo nor radiation. He has been completely cancer free for 5 years now. [/SIZE]

That is exactly what they did! I don't know why I'm amazed that someone else had this done, but it's probably because I've never known anyone with prostate cancer before, so I'm unfamiliar with the techniques used to fight it.

They released him from the hospital, and after stopping to pick up some pain meds, it was 7:00 pm before Terry dropped him off at home. I have to commend Terry because he is normally not a very patient person, but he hung around the waiting room the whole time our friend was being treated.

I guess what happened was that, like Bobcat, he had a catheter in last week right after the "procedure" but then they removed it. He hasn't really been able to urinate since they removed the catheter - just little dribbles here and there - and it must have all been building up inside, which is not only painful but quite harmful too. So they reinserted the catheter and gave him some pain meds. I guess he hasn't been sleeping well at all the last few nights because of the pain, so hopefully he got a good nights sleep last night. Terry said he looked like he was in rough shape, so I'm glad he finally called and I'm doubly glad Terry was in the area to help him out.

Thanks Kuhio, for the encouraging words. They feel they did catch it early and are hoping the radiation will do its thing and surgery and chemo won't be necessary.

Thanks so much everyone. I'll probably call him a little later this afternoon to see how he's doing and if he needs anything.