It’s a Journey

The process, following the initial diagnosis, surgery, and radiation, up to now has been doctors’ visits and blood tests every three months. Now every three months it’s still doctors’ visits, blood tests, an infusion, and four pills daily.

The podcast will basically start at the beginning and progress more or less chronologically, with occasional side trips, including visits with others living with prostate cancer, and doctors.

Situations are sometimes trying, and even down right difficult, but life is good. It’s a mindset, a faith walk. It’s a journey that requires support and friends to come along with you. We want to be part of the support you need. We are available to you.

Our Current Situation

My current treatment regimen includes a Lupron infusion every three months and a daily dose of 260 mg (4 tablets!) of Erleada. The Erleada may change to something else soon as the normal price for a one months’ supply is $16,000.00. It used to be covered under my insurance when I was working so I only had a $30.00 per month copay. Now that I’m retired, with my Medicare supplemental coverage, I can get Erleada for the low, low copay of only $3000.00. Crazy…

Jill said it’s crazy how the drug companies charge these outrageous prices to people who can least afford it for the medications that they need. Evidently there are “assistance” programs however its income based and they base it off my 2021 tax returns. Since I retired in June my income had changed drastically (decreased) so it’s in no way reflective of what I made last year.

In the meantime, my doctor has prescribed an alternative medication, Zytiga, though it looks like the side effects are dramatically different than Erleada, and Predisone has to be prescribed as an accompanying medication to help control some of the side effects. Oh, the going rate for Zytiga is $918.00 for a months’ worth so I’ll still need to apply for assistance. Hmmmm… Hopefully the new legislation that was just voted in will bring some relief. We’ll know more in October.

One of the common side effects of both Lupron and Erleada is hot flashes.

Fan Club

In addition to ceiling fans in every room in our house except the kitchen and the bathroom, I have strategically placed fans to help me through the hot flashes. The fans in the kitchen and the bathroom also pull double duty as travel fans whenever I take a trip. The bathroom fan runs off USB power so I can run it off my laptop or one of those little USB power supplies.

I actually have two fans in my office, one high and one low so the air circulates nicely whenever I’m working on a writing project, or working on the podcast. I also have a handheld fan I take out with me on excursions.

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