Maple-Soy Salmon Bowls
2 hours ago
Monday, September 28, 2009
Day 1057
Internet is down and I can't get the repairman out until Friday. Boo hiss. Guess you'll have to survive another week with me, as I'm on a stealth-like mission to post this quick update from work today. You'll hear from me again come October...this chilly Monday morning felt like October was already here. Wow, this year has really flown on by.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Day 1051
Late last night while I was at work, the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 277, a bill authorizing September 2009 as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. As such, I feel it is my duty to do my part in creating Prostate Cancer Awareness.
The fact is, sadly, if dad and the rest of us had been more aware of the signs and symptoms of Prostate Cancer, maybe we would have caught it early, treatment would have been effective, and he would still be here with us today, enjoying his 60th year of life. That's not the case, and I don't want anyone else I love to have to say "Would".
What is Prostate Cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer is defined as "Cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum)." They estimate that in 2009, there will be 192,280 new cases of Prostate Cancer in the United States and 27,360 deaths.
A common rumor out there is that most people don't die of prostate cancer...not true. Because Prostate Cancer is a slow growing cancer, there is a good chance of successful treatment, if caught early. But the facts are, Prostate Cancer is the most common type of cancer found in men in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. One man in six will get Prostate Cancer at some point in their lives. One in 35 men will die of this disease.
Signs and Symptoms
If Prostate Cancer is found in the very earliest stage, many signs and symptoms will not yet be present. This is why I strongly urge men to routinely get an annual physical. If Prostate Cancer is not caught at the very onset, one or more of these common signs and symptoms may present:
•A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
•Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
•Weak or interrupted flow of urine
•Painful or burning urination
•Difficulty in having an erection
•Painful ejaculation
•Blood in urine or semen
•Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
These symptoms are not all inclusive or always indicative of Prostate Cancer, but one or many of these problems are in occurrence, I urge you (or your man) to see a doctor.
Screening for Prostate Cancer
One of the first tests you may take in determining the occurrence of Prostate Cancer is a PSA Screening. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation,
The PSA test cannot diagnose Prostate Cancer, but it can signify a need for the need of a biopsy to examine prostate cells and determine whether or not they are cancerous.
Stages of Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is diagnosed in three stages.
Stage One, Localized Prostate Cancer, means the cancer is confined within the prostate.
Stage Two, Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer, means that most of the cancer is confined within the prostate, but some has spread to the immediate surrounding tissue.
Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer, means that the cancer has spread outside the prostate, possible even to distant organs. Dad was first diagnosed with Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer.
Treatment
Since treatment is determined by a number of factors--age, stage level of the cancer, other health factors, etc.--I won't go in to treatment specifics. It is important to consult your doctor for any information regarding treatment options.
I would, however, like to take the opportunity to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses and especially the people at CARTI (Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute) for their amazing support and treatment to dad throughout his three year battle with Prostate Cancer. I am convinced that without you all, the prayers and support of so many others, and honestly, his strong (some would say stubborn) will to live, that he would not have survived as long as he did.
Dad's story
Like I stated above and so many times before, dad was diagnosed in the Fall of 2003 with Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer. He had reoccurring symptoms for months, which for a while he did not share with us, but instead of seeing a doctor (because he did not have adequate health care coverage...won't even get into that one right now), he self medicated with Saw Palmetto, a natural supplement used to treat an enlarged prostate.
Anyway, he went to San Diego for the U.S. National Swimming Championships (dad was a swim coach for those newbies out there), and while there was complaining about severe neck pain. When he came home, he went to see a family friend who is an Orthopedic Surgeon. While in the waiting room, he collapsed in pain and was rushed to the hospital. That night, we found that his severe pain was caused by a tumor the size of a baseball that was located on what used to be his spinal cord at the base of his neck. The tumor had eaten its way through the bone.
The next few days were a bit of a blur, but much was found. He was diagnosed with Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer. We found that where it metastasized to was not good...far away organs...spots on his lungs and in his bones. He had to get two titanium rods surgically placed in the back of his neck, where the tumor had eaten away his spinal cord. This limited the range of motion in his neck to about 45 degrees either way. Because of this, he never swam again.
Dad went through what seemed every type of treatment option out there. He had what he called a "turkey baster" of a needle shoot hormones into his stomach. This was one of many experimental treatments he had. He did many series of radiation treatment of different parts of his body where tumors grew. He did chemotherapy and hormone treatments and a combination of all of the above. Some worked for a bit. Some didn't help things at all. Some made him lose his hair, grow breasts, gain weight, lose weight, make him throw up every hour and lose his ability to walk. But until the end, he always got out of bed each day.
In the end, almost three years after his initial diagnosis, it was a fall that put him in the hospital one last time. The cancerous tumors in his bones were most present in his hips, and he had to first use a cane, then a walker (a man in his mid-50s in a walker...doesn't help your mentality), and then his ultimate last fall. It was in the hospital that he contracted a number of infections. And I won't go into my last night with him alone, the last night he remained conscious before his death a few days later, but let me just say, I never wish that on anyone ever. Ever. Cancer is no joke. The pain that those struck with this horrific disease go through...it's unbearable.
When he finally passed, it was as if we were almost thankful that he was no longer suffering, no longer in so much horrific pain. And I miss him every day of my life without him. So if anything, I hope you all will take this novel of a blog post, take the pain I hold onto and the education I am now sharing, and please pass it on so others can learn from our story. From dad's story.
There are many resources out there to learn more about Prostate Cancer. The American Cancer Society, The Prostate Cancer Foundation, The National Cancer Institute and the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation have both been good resources to me for more knowledge on this disease, and were all helpful sources for writing this blog post.
Also, this Friday, September 25th, several restaurants in Arkansas are participating in Dining for Dudes, in which a portion of their lunch sales will benefit the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. For more information, see the website: http://www.arprostatecancer.org/diningfordudes.php.
Below is a commercial produced I believe last year by the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. I've showed it here once before, but felt it was appropriate to reair. My brave sisters were involved and I am so proud of them for taking part in this important message.
So now you're educated, I encourage you to share this information with all. Share it with your dads, your brothers, your husbands. Share it with your girlfriends and sisters, so that they may pass it on to the men in their lives. Prostate Cancer, if caught in an early stage, is one of the most treatable cancers there is out there. The first step is knowing what to look for, but maybe the scariest step is taking action towards it. Take it from me and my family...my father was always healthy, never sick, always worked out and took care of his body. But he ignored the signs, we all ignored the signs, for months. And it was too late for him. He died, but it's not too late for other men out there.
The fact is, sadly, if dad and the rest of us had been more aware of the signs and symptoms of Prostate Cancer, maybe we would have caught it early, treatment would have been effective, and he would still be here with us today, enjoying his 60th year of life. That's not the case, and I don't want anyone else I love to have to say "Would".
What is Prostate Cancer?
According to the National Cancer Institute, Prostate Cancer is defined as "Cancer that forms in tissues of the prostate (a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum)." They estimate that in 2009, there will be 192,280 new cases of Prostate Cancer in the United States and 27,360 deaths.
A common rumor out there is that most people don't die of prostate cancer...not true. Because Prostate Cancer is a slow growing cancer, there is a good chance of successful treatment, if caught early. But the facts are, Prostate Cancer is the most common type of cancer found in men in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. One man in six will get Prostate Cancer at some point in their lives. One in 35 men will die of this disease.
Signs and Symptoms
If Prostate Cancer is found in the very earliest stage, many signs and symptoms will not yet be present. This is why I strongly urge men to routinely get an annual physical. If Prostate Cancer is not caught at the very onset, one or more of these common signs and symptoms may present:
•A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
•Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
•Weak or interrupted flow of urine
•Painful or burning urination
•Difficulty in having an erection
•Painful ejaculation
•Blood in urine or semen
•Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
These symptoms are not all inclusive or always indicative of Prostate Cancer, but one or many of these problems are in occurrence, I urge you (or your man) to see a doctor.
Screening for Prostate Cancer
One of the first tests you may take in determining the occurrence of Prostate Cancer is a PSA Screening. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation,
PSA is a protein produced by the prostate and released in very small amounts into the bloodstream. When there’s a problem with the prostate, such as when prostate cancer develops and grows, more and more PSA is released, until it reaches a level where it can be easily detected in the blood. During a PSA test, a small amount of blood is drawn from the arm, and the level of PSA is measured. PSA levels under 4 ng/mL are usually considered "normal," results over 10 ng/mL are usually considered "high," and results between 4 and 10 ng/mL are usually considered "intermediate."
The PSA test cannot diagnose Prostate Cancer, but it can signify a need for the need of a biopsy to examine prostate cells and determine whether or not they are cancerous.
Stages of Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is diagnosed in three stages.
Stage One, Localized Prostate Cancer, means the cancer is confined within the prostate.
Stage Two, Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer, means that most of the cancer is confined within the prostate, but some has spread to the immediate surrounding tissue.
Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer, means that the cancer has spread outside the prostate, possible even to distant organs. Dad was first diagnosed with Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer.
Treatment
Since treatment is determined by a number of factors--age, stage level of the cancer, other health factors, etc.--I won't go in to treatment specifics. It is important to consult your doctor for any information regarding treatment options.
I would, however, like to take the opportunity to thank the wonderful doctors, nurses and especially the people at CARTI (Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute) for their amazing support and treatment to dad throughout his three year battle with Prostate Cancer. I am convinced that without you all, the prayers and support of so many others, and honestly, his strong (some would say stubborn) will to live, that he would not have survived as long as he did.
Dad's story
Like I stated above and so many times before, dad was diagnosed in the Fall of 2003 with Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer. He had reoccurring symptoms for months, which for a while he did not share with us, but instead of seeing a doctor (because he did not have adequate health care coverage...won't even get into that one right now), he self medicated with Saw Palmetto, a natural supplement used to treat an enlarged prostate.
Anyway, he went to San Diego for the U.S. National Swimming Championships (dad was a swim coach for those newbies out there), and while there was complaining about severe neck pain. When he came home, he went to see a family friend who is an Orthopedic Surgeon. While in the waiting room, he collapsed in pain and was rushed to the hospital. That night, we found that his severe pain was caused by a tumor the size of a baseball that was located on what used to be his spinal cord at the base of his neck. The tumor had eaten its way through the bone.
The next few days were a bit of a blur, but much was found. He was diagnosed with Stage Three, Metastasized Prostate Cancer. We found that where it metastasized to was not good...far away organs...spots on his lungs and in his bones. He had to get two titanium rods surgically placed in the back of his neck, where the tumor had eaten away his spinal cord. This limited the range of motion in his neck to about 45 degrees either way. Because of this, he never swam again.
Dad went through what seemed every type of treatment option out there. He had what he called a "turkey baster" of a needle shoot hormones into his stomach. This was one of many experimental treatments he had. He did many series of radiation treatment of different parts of his body where tumors grew. He did chemotherapy and hormone treatments and a combination of all of the above. Some worked for a bit. Some didn't help things at all. Some made him lose his hair, grow breasts, gain weight, lose weight, make him throw up every hour and lose his ability to walk. But until the end, he always got out of bed each day.
In the end, almost three years after his initial diagnosis, it was a fall that put him in the hospital one last time. The cancerous tumors in his bones were most present in his hips, and he had to first use a cane, then a walker (a man in his mid-50s in a walker...doesn't help your mentality), and then his ultimate last fall. It was in the hospital that he contracted a number of infections. And I won't go into my last night with him alone, the last night he remained conscious before his death a few days later, but let me just say, I never wish that on anyone ever. Ever. Cancer is no joke. The pain that those struck with this horrific disease go through...it's unbearable.
When he finally passed, it was as if we were almost thankful that he was no longer suffering, no longer in so much horrific pain. And I miss him every day of my life without him. So if anything, I hope you all will take this novel of a blog post, take the pain I hold onto and the education I am now sharing, and please pass it on so others can learn from our story. From dad's story.
There are many resources out there to learn more about Prostate Cancer. The American Cancer Society, The Prostate Cancer Foundation, The National Cancer Institute and the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation have both been good resources to me for more knowledge on this disease, and were all helpful sources for writing this blog post.
Also, this Friday, September 25th, several restaurants in Arkansas are participating in Dining for Dudes, in which a portion of their lunch sales will benefit the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. For more information, see the website: http://www.arprostatecancer.org/diningfordudes.php.
Below is a commercial produced I believe last year by the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. I've showed it here once before, but felt it was appropriate to reair. My brave sisters were involved and I am so proud of them for taking part in this important message.
So now you're educated, I encourage you to share this information with all. Share it with your dads, your brothers, your husbands. Share it with your girlfriends and sisters, so that they may pass it on to the men in their lives. Prostate Cancer, if caught in an early stage, is one of the most treatable cancers there is out there. The first step is knowing what to look for, but maybe the scariest step is taking action towards it. Take it from me and my family...my father was always healthy, never sick, always worked out and took care of his body. But he ignored the signs, we all ignored the signs, for months. And it was too late for him. He died, but it's not too late for other men out there.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Day 1049, "After"
The wait is over, the place is officially done (well, more or less anyway). Thank the Lord...after weeks of moving in and sprucing it up, I am now comfortably living in my new home. First of all, I have to say a huge thank you to my mom, who slaved away and put up with me for over a week to help me get this all done. I couldn't have done it without her, or the rest of my family that stepped in to help out.
And now, without further ado, the "After" pictures:
Kitchen Before:
Kitchen After:
So I went with red, not pink, but I think it turned out great. The cabinets didn't get painted because, honestly, we ran out of time to do too much to the kitchen. I still need to put up some art on the walls, but for now, this is it.
Bedroom Before:
Bedroom After:
I took pictures from every angle...just wanted you to get the whole view. What I didn't show you is my fantastico shoe closet. Single girl = closets used however my little heart desires (and what girl doesn't want a shoe closet?). I still have three white matte, white framed black and white photographs to hang above my couch and these BEAUTIFUL white silk dipioni drapes that haven't come in yet. They are to die for (thanks Mom!) and will put the finishing touch on the room. And I also just need to say, it feels so good sleeping in my bed again. I missed you old friend!
Living Room/Dining Room Before:
Living Room/Dining Room After:
Again, photos from every angle. I also have a few finishing touches here too...the couch needs to be reupholstered (hence the trashy black sheet), a comfy chair needs to be added to the living room and I'm looking for a great piece of art to place behind the dining room table. Still, not bad for a few weeks worth, is it? Feels good to finally be settled in at home.
And now, without further ado, the "After" pictures:
Kitchen Before:
Kitchen After:
So I went with red, not pink, but I think it turned out great. The cabinets didn't get painted because, honestly, we ran out of time to do too much to the kitchen. I still need to put up some art on the walls, but for now, this is it.
Bedroom Before:
Bedroom After:
I took pictures from every angle...just wanted you to get the whole view. What I didn't show you is my fantastico shoe closet. Single girl = closets used however my little heart desires (and what girl doesn't want a shoe closet?). I still have three white matte, white framed black and white photographs to hang above my couch and these BEAUTIFUL white silk dipioni drapes that haven't come in yet. They are to die for (thanks Mom!) and will put the finishing touch on the room. And I also just need to say, it feels so good sleeping in my bed again. I missed you old friend!
Living Room/Dining Room Before:
Living Room/Dining Room After:
Again, photos from every angle. I also have a few finishing touches here too...the couch needs to be reupholstered (hence the trashy black sheet), a comfy chair needs to be added to the living room and I'm looking for a great piece of art to place behind the dining room table. Still, not bad for a few weeks worth, is it? Feels good to finally be settled in at home.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Day 1039
Over a week later. The walls are (mostly) painted, my belongings are in, the furniture is put together...and that's about it. Still living amongst stacks and stacks boxes. It's been a long week, and going to be a long weekend of trying to get this all put together. But the good news is it is looking fabulous! I'll go ahead and save the pictures until it's all done. Sorry, but don't want to ruin ths built up anticipation by showing off half-assed work. Just keep holding and hopefully you'll be as please with the results as I am!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Day 1031
The paint is bought, the brushes are cleaned, the keys are in hand and now the work begins! Mom and Lindann got in town yesterday and as soon as I'm done with work I am heading to my place today to get painting...mom is starting on the ceilings without me. Hopefully by Friday we will be getting the finishing touches done so moving in on Saturday will be a breeze. Fingers crossed...I have a feeling this is going to be a long week. Stay tuned for progress pictures!
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