A Mini Milestone

This week marks a mini-milestone on my cancer journey. On Tuesday, I swallowed the last daily dose of 4 large horse-pills which have been part of my daily routine for the past year. 

The pills are a component of the clinical trial that I'm participating in and could be comprised of either a test drug called Apalutamide or a placebo. I'm not sure that I will ever know whether I was getting the real thing or a placebo. I'm not too concerned either way.

In my eyes, the real clinical trial that I'm on involved: the surgery, 12 months of ADT as well as lifestyle changes (WFPB SOS-free diet, exercise, meditation) that I chose to take on as my own personal way of battling this beast. Maybe the future will prove different, but for now, whether I was on Apalutamide or a test drug is secondary compared to the standard-of-care treatments that I DID receive, combined with lifestyle changes that I chose to make to augment my treatment. Time will tell how this all plays out, but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic.

January 15th, 2022 also marks the 1-month mark from my final 30-day injection of the other drug in my clinical trial regimen, ADT/Lupron, which I received back on December 15th, 2021. This means that the hormone-altering effects of ADT will begin to dissipate in my system now and my hormone levels will begin to normalize over the next few months. 

Testosterone is a known "fuel" for prostate cancer and that is the whole idea behind ADT which limits this "fuel" supply. Typically provided as an adjunct therapy before radiation therapy, the clinical trial that I'm on is attempting to see if it can have the same positive benefits when given before and after surgery.  I fully get the principles involved - but I'll be glad as heck to be off this stuff - it does a number on both mind and body.

The real first test of how effective all of this has been in eliminating all traces of prostate cancer in my body will come in April when blood tests and a PSMA PET scan will provide the first peek into whether any prostate cancer cells are still lingering while my hormone levels are returning to normal levels. 

But until my big checkup in April, I'll enjoy this vacation from cancer treatments and eagerly anticipate a positive effect on my running, biking, and weightlifting as I get back to my old self. Soon, I won't be able to blame my increasing waist size and slow mile pace on ADT. And who knows, maybe I'll be able to pick off a few more geezers in my next road race 😉.

ps - I recently read a phenomenal book called Chris Beat Cancer. Despite the sensational title, I came away from reading this book with a renewed determination to eat and live life in a way that will hopefully make my body as inhospitable to cancer as I can possibly make it. I'd recommend this book for everyone - cancer or not.

Cheers!

Spike