December 23, 2019. 5:00 PM
The oncologist wasted no time pulling up on his computer the CT scan that brought me to his office, and zeroing in on two fractured bones in my hip. Both are “superior pubic ramus” bones; the right bone shows a crack and the right a clear gap. It was easy to see that they are the cause of the discomfort and occasional pain I feel in my legs.
The breaks were caused by cancer in the bone, but the doctor explained that more scans are needed, and possibly a biopsy, to determine where the cancer originated. He thinks that my PSA of 11.1 is not high enough to assume that it is from my prostate. So I have two additional scans scheduled for next week to search for other possibilities, a nuclear bone scan and a CT chest scan. I will see the doctor again next Friday to get the results. Hopefully, we’ll know then where the cancer is coming from and if it is present in other bones. I’m hoping that we can also discuss treatment options.
For now, I have been advised to accept that I’m carrying weak bones around, bones that can break easily, so I need to be very cautious and use a cane when I walk. Cancelled is my joining Kate in a trip to a beautiful sea-side resort in Cabo, Mexico for the first week in January. The doctor said, “Absolutely not.”
So, I embark upon adopting a more sedentary lifestyle while pursuing my legacy project with more vigor. I do so with the mindset that this is a new adventure, a new challenge in my life, and I have loved adventures and challenges throughout my life.