My Drive To Sarasota
Well today Paula and I took my second trip to Sarasota for my prostate cancer. First one was on November 15, when I got my first hormone shot but I went alone on that ride. We left about 6:30 for an 8:00 AM appointment. We just got out of Ellington and I-75 came to a halt. Almost a parking lot, a very long slow moving parking lot. I’m frustrated. I’m a time freak. There was a wreck on the bridge at the University exit. I get off there when we finally get to the exit. Got there about 35 minutes late but we had phoned ahead so the Dattoli Center knew. Upon arrival we were quickly ushered in. I get vitals and we are put in an exam room where we meet with Dr. Richard Sorace. He asks me a few questions and does his exam. Yet another DRE, but don’t get me started on that or I will surely start to get scatological. He talked to us for quite a while.
I was scheduled for a color Doppler ultrasound that would be able to pinpoint where the concentrations of the cancer are. It can do this, as I understand it, by detecting the speed of the blood that is feeding the cancer by the use of Doppler shift. Prostate cancer seems to want to grow to outer inside part of the prostate first. The blood vessels would normally be the size of a capillary in this area and the Doppler will not show that. Cancer though, needs a bigger supply of blood so new and larger vessels will grow to feed the cancer the extra blood it needs. So the idea is find the blood supply and you will find areas of cancer.
Well they take me to the exam room where the Doppler was. I walk in and what is the first thing I see? A little short table with STURRIPS!!! My mind flashes to my last post where I am talking about the side effects of my hormone treatment. I DID notice the hot flashes and the breast tenderness and growth on the list but NO WHERE was there any mention of STURRIPS!! The tech, whose name escapes me, did point out that they were padded. They were. They were blue too. I felt a little better. If they had been pink or even yellow I might have started to think that this was some kind of a plot.
They did the exam, point of entry is assumed at this point. Paula and I had a clear view with a color video screen which was right there, a little to the left of my feet, which were in their comfy blue stirrups. But I digress. The whole time Dr. Sorace was there explaining the images. I don’t think I have ever had that done come to think of it! The Doctor I mean. Explaining things about a test. While it is happening. And this was CLEARLY a better image than any I have had to date. This along with the attention to detail and to me made me feel much better. We had an additional 30-minute meeting with the Doctor where he answered all of the questions that we brought as well as the new ones from the current test. I am pretty sure Paula felt much better after the appointment. She tends to go directly to the worst-case scenario first. I don’t want to make light of my situation as I DO HAVE a moderately aggressive cancer. But the doctor did have extreme confidence that it could be handled. This I feel gave Paula some comfort. Below are some pics of today’s adventure. Where you see the arrows is where they indicate cancer. It is in the prostate but “MAY” have some microscopic tendrils growing out. The treatment is designed to handle this situation.
Apex or top of the prostate
Mid or middle of prostate
Base or bottom of prostate
