There are other possibilities including: hydroceles http://ww3.komotv.com/global/story.asp?s=1230180 and spermatoceles http://ww3.komotv.com/global/story.asp?s=1230181 both of which are usually harmless.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hubby discovered a lump on one testicle. It’s at the very lowest part and almost in between the two. We called the rad-onc office and they had us come almost instantly. Blood work, chest x-ray (no clue why) and ultra sound of his testicles, hubby must have had fun – two woman trying to find the lump on the ultrasound. The resident didn’t say what it was but hinted that it’s a good thing we caught this early because it is easier. Caught what???? What’s easier??? I hate waiting. Bev: I don’t want to give you false hopes or suggest denying the strong possibility of a tumor, but some men do occasionally get a small lump on or next to ar testicle that is a hematoma where a small blood vessel has broken and then coagulated and formed a knot that is slowly resorbed. I’ve had a couple of these over the years and was somewhat alarmed at the time.  But, they went away. Here’s hoping that it’s something more like this! The chest x-ray was probably to check to see if there were any shadows in the lungs indicating the possible presence of a tumor.  Not a very reliable diagnostic tool unless a tumor is large enough to detect, but a cheap and easy check nevertheless. OCL

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<snip I know he would never have been seen this quickly if we had gone through normal channels. In fact ,we called his PCP and they gave him an appt in a month. I don’t think so!!! So that is why I called the rad-onc. Bev

another example of Curt’s unwillingness to "play ball" is that he doesn’t have a PCP. he uses Dr Bloom for everything. I was going to say keep us posted but I know you will : ) Lori

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Testicular cancer is one hell of a lot more likely than recurrence of George’s PCa, Bev.  And, a cyst is the most likely of all based on your description.  If you can feel space between the lump and the testicle, it’s probably a cyst (or at least that’s what my son’s uro told him when it wasn’t a cyst). — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA  .1  .1  .1  .27  .37  .75 PSA  .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA  .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hubby discovered a lump on one testicle. It’s at the very lowest part and almost in between the two. We called the rad-onc office and they had us come almost instantly. Blood work, chest x-ray (no clue why) and ultra sound of his testicles, hubby must have had fun – two woman trying to find the lump on the ultrasound. The resident didn’t say what it was but hinted that it’s a good thing we caught this early because it is easier. Caught what???? What’s easier??? I hate waiting. Bev

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Hubby discovered a lump on one testicle. It’s at the very lowest part and almost in between the two. We called the rad-onc office and they had us come almost instantly. Blood work, chest x-ray (no clue why) and ultra sound of his testicles, hubby must have had fun – two woman trying to find the lump on the ultrasound. The resident didn’t say what it was but hinted that it’s a good thing we caught this early because it is easier. Caught what???? What’s easier??? I hate waiting.

Bev: I don’t want to give you false hopes or suggest denying the strong possibility of a tumor, but some men do occasionally get a small lump on or next to ar testicle that is a hematoma where a small blood vessel has broken and then coagulated and formed a knot that is slowly resorbed. I’ve had a couple of these over the years and was somewhat alarmed at the time.  But, they went away. Here’s hoping that it’s something more like this! The chest x-ray was probably to check to see if there were any shadows in the lungs indicating the possible presence of a tumor.  Not a very reliable diagnostic tool unless a tumor is large enough to detect, but a cheap and easy check nevertheless. OCL

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Bev:     I am sorry to hear about this new chapter in your lives.  Hopefully this is caught early, whatever it is, and they can treat it successfully.  I know what you mean about the waiting.  Let me know if there is anything I can do for you?  I also hate the helpless feeling.     God bless you and your husband. David S.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hubby discovered a lump on one testicle. It’s at the very lowest part and almost in between the two. We called the rad-onc office and they had us come almost instantly. Blood work, chest x-ray (no clue why) and ultra sound of his testicles, hubby must have had fun – two woman trying to find the lump on the ultrasound. The resident didn’t say what it was but hinted that it’s a good thing we caught this early because it is easier. Caught what???? What’s easier??? I hate waiting. Bev

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I’m not sure where this young man is in his "studies/career" but I know that our rad-onc doc takes on these young doctors who intend to specialize in rad-onc. They leave him and go into their own practice. The largest teaching hospital in Virginia is right around the corner from the VA hospital. In fact, our doctor comes to the VA hospital to see patients there. He’s the head of the VA’s rad-onc but he spends most of his time at the big hospital. So for us this has been wonderful because we started out at the "big" hospital, Massey Cancer Center, Medical College of Virginia Hospital, Virginia Commonwealth University. I know he would never have been seen this quickly if we had gone through normal channels. In fact ,we called his PCP and they gave him an appt in a month. I don’t think so!!! So that is why I called the rad-onc. Bev

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – when do they plan to follow up with you? As a medical professional, I find in so cruel that people have to wait for results like that when many things are known right away. I will send good thoughts your way. Resident? as in all ready a practicing MD now in a fellowship or a 1-4 yr resident learning the ropes? Lori

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Hubby discovered a lump on one testicle. It’s at the very lowest part and almost in between the two. We called the rad-onc office and they had us come almost instantly. Blood work, chest x-ray (no clue why) and ultra sound of his testicles, hubby must have had fun – two woman trying to find the lump on the ultrasound. The resident didn’t say what it was but hinted that it’s a good thing we caught this early because it is easier. Caught what???? What’s easier??? I hate waiting. Bev

Response:

when do they plan to follow up with you? As a medical professional, I find in so cruel that people have to wait for results like that when many things are known right away. I will send good thoughts your way. Resident? as in all ready a practicing MD now in a fellowship or a 1-4 yr resident learning the ropes? Lori

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Pops, That is truly excellent news! Enjoy! Steve U

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Bill, I was in upper management in "the old days" (I could type better also). I learned to generate a decision tree for almost every process/problem I had to manage. I did exactly that for this problem. The second PSA reading was the gate for salvage treatment (EBRT). If that reading had been up or the same my decision tree said, "get on the table and turn on the gun", which I would have done seconds after hearing the reading. The chances of my reading going down were slim to none according to both my urologist and oncologist. I am not a guy take chances when it’s not necessary and I had no intention of letting those pesky little cancer cells multiply any more than absolutely necessary. Be prepared! My tattoos are permanent so if those pesky little guys return I’m on that table in a flash. Now the question to my treatment team is "What the H happened?",  I expect a cogent answer! Of course this all happened in the path of a holiday weekend so getting that team together to talk and hypothesize is problematic. Gotta snap that whip!

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Another PSA test in two weeks. Uro and Oncologist are assuming that one of the two readings was wrong. Well, at least I’m in the 50/50 chance club now!

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It’s been cloudy and rainy all morning, but suddenly the sun is starting to shine! Pops, when you first mentioned 0.24, I believe I advised your doc will taken another PSA before deciding on RT.  I was surprised when he chose to jump on it at one reading of 0.24.  My doc did not jump on my 0.27 until I had a 0.37 and I considered that aggressive compared to my readings of the time. You lab may have made a mistake.  Your doc almost certainly did.  But, I guess a mistake of too aggressive without actual treatment is better than too laid back. — Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA  .1  .1  .1  .27  .37  .75 PSA  .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05 PSA  .07 .05 .06 .05 non Illegitimi carborundum

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Did anyone notice? The Grass is greener today. The sky is bluer today. The clouds are fluffierr today. The flowers smell sweeter today. I sent for the beginning of a 6.5 week EBRT on Friday PM (5/27), The team was all there at the cancer center. Intros all around and getting ready for the Dry Run. My oncologist was there asn just before I went on the table I asked him if he’d seen the results of the PSA test I had taken Wednesday. He had not looked so he went to review my paperwork, In a couple of minutes he returned with a puzzled smile on his face. I asked him, "What’s up"? He said, "your PSA reading is now ‘undetectable’" (officially < 0.1). No need for radiation, at least for the time  being. He was puzzled because it’s the first time (in a 35 year career) that he has seen the post op PSA go down (mine was 0.24 four weeks ago) He’ll be talking with my Uro and we’ll probably do another one just to make sure. I got off the table and went home with a big smile on my face. Last night we partied! 10/03 PSA = 1.24 11/04 PSA = 12.4 1 week later 15.7 Biopsy 12/04 positive, Gleason 3+4 stage 2b RRP 1/24/05 neg margins, neg lymph glands, neg seminal vesicles Pathology, two sites, 1 about a dime size the other very,     very small. Gleason 5 First post-op PSA 5/4/05 = 0.24 Bone scan, CT scan, chest xrays, blood work all negative EBRT to begin 5/27/05 Second PSA on 5/25 for the purpose of determining the agressiveness of the remaining cancer. PSA reading < 0.1 Radiation therapy on hold!! Docs are puzzled! Yahoo!!

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That’s outstanding Pops. I didn’t know that could happen.  It’s something we should remember in this group for the next guy that comes out of RP with a small but not undetectable PSA reading. It looks now like _watchful_ waiting is in order.  May all your future PSA readings be undetectable.     Alan

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"My oncologist was there asn just before I went on the table I asked him if he’d seen the results of the PSA test I had taken Wednesday. He had not looked so he went to review my paperwork," 2 good lessons here: 1. Don’t panic over PSA and jump into salvage treatment. (I would never make any treatment decision based on a single test.); 2. Don’t assume your doctors are on top of your case. Bill Denton RP 2/12/02 PSA .45 Memphis

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Wow Pops, that’s fantastic. There’s a good lesson here. Be involved, be a part of the decision process!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Did anyone notice? The Grass is greener today. The sky is bluer today. The clouds are fluffierr today. The flowers smell sweeter today. I sent for the beginning of a 6.5 week EBRT on Friday PM (5/27), The team was all there at the cancer center. Intros all around and getting ready for the Dry Run. My oncologist was there asn just before I went on the table I asked him if he’d seen the results of the PSA test I had taken Wednesday. He had not looked so he went to review my paperwork, In a couple of minutes he returned with a puzzled smile on his face. I asked him, "What’s up"? He said, "your PSA reading is now ‘undetectable’" (officially < 0.1). No need for radiation, at least for the time  being. He was puzzled because it’s the first time (in a 35 year career) that he has seen the post op PSA go down (mine was 0.24 four weeks ago) He’ll be talking with my Uro and we’ll probably do another one just to make sure. I got off the table and went home with a big smile on my face. Last night we partied! 10/03 PSA = 1.24 11/04 PSA = 12.4 1 week later 15.7 Biopsy 12/04 positive, Gleason 3+4 stage 2b RRP 1/24/05 neg margins, neg lymph glands, neg seminal vesicles Pathology, two sites, 1 about a dime size the other very,     very small. Gleason 5 First post-op PSA 5/4/05 = 0.24 Bone scan, CT scan, chest xrays, blood work all negative EBRT to begin 5/27/05 Second PSA on 5/25 for the purpose of determining the agressiveness of the remaining cancer. PSA reading < 0.1 Radiation therapy on hold!! Docs are puzzled! Yahoo!!

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Oh Pops! That’s so great! What a relief it is. Great Day Pops,  Celebrate! Ron B. Chicago

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HOORAY!!!!  Good going!  Could be that you just needed a little more time to clear out that PSA and/or some pesky PCa cells.  Here’s for praying and expecting this to continue! OCL

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Did anyone notice? The Grass is greener today. The sky is bluer today. The clouds are fluffierr today. The flowers smell sweeter today. I sent for the beginning of a 6.5 week EBRT on Friday PM (5/27), The team was all there at the cancer center. Intros all around and getting ready for the Dry Run. My oncologist was there asn just before I went on the table I asked him if he’d seen the results of the PSA test I had taken Wednesday. He had not looked so he went to review my paperwork, In a couple of minutes he returned with a puzzled smile on his face. I asked him, "What’s up"? He said, "your PSA reading is now ‘undetectable’" (officially < 0.1). No need for radiation, at least for the time  being. He was puzzled because it’s the first time (in a 35 year career) that he has seen the post op PSA go down (mine was 0.24 four weeks ago) He’ll be talking with my Uro and we’ll probably do another one just to make sure. I got off the table and went home with a big smile on my face. Last night we partied! 10/03 PSA = 1.24 11/04 PSA = 12.4 1 week later 15.7 Biopsy 12/04 positive, Gleason 3+4 stage 2b RRP 1/24/05 neg margins, neg lymph glands, neg seminal vesicles Pathology, two sites, 1 about a dime size the other very,     very small. Gleason 5 First post-op PSA 5/4/05 = 0.24 Bone scan, CT scan, chest xrays, blood work all negative EBRT to begin 5/27/05 Second PSA on 5/25 for the purpose of determining the agressiveness of the remaining cancer. PSA reading < 0.1 Radiation therapy on hold!! Docs are puzzled! Yahoo!!

Response:

Did anyone notice? The Grass is greener today. The sky is bluer today. The clouds are fluffierr today. The flowers smell sweeter today. I sent for the beginning of a 6.5 week EBRT on Friday PM (5/27), The team was all there at the cancer center. Intros all around and getting ready for the Dry Run. My oncologist was there asn just before I went on the table I asked him if he’d seen the results of the PSA test I had taken Wednesday. He had not looked so he went to review my paperwork, In a couple of minutes he returned with a puzzled smile on his face. I asked him, "What’s up"? He said, "your PSA reading is now ‘undetectable’" (officially < 0.1). No need for radiation, at least for the time  being. He was puzzled because it’s the first time (in a 35 year career) that he has seen the post op PSA go down (mine was 0.24 four weeks ago) He’ll be talking with my Uro and we’ll probably do another one just to make sure. I got off the table and went home with a big smile on my face. Last night we partied! 10/03 PSA = 1.24 11/04 PSA = 12.4 1 week later 15.7 Biopsy 12/04 positive, Gleason 3+4 stage 2b RRP 1/24/05 neg margins, neg lymph glands, neg seminal vesicles Pathology, two sites, 1 about a dime size the other very,     very small. Gleason 5 First post-op PSA 5/4/05 = 0.24 Bone scan, CT scan, chest xrays, blood work all negative EBRT to begin 5/27/05 Second PSA on 5/25 for the purpose of determining the agressiveness of the remaining cancer. PSA reading < 0.1 Radiation therapy on hold!! Docs are puzzled! Yahoo!!

Response:

What has that to do with anything?

If somebody had painted a spot on Paul’s forehead while he was sleeping, would he rub the spot once he saw himself in a mirror? — David Canzi

Response:

What has that to do with anything? I hate that UFO nonsense. It is even more insane than ‘AIDS’ and that is saying something. Seem we are entering a new Dark Age of mumbo jumbo and myths. "Pass me a leach".

Response:

New members of DAG and AME (MSN forums) just today – Monday. Aids Myth Exposed – 8 Dissident Action Group- Main forum – 2 Dag groups (all) – 6 These are only two of hundreds of dissident groups and forums and they grew by 14 members on a single Monday alone.

Response:

snip In addition there were 14 others who have added their signatures in July 1991. By March 1993 the following persons had added their signatories:

And by 2004? That’s the problem with these lists. They’re like you, Paulie, dearest. You need a toilet-paper wrapped Q-Tip to cleanse the ears cause you is SO full of shit….

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 it is just a list! i agree.  but fact is from amerika  till australia many respectable scientist agree there is a missing link in hiv/aids.

Response:

Surprising how few sign up to this drivel nowadays – I guess you can’t stay in denial for ever. Why don’t you remove all those who have died from AIDS from your list of has-been scientists and journalists and denialists – (eg Michael Callen, author of "Surviving AIDS")!

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"Surprising how few sign up to this drivel nowadays" Oh really? I count an average of five a day. More than EVER.

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I fully understand how upsetting our mass support must be to you. Sorry.

Response:

Oh really? I count an average of five a day. More than EVER.

"Mystery ‘Fireballs’ A Trail-Object Connection?" By Brenda Livingston http://tracers.8m.com 12-12-4 With more people now capable of gathering more data about the mysterious objects and strange contrails and material filling our skies, intriguing new information is now surfacing… In our atmosphere, dark/colorful objects surrounding what appears to be white spheroidal shaped material move out of some types of persistent contrails (PCs) or "chemtrails". These mysterious objects appear to glow and produce intense flashes of light (heat) at times both day and night. Polymer or "angel hair" falls also occur with some frequency –consisting of long strands of silk-like material moving through the atmosphere and descending to earth. (see http://tracers.8m.com/ahair.htm). These falls are often accompanied by the PC-related objects over the same areas. These atmospheric phenomena have found their place in the halls of the "unexplained" for decadesyet new data is shedding some light on these enigmas. Although lab analyses of some polymer falls (http://tracers.8m.com/ah.htm) have been fascinating and have provided clues to these atmospheric mysteries — one of the most fascinating and potentially revealing sky phenomena are the large and intensely bright "fireball-like" spherical objects moving horizontally across our skies. On rare occasions, these bright objects result in air or ground explosions and unusual fires and residueproviding an opportunity to test samples. Through analysis of stunning and revealing new videos, photographs and witness reports–there now may be evidence that suggests a possible link between these most unusual fireballs (non-meteoric events) and the PC-related objects. Although no conclusions can be reached at this time, there certainly appear to be some intriguing connections that require further exploration. Potential connections between unusually bright, colorful horizontal path "fireballs" and PC-related "combo" objects seen and videotaped include the following: The PC-related objects: (a) possess similar characteristics of shape and size to the unusual "fireballs" (i.e., larger variety of "combos" with multiple dark objects); (b) appear to create low altitude daytime horizontal trails which are a characteristic of daylight fireballs; ( c) have similar colors to reported "fireballs" as they appear at night (i.e., glowing "combos" at night with colors of green, orange, red, blue, purple, etc..; and (d) are likely composed of or contain chemicals and materials which could produce bright intense flashes of light similar to that witnessed with some unusual "fireballs". Excellent photographs taken during daylight may also illustrate the transition of a large "combo" (whiter material surrounded by multiple dark objects) into a ‘fiery ball. Persistent contrails and smaller dark/white "combos" have also been witnessed near rolling "fireballs" Strange "Fireballs" To examine this possibility more closely"we need to take a closer look at any available witness reports and documentation regarding unusual "fireball" events. (see http://tracers.8m.com/fireballs.htm for photographs of a variety of fireballs) Fireball events have been witnessed during both the daylight and night time hours"but are more frequently seen at night and are described as a larger and brighter version of normal meteoric events. According to the American Meteorological Society, meteors are usually split second events as a small rock collides with the atmosphere and burns up quickly high in the atmosphere appearing as a small white light in the night sky followed by a long tail of sparks (known as a ’shooting star’) lasting a split second to a second. Occasionally, this small chunk of space debris does not disintegrate completely and when it reaches approximately 50,000 feet or a bit lower, what is left (a meteorite) then falls to the ground at ambient temperature. At times, a bolide may explode high in the atmosphere splitting into several pieces"all of which fall as ambient temperature meteorites producing no fires or ground explosions. Often witnesses report hearing an explosion overhead (with a bolide hitting the atmosphere) and others may hear a hissing or whistle-like sound as the meteorite whizzes by before striking the ground. The angle of trajectory is at from 20 to 40 degrees not horizontal or following the curve of the earth. What is significant about particular "fireball-like" sightings is that these do not follow the characteristics of normal meteors. The unusual "fireballs" in question are very bright and large; traverse the skies in a horizontal pathsome reportedly stopping, hovering, or reversing course. Many move at low altitude (2,000 to 50,000 feet) without a sound"some roaring like a gas torch– and all displaying colors not seen in meteor falls (many green, red or blue-white). Most intriguing is that these "Special Fireballs" (like Spheres, "Foo-Fighters "Angel Hair" or Polymer Falls, and Ice Falls) have been reported over a span of many years the most infamous reports gathered by the military in 1948. These unusual ‘fireball-like" objects certainly appear to have been occupying our skies for decades or longer with relatively little harm or damage on the ground or to any aircraft (yet reported) with ground events being few and far between. Because current reports and studies conducted by the military or the scientific community are not readily available to the public at this time– the following reports are of interest and may provide some valuable clues to present events. Green Fireballs A plethora of very unusual fireball reports were presented in a transcript taken from a conference on "Aerial Phenomena" sponsored by the 4th Army (along with the Air Force and FBI) at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now LANL) in 1949. Reportedly in attendance were Dr. Lincoln LaPaz of the U niversity of New Mexico and Edward Teller. The discussion focused on the multiple sightings of "green fireballs" near nuclear and military facilities in the U.S. and in particular those spotted in the skies over Los Alamos. Dr. LaPaz had an opportunity to personally witness a bright green fireball on the evening of December 12 and presented his findings of this sighting and reports of similar events. He was convinced that these fireballs were not meteors and concerned that they might be artificially constructed. All were concerned that these could be a weapon system of some sort. What distinguished these fireballs were their large intense light, unusual color, long horizontal path, no long tail of sparks, low altitude, lack of sound in most cases and explosion and fragmentation without a finding of meteorites on the ground. In the discussion between LaPaz and Teller, the fact that these fireballs did follow the curvature of the earth for such a long distance convinced both that these objects were propelled forward by a type of internal energy source. Although LaPaz was most impressed with the specific color of green for these fireballs, sighting reports of a fireball that traveled from New Mexico into Texas (a 143 mile journey) mentioned that this fireball was green at one point.. then red, blue and even purple at other points along its path. And although total silence accompanied most of these fireballs"several witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a gasoline blowtorch rumbling overhead at the time. "Bright Skies" in Australia This particular roaring sound also accompanied large intensely bright fireballs sighted across Australia during the 1990’s.as reported in the findings of a geologist Harry Mason in his article "Bright Skies" (1997). Mason provides a most revealing study and survey of more current horizontal path fireball-like objects rolling across the skies of Australia. Mason was contracted to study seismic activity in the Eastern goldfields of Banjawarn in 1993 which led to multiple interviews of witnesses to extraordinary fireball events. An intense fireball was witnessed over this area at 11 pm over May 28, 1993 which was followed by a seismic activity reading of 3.9. (No seismic activity had ever been recorded in this area previously). Very unusual destruction was seen at the Alycia mine with 3 inch pipes severed underground. The fireball reported in this incident was orange-red in color with a short conical tail traveling slow on a horizontal path at about 1,000 to 2,000 feet above the ground. This fireball followed a "250 km trajectory and ended in a high energy burst of blue-white light seen from 100 km all around the site." Other reports of ‘fireball-like’ objects over Australia during the 1990’s were accompanied by a loud roar with no sound during the air explosions that followed And no meteorites were ever found on the ground during searches after these events. Mason continued to gather fireball reports and data up to 1998 and provides the following brief assessment of his findings for all Australian states. These unusual fireballs had the following characteristics: *low altitude horizontal path *small conical tails *no fragment drop off or meteorites found *velocity less than sound (no sonic booms) *sudden change in course reported *increase in speed or dead stop and hover or reverse path *some change to vertical path moving upwards toward space *intense vibration of ground and housing during a passover *explode over horizon in massive blue-white arcing light displays *sudden intense high altitude light flashes *power generator over-voltage outages and other electrical effects These characteristics hardly meet the criteria for meteor or bolide event or falling space debris but it does match some of the activities and characteristics of the PC-related objects. One important fireball report from the Tom Price area in Australia contains a most graphic … read more »

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Charles A. Thomas, Jr. Ph.D. (Mol. Biologist, Pres. Helicon Fnd., San Diego, CA) *       Harvey Bialy, Ph.D. (Editor Bio/Technology, New York, NY) *       Harry Rubin, D.V.M. (Prof. Cell Biology, Univ. Cal. Berkeley, CA) *       Richard C. Strohman, Ph.D. (Prof. Cell Biology, Univ. Cal. Berkeley, CA) *       Phillip E. Johnson (Prof. Law, Univ. Cal. Berkeley, CA) *       Gordon J. Edlin, Ph.D. (Prof. Biochem. & Physics, Univ. Hawaii, HI) *       Beverly E. Griffin, Ph.D. (Dir. Dept. Virology, Royal Postgrad. Med. School, London, UK) *       Robert S. Root-Bernstein (Prof. Physiology, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI) *       Gordon Stewart, M.D. (Emeritus Prof. Public Health, Epidemiologist, Isle of Wight, UK) *       Carlos Sonnenschein, M.D. (Tufts Univ., Medicine, Boston, MA) *       Richard L. Pitter, Ph.D. (Dessert Research Inst., Univ. Nevada System, Reno NV) *       Nathaniel S. Lehrman, M.D. (Psychiatrist, Roslyn, NY) *       John Lauritsen (Author ‘Poison by Prescription’, New York, NY) *       William Holub, Ph.D. (Biochemist, Live Sciences Inst. New York, NY) *       Claudia Holub, Ph.D. (Biochemist, Live Sciences Inst. New York, NY) *       Frank R. Buianouckas Ph.D. (Prof. Mathematics, Cuny, Bronx, NY) *       Philip Rosen, Ph.D. (Prof. Physics, Univ. Mass. Amherst, MA) *       Steven Jonas, M.D. (Prof. Preventive Medicine, Suny Stony Brook, NY) *       Bernard K. Forscher, Ph.D (Ret. Editor Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., Santa Fe, NM) *       Kary B. Mullis, Ph.D. (Biochemist, PCR inventor, Consultant, La Jolla, CA.) *       Jeffrey A. Fisher, M.D. (Pathologist, Mendham, NJ) *       Hansueli Albonico, M.D. (General Practitioner, Langnau, Switzerland) *       Robert Hoffman, Ph.D. (Prof. Dept. Pediatrics Univ. Cal. Med. School, San Diego, CA) *       Timothy H. Hand, Ph.D. (Dept. Psychology, Oglethorpe Univ. Atlanta, GA) *       Eleni Eleopulos, M.D. (Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, West Australia) *       Robert W. Maver, F.S.A., M.A.A. (Dir. Research, Mutual Benefit Life, Kansas City, MO) *       Ken N. Matsumura, M.D. (Chairman Alin Foundation & Research Inst., Berkeley, CA.) *       David T. Berner, M.D. (Condon, MT) *       Theodor Wieland, Ph.D. (Max Planck Institut, Heidelberg, Germany) *       Joan Shenton, M.A. (Meditel, London, UK) *       John Anthony Morris, Ph.D. (Biochemist, Bell of Atari College Park, MD) *       Sungchul Ji, Ph.D. (Prof. Pharmacology & Toxicology, Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ) In addition there were 14 others who have added their signatures in July 1991. By March 1993 the following persons had added their signatories: *       Vahagn Agbabian, D.O. (Pontiac, MI) *       Barry R. Alexavich (Cell Biologist, Bristol, CT) *       David T. Berner, M.D. (Condon, MT) *       Shelly B. Blam, Ph.D. (Alameda, CA) *       Lawrence Bradford, Ph.D. (Benedictine College, Atchison, KS) *       Carl Bradford, J.D. (San Diego, CA) *       Michael Callen (Author ‘Surviving AIDS’, Hollywood, CA) *       Melinda Calleira (Pres. Amer. Ass. Science & Public Policy, Los Angeles, CA) *       Hiram Caton, Ph.D. (Prof. App. Ethics, Griffith Univ., Brisbane, Australia) *       Dennis Chaney, Ph.D. (Chaney Scientific Inc. Burlingame, CA) *       Michelle Cochrane (Emeryville, CA) *       Hywel Davies, M.D. (Cardiologist, Pueblo West, CO) *       Marlowe Dittlebrandt, M.D. (Portland, OR) *       Peter H. Duesberg, Ph.D. (Prof. Mol. Biology, Univ. Cal. Berkeley, CA) *       Bryan J. Ellison (Author, Berkeley, CA) *       Michael Ellner (HEAL, New York, NY) *       Fabio Franchi, M.D. (Trieste, Italy) *       Trish Fahey (New York, NY) *       Celia Farber (Writer, New York, NY) *       Lawrence A. Falk, Jr., Ph.D. (Virologist Abott Labs, Consultant NCI, Chicago, IL) *       James A. Fimea, Ph.D. (Laguna Beach, CA) *       Harry Flynn, (Author, Hollywood, CA) *       William L. Gardner, Ph.D. (Wellesley, MA) *       Arnold W. Giddens (Shingle Springs, CA) *       Robert Grabowski (Birminghan, MI) *       Martin Haas, Ph.D. (Dept. Biology Cancer Center, Univ. Cal., San Diego, CA) *       Alfred Haessig, M.D. (Emeritus Prof. Immunolgy Univ. Bern, Switzerland) *       Urs Haldimann (Editor, Swiss Ass. Science Writers, Arisdorf, Switzerland) *       Neville Hodgkinson (Science Correspondent The Sunday Times, London, UK) *       John Holmdahl, Ph.D. (Los Angeles, CA) *       Ross Horne (Montville, Queensland, Austalia) *       Heinrich Kremer, M.D. (Mueckenburg, Germany) *       Hans J. Kugler, Ph.D. (Editor Prev. Med. Update, Redondo Beach, CA) *       Robert Laarhoven (S.A.A.O., Hilversum, The Netherlands) *       Paul Lineback, M.S. (Eastern Oregon State College) *       Henk Loman, Ph.D. (Prof. Biophysics, Free Univ. Amsterdam, The Netherlands) *       Judith Lopez (San Francisco, CA) *       Maurizio Luca-Moretti, Ph.D. (InterAmerican Medical Health Ass., Boca Raton, FL) *       William H. McIlhany, I.R.F. (Beverly Hills, CA) *       Peter McKeever, L.L.B. (London, UK) *       Michael D. Mellgard (Los Angeles, CA) *       David Mertz (Dept. Philosophy, Univ. Massachusetts, Amherst) *       Richard Mitchell, Ph.D. (Assoc. Prof. Sociology, Oregon State Univ, Corvalus, OR) *       Joseph E. Morrow, Ph.D. (Cal. State Univ. Sacramento, CA) *       Cindy Orser (Ast. Prof. Bacteriology, Univ. Idaho, Moscow, ID) *       Hannes G. Pauli, M.D. (Former Director Bern Univ. Med. Faculty, Bern, Switzerland) *       Paul Rabinow, Ph.D. (Prof. Dept. Anthropology Univ. Cal., Berkeley, CA) *       Jon Rappoport (Author ‘AIDS Inc.’) *       Dennis D. Rathman (Staff Member Lincoln Labs, Lexington, MA) *       Rodney M. Richards, Ph.D. (Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA) *       Judith Riesman, Ph.D. (Author, Arlington, VA) *       Michael Ristow, Ph.D. (Bochum, Germany) *       Mel T. Roach (Avatar Research, Tuscon, AZ) *       Gary Robertson (Broadbeach Waters, Queensland, Australia) *       Frank Rothschild (Project Dir., Berkeley Project on Bioscience & Society, CA) *       David F. Salehi, Ph.D. (Lake Dallas, TX) *       Caspar Schmidt, M.D. (Psychiatrist, New York) *       Russell Schoch (Editor California Monthly, Berkeley, CA) *       Frederic I. Scott, Jr. (Editor American Clinical Laboratory, Baltimore, MD) *       Udo Schuklenk (Dept. Ethics, Monash Univ., Melbourne, Australia) *       Jeremy F. Selvey (Los Angeles, CA) *       David Shugar, Ph.D. (Prof. Biophysics, Univ. Warsaw, Editor Pharmacol. Therap., Poland) *       Sonja Silva (Los Lunas, NM) *       Ernest G. Silver, Ph.D. (Radiation Biologist, Oak Ridge, TN) *       Lockie M. Swengel (Del Mar, CA) *       Frederick Tobin, Ph.D. (Gorke, Australia) *       Jack True (Clayton, GA) *       La Trombetta (Burzynski Research Inst., Houston, TX) *       Friedrich Ulmer, Ph.D. (Prof. Math. & Stat., Bergische Univ., Wuppertal, Germany) *       Michael Verney-Elliot (Meditel, London, UK) *       Darrell G. Wells, Ph.D. (Emeritus Prof. Plant Sciences, Brookings, SD) *       Wai Yeung, M.D. (Orinda, CA) By September 1993 the following persons had added their signatories: *       Jeanette S. Abel M.D. (Portland, OR) *       Jad Adams, M.A. (Author ‘AIDS; The HIV Myth,’ London, UK) *       Patricia Akeman, R.N. (Goleta, CA) *       John B. Andelin, M.D. (Mercy Hospital, Williston, ND) *       Mark Anderson, D.C. (Orlando, FL) *       James C. Baker, Ph.D. (Santa Rosa, CA) *       Andrew A. Benson, Ph.D. (La Jolla, CA) *       Richard M.A. Berger, DDS (Berkeley, CA) *       Robert W. Birge, Ph.D. (Berkeley, CA) *       John S. Blankfort, DDS (San Francisco, CA) *       Dorothy L. Bosworth, Ph.D. (Carlsbad, CA) *       Tucker Brawner, DPM (Savannah, GA) *       Brian E. Briggs, M.D. (Minot, ND) *       Douglas W. Brown, M.D. (Portland, ME) *       John B. Burgin, DDS (Crowley, LA) *       Susan E. Caliri, DDS (Berkeley, CA) *       Ivor Catt, M.A. (St. Albans, UK) *       Asit K. Chakraborty, Ph.D. (Omaha, NE) *       Jack G. Chamberlain, Ph.D. (Berkeley, CA) *       Colleen Cook, R.N. (Wilmington, DE) *       Daniel J. Corson, MFA (Seattle, WA) *       J. Mark Cox, DDS (Midland, TX) *       Etienne De Harven, M.D. (St. Cezaire sur Siagne, France) *       Richard W. DeLisle D.C. (Leominster, MA) *       James DeMeo Ph.D. (El Cerrito, CA) *       Thomas A. Dorman, M.D. (San Luis Obispo, CA) *       Mohammad Entezampour, Ph.D. (Dept. Biology Univ. North Texas, Denton, TX) *       Rafael Escribano, Ph.D. (Dept. Span.& Port. Univ. Cal. Riverside, TX) *       Sami E. Fathalla, M.D., Ph.D. (Damman, Saudi Arabia) *       Richard A. Fisher (Inter. Acad. Oral Med. & Toxicol., Annandale, VA) *       Scott D. Flamm, M.D. (San Francisco, CA) *       Michael R. Fox Ph.D. (Richland, WA) *       Donato Fumarola, M.D. (Inst. Microbiolia Medica, Bari, Italy) *       Charles L. Geshekter, Ph.D. (Dept. History, Cal. State Univ, Chico, CA) *       Todd Gestaldo, D.C. (Sunnyvale, CA) *       Edward S. Golub, Ph.D. (Pacific Center for Ethics & App. Biol., Solana Beach, CA) *       John Hardie, BDS (Dept. Dentistry Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada) *       Robert J. Henderson, D.C. (Locust Valley, NY) *       Charles A. Hill, M.D. (Houston, TX) *       Charles Hoff, Ph.D. (Univ. South. Alabama, AL) *       Mark E. Jarmel, D.C. (Santa Monica, CA) *       Anne Marie Jeay, Ph.D. (Univ. Nancy II, France) *       Jens Jerndal M.D. (Lanzarote, Spain) *       Donald J. Johnson, DDS (Coeur d’Alene, ID) *       William H. Jordan Jr, Ph.D. (Culver City, CA) *       Dennis G. Kinnane, DOM (Torrence, CA) *       Claus Kohnlein, M.D. (Kiel, Germany) *       Stefan T.J. Lanka, Ph.D. (Radolfzell, Germany) *       Barry A. Liebling, Ph.D. (New York, NY) *       Michel Lobrot, Ph.D. (Univ. Paris VIII, Les Lilas, France) *       Howard C. Mel, Ph.D. (Berkeley, CA) *       Th. H.L. Michiels, M.D. (Vinkeveen, The Netherlands) *       James W. Miller, M.D. (San Leandro, CA) *       R. Munck, M.D. (Ceret, France) *       Cindy Nelson, M.A. (San Francisco, CA) *       Raymond W. Novaco, M.D. (Prof. Psychology & Soc. Behavior, Univ. Cal., Irvine, CA) *       Sam Okware, M.D. (Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda) *       David J. Orman, M.Sc. (San Diego, CA) *       George N. Pasto, M.D. (Portland, OR) *       M. Dennis Paul, MscM (Amherst, NH) *       Jack Perrine, Ph.D. (Pasadena, CA) *       John L. Philp, M.D., MPH (Stockton, CA) *       Peter W. Plumley, FSA (Chicago, IL) *       Ronald F. Price, Ph.D. (La Trobe Univ., Bundoora, Victoria, Australia) *       David W. Rasnick, Ph.D. (Alameda, CA) *       Richard A. Ratner, M.D. (Bethesda, MD) *       Rogers Reddings, Ph.D. (Univ. North Texas, Denton, TX) *       Stephen J. Repitor, DPM (Oak Park, MI) *       Douglas Roise, M.D. (St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dickenson, ND) *       Steven Roman, Ph.D. (San Diego, CA) *       Cristobal A.P. Sandoval, M.D. (Cuba) *       Alex Santoro, M.A. (Kansas City, MO) * … read more »

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first the promising news on Acomplia, now this:

Acomplia is associated with ectopic pregnancy and depression. One reported case of multiple sclerosis. The MS case is significant because cannabinoids reduce inflammation in the CNS. Acomplia is a cannabinoid inhibitor and increases CNS inflammation. Cannabinoid agonists are in development for MS treatment. A therapy originally developed to inhibit tumor growth may one day help those who are trying to slim down.  

This is in the rat stage. Most angiogensis inhibitors (drugs that reduce the formation of blood vessels) have severe side effects because they aren’t specific enough to the targeted tissue. We have blood vessels everywhere, and there are places where you don’t want their growth inhibited.. So the same drug that may suppress your tumor (or your fat), could also cause you to have a heart attack. Current angiogenesis cancer drugs carry this risk. The MD Anderson compound described is a little more promising because it is specific to fat. But outside of other possible side effects, no one knows if the compound would work on human subjects I wrote review articles on both of the above a couple of months ago. FWIW, Barbara Hirsch, Publisher OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development http://www.obesity-news.com/

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first the promising news on Acomplia, now this: A therapy originally developed to inhibit tumor growth may one day help those who are trying to slim down.  During an experiment at the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, researchers injected obese mice with a new compound that kills blood-vessel cells.  The lucky critters (who had been snacking on high-fat goodies for months) miraculously shrunk back to their slender, normal weight after just a month of injections, with no unpleasant side effects. Researchers say that this non-surgical type of liposuction starves fat cells by destroying the blood vessels that feed them.  Once the cells’ blood supply is cut off, the fat tissue rapidly breaks down and melts away. "Unlike many other experimental fat-fighting drugs that prevent new fat from forming, this drug targets existing fat-storing tissue", says Mikhail Kolonin, PhD, who conducted the study.  Though the treatment is nowhere near ready for human trials, researchers plan to test it in monkeys next, hoping that one day it will help people who are obese. — Caroline Bollinger, Nov. 2004 issue of Prevention Magazine Certainly, there are some unanswered questions in this article (like how this drug would "know" to target only the blood vessels that feed fat-tissue, and not any other blood vessels), but I thought it would be of interest to the NG.

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i agree with eva – SK is somewhat overhyped. there are good cancer treatment centers all over the country.  i would not think it neccessary to travel to nyc (if it’s far away). unless, as she said, they have something to offer you that nobody else can. good luck. -christina

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How valuable might it be for a 2nd opinion from SK on the treatment that I have started at my local cancer center for bc Stage 1V. I am getting a lot of convincing that it would be a good idea, but I do not want to chase rainbows either. Are you in the New York City area? If you’re far from here I can’t imagine why you would knock yourself out traveling just to get a 2nd opinion.  I’m a few miles from NYC and haven’t gone to Sloane Kettering.  My grandfather died there, actually, so it has bad associations for me….but people I know who are health care workers and professionals have said the place is somewhat overhyped. This is obviously Just My Opinion.  If there is some specific treatment you have heard about which they offer, which you cannot get at home, then of course that changes the whole picture. Eva

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How valuable might it be for a 2nd opinion from SK on the treatment that I have started at my local cancer center for bc Stage 1V. I am getting a lot of convincing that it would be a good idea, but I do not want to chase rainbows either. Thanks Greta

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How valuable might it be for a 2nd opinion from SK on the treatment that I have started at my local cancer center for bc Stage 1V. I am getting a lot of convincing that it would be a good idea, but I do not want to chase rainbows either.

Are you in the New York City area? If you’re far from here I can’t imagine why you would knock yourself out traveling just to get a 2nd opinion.  I’m a few miles from NYC and haven’t gone to Sloane Kettering.  My grandfather died there, actually, so it has bad associations for me….but people I know who are health care workers and professionals have said the place is somewhat overhyped. This is obviously Just My Opinion.  If there is some specific treatment you have heard about which they offer, which you cannot get at home, then of course that changes the whole picture. Eva

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Not to get another political discussion going, but I just pulled this off of CNN. CNN is reporting that Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his 6th Tour de France title. In a random check for banned substances, three were found in Armstrong’s hotel room.  The substances banned by the French that were found in his hotel room were as follows:   (1) Toothpaste   (2) Deodorant   (3) Soap   The French officials also found several other items which they had never seen before, including a testicle and a backbone.  Earlier reports that French Government officials attempted to surrender to Armstrong as he entered Paris were apparently erroneous. ; )

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not to get another political discussion going, but I just pulled this off of CNN. CNN is reporting that Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his 6th Tour de France title. In a random check for banned substances, three were found in Armstrong’s hotel room.  The substances banned by the French that were found in his hotel room were as follows:  (1) Toothpaste  (2) Deodorant  (3) Soap  The French officials also found several other items which they had never seen before, including a testicle and a backbone.  Earlier reports that French Government officials attempted to surrender to Armstrong as he entered Paris were apparently erroneous. ; )

For an alternate punishment Armstrong will be teaching the French military their new offially approved salute. Both arms extended fully over the head with palms facing forward. Claude

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That’s funny and all, but seriously folks, The fact that Armstrong won the TDF more or less proves to anyone with basic knowledge on the subject that had to be stacking lots of (illegal) drugs. How can I be so certain? Because it’s common knowledge that just about everyone who even completed the tour was doing lots of drugs… Lloyd – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not to get another political discussion going, but I just pulled this off of CNN. CNN is reporting that Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his 6th Tour de France title. In a random check for banned substances, three were found in Armstrong’s hotel room.  The substances banned by the French that were found in his hotel room were as follows: (1) Toothpaste (2) Deodorant (3) Soap The French officials also found several other items which they had never seen before, including a testicle and a backbone.  Earlier reports that French Government officials attempted to surrender to Armstrong as he entered Paris were apparently erroneous. ; )

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… it’s common knowledge that just about everyone who even completed the tour was doing lots of drugs…

Well, common *gossip*, anyway.

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The difference between Lance doing drugs and the others is that Lance has to take drugs and hormones because he had cancer. Facts about Lance’s Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Lance was diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer, containing 60% choriocarcinoma, 40% embryonal and less than 1% teratoma. Lance’s treatment lasted from October to December 1996. Lance underwent two surgeries, one to remove his cancerous testicle and another to remove two cancerous lesions on his brain. Lance received one round of BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide and Platinol) chemotherapy, followed by three rounds of VIP chemotherapy (Ifostamide, Etoposide and Platinol.) Lance’s cancer in the lungs and brain was a result of spreading from the original testicular cancer. As a result, his treatment protocols were to combat that specific strain of cancer. Different cancers originating from different sources in the body will likely require other treatments than the one described above for Lance. Lance was treated at Indiana University Medical Center by Drs. Larry Einhorn and Craig Nichols. (Dr. Einhorn can be reached at the Indiana University Medical Center at 317/274-8157; Dr. Nichols at the Oregon Cancer Center at 503/494-8311.) Needless to say that he is pumped with hormones and various drugs. These drugs, ironically enough give him an advantage over those riders who don’t take them. Still not enough of an advantage to make me want to be a cancer survivor !

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Lance is a tough guy for sure and anyone who has been through what he has and can come back and be THE MAN again in cycling is just phenomenal. Good luck and Godspeed. I’ve had three surgeries this last 12 months and they kicked my ass. Knocked most of the "tough guy" right out if me. Goldtop

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The difference between Lance doing drugs and the others is that Lance has to take drugs and hormones because he had cancer. Facts about Lance’s Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Lance was diagnosed with an aggressive form of testicular cancer, containing 60% choriocarcinoma, 40% embryonal and less than 1% teratoma. Lance’s treatment lasted from October to December 1996. Lance underwent two surgeries, one to remove his cancerous testicle and another to remove two cancerous lesions on his brain. Lance received one round of BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide and Platinol) chemotherapy, followed by three rounds of VIP chemotherapy (Ifostamide, Etoposide and Platinol.) Lance’s cancer in the lungs and brain was a result of spreading from the original testicular cancer. As a result, his treatment protocols were to combat that specific strain of cancer. Different cancers originating from different sources in the body will likely require other treatments than the one described above for Lance. Lance was treated at Indiana University Medical Center by Drs. Larry Einhorn and Craig Nichols. (Dr. Einhorn can be reached at the Indiana University Medical Center at 317/274-8157; Dr. Nichols at the Oregon Cancer Center at 503/494-8311.) Needless to say that he is pumped with hormones and various drugs. These drugs, ironically enough give him an advantage over those riders who don’t take them. Still not enough of an advantage to make me want to be a cancer survivor !

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Man that is a seriously huge call…. Tim

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s funny and all, but seriously folks, The fact that Armstrong won the TDF more or less proves to anyone with basic knowledge on the subject that had to be stacking lots of (illegal) drugs. How can I be so certain? Because it’s common knowledge that just about everyone who even completed the tour was doing lots of drugs… Lloyd Not to get another political discussion going, but I just pulled this off of CNN. CNN is reporting that Lance Armstrong may be stripped of his 6th Tour de France title. In a random check for banned substances, three were found in Armstrong’s hotel room.  The substances banned by the French that were found in his hotel room were as follows: (1) Toothpaste (2) Deodorant (3) Soap The French officials also found several other items which they had never seen before, including a testicle and a backbone.  Earlier reports that French Government officials attempted to surrender to Armstrong as he entered Paris were apparently erroneous. ; )

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Sandy:         Guess today is the big day for you.  Hope all goes well both with the operation and the post-op side effects.           Thank you. David S. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Well, the time has finally come.  All the tests and preparations are now over.  I am to arrive at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center at 8:30am and my RRP is scheduled for noon.  Can’t say I’m glad to be going, I guess I can say that I’m glad the waiting and accompaning anxiety is nearing an end. I’ve been doing all I can to keep my mind off of the procedure.  I spent a glorious afternoon on my boat, fishing in the Atlantic with my wife and daughter.  Didn’t catch a thing, but that doesn’t matter.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be back home by Father’s Day.  I’ll post my results then. Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Sandy K. Age 47 – 2/04 PSA 4.9 Biopsy 3/5/04 – 10 cores, 9 malignant. Gleason 3+3, T2b RRP – 6/17/04

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Best wishes Sandy I hope it all goes very well.  Either way let us know.  I am anxiously watching things here.  Haven’t scheduled surgery yet but will in the next month or so…Just trying to find the right Doc. Bob 49  PSA 9.0 Gleason 3+3 Biopsy 6/2/04 6 of 12 positive Surgery likely soon

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the time has finally come.  All the tests and preparations are now over.  I am to arrive at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center at 8:30am and my RRP is scheduled for noon.  Can’t say I’m glad to be going, I guess I can say that I’m glad the waiting and accompaning anxiety is nearing an end. I’ve been doing all I can to keep my mind off of the procedure.  I spent a glorious afternoon on my boat, fishing in the Atlantic with my wife and daughter.  Didn’t catch a thing, but that doesn’t matter.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be back home by Father’s Day.  I’ll post my results then. Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Sandy K. Age 47 – 2/04 PSA 4.9 Biopsy 3/5/04 – 10 cores, 9 malignant. Gleason 3+3, T2b RRP – 6/17/04

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Sandy, Wish you the best with no complications tomorrow. Tom

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This time tomorrow you’ll be cancer free! Remember, that catheter is your friend (and constant companion for a couple of weeks). Here’s wishing you a complete cure and no side effects, just like I got. And your numbers are better than mine. jimhoney standard RRP age 52, cured, no aftereffects

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the time has finally come.  All the tests and preparations are now over.  I am to arrive at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center at 8:30am and my RRP is scheduled for noon.  Can’t say I’m glad to be going, I guess I can say that I’m glad the waiting and accompaning anxiety is nearing an end. I’ve been doing all I can to keep my mind off of the procedure.  I spent a glorious afternoon on my boat, fishing in the Atlantic with my wife and daughter.  Didn’t catch a thing, but that doesn’t matter.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be back home by Father’s Day.  I’ll post my results then. Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Sandy K. Age 47 – 2/04 PSA 4.9 Biopsy 3/5/04 – 10 cores, 9 malignant. Gleason 3+3, T2b RRP – 6/17/04

I will keep you in mind and wish you well. You are not alone in this…remember that. Chuck McClellan

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Good luck, Sandy! Will be thinking of you tomorrow. Seems so long ago that I was going through the very same thing… You’ll be fine, I’m sure! Please keep us posted! MikeH

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the time has finally come.  All the tests and preparations are now over.  I am to arrive at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center at 8:30am and my RRP is scheduled for noon.  Can’t say I’m glad to be going, I guess I can say that I’m glad the waiting and accompaning anxiety is nearing an end. I’ve been doing all I can to keep my mind off of the procedure.  I spent a glorious afternoon on my boat, fishing in the Atlantic with my wife and daughter.  Didn’t catch a thing, but that doesn’t matter.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be back home by Father’s Day.  I’ll post my results then. Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Sandy K. Age 47 – 2/04 PSA 4.9 Biopsy 3/5/04 – 10 cores, 9 malignant. Gleason 3+3, T2b RRP – 6/17/04

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This time tomorrow you’ll be cancer free! Remember, that catheter is your friend (and constant companion for a couple of weeks). Here’s wishing you a complete cure and no side effects, just like I got. And your numbers are better than mine. jimhoney standard RRP age 52, cured, no aftereffects

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etched: *Well, the time has finally come.   <snip *Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Best wishes on a very successful operation! Al Please be quiet if replying via email, flames will be deleted promptly. I won’t even read the whole message…

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, the time has finally come.  All the tests and preparations are now over.  I am to arrive at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center at 8:30am and my RRP is scheduled for noon.  Can’t say I’m glad to be going, I guess I can say that I’m glad the waiting and accompaning anxiety is nearing an end. I’ve been doing all I can to keep my mind off of the procedure.  I spent a glorious afternoon on my boat, fishing in the Atlantic with my wife and daughter.  Didn’t catch a thing, but that doesn’t matter.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be back home by Father’s Day.  I’ll post my results then. Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Sandy K. Age 47 – 2/04 PSA 4.9 Biopsy 3/5/04 – 10 cores, 9 malignant. Gleason 3+3, T2b RRP – 6/17/04

I wish you well Sandy K.   A couple of words to the guy upstairs too. See you on the flip side. Dale J. —

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Well, the time has finally come.  All the tests and preparations are now over.  I am to arrive at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center at 8:30am and my RRP is scheduled for noon.  Can’t say I’m glad to be going, I guess I can say that I’m glad the waiting and accompaning anxiety is nearing an end. I’ve been doing all I can to keep my mind off of the procedure.  I spent a glorious afternoon on my boat, fishing in the Atlantic with my wife and daughter.  Didn’t catch a thing, but that doesn’t matter.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I’ll be back home by Father’s Day.  I’ll post my results then. Thanks to all of you in this great group for all your support. Sandy K. Age 47 – 2/04 PSA 4.9 Biopsy 3/5/04 – 10 cores, 9 malignant. Gleason 3+3, T2b RRP – 6/17/04

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My relative got BC and i s now undergoing Chemotherapy. Apart from the usual vomiting, she has a very painful mouth– Vomiting is not necessarily normal – there have been major advances in antinausea medications in the last ten years..  Your relative needs to stand on her oncologists’s desk and tell him she’s vomiting – and ask for different antinausea meds.

Absolutely!  I was sicker than most on Adriamycin/Cytoxan, and they kept changing my anti-nausea meds until my reactions improved.   You may have to be, um, emphatic with some doctors, as Allan suggests. My cancer center also started giving me more IV fluids with the chemo (which I gather can’t be done with everyone — maybe because some have more difficulty absorbing the fluids?), and having me come in the day after chemo for more IV fluids & anti-nausea meds. There was also a kind of Zofran they gave me samples of to take home — called "Zofran ODT".  It instantly melts in your mouth into just a spot of foam, and it didn’t trigger vomiting for me as tablets did. Other things that helped me:  Sleeping in a semi-upright position (leaning against a reading wedge pillow); eating/drinking absolutely as soon as I could force myself, in teensy amounts, but frequently.  First step was tiny sips of room temperature ginger ale every 10 minutes or so.  (Ginger has anti-nausea properties.) I’m sorry, but I can’t help with the painful mouth part — no experience. Here’s hoping your relative’s next chemo cycle will go better! Ann T.

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1) I was prescribed with Aspirin Gargles by my onc to rinse my mouth 6 times a day 2) Use isotonic water (1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1L of water) to rinse before / after meal 3) All water (including those you use to brush teeth) should be boiled or from bottle / can (eg spring water). These are what I learnt from my past experiences a few months ago. —

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My relative got BC and i s now undergoing Chemotherapy. Just did the 1st round and  has rather strong reaction in the side effects. Apart from the usual vomiting, she has a very painful mouth–but with with no ulcer. Is this normal side effect? How can she alleviate the pain? thanks ABC Please do not reply by email.Reply to NG —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

sores. My only caution would be this – there are several companies who have a great marketshare but according to a study done by "The Association of Analytical Chemists" many of them don’t have any actual Aloe in them. I didn’t know there were any aloe vera beverages.   I was quite surprised when I first saw fresh aloe vera juice at a local health foods store.   They also carry potable (drinkable) gel and juice that is 99% pure.  Since our health care provider’s radiation oncology dept. wants patients to use aloe vera gel over radiated areas several times a day to prevent associated difficulties, I figured that since it was edible it might help in the same way internally.  I checked it out and the literature I found says it does work that way. I find that it helps if I take it for stomach and throat irritation and beginning signs of heartburn.   I like to mix the gel with organic grape juice.  I am surprised that one glass of it seems to stop the problem for me–thought I would need to take it over a period of time.  However, when I remember I try and have some regularly because of all the oral medications I am on rather than if or when I feel any discomfort.  I don’t take it too close in time to when I take the medication since I don’t know if the gel might in any way interfere with the absorption of the medication.  (I don’t know if there is any difference that way between the gel and the juice).

Response:

I have used Aloe Vera Beverages with good results for mouth sores. My only caution would be this – there are several companies who have a great marketshare but according to a study done by "The Association of Analytical Chemists" many of them don’t have any actual Aloe in them. I hestitate to name the companies listed in this study in a public forum, but if you would like a copy of the study let me know and I’ll Aloe Beverage does the same thing on the inside as breaking off a piece of an aloe plant and rubbing it on a burn or scrape on your skin. It soothes and coats the tissue so it just plain feels better; it also helps the tissue heal, you can swallow it and the soothing and healing continues through the digestive system. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Did it help? 1) I was prescribed with Aspirin Gargles by my onc to rinse my mouth 6 times a day 2) Use isotonic water (1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1L of water) to rinse before / after meal 3) All water (including those you use to brush teeth) should be boiled or from bottle / can (eg spring water). These are what I learnt from my past experiences a few months ago. ABC Please do not reply by email.Reply to NG —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

Hi Ann, I did used to do the deep breathing exercises before my chemo, but it didn’t help one bit! Maybe coz I’m just a born worrier? I’m just glad that it’s all over now, as of March this year. Let’s hope I never have to have it again huh? I’m glad I know that I wasn’t the only one this happened to, coz my hospital staff seemed so suprised when I started being sick so quickly, even before they’d given me any chemo! Here’s wishing you and everyone else who frequents this N G, a Merry Christmas & a happy New Year ! Shaz x – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I also had terrible nausea+sickness. I was given Kytril but this didn’t do much good as I was starting to feel sick even before I was given my chemo! I was told this was due to anticipation, ie, I knew what was coming, so my body reacted to it! I read about a small study (don’t have a cite handy) that suggested anticipatory nausea could be reduced or elimated for some by — if I recall correctly — (1) deep breathing exercises, and (2) active visualization during chemo administration, imagining the drugs attacking the cancer cells.  I had a bit of anticipatory nausea before my 2nd AC chemo, and these things helped me on rounds 3 & 4. Ann T.

Response:

I also had terrible nausea+sickness. I was given Kytril but this didn’t do much good as I was starting to feel sick even before I was given my chemo! I was told this was due to anticipation, ie, I knew what was coming, so my body reacted to it!

I read about a small study (don’t have a cite handy) that suggested anticipatory nausea could be reduced or elimated for some by — if I recall correctly — (1) deep breathing exercises, and (2) active visualization during chemo administration, imagining the drugs attacking the cancer cells.  I had a bit of anticipatory nausea before my 2nd AC chemo, and these things helped me on rounds 3 & 4. Ann T.

Response:

Tim, (snip)If you suffer from anticipatory nausea, a mild sedative a few hours before might help.

I’m glad to say that I have now finished this course of my A/C chemo,as of, (March of this yr) Thank God! But as you suggested above, a sedative, this would’ve been the obvious thing to give me. I used to get soooo hyped up about having my chemo. Probably coz I had been violently sick on most of my previous chemo’s, that when it came to my next one, I’d be in such a state, that when they started to prepare me to have it, I used to be sick almost immediately! Yuk! I wonder why you so obviously know this and my qualified onc. didn’t come up with this suggestion?!?! I mean, now I come to think of it, I wonder why I didn’t ask for a sedative? Maybe coz like we all usually do, I trusted what my doctor was telling me! Let’s just hope that there won’t be a next time for me. But if there is, I’ll know what to ask for, to stop such bad sickness. Thanks Tim, Shaz x

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I also had terrible nausea+sickness. I was given Kytril but this didn’t do much good as I was starting to feel sick even before I was given my chemo! I was told this was due to anticipation, ie, I knew what was coming, so my body reacted to it! So what they ended up doing was, to give me my Kytril through I V while administring the A/C. this worked a lot better than taking it by tablet. But they only found this out when I had only one chemo treatment left! Typical huh? This was is the UK. So I don’t know what it’s like where your relative is treated. My wife got Kytril IV with her Taxol back in 1999 at the Christie Hospital in UK, so perhaps this practice varies with postcode.

 If you suffer from anticipatory nausea, a mild sedative a few hours before – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – might help. Tim Jackson

Response:

I also had terrible nausea+sickness. I was given Kytril but this didn’t do much good as I was starting to feel sick even before I was given my chemo! I was told this was due to anticipation, ie, I knew what was coming, so my body reacted to it! So what they ended up doing was, to give me my Kytril through I V while administring the A/C. this worked a lot better than taking it by tablet. But they only found this out when I had only one chemo treatment left! Typical huh? This was is the UK. So I don’t know what it’s like where your relative is treated.

My wife got Kytril IV with her Taxol back in 1999 at the Christie Hospital in UK, so perhaps this practice varies with postcode. If you suffer from anticipatory nausea, a mild sedative a few hours before might help. Tim Jackson

Response:

Did it help? 1) I was prescribed with Aspirin Gargles by my onc to rinse my mouth 6 times a day 2) Use isotonic water (1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1L of water) to rinse before / after meal 3) All water (including those you use to brush teeth) should be boiled or from bottle / can (eg spring water). These are what I learnt from my past experiences a few months ago.

ABC Please do not reply by email.Reply to NG —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

I also had terrible nausea+sickness. I was given Kytril but this didn’t do much good as I was starting to feel sick even before I was given my chemo! I was told this was due to anticipation, ie, I knew what was coming, so my body reacted to it! So what they ended up doing was, to give me my Kytril through I V while administring the A/C. this worked a lot better than taking it by tablet. But they only found this out when I had only one chemo treatment left! Typical huh? This was is the UK. So I don’t know what it’s like where your relative is treated. The sore mouth and generally a horrible dry feeling can be a common side effect of A/C chemo and of course I had to get both also! I was prescribed various mouthwashes, which did work eventually! Hope I’ve been of some help to you? Shaz x – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My relative got BC and i s now undergoing Chemotherapy. Apart from the usual vomiting, she has a very painful mouth– Vomiting is not necessarily normal – there have been major advances in antinausea medications in the last ten years..  Your relative needs to stand on her oncologists’s desk and tell him she’s vomiting – and ask for different antinausea meds. Absolutely!  I was sicker than most on Adriamycin/Cytoxan, and they kept changing my anti-nausea meds until my reactions improved.   You may have to be, um, emphatic with some doctors, as Allan suggests. My cancer center also started giving me more IV fluids with the chemo (which I gather can’t be done with everyone — maybe because some have more difficulty absorbing the fluids?), and having me come in the day after chemo for more IV fluids & anti-nausea meds. There was also a kind of Zofran they gave me samples of to take home — called "Zofran ODT".  It instantly melts in your mouth into just a spot of foam, and it didn’t trigger vomiting for me as tablets did. Other things that helped me:  Sleeping in a semi-upright position (leaning against a reading wedge pillow); eating/drinking absolutely as soon as I could force myself, in teensy amounts, but frequently.  First step was tiny sips of room temperature ginger ale every 10 minutes or so.  (Ginger has anti-nausea properties.) I’m sorry, but I can’t help with the painful mouth part — no experience. Here’s hoping your relative’s next chemo cycle will go better! Ann T.

Response:

My relative got BC and i s now undergoing Chemotherapy. Just did the 1st round and  has rather strong reaction in the side effects. Apart from the usual vomiting, she has a very painful mouth–but with with no ulcer. Is this normal side effect? How can she alleviate the pain? thanks ABC Please do not reply by email.Reply to NG —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 100,000 Newsgroups – 19 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

My relative got BC and i s now undergoing Chemotherapy. Just did the 1st round and  has rather strong reaction in the side effects. Apart from the usual vomiting, she has a very painful mouth–but with with no ulcer. Is this normal side effect? How can she alleviate the pain?

Hi – Vomiting is not necessarily normal – there have been major advances in antinausea medications in the last ten years..  Your relative needs to stand on her oncologists’s desk and tell him she’s vomiting – and ask for different antinausea meds.  There are some pretty heavyweight treatments out there for nausea. The mainstream antinausea meds like Zofran and Kytril use a different mechanism than previous meds and you have to take them *before* you feel nausea for them to have much effect.  Compazine is good for breakthrough nausea but chances are they give your relative IV Zofran during treatment and a prescription to take home.  The IV meds last about six hours – and if your relative is waiting until she feels nauseated to take her meds that may be what the problem is. Everybody reacts to chemotherapy differently – and she may be one of those who has intractable nausea during treatment – but there are options that should be discussed with her oncologist.  If Zofran doesn’t work for her, Kytril might. On the mouth sores she should also talk to her oncologist.  He can prescribe mouthwashes that might help – and I think a few of the folks here might be able to share a few tips also. — allan humans can reach me at wizard at pointbeing dot com

Response:

Hi all, Just to bring you up to date, I’ve been reading, talking to people, and filling up my Project Manual. I got a second opinion from a cryo guy, who caused my BS detector to, well, twitch. I also got an appointment with Dr. Julio M. Pow-Sang, who is the Chief of Uro-oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, at the University of South Florida. Dr. Pow-Sang went through my file in detail with me, and reviewed my options, including the benefits, risks and shortcomings. We were in agreement that an RRP in the near future would be the way to go, and he agreed with my choice of surgeons. After the meeting, I called my urologist. He was out of the office, so I left the following message:      Let’s do it.      Ernie Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy2 9/18/03 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) Scans negative

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, Just to bring you up to date, I’ve been reading, talking to people, and filling up my Project Manual. I got a second opinion from a cryo guy, who caused my BS detector to, well, twitch. I also got an appointment with Dr. Julio M. Pow-Sang, who is the Chief of Uro-oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, at the University of South Florida. Dr. Pow-Sang went through my file in detail with me, and reviewed my options, including the benefits, risks and shortcomings. We were in agreement that an RRP in the near future would be the way to go, and he agreed with my choice of surgeons. After the meeting, I called my urologist. He was out of the office, so I left the following message:      Let’s do it.      Ernie Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy2 9/18/03 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) Scans negative

A choice based on good information from a good doc Ernie.   The BS meter jumps the pin every so often, I know what you mean. My numbers were very much like yours.  It’s been almost one year now after the operation and I’m doing super good.  Age here will be 61 on 12/02/03. Dale J. —

Response:

Sounds like you did your homework, Ernie…. Now, just keep looking ahead… And the best of luck to you!! MikeH

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, Just to bring you up to date, I’ve been reading, talking to people, and filling up my Project Manual. I got a second opinion from a cryo guy, who caused my BS detector to, well, twitch. I also got an appointment with Dr. Julio M. Pow-Sang, who is the Chief of Uro-oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, at the University of South Florida. Dr. Pow-Sang went through my file in detail with me, and reviewed my options, including the benefits, risks and shortcomings. We were in agreement that an RRP in the near future would be the way to go, and he agreed with my choice of surgeons. After the meeting, I called my urologist. He was out of the office, so I left the following message:      Let’s do it.      Ernie Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy2 9/18/03 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) Scans negative

Response:

Then it’s done!  Don’t look back. Ahead, you will find weeeks of apprehension and then the sudden realization that it’s all over and it wasn’t such a big deal after all. — Steve Kramer Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 PSA  .1  .1  .1  .3  .4  .8 PSA  .3 .2  .2  .2 .3 PSA  .1

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, Just to bring you up to date, I’ve been reading, talking to people, and filling up my Project Manual. I got a second opinion from a cryo guy, who caused my BS detector to, well, twitch. I also got an appointment with Dr. Julio M. Pow-Sang, who is the Chief of Uro-oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, at the University of South Florida. Dr. Pow-Sang went through my file in detail with me, and reviewed my options, including the benefits, risks and shortcomings. We were in agreement that an RRP in the near future would be the way to go, and he agreed with my choice of surgeons. After the meeting, I called my urologist. He was out of the office, so I left the following message:      Let’s do it.      Ernie Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy2 9/18/03 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) Scans negative

Response:

Good advice Steve!   John Loomis

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Then it’s done!  Don’t look back. Ahead, you will find weeeks of apprehension and then the sudden realization that it’s all over and it wasn’t such a big deal after all. — Steve Kramer Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 PSA  .1  .1  .1  .3  .4  .8 PSA  .3 .2  .2  .2 .3 PSA  .1 Hi all, Just to bring you up to date, I’ve been reading, talking to people, and filling up my Project Manual. I got a second opinion from a cryo guy, who caused my BS detector to, well, twitch. I also got an appointment with Dr. Julio M. Pow-Sang, who is the Chief of Uro-oncology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, at the University of South Florida. Dr. Pow-Sang went through my file in detail with me, and reviewed my options, including the benefits, risks and shortcomings. We were in agreement that an RRP in the near future would be the way to go, and he agreed with my choice of surgeons. After the meeting, I called my urologist. He was out of the office, so I left the following message:      Let’s do it.      Ernie Ernie Gudath 64 PSA 4.3 3/03; 5.6 5/03 Biopsy1 5/14/03 ambiguous Biopsy2 9/18/03 T1c Gleason 6 (3+3) Scans negative

Response:

I logged on to our health insurers site to look for an approved local opthalmologist where, to my amazement, a pop-up informed me that the hospital at which my wife is being treated for bc will cease to be part of their network effective November 1, 2003!  In practice this means that if we continue to go there our deductible goes from $2500 to $5000, and payments after that would be reduced from 100% to 75%.   The hospital is one of only two in the state to make it into Best Hospitals in America.  Now I understand that commercial arrangements change from time to time, but surely there should be more than a months warning.  Bad enough having to contend with the disease and with all the squabbling over who pays for what without being faced with this half-way through a course of chemo.  Suggestions anyone?

Response:

<<  Now I understand that commercial arrangements change from time to time, but surely there should be more than a months warning.   Yikes.  I wonder if you have some recourse since your wife is in the middle of her treatments.  Perhaps there would be a special exemption since she already started with them and because of that might be able to stay under there care. I don’t know too much about how one goes about it, but I think you can appeal. I also think that each state has a commissioner of insurance.  Hope that this can be positively resolved.  Take care.

Response:

Hope that this can be positively resolved.  Take care.

Thanks.  As a first step I’ve asked the hospital, who presumably have a strong interest in keeping my wife as a patient.  Even if the answer is "no" we’ll probably stick with them until the end of this course of chemo and pay up the difference.  There’s quite enough anxiety in all this without having to change horses at this stage!

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I logged on to our health insurers site to look for an approved local opthalmologist where, to my amazement, a pop-up informed me that the hospital at which my wife is being treated for bc will cease to be part of their network effective November 1, 2003!   …. Suggestions anyone?

If your health insurance is provided through an employer that is a large one (large enough to have some clout with the insurer), it may be worth seeing if they can/will apply any pressure either to change the situation, or get an exception in your case. Also, though it sounds ridiculous to say this, it may be too early to go into full-bore panic.  In my state, Blue Cross has gone into showdown mode with a couple of hospitals I know of (and maybe more that I don’t).   The hospital associated with my cancer center was one of them.   First, they were going to drop the hospital as an in-network provider effective (I think it was) 12/31/02, with *much* press-release sniping on both sides about whose fault it was . . . then at literally the 11th hour, they negotiated a temporary agreement running until around June, 2003.  Before that expired, they managed to come to terms and have settled down to Play Nice for the time being.  Here’s hoping you’re equally lucky! Ann T.

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