Well let me start with a "Hello" and apologize that it's been so long since a post; 53 days to be exact.
Today, July 13 2009 is 14 weeks since surgery and I am thrilled to tell you that things are progressing along quite well. There is a lot of catching up to do so I'll do my best using bullet format.
- June 12, I had my first follow-up with Dr. Patel since the catheter removal, the visit went well; he was pleased with my PSA of 0.00, thought that my incisions healed up nicely, happy to hear I was training again but not so excited with respect to my "continence" or "dryness" percentages. The bottom line was, "Just do the exercises I told you to do, 300 kegels daily and things will get better" Dr. Patel didn't exactly tell me that I have been a disobedient patient through recovery but it didn't require much discernment.
- May 30, through much consultation, my wife's (Kim) approval, my friends 'The Peavy Persuasion" factor, Athletes For A Cure friends and some IRONMAN strings being pulled I accepted a "media slot entry" for the 2009 IRONMAN Florida on November 7. I began training June 1 (5 months from race day) and was provided with a "gift" from a very close friend of mine, he provided a training opportunity from a professional triathlete, Carole Sharpless. Follow the days up until the race on the IM counter on my frontpage.
- June 1, officially kicked off the training and fundraising to raise funds and awareness to change the face of prostate cancer. Help me raise funds and awareness for The Prostate Cancer Foundation while competing in the IRONMAN FLORIDA on November 7, 2009. As you may be aware, I was diagnosed Dec 3, 2008 with prostate cancer. I have since had a robotic prostatectomy, been diagnosed cancer free and well on my way to a full recovery. This year I will be "racing for the cure” with Athletes for a Cure in the Florida IRONMAN Triathlon on 11/07/2009. In addition, I am committed to supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation by setting a fundraising goal of $10,000 for prostate cancer research.
Please follow the link below to donate to my cause;
Follow This Link http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?faf=1&e=2422136044&ievent=186390&supId=232476329 to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Prostate Cancer Foundation.
- June 9, had an opportunity to be interviewed by CURE Magazine regarding The New England Journal of Medicine report on PSA testing. For those of you that have followed my journey you that without PSA "testing early and often" for me we would not have diagnosed the prostate cancer yet. I was also asked by them to do a photo shoot for the article. The story should be in the FALL 09 issue of CURE.
- June 21, Father's Day, what a glorious day this was, a day to be THANKFUL for so much in life, GOD has blessed me with two beautiful girls and a wonderful wife. So much in life we take for granted until something so subtly reminds us. James 4:14. "You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
- June 21, I did it, I broke down and started a FACEBOOK page (well my daughter did it) for several reasons. I realize how AWESOME this blog has been (reaching over 4000 hits) for helping others with the same diagnosis and allowing friends and family to follow our journey. I want to use this cancer as an opportunity for outreach to help and inform others. If I can reach more people via FACEBOOK, then I'm all for it. If it increases my ability to reach people for raising funds and awareness then it makes sense. I feel that soon the blog will reach it's end and be available for those too come.
Here are my FACEBOOK and TWITTER links;
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/home.php?ref=home
http://twitter.com/bretttroia
As for my health; things are progressing, I do not have any issues to really report. I am training at full performance level for Ironman with no restrictions. With respect to potency I am approximately 80% (not requiring any medicinal assistance) and continence I am approximately 60% (not requiring any pads.) I continue to perform the prescribed 300 kegels per day and must be aware of urinary frequency required.
Today, July 13 2009 is 14 weeks since surgery and I am thrilled to tell you that things are progressing along quite well. There is a lot of catching up to do so I'll do my best using bullet format.
- June 12, I had my first follow-up with Dr. Patel since the catheter removal, the visit went well; he was pleased with my PSA of 0.00, thought that my incisions healed up nicely, happy to hear I was training again but not so excited with respect to my "continence" or "dryness" percentages. The bottom line was, "Just do the exercises I told you to do, 300 kegels daily and things will get better" Dr. Patel didn't exactly tell me that I have been a disobedient patient through recovery but it didn't require much discernment.
- May 30, through much consultation, my wife's (Kim) approval, my friends 'The Peavy Persuasion" factor, Athletes For A Cure friends and some IRONMAN strings being pulled I accepted a "media slot entry" for the 2009 IRONMAN Florida on November 7. I began training June 1 (5 months from race day) and was provided with a "gift" from a very close friend of mine, he provided a training opportunity from a professional triathlete, Carole Sharpless. Follow the days up until the race on the IM counter on my frontpage.
- June 1, officially kicked off the training and fundraising to raise funds and awareness to change the face of prostate cancer. Help me raise funds and awareness for The Prostate Cancer Foundation while competing in the IRONMAN FLORIDA on November 7, 2009. As you may be aware, I was diagnosed Dec 3, 2008 with prostate cancer. I have since had a robotic prostatectomy, been diagnosed cancer free and well on my way to a full recovery. This year I will be "racing for the cure” with Athletes for a Cure in the Florida IRONMAN Triathlon on 11/07/2009. In addition, I am committed to supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation by setting a fundraising goal of $10,000 for prostate cancer research.
Please follow the link below to donate to my cause;
Follow This Link http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?faf=1&e=2422136044&ievent=186390&supId=232476329 to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Prostate Cancer Foundation.
- June 9, had an opportunity to be interviewed by CURE Magazine regarding The New England Journal of Medicine report on PSA testing. For those of you that have followed my journey you that without PSA "testing early and often" for me we would not have diagnosed the prostate cancer yet. I was also asked by them to do a photo shoot for the article. The story should be in the FALL 09 issue of CURE.
- June 21, Father's Day, what a glorious day this was, a day to be THANKFUL for so much in life, GOD has blessed me with two beautiful girls and a wonderful wife. So much in life we take for granted until something so subtly reminds us. James 4:14. "You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."
- June 21, I did it, I broke down and started a FACEBOOK page (well my daughter did it) for several reasons. I realize how AWESOME this blog has been (reaching over 4000 hits) for helping others with the same diagnosis and allowing friends and family to follow our journey. I want to use this cancer as an opportunity for outreach to help and inform others. If I can reach more people via FACEBOOK, then I'm all for it. If it increases my ability to reach people for raising funds and awareness then it makes sense. I feel that soon the blog will reach it's end and be available for those too come.
Here are my FACEBOOK and TWITTER links;
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/home.php?ref=home
http://twitter.com/bretttroia
As for my health; things are progressing, I do not have any issues to really report. I am training at full performance level for Ironman with no restrictions. With respect to potency I am approximately 80% (not requiring any medicinal assistance) and continence I am approximately 60% (not requiring any pads.) I continue to perform the prescribed 300 kegels per day and must be aware of urinary frequency required.
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