From Drac - July 19, 2008

First of all, I really want to thank everyone for all of your concern, kind words, and amazing mind blowing donations. I am shocked so many people still want to see me on this earth. I guess someone or something still has plans for me on this planet ????

As of today I've now had two PSA tests since the surgery and both were less then
.04. This is the lowest score they can read. Doesn't mean I'm out of the woods completely, but my prostate specific antigens are almost undetectable. In my case, I did have positive margins, meaning that when they removed the prostate, they took a test of the surrounding tissue, and there were two spots that tested positive which means that the cancer had left the prostate. It was such a microscopic amount that they think it probably left within two weeks before the surgery. This indicates that the cancer would have continued on a path outside my prostate and would have gone into the lymph nodes if I had not been able to get this surgery when I did - and I would not be writing you this note right now.
So in other words, I wouldn't be here without your contributions. I could not feel more blessed. The disclaimer the doctors give patients with positive margins is that 70% do have a recurrence within two years. So I will be tested every 6 weeks for the next two years.

My recovery has been slower then I wanted it to be due to various complications, like postoperative infections and nerve damage pain, that lasted much longer then the doctors had expected. I was kind of a guinea pig for this new nerve sparing procedure where they don't use a cauterizing gun during surgery to burn the blood vessels closed and damage nerve endings. The good part about that is that once I'm healed I should have all my nerves intact and they won't be damaged (cross your fingers) - and that should translate to full functions ladies. The bad news is that while I'm healing, all my nerves able to feel EVERYTHING, I was in tons of pain, burning and incontinence that lasted nearly 3 months. I literally lived in the shower for the first 6 weeks I was so uncomfortable. Sitting has been unbearable. Which has made it impossible to sit at the computer to get to all my emails and return calls to everyone personally. It’s been really hard to concentrate on anything when “Big Jim & The Twins” feel like they're on fire.

After these 3 months I had to try to get back to normal life with my son and my shop, and even tried to get out a little, did a couple shows with my band. I pushed my boundaries a little more then I should though, and am now taking it a little slower again – Doctors orders. Again, my apologies for not being able to get back to everyone personally, I'm really trying to do that, it’s just been a slow process.

With the prostate cancer seemingly behind me, in the next coming weeks I will be trying to research with the doctors what my options are for dealing with the three tumors on my spine. If it wasn't for all of your support and donations, I would not have even been able to have the MRI that first discovered these tumors, because the insurance company denied paying for it.
Again, THANK YOU. I feel truly blessed to have so many friends in my life that care. I hope I get to see everyone at the Dog & Pony Show.

Love Drac