The Waiting Game Part 1 begins

What a relief to have that part of this journey over with. Compared to the pain and discomfort so many cancer patients endure, I know mine was tiny...but to me, it was a HUGE thing. While the results of the procedure were still days away, the effects from it began almost immediately. There was blood where blood should not have been. It was not painful anymore but a bit unsettling to see things that to me were just "not natural". The docs and nurses warned me of what to expect and once again, they were right on target. I was normal, my body was responding normally and my reaction to it was pretty much normal too.

The weekend came and went and Monday was a new work day. I had to wait another whole week before I would know the results of the biopsy and see the doctor. With all the advancements in modern medicine and technology it seemed like a long time to wait but I was gonna be patient. On Tuesday, Sept. 23rd Jerry and I were working on a wheelchair ramp at a home off Hwy 115 outside of Huntersville when my phone rang. It was a number I did not recognize but I did answer it. The voice on the other end identified himself as Dr Polsky. After a momentary exchange of greetings and niceties, he began by saying how he did not like calling patients but felt it best to let me know now instead of waiting anxiously for another week that the results were in and I did in fact have prostate cancer. Once again, hearing my name and cancer in the same sentence just seemed impossible. I kept my best manly voice and thanked the doctor and said I would see him in a few days. I walked back to our project and Jerry asked, "what's going on?" I told him, the first person and the first time in my life that I have prostate cancer. Jerry was stilled....took off his cap and wiped his forehead...I dont remember exactly what he said. I know we had alot of conversation the rest of that afternoon but I cant remember any of it right now. The thing I do remember is Jerry stopping right before we left for the day and putting his hand on my shoulder and praying for me.

It was a Tuesday afternoon and tonight was United Methodist Men's meeting and Brenda's circle was feeding us that night. I know I did not want "it" to become a topic of discussion and I did not have the time between work and the meeting to properly tell Brenda either. I decided to keep it to myself. Once the meeting was over I got Rick in the back of the room and told him. I also told him to keep it to himself for the rest of the night as I had not told Brenda yet. He prayed for me right there too. On the way home I knew I needed to tell B so I turned the radio off. That prompted an immediate "what cha do that for?" from B. I told her the doctor had called this afternoon and the results showed I have prostate cancer. Once again, I cannot recall what if any conversation we had that night. I know there were tears and hugs......