Peter Kafka, our Board Chair and Lead Moderator for several of our video-chat virtual support groups, poignantly reflects this week on the meaning of 7 years living with his prostate cancer. (rd)
One subject that comes up fairly often in our prostate cancer support calls is “fatigue”. Usually in the context of dealing with physical fatigue as a side effect of various treatment drugs. But I am thinking today about a different level of fatigue that affects us mentally and emotionally. We hear a lot about this in regards to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. A year or so into it and people are crying out, “Enough already!”. But I would guess that many of you feel the same sentiment regarding your ongoing experience with a prostate cancer diagnosis.
I have reached my 7-year anniversary since my official diagnosis of prostate cancer. What is it about the number seven? Yes, it has some kind of man-made spiritual significance. The seven colors of the rainbow, the seven days of the week, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and of course the Seven-year Itch. But as I (celebrate?) this seven-year anniversary of dealing with my prostate cancer I hear myself crying out, “Enough Already!”. Fatigue is setting in.
I have done my best to look at this disease from a wide variety of angles. The friendships I have made with many of you. The increased understanding of the dynamics of prostate cancer among an ever-increasing body of men and women. The empowerment of taking on the job of being one’s own best advocate. But in honesty, prostate cancer and all the accompanying side effects of the variety of treatment modalities that I have, and continue to experience, bring on a good deal of mental and emotional fatigue.
I don’t believe that medical science graphs this fatigue factor. We read a lot about “overall survival – OS” or “progression free survival – PFS”. I guess the category of “Quality of Life” might come closest to what I am talking about, but it doesn’t quite capture the essence. I suspect that any of you who have been on this journey for any length of time know what I am talking about. I don’t have an answer, and I am certainly not selling any kind of snake oil for treatment. I know in my heart and mind that this bump in the road will pass and I will move forward. I always do.