This might be better posted in the Lounge, but all it takes is a quick username search on Moneyman to see that the lion's share of his posts on RBR have been in PO, so it seems fitting that I should post this update in PO. If it should be moved - no worries...

Moneyman and I have been connecting via email following reading about his prostate cancer diagnosis in the cancer survivor thread in General. Moneyman is a smart guy, does a lot of research, and this situation is no exception. He is undergoing surgery on December 15th, 8:00am, in a Denver facility that offers a very progressive, highly regarded new robotic procedure called a DaVinci Prostatectomy. Here's a link for reference.

http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/

His MD has some concerns about the spread of the cancer, and expectedly MM is very anxious about that. But he sounds like he's trying to stay focused on work, and life preparations in advance of the procedure. Having his 49th birthday nestled right in the midst of all this doesn't help. Birthdays can serve as reminders of our time clicking off.

MM mentioned that if so inclined, he'd be fine with me posting this update. He thinks of all of us as an extended family, so sharing his situation is something he wants to do, but dealing with the many followup questions would be more time than he can invest.

I don't know much about MM's faith but it may be that putting forward whatever positive thoughts or prayers you can muster would help him to target his healthy recovery from the surgery.

Good luck MM.

Thanks for the update. I'm sure that we will all follow our own hearts in wishing him well and hoping for a positive outcome and full recovery. Let him know that he is missed here. Thanks again.
Steve

Thank you for the update. Indeed, he is being considered prayerfully.

thanks for the update, coop. good luck with the procedure and following recovery, mm. you'll be in all of our thoughts for sure.

I had no idea.

Please pass on my warm thoughts for him & his family.

Len

I think we're all looking forward to his healthy return to RBR.

Having his 49th birthday nestled right in the midst of all this doesn't help.

Good luck MM.

I just turned 48 the other day. As I posted when MM's illness was first disclosed, it really begins to hit home when your age contemporaries are having serious illnesses. As Mrs. S would say, empathy is not my middle name. But, I really feel horrible when I hear about things like MM's postate cancer. My thoughts are with him.

he and I if you don't know aren't, shall you say 'the closest of allies', but I WISH HIM SUCCESS AND RECOVERY. So let him know even the folks he may not like are pulling for him as well.

Wow what kind of day lies ahead when my second post is, as my first post was, a response to someone whose life will never be the same. Let me just wish for him (and for all of us for that matter) that whatever time remains will be full of the best memories one could ever hope having.

Thanks for the update. Get well, MM.

Perhaps with the Dem majority in the House, we'll get some stem cell and healthcare for people who need help.

I'm sure things will look quite different after the surgery.

You're in our prayers.

Best of luck!

I totally missed the diagnosis thread, otherwise I would have posted sooner. I really and truly hope the best for you. I really hope that next Fall, when you venture back to the Cape that you and I can have a nice long ride, and a few Black and Tans.

Be well you bastage. Get well soon.

BT

First, let me say mr. $$man, that if the dems sweeping power did not kill you nothing will.

(insert nelson from the simpsons, haw haw!)

You know I think of you often my man, stay focused, stay informed, and stay positive in your approach to life. Anything you want, let me know.

This might be better posted in the Lounge, but all it takes is a quick username search on Moneyman to see that the lion's share of his posts on RBR have been in PO, so it seems fitting that I should post this update in PO. If it should be moved - no worries...

Moneyman and I have been connecting via email following reading about his prostate cancer diagnosis in the cancer survivor thread in General. Moneyman is a smart guy, does a lot of research, and this situation is no exception. He is undergoing surgery on December 15th, 8:00am, in a Denver facility that offers a very progressive, highly regarded new robotic procedure called a DaVinci Prostatectomy. Here's a link for reference.

http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/

His MD has some concerns about the spread of the cancer, and expectedly MM is very anxious about that. But he sounds like he's trying to stay focused on work, and life preparations in advance of the procedure. Having his 49th birthday nestled right in the midst of all this doesn't help. Birthdays can serve as reminders of our time clicking off.

MM mentioned that if so inclined, he'd be fine with me posting this update. He thinks of all of us as an extended family, so sharing his situation is something he wants to do, but dealing with the many followup questions would be more time than he can invest.

I don't know much about MM's faith but it may be that putting forward whatever positive thoughts or prayers you can muster would help him to target his healthy recovery from the surgery.

Good luck MM.

Boy, I'm really sorry to hear this. Please let MM know I'm thinking and praying for him.

Here's the latest news from MM <Matt>

I guess it's really official as of today. Like a space shuttle take-off, I am in the final countdown to surgery. This morning I began a clear-liquid diet in preparation for the slicing and dicing that will take place on Friday morning. I'll spare all the gory details, but suffice to say that it is easier for the surgeon to work on me if my pipes are really, really clean. The definition of "Clear" liquid is somewhat ambiguous, though, as coffee falls into that category, even though it obviously cannot be seen through. Beer, I believe, is a clear liquid, but two days worth of Guinness Stout or Fat Tire Amber Ale would be a bit much.

As to the actual procedure itself, here is a site that has a video showing, in an animated version, how the DaVinci robot works. http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/video.html The MD performing the surgery - Dr. Steven Ruyle - has done this procedure more than 300 times. I'll be in his capable hands at about 8:00 Friday, and for the next 3.5 hours he will get to know me inside out, if you will. Assuming everything goes according to plans, I should be out on Saturday and back home either Saturday night or Sunday. A week or ten day recovery and I should be back to work by the first of the new year.

My life changed on September 27th, 2006, when the doctor told me I had cancer. Notice I said "changed" and not "ruined", or some other term like that. Because one of the things this diagnosis has become is perhaps the greatest blessing I've had. Of all the people I've talked to and told about my diagnosis, so many of them have offered to say prayers for me. To think that people are asking God to intercede on my behalf is most humbling. To know that people really care and sincerely offer their help is also humbling. I am very, very fortunate to have access to outstanding medical care, family and friends that love and support me and a business that allows me to take the time I need to recover without facing financial disaster. Not everyone has these things when faced with a diagnosis of cancer, and I am very grateful that I do. Cancer has gotten me back in touch with friends I had not heard from for years, as they called and wished me well. It has solidified relationships with friends and family that may have drifted off just a bit. So you can see why cancer has been such a blessing.

I'd really like to acknowledge my friends at the Lance Armstrong Foundation for all their support, referrals and endless stream of information on what to do when the doctor says the "C" word. I never thought that when I started my relationship with the LAF in 1999 that I would be the beneficiary of its mission. They do wonderful work and I am very thankful for their help.

The outlook for me is wonderful. I am not symptomatic at all, I don't have any radiation or chemotherapy in my future, and the odds of getting rid of this stuff completely is very, very good. I've mentioned to some of you a phrase I've heard - "If you want to hear God laugh, just tell Him your plans." While I'm planning on complete removal of the cancer and a swift recovery, in the event that the world doesn't turn quite that way, I am very confident that we can handle anything that crops up.

Thank you all for your love and support. Say a prayer for the surgeon on Friday, because he's got the difficult job. Also, while you're in that space, say another one for Sherry, Brianna and Chandra, because its so hard to be the one in the waiting room. Me? I'll be asleep. I've got the easy part!

God bless you all,

Matt

I appreciate the info very much. Give him our love.

Thanks for sharing, MM. Your words are definatly inspiring, and it's great to hear that things are looking good. Best of luck.




joe

This might be better posted in the Lounge, but all it takes is a quick username search on Moneyman to see that the lion's share of his posts on RBR have been in PO, so it seems fitting that I should post this update in PO. If it should be moved - no worries...

Moneyman and I have been connecting via email following reading about his prostate cancer diagnosis in the cancer survivor thread in General. Moneyman is a smart guy, does a lot of research, and this situation is no exception. He is undergoing surgery on December 15th, 8:00am, in a Denver facility that offers a very progressive, highly regarded new robotic procedure called a DaVinci Prostatectomy. Here's a link for reference.

http://www.davinciprostatectomy.com/

His MD has some concerns about the spread of the cancer, and expectedly MM is very anxious about that. But he sounds like he's trying to stay focused on work, and life preparations in advance of the procedure. Having his 49th birthday nestled right in the midst of all this doesn't help. Birthdays can serve as reminders of our time clicking off.

MM mentioned that if so inclined, he'd be fine with me posting this update. He thinks of all of us as an extended family, so sharing his situation is something he wants to do, but dealing with the many followup questions would be more time than he can invest.

I don't know much about MM's faith but it may be that putting forward whatever positive thoughts or prayers you can muster would help him to target his healthy recovery from the surgery.

Good luck MM.

Thanks for letting us know Coop.

Reading the update I'm definitely feeling positive about his prognosis and glad to hear it.

Get better and come on back and give us more crap MM !

I'm laying odds that he mellows out and goes semi-liberal on us.

Thanks for the update Coop....

And pass on our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Len

Thanks for the update cooper. It's good to know MM is going into this with such a positive attitude!

Should we ask him to post before and after pics?

Moneyman has definitely been in my thoughts..good to hear, wishing him good luck in his surgery...

Michael

Thanks for letting us know Coop.

Reading the update I'm definitely feeling positive about his prognosis and glad to hear it.

Get better and come on back and give us more crap MM !

I'm laying odds that he mellows out and goes semi-liberal on us.


Ha! I might take those odds. He'll probably just call it "compassionate conservative..."

Glad to hear MM is in such strong fightin' spirits.

MM, keep up the good fight! Come back when you're in the mood for a bit of a tussle... :thumbsup:

Surgery was succesful, I'm home and recuperating. Very sore and not a lot of energy, but healing well. They got all the bad stuff out, and it looks like a couple weeks of downtime and I can get back at it.

Thanks so much for your support. I've read all your comments and really appreciate them. I'll keep reading, but don't have the oomph to respond just yet. Thanks, coop, for being my messenger.

Glad to help out, and glad to hear the post-op reports are positive. I'll likely be heading down this same path in the not too distant future. You've set a good lead to follow.

Surgery was succesful, I'm home and recuperating. Very sore and not a lot of energy, but healing well. They got all the bad stuff out, and it looks like a couple weeks of downtime and I can get back at it.

Thanks so much for your support. I've read all your comments and really appreciate them. I'll keep reading, but don't have the oomph to respond just yet. Thanks, coop, for being my messenger.

made my day!

Get healthy so you can keep the rest of us honest:thumbsup:

Len

Surgery was succesful, I'm home and recuperating. Very sore and not a lot of energy, but healing well. They got all the bad stuff out, and it looks like a couple weeks of downtime and I can get back at it.

Thanks so much for your support. I've read all your comments and really appreciate them. I'll keep reading, but don't have the oomph to respond just yet. Thanks, coop, for being my messenger.



Chin up, pip pip, cheerio and all that! Keep your mind on positive things.

If you want to vent at some point, this makes a good place to do it. Keep that in mind. I bet people are tip toeing around you, and that can get old, so if you want some shall we say 'different' treatment...

Best wishes and continued good thoughts.

Surgery was succesful, I'm home and recuperating. Very sore and not a lot of energy, but healing well. They got all the bad stuff out, and it looks like a couple weeks of downtime and I can get back at it.

Thanks so much for your support. I've read all your comments and really appreciate them. I'll keep reading, but don't have the oomph to respond just yet. Thanks, coop, for being my messenger.


Great news!

made my day!

Get healthy so you can keep the rest of us honest:thumbsup:

Len

Down with that!

Take your time MM but we're all waiting for you.


Yessiree jes watin' till ornery old MM come back.

This forum has run amok with libbie panty waisters like ATP and BJ without you.

BT

Moneyman, thanks for your contributions to this website. We are all better for reading your commentary on various topics, even if we don't agree on some of them. I am very glad to hear of your successful surgery, and though you've not mentioned it, I am sure you are preparing for a great 2007 on the bike, right? To me, they can take anything and everything, but don't take away my bike. I am sure you are tired, feeling sore, and ready to just sleep. Which is what you should do.

When you're body is ready to come back, it'll probably tell you.

Speedy healing and happy holidays!!!!!!!!!

Ya may not want this but pucker up cause ... SAAAAMOOOOOOOOOOOCH! xoxoxo