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G8RB8R
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Gender:
Male
Birthday:
Jun 30, 1950 (Age: 73)
Home Page:
Location:
Jacksonville, Florida
Occupation:
Retired VP Sales & Operations

G8RB8R

GC Hall of Fame, Male, 73, from Jacksonville, Florida

Read my profile page to learn about who I am. Oct 7, 2014

G8RB8R was last seen:
Feb 15, 2017
    1. G8RB8R
      G8RB8R
      Read my profile page to learn about who I am.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    Jun 30, 1950 (Age: 73)
    Home Page:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/ggrimme32068?feature=mhee
    Location:
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Occupation:
    Retired VP Sales & Operations
    UF Elec Engineering 1968-69
    BS Mgmt & BS Econ FTU (UCF) Class of 1978

    For those who take the time to check out my profile, know that not only am I a Die-Hard GATOR (born in Gainesville at Alachua General, UF 1968-69) but that I am a Cancer Warrior, too. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2012. A biopsy in March of that year determined that I did not have "old man's" prostate cancer, but that I had a rare form of it, deemed "major & aggressive" by the Shands surgeon who performed my biopsy, which tested 100% positive for cancer. I underwent Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy to remove the diseased prostate gland. At the same time that the surgery was performed, my lymph glands in this area were sampled for cancer, too. Prostate cancer was found to be evident in one sampling. My diagnosis was thus: Metastasized Stage IV Advanced Prostate Cancer - there is no cure for me or my type of prostate cancer. Many times when you hear discussions about prostate cancer, you will hear it said that most men will have prostate cancer at some point in their life, but they will die of other causes and can live a long successful life while treating their cancer. These men may have PSA's in the 1000's - mine never was higher than 15 and a 4.0 when the warning was sounded about the possibility of having cancer. The danger is not the PSA number, but rather the percentage increase between readings. In my case, almost a 400% increase in less than 9 months. 3 months after my surgery, I began hormone therapy treatments (trelstar) in which I received an injection via syringe, every 3 months. After 2 of these treatments, the therapy failed. I had 2 large tumors that developed almost overnight - 1 under my left arm, and 1 at the base of my neck on the left, also. The one under my arm was biopsied and it was determined that it was cancer that had manifested itself in the lymph nodes under my arm. Same was assumed for the tumor on my neck. I became a patient at MD Anderson in Orlando, and began immediate chemotherapy (Taxotere - the same chemical used to treat breast cancer) every three weeks. It was absolutely the worst thing I have ever been thru, and after 1 solid year of this, I could take no more. Along with the chemo I was receiving, I was put on a daily double dose of steroids (prednisone). As a result of the chemo, which saved my life, I became diabetic, developed high blood pressure, had severe nerve damage in my left leg and left hip, severe neuropathy in my hands & feet, lost all my hair (yep, that means ALL hair), disfigured my finger nails, and other such sundry maladies. During this treatment, I felt like I just wanted to die. Finally, in March 2014 I could take no more and ended the chemo. I have been trying to recover as much as possible since that time. It has been a very slow, sometimes painful, recovery. The tumors were reduced in size by approximately 50%. Chemo has left me with little to no energy or endurance. The compromising of my immune system by chemo therapy has left me vulnerable to be able to fight off viruses, infections, etc. Luckily, I have only had to be hospitalized twice for acute bronchitis. Steroids caused me to gain almost 80 lbs, in turn causing the diabetes. I have lost most of my muscular physique that I once had. In other words, I have gone to hell and back, but am thankful to be alive to share my story with other Gators here. My prognosis (when the surgery was performed) for the future is somewhere between 2 - 5 years before the cancer gets me. But, in reality, no one really knows how long I will live. Could be less, could be longer. Only time will tell. I do not dwell on this, I live life to fullest every day that I am alive, and am thankful to still be here among so many GATOR friends!

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