I'm at a cancer crossroad.
 

I'm reaching a point that tares me up. A 2015 diagnosis of stage 4 Prostate Cancer has progressed to Hormone Resistant Metastatic Prostate Cancer. I've had pretty much every known treatment started with Chemo Therapy, 30 cycles of radiation, a imunnotherapy called Provenge, and currently on Multiple drugs Xtandi Xgeva and Lupron. These are giving me allot of side effect tiredness, nausea bone aches and more. I've only been able to do 2 De's this year and have not driven the car that much more on the street this year than taking it to the dealer for inspections . I'm trying to make up my mind weather to sell the car because we could use the money or hold onto this trackable street legal monster. In the end it would be heartbreaking to sell the car not to mention that I would loose my shirt in doing so.

I'm open to comments.

For those new to the sight this is a heavily modified 2003 Boxster non S 5 speed Intake modified motor replaced with a 3.6 LN block and lightened components. Suspension work and exhaust work, Big front brakes. Oil system mods including sump external filter and oil cooler and 997 oil water cooler. Recaro seats and 5 point harness replaced last year. Electric Power steering pump kit and replacement pulley kit.

I keep my fingers crossed for you.

When I wasn't able to drive, walk or even sit anymore last year...the most simple things became my goals to achieve. I was fighting my way back to life in a rehab center for months...and then I needed bigger goals...my Boxster was one of them. I would not let it go anymore.

I was determined and I was lucky to come back.

I'm sorry to hear about your fight with cancer but glad that you're still here with us to recount the story. :cheers:

At the end of the day, only you can decide whether it would be best to keep or sell your car due to financial or other personal reasons.

But since you asked, I'll say that I think that you love that car - it is uniquely awesome and I doubt that you're really ready to let it go. So I'd say keep it. Drive it when you can and continue to revel in the pride of ownership.

And never forget, that all of us here are cheering you on every step of the way.

Keep the car - we all wanna see you get better and get back into that monster for many more rides.

But unless you need the money - focus on you, forget the car for now. Just think of the hassle - small potatoes compared to your health.

Best of luck and I wish you all the strength in the world brother.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stay strong and I vote to keep it as long as it brings you joy.

I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I don’t have any advice on selling or keeping the car. I have the Boxster and a well built Off Road Jeep. Both bring me joy, even just sitting in the garage and hanging out with my buddies, I like to look at it.

I'm sorry to hear of your battle...I hope you continue to hang tough.

As others have mentioned, only you know what is best for you. What will make you feel better at the end of the day? Cash to pay expenses is huge, but so is the carrot hanging out there urging you to continue to fight this thing.

Concentrate on you. Whatever you decide will be the right decision.

You'll be in our prayers.

Best wishes with whatever you decide.

Best wishes. I was so hoping the title of your thread dealt with a rusty Boxster.

If you can financially keep it, do so, as it can bring you joy and you need every little bit you can get. Enjoy each and every day the best you can.

Hopes and Prayers are with you. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

My thoughts and best wishes are with you. You should do what your spirit tells you.....I think that might mean holding on to the monster. If you are so inclined it would great for all of us hear about all your modifications in detail.....I know I can't get enough of your knowledge and experiences.

Sorry to hear of your struggle, and kudo’s for the fight. If keeping the car creates a financial struggle, sell it, as it simply becomes a stressor to keep it, and more added stress is something your body doesn’t need. However, if keeping it is not a financial issue, then as others have mentioned, it can become a positive to help continue to motivate you to fight. At the end of the day, the fight you have is real, and keeping ahold on anything positive is going to help.

I did not want to click on this link. I could tell what it was, and what sort of posts are following; what more could I possibly add?

Yet in the reading, I find I cannot "unclick" as it were, and move on, without also offering what little i can in the way of encouragement in the fight, and empathy for the struggle.

"Cancer sucks". It's the most obviously understated way I've ever heard it described. But so true. Any of us who've felt the personal impact of the C in our lives understands that you must reach a certain level of acceptance before you can fight it. I'm so sorry that you've had to do this, because I know it's difficult.

Another commenter said: God is good. I'd say the same thing differently: i believe that God knows each of us, personally, and can see what we cannot. Somewhere he has as plan. He must. Or none of the rest of this makes any sense.

I'll add you to my prayers.

And at this point, who cares about the car?
I mean, I know you do: but anyone else looking at you as an individual could not have a second thought to the car.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

My prayers are for you. I am lucky to be a prostate cancer survivor. Keep fighting! Each year I keep running into stumbling blocks that keep me out of the seat of my 986. Recovering from open heart surgery at the moment and I know how much you want to get behind the wheel.

Keep the car! Make it your next goal in your fight!

That was brave of you to post this on here, not an easy thing to do.

I bought my Boxster as soon as I was recovered enough from 3 types of chemo and surgery for pcA.

It's been the best anti depressant that I have found.

I have wanted to sell it and "be more practical"

Sure, it's a PITA sometimes, you can't walk in to the store and buy parts like any "normal" car (even in a city like LA), it often feels like more trouble than it's worth, etc.

(We all know that end of the story well, that's why this forum exists)

But driving it brings that "X" factor back almost every time.

Put the top down, head down PCH, and somehow cancer, finances, Trump, etc. all get put into perspective pretty quickly.

My.02 is don't sell it unless you have to (a different story)

PCa treatments are getting better all the time.

There are clinical trials to look in to.

No one knows what's going to happen, not even the doctors.

Statistics don't mean much when it comes down to an individual level.

They are just numbers on a page.

If the thought of being able to drive it again gets you through another day, hour, week, or whatever, you can't put a price on that.

Just knowing that it's waiting there for you when you are better might pull you through some of the darker times.

There are no words to explain what a pcA DX does to a person.

Only those who have faced this thing can really understand it's impact on all aspects of life.

Keep the car and keep your spirits up, it's important.

Just my .02 from one who understands how you feel about this.

Cancer Boxster
 

I too have recently been diagnosed. Trying to go the natural route. Anything better than chemo!!!!! Enjoy your Boxster we have too few joys in life. I can't imagine selling my Box. When I can no longer drive it. It will be time to check out...
Hang in there and keep positive.
Sweet 2000S speed yellow 65k

Been there, chose radiation. PSA at zero now for 7+ years. I regularly play at golf with someone who has a more complex case like you. Every cancer is slightly different. If selling makes you able to get a second opinion from a place that specializes in prostate cancer, then sell. You are more important.

God speed.

Had mine removed.No chemo, no radiation. Been 5yrs, no side effects. All's good. Lucky👌😀

Thank you everyone for your well wishes. I really appreciate the comments from those of you who also are cancer victims/survivors.

I am a survivor too, was laid out most of 2010 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. That was a sucky year, that started back in 2009 when I got separated (divorce was final in 2011). Then I got the Boxster in 2012. Had a scare earlier this year but was benign. If it comes back, I don't know what I will do. I don't have any car advice but I offer my support. I have enjoyed our chats about tracking and the car, and watching your videos and I hope you can keep it and drive more next year. We're all pulling for you.

Cancer crossroads (long).. sorry
 

Hello jsceash,

I really sorry about your condition and only you know the difficulties that you are experiencing with Prostate Cancer as each person body reacts different to the treatment.

In 2016, I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and I spent about one year trying to get approval from the insurance company for a ‘Pencil Proton Therapy’ that it is supposed to be very precise with minimum collateral damage and nearly a year later, after two denied approvals I decided to search for a different treatment, which ended being SBRT which is a Radiation Therapy treatment that lasted 9 weeks combined with a Lupron Hormone Therapy (that has very nasty side effects…)

My treatments ended 6 months ago and the side effects are mostly gone, and even if my last PSA was .01 I know very well, that I am not out of the woods because I need to wait at least five years… please note that 12 years ago, I lost my father to Cancer and three years ago I lost my mother as well (different kind of Cancer), but we must put our life in God’s hands, we must have faith on him as only He knows what his plans are for us.

Now, regarding your car…

Hopefully you can manage to keep it, as you know the satisfaction that brings to you every time you drive it, as I know this is also a good form of therapy.

Last February when I was in the middle of the radiation treatment, a young lady ran a stop light on the corner of my office and hit my Cayman at about 40 miles an hour, luckily for me the impact was distributed between the driver side door and the engine air filter intake (which attaches the roof of the car to the floor), otherwise I may have not been able to walk away, I was devastated for many reasons as I got this car new, spent many years upgrading it and was planning to keep it forever, and the depressions caused by the Lupron Therapy didn’t help at all..

However, about a couple of weeks later I found a 981 CS with 7k on it with 4 year factory warranty and jumped on it, and now most likely I will be eating ramen noodles for the next 4 years but with my wife support I should be able to manage it, and being realistic it may be the last car I buy... already 61, and uncertain about the future (but since I could not do anything about anyway), I decided to move forward with my life enjoying my biggest passion, at least until I have the health required to drive safely.

What am I trying to tell you? That we have to be optimistic about the future and enjoy life as long as we can, please take care yourself and enjoy your passion.

Best regards,
Gilles

Best wishes.

I'll suggest a different calculus than others have offered for making your decision.

1. Take care of family finances first meaning sell the car at a time that provides the most money possible for loved ones. That could be today if short term cash reserves are critically low, much later or perhaps never.

2. Once you've assured the best possible financial future for loved ones, keep the car as long as you possibly can and enjoy it to the max.

In summary I'm saying nothing more than find a balance point between your needs and your loved ones needs. When you figure that point out, you'll know when the time to sell is right.

I haven't had to face medical issues like the one you are, but I used this approach to decide when to part ways with my 01S and my nationally competitive sailboat that our team had raced for many years. The 01S that needed a $7K plus engine refresh got put up for sale when I realized I could have just as much fun with a 30 year old pristine 951 with far less costs. The sailboat went on the auction block when team member interests moved to other things as we gracefully got older and the boat spent the last 18 months sitting on its trailer in the boatyard. Both were tons of fun. Then I found other things to enjoy as well. And hopefully, others will enjoy my past toys

Again, best wishes.

I was diagnosed with colon cancer seven years ago and last year I was told I was cancer free, after going through chemo therapy for six months and then being told I had liver cancer and had to get half of my liver cut out and more therapy I was about ready to give up. I had this car that I really enjoyed not a Porsche but a 2008 Nissan 350Z that was just a pleasure to drive so I sold it as I didn't know what was going to happen with all these problems popping up. Finally when I discovered that I didn't have liver cancer that I was ok and went through MRI's and Scans for five years now I am cured cancer free and I bought my first Porsche my 03 Boxster S and realize if I had to go through this again I would do the same thing sell it so it won't be a bother to the family and cope with the illness the best i can. I'm sure you will do what your hearth tells you and it will be the good decision. Good Luck and the best to you.

I had my Prostate removed when I was 53, it was aggressive but caught early. that was 13 years ago and my PSA has stayed at non detect. A coupla years ago I had a bout of kidney cancer--removed a tumor laproscopically and so far so good, and they salvaged the kidney. I'm type 2 diabetic and have lowered kidney function. And my oncologist says I'm pre-bone cancer (multiple myeloma.) I'm pretty sure what's going to get me.

Most of us who've had Prostate or other cancers know from your description how serious your condition is and at least a little bit want to shed a tear for you and your family.

I think at this point your main concern should be taking care of your family. The Porsche just isn't that important and if lightning would strike and you would get well, you could get another one. So my counsel is to sell it, have the money now, take a little & easy vacation, and spend the remainder of your days in the loving arms of your family.

Take care brother!

Depending on your status, there are novel investigational treatments for advanced prostate cancer using radioactive PSMA - typically using Lutetium PSMA or Actinium PSMA. The data from Europe has been impressive and initially they begin with Lutetium but if that doesn’t work they have had success also with Actinium.

The following site has a clinical trial in the USA using LuPSMA
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03511664

You can also search there for other trials under prostate cancer PSMA.

Best wishes.

Reading this thread makes me both sad and grateful.

There is also a light-activated treatment being used in Israel and I think in trials here in The US.

I think it's called "Tookaid" but Dr. Google will know.

I enrolled in a clinical trial at UCLA and my Dr's turned out to be the head of oncology and urology, as they were running the trial.

Dr's I would not have had access to otherwise.

My .02 is keep the Box, you will want it around after you win this round of the fight!