Medical History 2017-18

    Medical History 2017-18 of Eldon D. Olsen

Smile, things could be worse, so I smiled and sure enough, things did get worse.

Picture (with smile) August 2018 at Twin Rocks

Diagnosed with prostate cancer (Gleason 8) Fall of 2017.

Forty-five daily radiation treatments, $60,000, ending in December. It zapped the cancer! But in the process damaged the rectum.

Four months clear, then radiation proctitis bleeding started.

Steroid suppositories not effective.

Liver biopsy and blood test indicated liver and kidney weak.  Water retention in legs and stomach.

Three colonoscopy-like treatments couldn't stop the bleeding, $4,000 each. The proctologist gave up and referred to a hematologist. We really like Dr. Wells, the hematologist, who is also LDS and takes times to explain things.

Dr. Keith Wells

Emergency room for fever with 2 blood transfusions at $4,000. CT scan. E-coli infection, in hospital 3 days, $17,000.

Esther and Zachary

Started Cyclosporine (for immune suppression).

Several more blood and iron transfusions/infusions. Wonderful children and grandchildren donated blood to ease my guilt feelings of requiring blood.

Started Sucralfate twice daily rectal coating treatment. Janeil was taught in the hospital how to do them. It takes 20 minutes and she reads to me in between turnings. We read through the journals of our missions (wonderful reading!) and the book, Saints. Still doing the treatments.

Forty daily hyperbaric-oxygen chamber treatments, $50,000, ending in October, 2018. Weekday trips to Albany. Janeil drove (she claimed I drove verbally) and during the 2 ½ hour treatments, she went to exercise at the YMCA and shopped (adding greatly to the cost of the experience).  Required an Echocardiogram and tubes through ear drums. Resulted in less frequent bleeding.

Bone marrow biopsy.

Diagnosis received Aug. 18, 2018. Life threatening rare bone marrow failure condition called Aplastic Anemia.  Bone marrow isn't producing sufficient blood cells. Terminal within months if untreated.  Technically not cancer but behaves like it.  Only 1/10,000 have this condition. Cause and cure unknown for this bone marrow disorder but it can be managed with medication.

No pain, but lots of worry about bleeding and also diarrhea (the latter a result of medication). Lacking energy and also experiencing discouragement at times. Reluctant to leave the house, but am attending a cancer support group monthly which helps my attitude.

Started a new drug (on the market since 2014), Promacta pills, $24,000 per month. Conditions improved some by Fall 2018. I look like a very old man--gaunt and boney shoulders and arms, but below that like the Pillsbury Doughboy. The nurses like me because I tell jokes and ask about their families.

All costs covered by Providence Health Insurance (Medicare/ Medicaid) except small co-pays.  Rx insurance plan.

Services provided by the Corvallis Clinic, Samaritan Regional Cancer Center, the Hbot Center in Albany and Willamette Valley Cancer Institute.  I'm grateful for modern medicine and that it is located close by.

Fifty percent survival rate (five years). If I survive that long you can call me a "million dollar" man.  I don't feel like I will, but it's in the Lord's hands. His will be done. And there are still things to smile about! 

My Siblings

I would like my children to know more about my siblings.

This photo was taken at my parents' (Marvin and Carol Olsen's) 50th wedding anniversary celebration in August of 1987. My sister, (Marion) Gayle is 11 months older than I am. Three brothers followed: Leslie was five years younger, Lloyd was six years younger, and (Clifton) Brent was 11 years younger. Leslie died as a baby when six months old. Brent is the tall, dark one in the back of the picture.


My folks moved a lot with my father's job as a soil scientist. Gayle was born in Phoenix, Arizona. I was born in American Fork, Utah. Leslie and Lloyd were born in Montrose, Colorado. Brent was born in Richfield, Utah. My siblings currently each live in a different state: Gayle is in Texas, Lloyd in Utah, and Brent in Arizona.

Gayle and Lloyd divorced their young spouses and remarried. Gayle had three children with Delbert "Norris" Hutchinson: Lori, Lyn, and Lysle. Lyn was a lifelong friend of mine. Gayle is the step mother of Joe Jenson's three children from his first marriage.

Lloyd has two children: Travis John (T J) and Stephanie with his current wife, Nancy. His previous marriage with Christine (Christy) produced three girls: Lisa, Jenny, and Stacey.

Brent has two daughters with his wife Ronda: Hailey and Heather. There are lots of grand nieces and nephews I've never met.

Gayle worked for the IRS in their fraud division specializing in fake returns filed from prisons.  She has made and sold crafts since her retirement. Lloyd was a property manager for a Utah school system. Lloyd was also a staff sergeant in the Utah National Guard and liked to play in softball leagues with his wife, who was a high school math and PE teacher. Brent worked his whole career in the meat industry. His wife, Ronda, works for Wells Fargo.

We all graduated from high schools in south Salt Lake. Although we lived in the same house, Gayle graduated from East High, I graduated from South High, and Brent and Lloyd graduated from Highland High, a new school built near our home. I was the only one to go on to college and to go on a mission. Brent had several "cool" cars through the years.

The last time I talked to Gayle was a mom's funeral in 2002. Lloyd calls a couple of times a year. Brent has visited us several times on business trips. Lloyd lived near mom's retirement center so he saw her almost weekly during the last few years of her life.

Both of my brothers are taller than I am. Since there was a big age difference between the boys we never interacted much. We liked each other and still do. Brent was 12 when I was dating Janeil and he tagged along on several of our dates. I was a pest to my older sister. One day I remember she was upset with me and the worst insult she could muster was, "You have no personality."

In contrast to my siblings, Janeil's sisters, Lois and Gail, are well know to our kids. Aunt Gail has been a confidant to Sheryl and Brenda when they were at BYU and since. Gail has invited the whole family to many family dinners when we were in Utah on visits. Gail was very kind to Carl over the years. Lois' children are equivalent in age to our family. About a decade ago we would have yearly large campout family reunions.