Prostate cancer

[crankedup5]

^^^^
Thank you, appreciated.

[bitchstewie]

Best of luck!

[crankedup5]

Thanks Stewie, we may disagree politically but I’m sure we could enjoy a pint

First to arrive at Addenbrookes this morning, superb caring Doctors and Nurses couldn’t have been any easier for me as they guided me along procedures.

Next up the daily visits for Radiotherapy starting within a couple of weeks.

Say again if you reading this have any doubts about your health please do act promptly seeing you GP. If you feel the need to ask for a referral do not hesitate.

[don'tbesilly]

crankedup5 said:

^^^^^
Useful to know, thanks.
Tomorrow 20/1/22, visit Addenbrooks hospital for my ‘planning day’ and gold seed implants. This is then followed in two or three weeks time by the daily radiotherapy for twenty days. I am advised that my health progress will be monitored on a three monthly basis. Just want to get it started and done now!

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

[N7GTX]

don'tbesilly said:

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I think the number of sessions is lower now and the strength of each dose is higher (so in effect you get the same amount of zapping) but it does free up the machines to treat more patients.

Curious about your 3 monthly treatment regime after more than 10 years. I had my 37 in 2016 and was on 3 monthly blood tests for PSA but after 2 years of stable PSA at 0.8 the tests were reduced to 6 monthly. Then they wanted to reduce them to yearly but I didn't feel confident enough to go that far.

@ Crankedup - having watched the recent series on telly following the surgeons at Addenbrookes I think you are in the best place.

[crankedup5]

don'tbesilly said:

crankedup5 said:

^^^^^
Useful to know, thanks.
Tomorrow 20/1/22, visit Addenbrooks hospital for my ‘planning day’ and gold seed implants. This is then followed in two or three weeks time by the daily radiotherapy for twenty days. I am advised that my health progress will be monitored on a three monthly basis. Just want to get it started and done now!

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Thanks dbs and pleased that your progress forward is so positive .
Apparently some hospitals still offer the 37 day treatment program with the radiotherapy delivered in the smaller doses as opposed to the 20 day program. Getting into Addenbrookes is a right horrible traffic snarled journey, but I will take that as a win as opposed to the no treatment option!!

Addenbrookes and East Suffolk hospital Doctors, nurses and staff have been outstandingly excellent in their professionalism and caring attitude laced with positive kindness, Outstanding.

[crankedup5]

N7GTX said:

don'tbesilly said:

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I think the number of sessions is lower now and the strength of each dose is higher (so in effect you get the same amount of zapping) but it does free up the machines to treat more patients.

Curious about your 3 monthly treatment regime after more than 10 years. I had my 37 in 2016 and was on 3 monthly blood tests for PSA but after 2 years of stable PSA at 0.8 the tests were reduced to 6 monthly. Then they wanted to reduce them to yearly but I didn't feel confident enough to go that far.

@ Crankedup - having watched the recent series on telly following the surgeons at Addenbrookes I think you are in the best place.

Yes I am very fortunate to be within Addenbrookes area, I missed the tele series and would like to catch up on it, is it ITV?

[don'tbesilly]

N7GTX said:

don'tbesilly said:

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I think the number of sessions is lower now and the strength of each dose is higher (so in effect you get the same amount of zapping) but it does free up the machines to treat more patients.

Curious about your 3 monthly treatment regime after more than 10 years. I had my 37 in 2016 and was on 3 monthly blood tests for PSA but after 2 years of stable PSA at 0.8 the tests were reduced to 6 monthly. Then they wanted to reduce them to yearly but I didn't feel confident enough to go that far.

@ Crankedup - having watched the recent series on telly following the surgeons at Addenbrookes I think you are in the best place.

My op was only three weeks ago, and my next follow-up by Oncology is in April.
I rather suspect that with a non-recordable PSA reading at the next follow up the 3 monthly follow up will be extended to six months and then yearly.

If they go yearly I'll just get my GP to do one at six months purely for peace of mind, I did that prior to finding out the f*cker had returned 8 years after completing the radiotherapy treatment in 2011.

If I was you I'd see if your GP would do a blood test, mine has always been very supportive, and based on my experience you can't be to careful!

[Unknown_User]

crankedup5 said:

Addenbrookes and East Suffolk hospital Doctors, nurses and staff have been outstandingly excellent in their professionalism and caring attitude laced with positive kindness, Outstanding.

Good to hear Crankie.

I hope everything goes well and your treatment is as stress free as possible. You mentioned "gold seed implants" in an earlier post so I'm off to learn a bit more about them.

Best of luck and have a great weekend.

[don'tbesilly]

crankedup5 said:

N7GTX said:

don'tbesilly said:

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I think the number of sessions is lower now and the strength of each dose is higher (so in effect you get the same amount of zapping) but it does free up the machines to treat more patients.

Curious about your 3 monthly treatment regime after more than 10 years. I had my 37 in 2016 and was on 3 monthly blood tests for PSA but after 2 years of stable PSA at 0.8 the tests were reduced to 6 monthly. Then they wanted to reduce them to yearly but I didn't feel confident enough to go that far.

@ Crankedup - having watched the recent series on telly following the surgeons at Addenbrookes I think you are in the best place.

Yes I am very fortunate to be within Addenbrookes area, I missed the tele series and would like to catch up on it, is it ITV?

Possibly this one?:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09m60sk/su...

You'll need a TV licence.

[N7GTX]

don'tbesilly said:

crankedup5 said:

N7GTX said:

don'tbesilly said:

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I think the number of sessions is lower now and the strength of each dose is higher (so in effect you get the same amount of zapping) but it does free up the machines to treat more patients.

Curious about your 3 monthly treatment regime after more than 10 years. I had my 37 in 2016 and was on 3 monthly blood tests for PSA but after 2 years of stable PSA at 0.8 the tests were reduced to 6 monthly. Then they wanted to reduce them to yearly but I didn't feel confident enough to go that far.

@ Crankedup - having watched the recent series on telly following the surgeons at Addenbrookes I think you are in the best place.

Yes I am very fortunate to be within Addenbrookes area, I missed the tele series and would like to catch up on it, is it ITV?

Possibly this one?:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09m60sk/su...

You'll need a TV licence.

Yes, that's the one. Between Papworth and Addenbrooks the surgeons at those hospitals do some amazing stuff. Even told the wifey we were moving to Cambridge.....

[N7GTX]

don'tbesilly said:

My op was only three weeks ago, and my next follow-up by Oncology is in April.
I rather suspect that with a non-recordable PSA reading at the next follow up the 3 monthly follow up will be extended to six months and then yearly.

If they go yearly I'll just get my GP to do one at six months purely for peace of mind, I did that prior to finding out the f*cker had returned 8 years after completing the radiotherapy treatment in 2011.

If I was you I'd see if your GP would do a blood test, mine has always been very supportive, and based on my experience you can't be to careful!

Unfortunately when I moved house, a distance of 5 miles, I changed Clinical Commissioning Groups and my new GP refused to do my blood tests outside of the hospital because he would not be paid for it. I tried to stay with my previous GP but was refused. I went along to a CCG meeting and had a heated argument with the chairman, a local GP, who was less than helpful despite some nurses asking him to reconsider.
So I met up with the Yorkshire Cancer Alliance who listened to my story and they have seminars to which I was invited. It is for oncologists, doctors and nurses so I was a guest speaker. Within a month my new CCG was working to the same standards as the previous one.

At this meeting was my new consultant who I'd never met and I had gone there in my Rover SD1 with a poor battery on it. By chance he had parked in front of me and when he heard the car not starting he came over and gave me a push. When all my treatment had finished he arranged a scan to put my mind at ease. So that was a good result all round.

[crankedup5]

Unknown_User said:

crankedup5 said:

Addenbrookes and East Suffolk hospital Doctors, nurses and staff have been outstandingly excellent in their professionalism and caring attitude laced with positive kindness, Outstanding.

Good to hear Crankie.

I hope everything goes well and your treatment is as stress free as possible. You mentioned "gold seed implants" in an earlier post so I'm off to learn a bit more about them.

Best of luck and have a great weekend.

Thanks U.U. as with Stewie we mostly disagree about politics but much in life goes way beyond of course.

Yes the so called God Seeds’ first thing the oncologist said to me yesterday was that I would be leaving hospital a wealthier man than when I arrived
Apparently the seeds offer the radiography a greater accuracy of hitting the target which means less chance of unwanted side effects after treatment.
Well I had the gold yesterday and the dreaded finger for checks, One could say ‘Goldfinger’

[crankedup5]

don'tbesilly said:

crankedup5 said:

N7GTX said:

don'tbesilly said:

Best of luck Fella, and I hope it works out for you.
I had a call from my Oncologist yesterday, last blood test showed an unrecordable reading on my PSA, so all good and I'm also now on a 3 monthly check-up.

It's good to see they've brought down the number of daily sessions of radiotherapy to just 20, I had 37 back in 2011.

Keep us posted on your progress.

I think the number of sessions is lower now and the strength of each dose is higher (so in effect you get the same amount of zapping) but it does free up the machines to treat more patients.

Curious about your 3 monthly treatment regime after more than 10 years. I had my 37 in 2016 and was on 3 monthly blood tests for PSA but after 2 years of stable PSA at 0.8 the tests were reduced to 6 monthly. Then they wanted to reduce them to yearly but I didn't feel confident enough to go that far.

@ Crankedup - having watched the recent series on telly following the surgeons at Addenbrookes I think you are in the best place.

Yes I am very fortunate to be within Addenbrookes area, I missed the tele series and would like to catch up on it, is it ITV?

Possibly this one?:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b09m60sk/su...

You'll need a TV licence.

That’s great, thanks for link.

Missed the licence jibe, very good

Edited by crankedup5 on Saturday 22 January 15:41

[Derek Smith]

I'm growing breasts.

I was told to watch out for tingling in the chest area, but I had none. I'd heard about the side effects (in reality the effects) of the hormone injections, so once a week, I stripped to the waist and examined my bits. Oddly, not nearly so erotic as I'd thought it was for all these years. There seemed little change, so I took to photographing myself. Boy, was it a peculiar feeling. After three weeks, the change was obvious.

It gets worse. My right breast is significantly larger than my left. On top of that, or below it I suppose, it is a bit on the droopy side.

I phoned the Macmillan nursing unit, and spoke with a very pleasant woman who arranged for me to have more pills. She said, in answer to my question, that post treament, they are unlikely to go back to normal. (We'll see about that!) I said that for some weird reason, I was more bothered about having odd-sized breasts than breasts per se. She said she entirely empathised. I suppose she would.

It's a bit of a downer, more of a downer on the right of course. Before anyone asks, photographs are not available.

If anyone wants to keep abreast (see what I did there?) of how things are going for me, Blugger and the Big C is on my website, Writewheel.uk.

As an aside, I've found writing about my progress, or rather the progress of the cancer, makes it easier to face. Puts it in perspective a bit. My kids read it so don't have to open every meeting, when they come to my house or phone, 'How are you feeling?' It also stops the grandkids being made aware that granddad is vlunerable. My elder daughter, who is fashionably slim, despite eating whatever she wants, asked if I could save her a bit of my next injection.

[N7GTX]

My hormone injections gave me breast swellings too. A novelty at first but after a month or two, walking down stairs became uncomfortable. Eventually they became painful when working on cars and pressing against them.
Consultant suggested the radiotherapy to the buds treatment to kill them off. It made no difference. Once the injections were over the swelling went down and all returned to normal after 3 months.

[Digger]

Derek Smith said:

I'm growing breasts.

I was told to watch out for tingling in the chest area, but I had none. I'd heard about the side effects (in reality the effects) of the hormone injections, so once a week, I stripped to the waist and examined my bits. Oddly, not nearly so erotic as I'd thought it was for all these years. There seemed little change, so I took to photographing myself. Boy, was it a peculiar feeling. After three weeks, the change was obvious.

It gets worse. My right breast is significantly larger than my left. On top of that, or below it I suppose, it is a bit on the droopy side.

I phoned the Macmillan nursing unit, and spoke with a very pleasant woman who arranged for me to have more pills. She said, in answer to my question, that post treament, they are unlikely to go back to normal. (We'll see about that!) I said that for some weird reason, I was more bothered about having odd-sized breasts than breasts per se. She said she entirely empathised. I suppose she would.

It's a bit of a downer, more of a downer on the right of course. Before anyone asks, photographs are not available.

If anyone wants to keep abreast (see what I did there?) of how things are going for me, Blugger and the Big C is on my website, Writewheel.uk.

As an aside, I've found writing about my progress, or rather the progress of the cancer, makes it easier to face. Puts it in perspective a bit. My kids read it so don't have to open every meeting, when they come to my house or phone, 'How are you feeling?' It also stops the grandkids being made aware that granddad is vulnerable. My elder daughter, who is fashionably slim, despite eating whatever she wants, asked if I could save her a bit of my next injection.

Derek, I admire your attitude & the added humour.

Edited by Digger on Sunday 23 January 23:22

[Derek Smith]

N7GTX said:

My hormone injections gave me breast swellings too. A novelty at first but after a month or two, walking down stairs became uncomfortable. Eventually they became painful when working on cars and pressing against them.
Consultant suggested the radiotherapy to the buds treatment to kill them off. It made no difference. Once the injections were over the swelling went down and all returned to normal after 3 months.

Thanks for that. Here's hoping.

[crankedup5]

I enjoy reading your blog Derek, best wishes.

[Derek Smith]

crankedup5 said:

I enjoy reading your blog Derek, best wishes.

Thanks. I'm feeling pretty positive about it. My wife is more worried than I am.

I should tell her where I've hidden the gold.