Prostate cancer

[crankedup5]

^^^

[52classic]

Good news Crankey!! Best of luck with the bone scan too.

I had another Prostap last evening. Getting used to the procedure now although also as usual, I'm tired today (That's my excuse).

Expiry of 3 months since last RT session is on Saturday so I'll be booked for bloods and then another consultation in the coming few weeks.
So far so good then.

How's the rest of your lives and routines? Glad to say I'm pretty much back to normal. Usual family stuff plus,lots of DIY. Car show season and picking up on my restorations programme.

[Derek Smith]

Well done Cranky.

Had my pre-zapping CT scan yesterday. I got three tattoos, although they are all but invisible. My request for a bullseye was refused.

I'm now a cool granddad with not one, not two but three tattoos. Two months before the course of treatment starts.

Good to hear of positive results.

[crankedup5]

52classic said:

Good news Crankey!! Best of luck with the bone scan too.

I had another Prostap last evening. Getting used to the procedure now although also as usual, I'm tired today (That's my excuse).

Expiry of 3 months since last RT session is on Saturday so I'll be booked for bloods and then another consultation in the coming few weeks.
So far so good then.

How's the rest of your lives and routines? Glad to say I'm pretty much back to normal. Usual family stuff plus,lots of DIY. Car show season and picking up on my restorations programme.

Thank you and I very much hope that your treatment will continue with positive outcomes that we both seem to be able to continue.
The hormone injections are certainly energy sapping, I mentioned this to my consultant and he confirmed it’s a situation that has to be worked around unfortunately. Looking at the other option without the treatment I will put up with loss of energy!!
Steam rallies are back on for me now, it much effort required now thatI have a classic campervan.
Keep posting progress as it’s an encouragement I’m sure for those that are just being diagnosed now or in future.

[crankedup5]

Derek Smith said:

Well done Cranky.

Had my pre-zapping CT scan yesterday. I got three tattoos, although they are all but invisible. My request for a bullseye was refused.

I'm now a cool granddad with not one, not two but three tattoos. Two months before the course of treatment starts.

Good to hear of positive results.

Thanks Derek.
When I was ready for the tattoos I asked if they could make them the ‘Three Lions’, no such luck.
I think I recall you mentioned you have the three ‘Gold Seed implants’’. ?
Are you being booked for the 20 rounds of RT ?

[Derek Smith]

crankedup5 said:

Thanks Derek.
When I was ready for the tattoos I asked if they could make them the ‘Three Lions’, no such luck.
I think I recall you mentioned you have the three ‘Gold Seed implants’’. ?
Are you being booked for the 20 rounds of RT ?

Yes. Starting 18 July. There was a mess-up with my testosterone suppressant injections, so the start date had to be put back. Irritated by that, but it's done now.

Not looking forward to them of course, but I would have preferred the course to be earlier.

[crankedup5]

I found with my RT treatment that very quickly it became my new routine, met some interesting and likeable fellow patients over the course of the month. Once finished I felt at a loose end for a few days ! All the best to you.

[Derek Smith]

crankedup5 said:

I found with my RT treatment that very quickly it became my new routine, met some interesting and likeable fellow patients over the course of the month. Once finished I felt at a loose end for a few days ! All the best to you.

Thanks for that.

When I went for my recent CT for the tattooing, there was a woman in the waiting room. She fidgeted and it was obvious she wanted to talk. I said something and then she told me that her husband was in being zapped at that moment. I said great what they can do, and she said that he had been given 'about six weeks to live' last week and was here solely in order to make the pain in his side bearable.

She wanted to talk, I'd started it so I had to carry on. Really sad. Worse was, he came out, visibly in discomfort on his side, and he smiled and nodded at me. She told him we'd been chatting I think, and he turned and thanked me.

He's got four weeks left.

I do feel that if my cancer isn't stopped, with my life, I can't complain. I've had it easy.

[crankedup5]

Derek Smith said:

crankedup5 said:

I found with my RT treatment that very quickly it became my new routine, met some interesting and likeable fellow patients over the course of the month. Once finished I felt at a loose end for a few days ! All the best to you.

Thanks for that.

When I went for my recent CT for the tattooing, there was a woman in the waiting room. She fidgeted and it was obvious she wanted to talk. I said something and then she told me that her husband was in being zapped at that moment. I said great what they can do, and she said that he had been given 'about six weeks to live' last week and was here solely in order to make the pain in his side bearable.

She wanted to talk, I'd started it so I had to carry on. Really sad. Worse was, he came out, visibly in discomfort on his side, and he smiled and nodded at me. She told him we'd been chatting I think, and he turned and thanked me.

He's got four weeks left.

I do feel that if my cancer isn't stopped, with my life, I can't complain. I've had it easy.

Very sobering and truly sad meeting people who are in a boat with more holes than our own. I, like yourself, consider myself fortunate in that I have reached a reasonably mature age. However, prostate cancer is of the type which can be treated very effectively offering us many more years of good life for a good percentage of people, and I will drink to that Let us know how you get on with your treatment.

[52classic]

Just thought it was time to bump the thread to see how you're all doing.

For me, a couple of months has passed since my last Radiotherapy and my 'big review' was this morning. Doc tells me my blood stats couldn't be better.
PSA undetectable. I reported that the random side effects of the therapy have now gone away but tiredness and joint/muscle stiffness remain; especially knees and neck.
The tiredness, I've dealt with by incorporating rest periods into my daily routine. As for neck, it is a case of (for example) buying some 'overtaker' mirrors for the cars having rediscovered the knack of reversing with them!

Looking back to a the early days of all this, when I was catheterised and well under the weather I realise I have a lot to thank the team at Velindre for.
I am now passed over to the 'stats team' to be monitored by way of quarterly blood tests, then a face to face review before the end of the year.

Mustn't forget to tell you what a comfort it has been to share this with other PHers too!

[Derek Smith]

52classic said:

Just thought it was time to bump the thread to see how you're all doing.

For me, a couple of months has passed since my last Radiotherapy and my 'big review' was this morning. Doc tells me my blood stats couldn't be better.
PSA undetectable. I reported that the random side effects of the therapy have now gone away but tiredness and joint/muscle stiffness remain; especially knees and neck.
The tiredness, I've dealt with by incorporating rest periods into my daily routine. As for neck, it is a case of (for example) buying some 'overtaker' mirrors for the cars having rediscovered the knack of reversing with them!

Looking back to a the early days of all this, when I was catheterised and well under the weather I realise I have a lot to thank the team at Velindre for.
I am now passed over to the 'stats team' to be monitored by way of quarterly blood tests, then a face to face review before the end of the year.

Mustn't forget to tell you what a comfort it has been to share this with other PHers too!

Thanks for that. Good news in the main. I'm tired now so will probably spend most of the radiotherapy period, which starts in a bit over three weeks, asleep.

I want it to start now. NOW! My wife said I am impatient. Telling her I was an outpatient turned out to be a good idea as we both ended up laughing.

Met two blokes who have come out the other end, so to speak. One lost all his hair, one had partial hair loss; bald patches. All grown back. They also complained of tiredness, one falling asleep in the waiting area (pre-Covid) and injuring his ear when he fell off the chair. I don't like the idea of things happening to me without a chance to change it. I don't like being out of control or waiting to see what will happen.

Pleased to read how you, and others are getting on, particularly post treatment.

Don't want to lose my hair. I'd rather go bald than have patches. I know it's a bit juvenile to think that way, bit I'm irritated by the possibility. What will I feel like if it happens? Maybe I'll be too tired to bother.

Undetectable PSA eh? There's posh for you. Well done.

Keep the information coming, guys. It's reassuring.

[crankedup5]

Excellent news 52classic, and Positive thoughts that will continue for many more years to come.
Derek, don’t worry over hair loss, RT treatment does not cause that at all, extra big bonus that!
Best wishes.
As always guys any doubts or concerns get yourselves tested pronto.

[52classic]

You beat me to it Crankey. Derek needn't worry. I am not aware of anybody who has lost a significant amount of hair from their head due to Radiotherapy.
Mine is still the same proliferating (now almost white) thatch it was before all this began.

If it is not too much information for you...... I have lost quite a lot of body hair. Back especially, but belly and legs as well. Just starting to grow back now. At least the regrowth is even, if finer than before. Some would say 'silver lining' I actually know a few people vain enough to pay good money for a 'back sack and crack!'

[crankedup5]

^^^^^

To think that some people pay good money for regular body waxing

[Derek Smith]

Start tomorrow with the zapping. Seemed to take a long time.

Looking forward to it, to finally get started.

[52classic]

Absolutely nothing to it mate........ Your dignity will be the only casualty!

[Derek Smith]

52classic said:

Absolutely nothing to it mate........ Your dignity will be the only casualty!

I lost that ages ago. The stuff that's been put up my arse . . . A few X-rays are nothing.

(That's put up my arse for medical reasons. I want to emphasise that. I mean, really emphasise.)

[rovermorris999]

Derek Smith said:

I lost that ages ago. The stuff that's been put up my arse . . . A few X-rays are nothing.

(That's put up my arse for medical reasons. I want to emphasise that. I mean, really emphasise.)

You must have heard the old joke. A doctor is about to put a scope up a bloke's arse. Doctor warns that it may cause an erection but not to be embarrassed as it's quite normal. Bloke says 'the way I feel it's unlikely I'll get an erection'. Doctor replies, 'I didn't mean you'.

It's they way I tell 'em.

[kdri155]

I don’t really know where to start with my story but here it is;

I will add I’m a 58 year married man, a little overweight but no health issues and no family history of cancer or prostrate problems.

Around seven weeks ago I went to my GP after I’d had 3 instances of bed wetting over a two week period, as well as needing to go more often during the night. He took blood and urine samples which showed raised PSA levels and traces of blood in my urine, test was repeated a few days later with the same results, an appointment was made for a physical exam during which he found my prostrate to be enlarged, all this in the first week.

I was referred to my local hospital for a CT scan which found a couple of issues and on the basis of those I was referred for an MRI to check for secondary issues and on the basis of this an appointment was made with the Urology department.

During this appointment more bloods and urine samples were taken and another physical exam taken which again confirmed an enlarged prostrate, I was also informed that an anomaly had been detected in my bladder which is thought to be a small tumour.

Again on the basis of this second discovery I am tomorrow 20th August having a full body and bone MRI scan, I was also informed that another appointment would be made for a TRUS biopsy, then out of the blue today I was contacted by my local hospital asking me if I would be happy to be admitted on the 17th August for a TURBT procedure on my bladder.

As much as I’m appreciative of the efforts made to get my issues sorted, I’m a little daunted and even a little concerned about what outwardly seems a rush to get me treated, even though all concerned have told me that’s not the case.

Apologies if this has been a long read.

[Derek Smith]

You will, I assume, have been given contact details of McMillan nurses. I've found these a great starter when I've been confused or uninformed. Cancer is all they deal with. I've been given the contact details of specialists to ask.

Re: CT scan. I was told that it's not directly connected to your prostrate problem. It's function is to check the rest of you body for other cancers.