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Tuesday 4 October 2022

Some good news

I had an appointment at the hospital yesterday to discuss the continuing treatment of my prostate cancer. As the blood test I had on the previous Friday showed that my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) level was 0.1, this appears to indicate that there is a very high probability that the cancer is no longer growing and may in fact be dormant.

The MacMillan nurse who is dealing with my treatment told me that I will be taking Erleada (apalutamide) for the foreseeable future and continuing to have injections of Zoladex (goserelin) every twelve weeks. My PSA level will be monitored regularly, and assuming there is no change, there should be no need for radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

This is good news … or at least, Sue and I think it is. Furthermore, the TURP (transurethal resection of the prostate) seems to have worked, and I am no longer experiencing problems urinating.

After a rather traumatic seven months, life seems to be gradually returning to normal. I still have concerns as there is no guarantee that the prostate cancer will stay as it is, but I now have hope, and I feel that a great mental load has begun to lift.

54 comments:

  1. Great news Bob, good luck on your onward journey.
    All the best Airhead

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Airhead,

      It’s not a cure … but it does lift a lot of worry off my shoulders.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Excellent news Bob, you deserve a break from all the stress and worry of the past months. Long may it continue.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ‘Lee,

      It was not until I was told the news and walked out of the oncology unit that I suddenly realised how mush less stressed I felt … and it was a great feeling!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Having a PSA of 0.1 is brilliant news Bob! Ditto on the radiotherapy and chemotherapy front too. fingers crossed for you all moving forward and I know from experience what a relief it is when you effectively have undetectable PSA. All the best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve J.,

      Cheers! The level of PSA is amazingly low considering that back in March it was 75! I’m not cured, but at least I can look at the future with greater confidence.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Jennifer,

      Cheers … and please keep writing about you wargaming. I always find your stuff very entertaining.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  5. Sounds like very positive news, indeed! You are due an encouraging break on this front.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jonathan Freitag,

      Cheers! I feel so much more positive … and have lots to look forward to.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. Neil Patterson (Neil),

      Cheers! I’ll certainly continue to look after myself.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Simon,

      Cheers! Thanks for your kind message.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  8. Excellent news. Of course there is no guarantee that things will stay as they are - but the thing about incurable illnesses (and cancer can always come back) is that you learn to accept that things can get worse - or, in remission, better. It can be worse for family though - my son's partner told me he get quite stressed when I'm apparently quite blase about my own issues!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rob Young,

      I was expecting to be told that I was going to have to have radiotherapy at the very least, but as long as my PSA stays low, I should be able to avoid that for the time being.

      My wife is currently celebrating by booking a cruise for later this month. She had cancelled it, but was able to book again … but cheaper, in a better grade suite, and with more onboard credit … so it’s a double plus good result!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  9. Very good news, Bob - and that alone can have a therapeutic effect. Take care, eh?
    Cheers,
    Ion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Archduke Piccolo (Ion),

      Cheers! I feel so much more positive, even to the extent that some of my aches and pains seem to have diminished since yesterday.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  10. I'm glad to hear your good news Bob. Long may it continue!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donjondo,

      Cheers, old chap! Thanks for your best wishes.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  11. BOB,
    Great news for you indeed- wonderful -considering what you have been through- all the very best friend. Cheers. KEV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      Cheers! I feel a lot less stressed as a result of this news, and have much to look forward to.

      Keep safe and keep well,

      Bob

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Maudlin Jack Tar,

      Thanks very much for your best wishes. They are much appreciated.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  13. Good news indeed, I'm glad to read this. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr. Pavone,

      Cheers! It’s the sort of news I never expected to get.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  14. Brilliant to hear this, Bob. Cheers, Aaron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Prufrock (Aaron),

      Cheers! It’s great to have good news for a change.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  15. Great news Bob. Sure, they might need to monitor the situation over time - but still it’s a big positive step from where you were before. Cheers,
    Geoff

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elliesdad (Geoff),

      I can live with being monitored and taking Erleada for the foreseeable future; it’s way better than the alternative!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  16. Bob,
    Good to hear that things are improving for you. May they continue to do so!
    Best wishes, Arthur

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Arthur1815 (Arthur),

      It was great news. I had no idea that the medication was being so effective, and having to take four tablets once a day is much easier than having to have radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  17. That is just very good news indeed. Very pleased for you. Regards.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tony Adams,

      I could not have wished for better news!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  18. Sounds encouraging Bob! Best wishes for continued good news.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter Douglas,

      It was incredibly encouraging news. I’ve felt so much better today as a result.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  19. That sounds pretty good news, Bob, and I'm glad it has lifted your mood! Thanks for keeping us all updated through this, I'm sure it has been useful for both you and yor readers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David in Suffolk,

      It’s great news, and has really given me a boost. I know of several other regular blog readers who have or have had the same cancer, and I hope that my story will help them and others who get the same diagnosis.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  20. Glad to hear your good news, all the best to you both , Tony

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Good Soldier Svjek (Tony),

      Cheers! Thanks for you kind words and best wishes.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  21. Great news Bob. Good to hear you are feeling more positive. Keep well my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen Smith,

      Cheers! I was already trying to be as positive as possible, but this news gave that a definite boost.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  22. Good to hear - onwards and upwards :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Norm,

      Cheers! (By the way, ‘Onwards and Upwards’ was my old college motto.)

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  23. Now that is good news. So good to hear of your positive results Bob.
    And thank you for continuing to de-mystify this whole thing.
    I'm raising a glass of red to you.
    Cheers!
    Chris

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nundanket (Chris),

      Cheers! It is now two days on since the news ... and I'm still feeling a little euphoric.

      Telling people what has happened to me has helped me to cope, and hopefully has helped to make my mainly male followers realise that it could happen to them but that it can be dealt with if caught early enough.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  24. Great news! I'm glad the treatment is working and I hope your condition continues to improve. Best wishes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Cordone,

      Thanks very much for your kind words and support. As my wife continues to remind me, far more men die WITH prostate cancer than OF it ... so the treatments must work fairly well.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  25. Best wishes!
    My father is 86 years old, and a prostate cancer survivor for more than a decade now.

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    Replies
    1. Fitz-Badger,

      Cheers ... and the news that your father has had more than a decade living with prostate cancer and continues to flourish gives me even more encouragement to keep b*gg*ring on!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
    2. Oh, also, he is very independent and still enjoys a good amount of traveling and cruises. His quality of life is quite good. I hope the same is/will be the case for you as well!

      Delete
    3. Fitz-Badger,

      What a coincidence! To celebrate the news, my wife has booked us on a couple of cruises … and I am really looking forward to them! Oh for freedom of the open road! (Delete ‘road’ and replace it with ‘ocean’!)

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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