Before I give an update, may I apologise to those of my regular blog readers who prefer me to stick to wargaming and cruise-related blog posts, but as I judge that the majority of my readers are males over the age of thirty, and prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that affects men over the age of forty-five, I think that it is a relevant topic for my blog readers to read about.
On Tuesday I had a follow up consultation with a member of the team of doctors who have been dealing with my prostate cancer. He was from the Urology Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, and wanted to find out how how well I was recovering from the TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) procedure that I underwent on 31st May.
I described how I was feeling, and the doctor was pleased with my progress. He put my mind at rest about some of the physical after effects of the TURP that I was experiencing, and then went on to discuss the next stage of my treatment. It appears that my cancer was judged to be aggressive, but that it had responded well to the hormone treatment I am undertaking (my PSA had gone down from 75 to less than 1) and the cancer was confined to my pelvic area (i.e. it has not spread to my bones).
My case is now being passed over to the Oncology Department, and I should be having a consultation with an oncologist in about a fortnight to discuss what further treatment I will need. This will probably involve several weeks of daily radiotherapy at Guys Hospital, London, and if it is successful, I will then require continued three-monthly hormone injections and a PSA blood tests every six months for two years and then annual tests for the rest of my life.
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Hi Bob...Well some good news. Clearly a way to go yet but you are certainly on the right road. Best wishes my friend.
ReplyDeleteTony Adams,
DeleteThanks for you kind words and support.
The news was better than I hoped it would be, and the fact that the NHS is doing everything it can to treat me really is reassuring.
All the best,
Bob
I hope things will continue to improve for you, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteCheers … and thanks for your continued support.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteCertainly hope that you continue to improve and recover and beat the illness outright....Best Wishes. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteCheers! My wife frequently reminds me that more men die with prostate cancer than die of it … so I remain very hopeful that any treatment will be successful.
All the best,
Bob
Best wishes Bob
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteCheers, old chap! Thanks for your continued support.
All the best,
Bob
Great news to hear that oyur PSA is now below 1 Bob. Fingers crossed for moving forward with the treatment. As you rightly say, Prostate Cancer is so common amongst men and given are reluctance to go to the Dr's, we need to spread the message far and wide about this. I certainly did when I was diagnosed nearly 4 years ago now. Touch wood all still good and my PSA is now below 0.1.
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteSince my brush with cancer in my colon in 2020, I’ve become a bit of an advocate for men being more open about their health and seeking advice if they have any concerns about even minor symptoms.
When I give talks to Masonic Lodges, I am usually given a donation to my charity of choice. I always choose Macmillan Cancer Support, and always explain why. It helps to get the message across.
I hope that you continue to enjoy a low PSA.
All the best,
Bob
Glad to hear the prognosis is good. It's probably good for you to share as a way to relieve stress. Best whishes.
ReplyDeleteDan Foley,
DeleteI have learned that keeping things like this to yourself doesn’t help you to deal with it … and by being more open, I might just encourage someone else to seek timely help and advice.
All the best,
Bob
All the best with it, Bob. It goes without saying that we're all rooting for you from the sidelines.
ReplyDeletePrufrock,
DeleteThanks very much for your kind words and ongoing support.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear that your cancer has responded well to the treatment - long may it remain so!
Best wishes, Arthur
Arthur1815 (Arthur),
DeleteThanks very much for your best wishes, continued help, and support … and I warn you that taking it easy doesn’t include abstaining from writing!
All the best,
Bob
That is positive news. My father (now 80) has recently suffered with prostate cancer and underwent hormone treatment and the daily cycle of directed radio therapy. He has made a full recovery. The NHS aftercare and follow up reviews has been excellent. I am sure that all will go well with your treatment. I agree with Prufrock's comment that we will all be rooting for you.
ReplyDeleteTIM
Tim,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for you kind words and support.
I am pleased to read that your father has responded so well to his treatment. Please pass on my congratulation to him.
I have been extremely lucky to have been treated by a very good team of NHS workers, from the consultants to the nursing ancillaries. They were all very supportive and treated me as a person rather than a case that needed treatment.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteYour blog, your choice of subjects.
The usual large response to your regular health updates is proof that there is general interest in the subject, particularly as so many of your followers are at an age when prostate cancer becomes of personal interest. And if you encourage just one person to go for a check up, resulting in early discovery, you have done something very useful.
My prostate cancer was also diagnosed as aggressive, and that is not somthing you want to be told. But, again like yours, confined to the prostate. Consequently very treatable. I hope that you continue to improve and just learn to live with it .
For me one of the very few advantages of having cancer was that it quickly made me realise how important it is to make the best of very day. I have been living with it for 18 years, and have always tried to live up to that ambition. It has certainly driven me to enjoy life more than before and not to take anything for granted.
best wishes
Paul
Thistlebarrow (Paul),
DeleteThe more I and others spread the word about our health problems and help to ensure that other men get diagnosed and treated as early as possible, the better. Far too often these things are talked about in hushed tones in corners, almost as if talking about them guarantees that you will be affected.
What amazes me is the number of men who leave matters until it is almost too late for them to be treated effectively.
I did hear of someone who was diagnosed with cancer in their colon at the same time that I was in 2020, but who rejected immediate treatment because they were afraid of being in hospital at the height of the COVID pandemic. They underwent their operation whilst I was in hospital last month, and I understand that it required far more drastic surgery than it would have done eighteen months earlier.
That word ‘aggressive’ can be quite frightening, but the consultant explained that this did not equate to ‘fatal’, and that with proper treatment I should enjoy a long and enjoyable life.
Like you, I’ve realised that life is for living, and to make the most of the opportunities that are presented to me. For example, my wife and I will be celebrating our fortieth wedding anniversary this year, and I have just bought her a new wedding ring to replace her original one, which no longer fitted her comfortably. It was not cheap … but I thought ‘s*d it; you only have one fortieth wedding anniversary’ … and money isn’t as important as giving my wife a gift that she will enjoy.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Good for you. Remember its a marathon not a sprint. So take comfort and joy in the little victories and keep the progress going. There are many of us cheering for you
ReplyDeleteMark Nichipor,
DeleteThanks for you kind words of support.
You are right about it being a marathon and not a sprint, and I am trying to pace myself in order to complete the course satisfactorily.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you have had good news.
When I was in nursing, my general placement was a Urology ward. When you announced you were going in for an operation, I did wonder if it would still be a TURP. I didn't mention anything at the time as I was concerned I might let slip something that would alarm you further. The hormone treatment is new since my day. From what you have said, the news sounds good. The big risk with prostate cancer is that due to testosterone, It's a real risk any cancer spreads (as hormones are distributed throughout the body). Sadly many of the men on the ward got bad news or had to undergo very drastic surgery.
Another reminder to live life in the here and now.
Regards,
Neil
Neil Patterson (Neil),
DeleteThanks for your kind and supportive comment.
As with all things medical, new treatments are coming along all the time. The hormone treatment seems to have been very effective in reducing/halting the cancer’s growth, and when coupled with the TURP, I feel better than I have done for a long time. There is a downside; I cannot ‘stand to attention’ as well as I used to, and using the little blue pills to help are out of the question. Mind you, at my age things were not that good anyway, so I’m not missing much!
My wife frequently reminds me that nowadays far more men die with prostate cancer than of it … and the consultant told me that my treatment should ensure that I have a long life ahead of me.
All the best,
Bob
Best wishes Bob- sounds like you are being well looked after.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Pete.,
DeleteCheers! The team dealing with my treatment are first rate!
All the best,
Bob
Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy father is a prostate cancer survivor, and at 86 years old he is still enjoying plenty of travel and cruises.
Fitz-Badger,
DeleteIt is one of the most survivable cancers if the treatment starts early enough ... and it sounds as if your father is someone who was treated well before things got too advanced.
Please pass on my best regards to a fellow sufferer.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob. You absolutely should tell others of your condition and treatment. I am interested in reading both your wargaming and treatment news. Why? At 45 I was found out I had stage 3 male breast cancer. I did all the treatments. Surgery. Chemo. Radiation. And I am currently in year 7 of hormone treatment, only 3 more years to go. Others need to hear your experiences, we all go through life thinking that it will never happen to us, only to the other guy. Nope, as we both know it doesn't work that way. Bad lifestyle choices will catch up to you, and sooner than you think. I wish you the best with your treatment and battle, keep fighting, keep your head up, and push through this moment. Looking forward to your updates. Robbie
ReplyDeleteRobbie,
DeleteI count myself very lucky to have been born after the introduction of the Welfare State in the UK. I had every inoculation and vaccination going, free orange juice for the Vitamin C, free milk at school for the Calcium, and free healthcare. I also took part in PE and Games at school, and although not very good at much besides Rugby, Cricket, and Volleyball, I left school physically fit. I gave up smoking at 21, and drinking alcohol in the mid 1980s. All of that was like putting money into a health bank savings account, and I know that I am reaping the rewards now.
When I was last in hospital I was in a ward bay with someone who was seven years younger than me. He was a smoker, a drinker, and physically unfit ... and looked as if he was the oldest of the two of us by a mile! Every time I see a doctor, they comment on how healthy and fit I am for a seventy-two year-old and I put it down to my lifestyle ... and my wife's insistent that I eat a balanced diet, take regular exercise (walking), and I don't just vegetate at home watching the TV all day. As you comment, a bad lifestyle has a habit of catching up on you!
I was very sorry to read that you had also suffered from cancer, but it sounds as if your treatment has been very effective. People don't every think that men can suffer from breast cancer, but far more do than one would realise. By spreading the story of our experiences, perhaps we can make sure that others will not need to undergo the treatments that you and I have. Knowledge is power ... and not talking about things like one's health helps no one.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob, it is a good thing that you share these issues, especially with those of us Gents of a certain age. I continue to wish you well of course as you proceed with your treatment and recovery.
ReplyDeleteLee.
'Lee,
DeleteI was discussing the topic of openness with my wife, and she is of the opinion that if she became ill with cancer, she would rather that no one else knew.(she like to internalise things) whereas I prefer to let people know as sharing my experiences helps me to cope. Hopefully it also has the effect of acting as a warning to others.
When I was diagnosed with a cancerous polyp in my colon back in 2020, I mentioned the screening test that I had undertaken to a group of Freemasons I was giving a lecture to. Several had received the test in the post ... and ignored it. Some months later I got a message from two of the group that after listening to my story they had undergone the test, and both had been found to have blood in their test sample. In both cases, the subsequent investigate found that there was cause for concern, but that due to the early intervention, both were underwent successful treatment.
Over the years I have had mental health problems due to stress (and still get the occasional visit from the 'Black Dog'), had a bout of Myalgic Encephalitis, and now I have had two different cancers to deal with. I suppose that I could have retreated into myself (a prospect that can sometimes be very appealing) but I feel better if I'm out there fighting. If given the choice of 'fight or flight', I'll opt for the former every time!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob, that sounds quite a positive update, hopefully good news. Do by all means continue to share this stuff, I'm sure it's helpful to many people. Hope the next treatments go well!
ReplyDeleteDavid in Suffolk,
DeleteCheers! I'm still waiting to hear for the oncologist, but judging by the speed at which the other people I have interacted with in the NHS have dealt with me, I should not have to wait very long.
All the best,
Bob