Prostate cancer

[hammocity]

Thank you so much in those words mate and taking time out to post it.It really does me understand this and hopefully treat you to a beer in the sycamore.

Please come in pre match and meet my Bessy mate, any match day, we’ll be there, Paul is an inspirational person, cheers.

 

[hammocity]

I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer two and half years ago. Had Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and stopped Hormone Therapy a few months back. My cancer had already spread so the operation was a no go. The first thing I would do is drink decaff coffee and tea. If your diet isn't great, change that too, Find out what the Superfoods are and introduce them to your eating. Food and drink are important. I had half a spoonful Ginger and Termaric everyday and also a tablespoon of Cider Vinegar, tastes awful but its really good for you. All these things help. I was informed by Christie's the cancer feeds on meat, Bacon Sausage and any processed meat like Ham being the worst, so I stopped eating them too. Do exercise every day, even if its just a walk round the park, take vitamin D, B1 and B12. Go on the cancer websites, there's loads of information out there. Christie's is a wonderful place with great people but they haven't lived with cancer. Talk to people who have. The mental side can be as hard as the treatment side but its all doable. You sound positive and that will go a long way. Chemo was tough but that's also doable and Radiotherapy wears you down a bit. Most of all enjoy life, go for a pint or a dance or whatever is your thing. Good luck. Up the blues.

Oh mate, just like my best friend, how you cope I just don’t know but it’s brilliant how you deal with it, big male love from me without being too mulchy.

 

[Cassandra]

So finally after many months of appointments and Check ups I on Thursday got diagnosed with prostate cancer , this might sound a bit mad but I’m now finally relieved that it’s now done it’s taken a while to get this all sorted and I know I got back to the Jack grealish thread when I mentioned this . Unfortunately for someone of my age (53) on Wednesday it’s an aggressive form but I’m under stepping hill and Christie’s now so I’m in good hands. If anyone has any experience of this it’d be nice if it’s shared either on here or a pm. I’m ok even though I always had a bad feeling of the final diagnosis it’s a shock that the Gleeson score was quite aggressive I’ll fight this all the bloody way . I’m grateful I’ve got great family and friends around me , please don’t take this as a sympathy post more of any advice and experience in this is always welcome.
So there it is I’m type of bloke whose pretty open with things and this on here will help .
Finally please anyone of you who’s getting towards the age of 50 please, please have a mot at your doctors/GP . Do not ignore this prostate cancer IS the silent assassin.
Take care all you and up blues.

I'm a bit behind you in my progress. Last year I had a UTI and since I hadn't had blood samples taken for a couple of years, partly due to COVID, I asked for a full set of bloods to be taken. They were all OK except for the PSA which was 16. Discussions with the Dr suggested it might be elevated because of the UTI and indeed it later appeared that the infection had moved into the prostate so a more unpleasant antibiotic was prescribed. A couple more blood tests showed the PSA had fallen to 8 ish which the Dr felt still needed more investigation. The digital rectal examination suggested some abnormality in the prostate and so a needle biopsy of 10 samples was taken. This showed no cancer on the Gleason scale (being a microscopist and looking over the specialist's shoulder I reckon 8/10 samples were clear and 2 "intermediate"). So an MRI scan was called for (wish I'd asked for this in the first case) and "this was clear on the East side, but with an area of concern on the West side, the perimeter was intact". So it will be back for a "fusion biopsy" sometime fairly soon. Meanwhile I received a routine 2 yearly bowel cancer screening kit about 6 weeks after the first biopsy and that found traces of blood - so it's off for a colonoscopy on Thursday - the joys of growing old! Still with any luck if there is any cancer it will have been caught early enough for treatment to be possible. Like A57 the snake I'd advise regular screening .

 

[hammocity]

I'm a bit behind you in my progress. Last year I had a UTI and since I hadn't had blood samples taken for a couple of years, partly due to COVID, I asked for a full set of bloods to be taken. They were all OK except for the PSA which was 16. Discussions with the Dr suggested it might be elevated because of the UTI and indeed it later appeared that the infection had moved into the prostate so a more unpleasant antibiotic was prescribed. A couple more blood tests showed the PSA had fallen to 8 ish which the Dr felt still needed more investigation. The digital rectal examination suggested some abnormality in the prostate and so a needle biopsy of 10 samples was taken. This showed no cancer on the Gleason scale (being a microscopist and looking over the specialist's shoulder I reckon 8/10 samples were clear and 2 "intermediate"). So an MRI scan was called for (wish I'd asked for this in the first case) and "this was clear on the East side, but with an area of concern on the West side, the perimeter was intact". So it will be back for a "fusion biopsy" sometime fairly soon. Meanwhile I received a routine 2 yearly bowel cancer screening kit about 6 weeks after the first biopsy and that found traces of blood - so it's off for a colonoscopy on Thursday - the joys of growing old! Still with any luck if there is any cancer it will have been caught early enough for treatment to be possible. Like A57 the snake I'd advise regular screening .

Good luck and best wishes to you if necessary, BM’s best thread for those of you suffering with this silent disease.

 

[paulchapo]

Good luck with everything @A57 the snake I had all this worry a few years ago. I noticed I wanted to go to the toilet every two hours at work one day in spite of hardly drinking anything. I went to the doctors, he told me my prostate was enlarged and sent me for a PSA test. That came back high so I had a biopsy which was thankfully clear. I've since had two scans, again thankfully clear. I get my blood tested every six months and it varies between 6-9 but I have a benign prostate which raises the level apparently. Getting old is no bloody fun!

 

[Slipper One]

Good luck and best wishes to you if necessary, BM’s best thread for those of you suffering with this silent disease.

Not just for those suffering hammocity. If it helps just one other person find an early detection or increase an awareness to avoid prostate cancer, heart or other health issues, then it's been successful.

Many simply take health for granted, whether that's complacency, ignorance, or a 'macho' stance, I don't know, but awareness is all that is required.

Perhaps it's something we take more notice of when we start to get older. :)

 

[Slipper One]

Good luck with everything @A57 the snake I had all this worry a few years ago. I noticed I wanted to go to the toilet every two hours at work one day in spite of hardly drinking anything. I went to the doctors, he told me my prostate was enlarged and sent me for a PSA test. That came back high so I had a biopsy which was thankfully clear. I've since had two scans, again thankfully clear. I get my blood tested every six months and it varies between 6-9 but I have a benign prostate which raises the level apparently. Getting old is no bloody fun!

Getting old will be fun paulchapo, if you want it to be.........we just have to make sure that we look after our health to be able to do that. The rest is simply the luck of the draw.

I came to realize a few years ago that 'health' is the most important factor in life, without that little component, life is much more difficult. I'm sure Steve Jobs would testify to that!!

 

[paulchapo]

Getting old will be fun paulchapo, if you want it to be.........we just have to make sure that we look after our health to be able to do that. The rest is simply the luck of the draw.

I came to realize a few years ago that 'health' is the most important factor in life, without that little component, life is much more difficult. I'm sure Steve Jobs would testify to that!!

It's the luck of the draw really and often genetic. I kind of feel blessed to have made it this far lots of people I sailed with haven't. Life sure goes fast. I will admit to neglecting exercise the last few years and I'm hoping to try and do something about that soon. The funny thing is I trained a fair bit when I was younger and find I appear to have more energy than a fair few younger people, particularly walking fast over reasonable distances, I often leave them trailing. I've just copped covid last week so I'll see how this effects me. I don't want to pop off just yet but I've lived a fairly full life. Travelled the world for twelve years, took early retirement five years ago and pre covid I was holidaying abroad for three months of the year. Oh and I lived long enough to see us dominate football after fearing I'd never see us win another trophy before I died. Long may it continue.

 

[paulchapo]

Not just for those suffering hammocity. If it helps just one other person find an early detection or increase an awareness to avoid prostate cancer, heart or other health issues, then it's been successful.

Many simply take health for granted, whether that's complacency, ignorance, or a 'macho' stance, I don't know, but awareness is all that is required.

Perhaps it's something we take more notice of when we start to get older. :)

It's when you see people your age or younger dying it's a bit of a wake up call.

 

[Johnny Mars Bar]

Sorry to hear that mate - but now you’ve got the diagnosis you’re in good hands. Christie’s really is an amazing place.

Best of luck blue, it’s a mental battle as much as anything and sounds like you’ve got the support you need around you on that front.