May 11th 2021 - Keeping that Pesky PSA in Check

 My latest consultation with the oncologist was yesterday after a gap of two months. I have to admit I was feeling really apprehensive as I waited for the phone to ring. The call was scheduled between 17.00 and 20.00 and the stress levels gradually increased even though I didn’t feel as if anything had changed. At last, the phone rang and my heart rate increased. Fortunately, the outcome was positive my PSA level was undetectable and there were no abnormalities to report in my blood at all. The oncologist was very pleased how I was responding to the treatment – I heaved a great sigh of relief.

I remain easily fatigued and have to urinate more often than I would like but it is not impacting on my life style over much. I have started back in the gym and am doing some swimming as well as a game of golf or two. I might need a nap in the afternoon but I can live with that.

The next blood test and consultation with the oncologist will be in three months time and I will continue with the hormone tablets/injections. In the mean time I need to get on with life and try and shed some of the weight that I have put on with the hormone treatment.

April 10th 2021 - Another Hormone Injection

I had my three monthly hormone injection yesterday which went smoothly enough. I am still taking the various tablets in addition to this and hoping fervently that they are having the desired effect. 

The excess baggage around the waistline is still there and my badly sprained ankle plus the COVID restrictions are stopping me exercising as I would like. I have managed a few games of golf but my painful ankle has meant that the enjoyment was not really there. I have finally visited the physio who has recommended rest and some stretching exercises so hopefully can get back on the course soonest. Also, it looks like the gym/swimming pool will reopen in early May thank goodness. I have also had my second COVID jab a couple of weeks ago with no obvious side effects.

In this phase sometimes it is difficult to believe that you have cancer as there are no visible signs. Other times, for instance when you read something in the paper about cancer, it fills you with dread to think what might be happening inside you.  I guess that this is just the way it is and I try to remain optimistic overall.

I have decided to remain completely open about the cancer and am not shying away from telling people about it if they ask me how I am. It seems to work for me while I know others are more secretive. Each to their own I suppose.

The next milestone is a consultation with the oncologist in May.

March 16th 2021 - That's the Radiotherapy Done

Well that’s it I have completed my twenty days of radiotherapy. Overall, I seem to have come out of it relatively unscathed. General tiredness, one or two problems peeing and the occasional looseness in the bowels apart it was a painless process. The effects will last for another few weeks I have been told and then hopefully I will be back to normal – whatever that is! I would like to thank the radiography staff at Velindre who have been helpful, sympathetic and thoroughly professional. What I don’t know of course is what the outcome of the radiotherapy is.

Yesterday I also had a telephone consultation with the oncologist. My recent blood test shows PSA still low at 0.1 which is good news. There was some slight concern about my white blood cell count being a little low but this was to be expected given that my lymph system had been having a dose of radiation over the last month.

The outcome is that I will have a further consultation in eight weeks time. In the meantime, I will keep taking the hormone tablets and having the injections as before.

I guess everything is going to plan and the next phase will be continued hormone treatment backed up by three monthly blood tests. Having the blood test done and waiting anxiously for the result is like doing exams in school or putting money on a horse you are one edge until you get the result. It is quite stressful that is for sure. 

Overall though I do feel relieved.

 

March 3rd 2021 - Halfway Through the Radiotherapy

I have passed the 50% mark for my radiotherapy. In fact, just about to go for my twelfth session.  My tiredness level if anything has increased and I have just started to feel the looseness of the bowels that was predicted at the start of the treatment. These aside there are no other obvious side effects. I feel like the third week will be the hardest and it does seem to be dragging a bit. Next week hopefully it will all be downhill as the finishing line comes clearly into sight.

What happens next will be revealed on the 15^th March when I next meet with the oncologist.

February 23rd 2021 - Waiting for the Enema

Well, I am now five sessions into the radiotherapy out of the twenty planned so twenty five percent completed.  I am sitting here waiting for the enema to work which has now become part of the daily ritual. That and getting my bladder in perfect condition weigh heavily every morning before I dash down the motorway to Velindre for my treatment.

The treatment itself remains painless but it is a little wearing having to go down to Cardiff five times a week. I should be glad that it is only a twenty minute or so drive I suppose.

The side effects of the treatment are manageable. It is a little more difficult to urinate especially when I get up in the night. I also think I am a little more fatigued. This may be due to the extra timber I am carrying as a result of the hormone treatment as well as any effect from the radiotherapy. I do walk for an hour or so early in the morning and lately it has felt like I am carrying a sack of coal on my back. My forty press-ups have become much more challenging but I am still able to complete them in one go so things cannot be that bad. I long to be able to go for a swim but that is not likely for the foreseeable future because of this wretched pandemic.

This does make it all feel miserable but it is not that bad really. The next three weeks will be over soon enough.

February 17th 2021 - I Go Radioactive

I am officially radioactive! Yesterday I had my first session of radiotherapy. I had got myself a little uptight about managing my bladder and using the enema before the session. As it turned out it was OK. I used the enema about half an hour before I set off for Velindre and it produced the desired effect. I needed to drink two plastic cups of water half an hour before the session on an empty bladder. I turned up early and drank the water in the car in the car park. The system being used due to Covid is that you give reception a call to say you are in the car park and then they call you back when they are ready to receive you so that worked out well.

The procedure itself was relatively straightforward. The biggest challenge seems to be getting you positioned just right on the table which takes a bit of time. Once that has been done then the actual radiotherapy only takes 5-10 minutes and is completely painless. Of course, you have to keep still which might be a challenge for some but I did not find it difficult. The two ladies operating the machine were charming and efficient and quickly put my mind at ease.

I have not had any noticeable side-effects so far but of course it is early days. So that is one down nineteen to go. The second session should be easier now I know what to expect.

February 10th 2021 - Negative COVID 19 Test so on the Radiotherapy next Week

Yesterday I had a COVID 19 test prior to the next stage of my prostate cancer treatment. I am pleased to say the test came back negative so it is all systems go for the radiotherapy next week.