Glad Tidings

The build up to the three-monthly telephone consultation is still fraught as it is easy to let your imagination run away with you. Every ache and pain in this aging body rings alarm bells. Every obituary you glance at which refers to cancer makes you worry. I know it’s morbid but it is hard not to think this way.

Anyway, I needn’t have worried as the consultation turned out to be positive. The pesky PSA is still undetectable and my blood is in good shape. My blood pressure is normal and I am still remaining active if a little tired at times.

The side effects of the hormone treatment still persist with weight gain the most noticeable. The hot flushes come and go and I still have to visit the toilet during the night two or three times. It was agreed that I should try taking some pills to try and reduce the urge to pee.

The hormone injections will continue for another couple of years and the Xtandi tables another year and then perhaps I can return to normal if I am fortunate.

This is as good a situation as I could be in considering the starting point so I feel mightily relieved. Certainly not out of the woods but I continue to feel positive. The next consultation is three months down the line.

Merry Xmas and a healthy New Year.

A Year of Hormone Treatment Reveals My Artistic Side

Well, another three months has passed by and have just had my latest telephone consultation. The positive news is that PSA is still undetectable which means that the prostate gland is essentially inactive and hopefully is not allowing the cancer to spread. As always, the weight is at least temporarily shifted from my mind.

This leaves me with the side effects of the hormone treatment to deal with. I guess it is the weight gain and tiredness which affect me most although with a bit of will power I can still do the things that I want to – only not quite so effectively. I still have the odd hot flush and plenty of aches and pains although those may be accounted for by a mixture of long Covid and, yes, old age.

I am not sure if it is anything to do with the hormone treatment but I seem to have found an artistic side that I never knew existed. I have taken up painting and sculpting. Those of you who know me will find this quite remarkable. Indeed, the only exam I ever failed was in art as I had zero ability in school. I am not saying that I am a budding Michelangelo but I am enjoying the challenge.

So, for now it is keep taking the tablets backed up the three-monthly injection and on to the next consultation in three months time.

July 9th 2021 - PSA still undetectable

 I had another consultation with the oncologist this week. The stress levels rocket as you wait for the phone to ring. It doesn’t help if you have the natural pessimism that the Welsh are blessed with! Anyway, I am delighted to report that my PSA level remains undetectable. The next test will come in three months and if that is OK then the interval will be increased to six months. I did speak with a different oncologist this time which was a bit unsettling – I would have liked continuity if possible but needs must in these COVID ravaged times.

Also, this week I had my three monthly Prostap hormone injection. I am still battling the weight gain associated with this treatment and have stepped up my exercise although I do feel mighty tired afterwards. On the golf course I seem to have lost twenty yards on my drive – perhaps this is just a sign of my advancing years. I think my chances of winning a major have now passed!  The other side effect is that I have lost the hair on my body (apart from my head). I now boast legs that are as smooth as silk!

So, in summary whilst there are some side effects to contend with the treatment is going as well as it could. Long may that continue.

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.