December 21st 2020 - A brief telephone consultation

 Another telephone consultation with the oncologist and everything is as expected. I felt very nervous as I waited for the phone to ring – it is like waiting for the result of an exam only worse. The good news is that the PSA is still 0.1. Whilst the side effects of the drugs are present, I am still able to cope although my wardrobe is getting tighter and I am often beset by weariness. I had been enjoying swimming and the gym in the early morning but alas this has now come to an end courtesy of the Corona Virus. So its back to trudging around the streets of Newport for exercise.

The next appointment in January will be face to face in Velindre and we will discuss the radiotherapy. This will be over a four week period with five sessions a week starting in February. I am not looking forward to this one little bit.

November 24th 2020 Another Consultation and PSA Continues to fall

Yesterday I had a consultation with the oncologist over the telephone. The good news was that my PSA has dropped to 0.1 and my blood results were described as “perfect”.

We discussed the side effects of the Xtandi i.e. hot flushes, weight gain and fatigue. I said that I was able to cope at the moment as despite being very tired around 8.00pm I was still able to play golf, swim and go to the gym – Covid permitting.

Looking forward, the injection frequency will be changed to a triple dose every three months rather than a single dose monthly. Then there is the radiotherapy for five weeks starting sometime in January 2021. The hormone treatment will continue for three years. The next telecon will be on December 21^st.

All in all, a positive session. It doesn’t stop me worrying though.

 

November 9th 2020 The Third Hormone Injection and More Hot Flushes

 Just had my third hormone injection. I was hoping to change to three-monthly injections after I had been given the go ahead by Velindre. Yet again, the letter to the GP has gone astray so I could only have a monthly dose. It does rather knock your confidence. The GP is not aware that I am now on enzalutamide tablets either.

In terms of the side effects of the various treatments, the most noticeable one is the hot flushes that are now more frequent. My waistline continues to expand but the leisure centre should now be open so perhaps some swimming/gym will help. Weather permitting, I will also be able to return to the golf course. I have been measuring my blood pressure but that seems to be normal at around 130/70. Overall, I think that I am feeling more tired and lethargic but maybe that is lockdownitis.

Still worrying though but I guess that is normal in these circumstances.

October 30th 2020 - The "Big Bazooka" Tablets arrive

The enzalutamide tablets arrived yesterday and I have taken the first dose. I now have quite a major intake of pills what with these four tablets daily plus the bicalutamide and my statins I will start rattling when I walk. I have also decided to take some vitamin D to make up for the lack of sunshine.

I will now need to be on the lookout for side effects. I will need to take my blood pressure daily as the enzalutamide can cause this to increase.

The most obvious side effect of have noticed so far is a tendency for hot flushes which can be quite uncomfortable in bed. I also think I have an increased waistline although that may be a consequence of the lockdown.

These tablets will be taken for the next two to three years so I hope the side effects are manageable. Concern about the side effects has increased my stress level as I wait and see what happens. 

October 26th 2020 - An Optimistic Consultation at Velindre but a Long Way To Go

 D Day or is it C Day? My first visit to Velindre and I was not really sure what to expect. It was very busy with lots of miserable looking patients waiting for tests and consultations. There was an air of disorganisation as the staff bustled about calling patients’ names often to no avail. The staff are really friendly and do their best in quite depressing surroundings.

I sit, socially distanced,  for half an hour or so as I wait to hear my fate. There is a slight diversion when I am called to have my blood pressure and weight measured but then it is back to staring at the wall rather than looking around at my fellow sufferers.

Finally, I am called and take a seat in a small treatment room. My heart is thumping as, being a typical Welshman, I fear the worst. Elin, the oncologist, comes in with my file and I try and judge if it is going to be bad news.

She smiles and asks me how I am and then tells me the first bit of news. It is good news - my PSA level has dropped to 0.6 which is as they would have hoped with the hormone treatment. I heave a sigh of relief.

I then hear about the next phase of my treatment as obviously I am far from out of the woods. I will stay on the current hormone treatment for the next three years. In addition, I will start on a relatively new drug, enzalutamide, which is another hormone treatment and I will be on that for two years. This is an expensive treatment and it sounds if the drugs will be delivered to my house under armed guard. I am extremely grateful to be given this treatment even though there may well be side effects. Potential side effects include: raised blood pressure, weight gain, hot flushes, skin rashes and general fatigue. I should monitor my blood pressure and report any significant issues immediately. I will have a follow up phone consultation in a couple of months to check how things are progressing.

I will also be undergoing a course of radiotherapy early in the new year to try and kill the cancer.

So that was that and I was soon driving home. I did feel that a significant weight had been lifted from my shoulders but I am well aware this is just the first skirmish in a long battle to come.

October 18th 2020 - The Second Oncology Appointment is Looming

Another week has gone by and I do feel a bit better than last week with the headache gone. I still do not have a great deal of energy but that might be due to the remnants of Covid or just getting old. This week sees the next blood test and the following Monday the consultation in Velindre. There is some uncertainly about the impact of the impending Covid lockdown which may make things more difficult.

The waistline seems to be expanding and there are the occasional hot flushes to contend with which means that the hormone therapy is at least having an effect. None of this is unexpected of course. I am feeling really impatient to know if the therapy has had an effect on the cancer. The blood test should give some answers. 

October 10th 2020 - I have the Second Hormone Injection

 I had my second LHRH injection yesterday at the GP surgery. I have to admit that I am now feeling pretty average overall. On a scale of 1-10 I feel about a 4. I have a headache behind my right eye and the skin above my right eyebrow is tender to the touch. I have dark circles around my eyes and I also have what feels like a stiff neck. This coupled with various other muscle aches and a general lethargy is making me feel down. I am not sure whether this is to do with the hormone therapy or maybe even to do with the remnants of my suspected Covid 19 symptoms in March. Anyway, I am not exactly full of the joys of spring. I am still managing my 45-60 minute walks in the morning and doing my press-ups but I am not really enjoying this as I used to.

For the time being, I have decided to grin and bear it and discuss the possible side effects of the treatment during my appointment with Velindre in a couple of weeks.