I put this blog on ice as i had the all clear and continue to do so 4 years down the track.
So why another post? My story began when my Old man was diagnosed and it prompted me to get myself checked, luckily for me I got it early and all is well.
My old man on the other hand is not so lucky, he faces the reality of 6 months to live after recently learning that the cancer had spread to his bones and it's now only a matter of time.
The blog has reached over 7000 people, if one of those
My last post for this blog. Saw the doc last week after usual blood tests, urine tests....."How we looking doc?" well, 1 year down the track, PSA reading as good as zero, no sign of cancer, probability of return extremely low, in the words of Monty Python.....you're cured mate!!
So the journey has been a sobering one, full of clichés around confronting your mortality, understanding your fundamental fragility and realising that life can change so quickly. The real story is one of how medical
Well, what a difference a month (and a bit) can make.
What seemed like a road that would never end and something that would haunt me for a long time yet is beginning to fade.
Cialis IS my friend but am starting to feel like it may soon become a thing of the past with erections becoming more frequent, longer lasting and stronger. It still takes a bit of encouragement to get things happening but once up, it now lasts the duration. Good news also about the little problem with a bit of urine
Improvement can only be measured as successfully moving forward and getting better, even if it seems a slow and bloody frustrating road.
So with that in mind I can say that things have definitely been better. Starting with the Cialis, seem to have gotten over the initial smack to the system and have had little or no rash this time, negligible soreness and a slow but steady increase in activity downstairs. My surgeon, ever to the point and frank, told me to "use it or lose it" and start mastu
Well, 16 weeks down and it's a normal life in so many ways yet never to be the same.
Physically have pretty much recovered and can move, run, jump without any worries except for the soreness that has come from losing much of my fitness. Only worrying sign is that I may have scored a hernia in the belly button (where they cut you to remove the prostate), so will need to get it checked. Mentally, have struggled a little, and have had to give myself more than a few uppercuts over the last few w
A bit over 12 weeks and I can honestly say Cialis is not my friend. With great hope the first one was taken 3 weeks ago and I waited with bated breath for the awakening of the beast.
Hmmm, I feel like shit, sore legs and back, with cramps thrown in for good measure. A few glasses of wine and a splitting headache. And a nasty rash that has only just started to subside after having to give the Cialis a miss or go crazy scratching myself to pieces. Sigh, no joy from the little yellow tablet so
9 week visit to specialist today, and the first thing he says is "You don't know how lucky you were".
Had been a bit worried about the visit as until you get that first blood test you don't know for sure if you are in the clear or not. He then goes through the full pathology report, multiple nodes, both sides of the prostate, front and rear with one in particular being a real nasty little fucker that would have gotten loose before long.
This after the biopsy that picked up 2 tumours afte
Where to start?
6 weeks down the track and I am beginning to think that life will go on, probably never as it was but plenty of people are doing it tougher.
Milestone last weekend with 2 full days without having to wear continence pads. Not a perfect score as a few drops here and there but the bags and bags of pads I bought when thinking it would never get any better now consigned to the corner of the cupboard, thank fuck for that.
So with that under control, the attention now turns
So 3 weeks down the track and as far as can I can tell, all seeming to be on track. The six holes in the guts are healing well and once the belly regrows the shaved areas, more than likely they will hardly be seen. There may be hope yet for my swimwear modelling career
The most worrying aspect so far and biggest source of any "down in the dumps" moments has been the bladder control.
Since day one, have pretty much been dry at night but daytime has been a different matter, varying from su
Phone call from the doc this morning to advise that pathology result are back and confirming all cancer removed, phew. Next step will be in a few weeks when the first blood test checks the PSA (which should now reset to zero).
Sitting here this morning one very sore puppy and giving myself uppercuts for self inflicted stupidity. Have been feeling pretty good, getting around pretty easily, in general recovering well. Apart from some swelling and bruising that went to the balls and ball bag (t
A bit over a week post surgery and all I can say is Faaark!
As good as the pre op info and prep is, nothing really prepares you for waking up and looking down (first to check it's still there) to see a catheter running out of your old fella and the 6 dressings where the cuts were made to get at and remove the prostate.
There is probably no better indication of the advances in medicine than how quickly they get you up and about. Less than 24hrs after surgery, out with the drip, off with t
Ok, on the home straight toward surgery and starting to do all the prep work.
Pelvic floor exercises (very big influencer on return to bladder control) now being done every day, seemed funny to think that muscle could get tired but it did. Just goes to show how weak it can be.
Going off all other medications (including natural ones) end of this week although have been living so healthy it's disgusting. Dropped nearly 7kg so far and only vices are a very strong black coffee in the mornin
So since the confirmation of cancer a whirlwind of activity.
Choice one, which type of surgery, open or robotic. Being self employed = no work no pay so the difference in recovery time was the deciding factor. 4 weeks off work v 8-12. Robotic much less invasive, 4 small cuts in the guts and better precision.
Cost? Nearly fell off the seat, private patient to one of the best isn't cheap, $12k + anaesthetist + post op pathology + hospital + travel from the bush. If it comes out under $17k
Well here goes, nothing can strike fear into a mans heart like the words from your doctor that you are more than likely getting around with a dose of Prostrate cancer.
I know I am not the first nor likely to be the last and there are probably some here who have suffered much more than me, I consider myself lucky.
The signs? None, nothing, no signals to say hey mate, drag your sorry arse in and get tested......the only warning, the old man getting a very large growth removed, along with h
