Do you remember my blog back in the summer about ‘the deadly snake that wants to bite’? If not read…
If so, and a man of fifty or over, have you been tested yet?
More men are dying of prostate cancer than women of breast cancer, and in the press you’ll not hear a single beep.
It is no laughing matter for many GP surgeries are not in the business of warning men about this danger or, even, sending men for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests. NHS England recommend or wish to instate routine testing from the age of fifty (Ref: BBC Radio 4 interview NHS England and John Humphreys). This being so, why aren’t ‘they’ ordered to comply. The initial test is an inexpensive blood test. Long term costs of a late diagnosis are severe, to NHS and to life expectancy…
I wish I’d dreamt of asking earlier…
Whimbrel snapped recently by Dick Smith, up Benfleet Creek…
Once I began my course of medication in the form of hormone tablets, we got away for an uninterrupted few weeks in August before I took my brother (over from Canada) and my sister for a few days sailing (the siblings’ sail) – actually a dash to Pin Mill and back via the Swale.
Since then, I have kept active, lost a little weight and generally had a ‘good’ time with my dear wife Christobel (Who will tell me off: ‘I’m the Mate’ she’ll say!). Sailing was curtailed during the hectic days of June and July, it being snatched between appointments at hospital. The autumn has been sublime and we had several weekends away during September and other days sailing on the tide together and I’ve had a few more. I still harbour a desire to sneak away for a night or two over on the River Medway, but weather will dictate that – my youngest brother wants to come!
All along, in the back of my mind has been the knowledge that the next visit to see ‘my’ oncologist loomed.
So, today was the day of my oncologist visit. The good news is that my PSA level has fallen from 13.6 to 2. The oncologist was very pleased.
He said,‘Your cancer has been arrested…’ And, in a rapid almost one sided discussion gave me (us) the ramifications of the next stage … due to start at the beginning of March.
This will be Brachyherapy first, followed by five weeks of external beam radio therapy – seven weeks in all – all over by Easter 2019!
So, I should be fit and well to help my good Mate get Whimbrel’s bottom tickled up and the anti-fouling done during May!
Currently, the good news is that other than an enormous heavy tiredness at times, I haven’t experienced any noticeable side effects … yes I was asked by the oncologist how our marital relationship was going … the Mate quipped, ‘He’s alright in that department, it’s his single cell brain I’m worried about…’
Laughing, the Doc said, ‘That’s good…’
Tiredness … sometimes I will be ‘sent to the bedroom’ by Christobel, but often sleep is far away, but the rest works … other times, I have gone out for up to three hours. (P.S. – it’s better when ‘she’ comes with me…)
My dear sweet sister kindly photographed me asleep on Whimbrel, after being ‘sent to bed’ during our siblings’ cruise … she took my glasses off afterwards!
So, I keep on taking the tablets, stay fit, stay positive and keep smiling…
Now, wives and partners of your men-folk: be pro-active. Withhold all favours until your man gets his test booked.
A number of men I know have done so – many had heightened PSA levels with fairly long term ‘peeing’ problems they’d been ignoring (I had none of this). All of them have been given the all clear regarding prostate cancer, but several have other issues to be treated.
So, do your families a favour and do something positive, please…