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CT scan, waiting for radiotherapy

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User

Posted 14 May 2016 at 10:34

Hello John,

After my radiotherapy, I decided to give up my part-time job at my brother's petrol station. Anyways, for past couple years, I was only doing light work and computer duties, as over 2 years ago I was diagnosed with heart disease. So my life is a bundle of laughs!

Thursday morning, I had my PSA blood test, for which I hope to get the result, when I see the oncologist at Carmarthen on Monday coming.

I saw my cancer support lady on Tuesday afternoon. She kindly did a home visit, which was very nice. She gave a booklet on fatigue, and she said that I would probably have this for about a year! I was told not to over-do my walking exercise, although I can't walk far at present.

But the nurse I saw, who is also my diabetic nurse, says I need to to do more! Well, I'll just do what I can. One day I spent too much around town, doing shopping. I over did things. The following day I paid for it, as I didn't move from the sofa.

Frank.

User

Posted 14 May 2016 at 11:08

Hi Frank,

Amazingly just like last time your post has come in immediately after I've signed in. Coincidence ?

Glad you only have to go as far as Carmarthen for your appointment as opposed to Swansea . I think I'm right in that the oncology services previously at Withybush are no longer available ? It would be far easier for you if you could go to Haverfordwest.

Re tiredness , I still have spells when it hits me. The first part of this week was bad but fortunately my energy levels returned for the latter part, for which I was grateful.

It's a balancing act between keeping active and also not overdoing it. Hopefully you'll find that comfortable medium. I found the first year after RT sometimes very difficult. But in time and with the help of a great family, friends , colleagues and the support of those on this site , I have got through the worst .

Retiring after 7 months after I returned to work has been very beneficial to me. I keep very busy and do not regret changing my life style at all. I have a one day a week gardening job now which I started about 2 months ago. I am determined to keep as positive as I can, fight this disease and enjoy life to the full.

Sorry that you have heart problems as well. My GP was in fact slightly more concerned about my cholesterol levels than she was about by PCa. She's encouraged me to have brisk walks each day and to keep fit. There is significant history of heart disease in my family ( both parents died from it ) and I am now on statins. I am though the first with cancer.

Good luck for your test results next week.

John

User

Posted 15 May 2016 at 08:34

Hello John,

thanks for your reply.

I have a diabetic nurse, who keeps banging on about brisk walking - well, it isn't going to happen at the moment. I have my diabetic MOT in about a month's time, so we'll soon discover what shape I'm in. I'll be very interested in how my diabetes is coming on, especially after prostate cancer. Anyway, as I was on a low fibre diet during my radiotherapy, my diabetes was pushed to the back of the queue as Obama would say! :D I'm not too worried about it, as I've been told for the past 4 years that my control is good; my cholesterol seems to worry my medical team, as does my blood pressure.

I don't know if Haverfordwest had an oncology service. It seems that our local health board wants to squeeze the life out of our hospital and leave us with no services at all! It's a huge chunk of a building, that surely needs to be run at full capacity. The hospital at Carmarthen seems to be at full stretch. How the NHS works makes no sense to me.

So tomorrow I go to find out the result of my latest blood test - good or bad! I suppose I will need to begin a new thread, what I'll call it I don't know.

Frank.

User

Posted 22 May 2016 at 10:54

Monday lunchtime, I went to see the oncologist to hear the result of my blood test. DR.Phan wasn't there, so I saw 1 of her colleagues. The bottom line is that my PSA level is below 0.01, which I'm assuming is very good. Of course I wasn't told if I'm cured as it's too soon to tell. My PSA will be checked again during September, so I'm looking forward to that.

Otherwise, I'm still suffering from fatigue, I simply don't want to do anything. I know it's wrong but I just can't motivate myself. Next month I go for my diabetic MOT, so I'm assuming my nurse shall have words with me then. Even though the sun is shining, I still feel the chill in the air. We've just been to the local shop with our granddaughter, and I was glad to get back home.

Frank.

User

Posted 22 May 2016 at 11:40

Frank, goood news that your PSA is down to 0.01 that is officially undetectable and in a very good place, the same score as mine as it happens (sorry John to mention 0.01 again).

As for the constant tiredness you will have to live with it for a it but my way of dealing with it is to switch on the motivation button in my brain box and knuckle down, make the effort and go for it, once I have started doing something it roller coasts along and all of a sudden I have done what I set out to do. I am still knackered but what a sense of achievement as I nod off to sleep satisfied with my job done!

Stay positive and give it a go.

Regards Chris/Woody

Life seems different upside down, take another viewpoint

User

Posted 22 May 2016 at 12:24

Old Al (who was actually only in his early 50s) was practically trapped in a wheelchair until he took up swimming - he found over a period of time that this overcame the fatigue and he was able to walk again. You can probably find some of his posts using the search function.

Also, I can't remember whether you have tried the PCUK fatigue programme? Devonmaid knows more about that than I do but reported that it helped John.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 22 May 2016 at 12:41

Reading all the different experiences of EBRT it seems reactions are really individual. On the tiredness issue I am definitely getting this but naps help. I also try to do jobs in bite size pieces - no more than 30 minutes, say, in the garden. It certainly does help to keep as active as you can whilst not beating yourself up about not being able to do as much.

Edited by member 22 May 2016 at 12:42 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 22 May 2016 at 13:08

I don't think it is the RT that causes so many problems - for most men with extreme fatigue, it is the hormones

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 22 May 2016 at 16:08

Great news Frank, I'm really pleased for you.

Re fatigue, just do what you can and leave what you can't . Plan how you approach doing anything. But try to keep active each day at some point. It will become easier with time. I'm still tired from time to time but don't worry so much about it now.

And the inevitable reply to Mr Puffingbilly. - I'm doing what I can mate , it's my body letting me down ! And what's wrong with a 0.2 score anyway? I might aim for a hat trick of 0.2s ! Find out in 2 months time .

John

User

Posted 23 May 2016 at 13:25

Hello Friends thank you for your replies and words of encouragement. I haven't reasearched the fatigue programme, I'll take a look at it.

I've just returned from a short walk, and I'm perishing cold. I can only do short walks anyway. I left home just before 2pm, and we have lovely sunshine, it looks nice - but as far as I'm concerned, the wind chill is horrible! I completed my walk, don't worry. It's colder now that it was at 8.30pm last night!!! And I put 4 layers on. So I'm still waiting for summer.

I don't think I could put up with 51C like India ( poor souls ), but I think Majorca would be nice, although I'm not prepared to travel yet. My treatment only finished 2 months ago.

Frank.

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