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My life with cancer

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User

Posted 15 Aug 2016 at 16:20

Hello friends,

today I'm feeling quite positive for a change, of course the lovely weather helps! My sister suggested yesterday, that we walk around the village, I said ok.

So off we go 10.30 this morning, my sister wearing her fitbit pedometer thingy. I decided to go out without a jacket on, although I still wore 3 layers of clothing, so I was alright. This is my longest walk around our village since I finished radiotherapy, so I wondered how I would get on. It turned out I did ok. The fitbit informed us we did over 4800 steps, so I was quite pleased with that.

We had lunch when we got home, and as is my usual routine, I lay on sofa for about 90 minutes sleep. I felt better after that.

Later this week, possibly tomorrow, we'll visit the Pembrokeshire County Show. I've prepared for my visit, having bought a folding chair and a pair of hiking sticks. If Teresa May can enjoy them - so shall I! I haven't been to the show for several years, so I hope to enjoy myself, even while sitting in my chair, looking like a stupid old git!!http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif

Frank.

User

Posted 15 Aug 2016 at 18:38

Have a good time Frank.

It doesn't matter if you look like a stupid old git. Just enjoy yourselves. I would assume, seeing somebody using the walking poles, that they needed them so nothing stupid there, just common sense.

Hope the sun shines for you

*******

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 15 Aug 2016 at 18:58

Hi Frank

Lovely to share your happiness at having enjoyed your walk round the village which has spurred you on to further adventures. I hope that you go and enjoy the Show using walking poles, the chair and anything else you need for you to make the most of the day. You soon realise that everyone else is there to enjoy the Show and will also be using chairs,walking sticks and a variety of hats. We have earned the right to be old gits so enjoy it. Have a lovely day 🐐🐃🐄

Kevan

User

Posted 17 Aug 2016 at 17:38

Hello Joshan, hello Kevan,

well it was a beautiful sunny day, at the show yesterday. I brought my fold up chair, but decided to leave the sticks at home - less cargo. It was also rather warm, so I left my jumper at home, but brought my jacket along, and I used it on occasion. There were thousands of people in attendance which was nice to see. Our 2 grandchildren also enjoyed themselves, they loved the animals!

I had a chat with 3 cancer charities who had stands there, they were very helpful and friendly. Finding porta-loos was easy, as they were well supplied, so I didn't suffer. In total I think we were at the show for 4 and a half hours, which was probably too long, although I did enjoy myself, even if my legs and feet were aching. We returned to my daughter's house where I lay on the recliner for 3 or 4 hours! I recovered a bit. My wife and I got home around 8.30pm - long day.

This morning, I woke up feeling rather well. I did plan to go for a short walk today, but haven't done so as yet. After lunch, I went to lie on the bed for a sleep. As I went upstairs, I felt that my body was feeling very weak as were my legs. I thought " what's this? ". It turned out I slept for just over 2 hours, and felt better for it. My wife of course wishes for me to do more walking. Last night I googled Prostate cancer and walking. Of course it advised to go out and walk! Friends, it is my intention to do so, but sometimes ( perhaps too often ) my motivation is very low. Having said, on Monday I loved my village walk and yesterday I enjoyed the county show. I ought to make more of an effort to increase my walking - it is for my own benefit, at the end of the day.

Frank.

User

Posted 17 Aug 2016 at 18:02

Glad you had a fun day Frank.

Does your village have a pub? What an incentive to get walking.

Even if it's not far it's motivation and a nice glass of lemonade at the end of it.

We find that we achieve more if we have a target. I can't always walk far so we have to take into account flat surfaces and toilets but we do better with a planned walk than randomly deciding whether we should even go out.

*****

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 17 Aug 2016 at 18:11

This morning, I phoned my surgery to make 2 appointments. One for my 2nd PSA blood test, following radiotherapy, and another appointment for my latest Prostap HT injection. I'm not sure how many I've had now. At present I'm feeling rather relaxed about my upcoming follow up appointment. Not sure what questions I need to ask the urologist, I simply haven't thought about it yet. My first follow up I was told my PSA was below 0.1, which I assume is good.

I'm not trying to sound flippant, as my initial PSA score when diagnosed was 0.9, which again I believe isn't bad, yet my prostate was almost full of pca! In my opinion, I believe that my medical team looked at my psa level and thought I was fine. Yet after my biopsies, they knew that 15 out of 16 samples contained cancer. Like most of us on this wonderful forum, I went through a low point, while trying to make sense of what had happened to me, and what did I have to look forward to, in facing the future. Because of my strong Christian faith, I never suffered with any depression. Though I do have some low days. Today isn't 1 of them, despite what I'm writing here.http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif All I know, is that from the time that my GP first wrote to the urologist to see me, until I began radiotherapy treatment, 13 months had passed, which I felt was a long time. From the time my GP sent the letter, until the time I actually saw the urologist, 4 months had passed! During all this time, I was home here wondering what the hell the cancer was doing to me. It turned out that the HT was doing it's job, and the cancer was just " leaking " into the seminal vesicles. I'm assuming that doesn't mean it had spread. My MRI scan showed the cancer hadn't reached the lymph nodes. The cancer was contained within the prostate. I suppose I'm very fortunate, and I'm grateful.

I have been reading other threads around the forum this past 2 weeks. I've also read some profiles as well. I'm totally blown away by the details you've put on your profiles. You'll notice I haven't managed to update mine as yet, but I intend to do so, b ear with me. I'll have to dig out my files. One of my urology files I bought from my local hospital last year, was simply strung together in no orderly fashion whatsoever. 1 day I'll have to dismantle it and put it back into chronological order - it ain't at present. I'm glad I got hold of it, as my wife and I came across 2 or 3 very bad errors. One urologist couldn't even get my date of birth right. One major error, was that I was supposed to have had chronic kidney disease. I most definitely did NOT!! But my father did, so I'm assuming that got mixed up.

Sorry for my long post, it wasn't planned. I need a break after all this. Let's see some nonsense on facebook!http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif

Frank.

User

Posted 17 Aug 2016 at 18:16

Hello Johsan,

yes we have a small pub, just down the road. I walk past it most days on my short walks. It's currently undergoing some building works, it will have 4 rooms for B & B, it is supposed to be installing a micro-brewery, and the kitchen is being enlarged - yet the pub's interior is still rather compact.

Maybe a half pint of Guinness will do the job!

Frank.

User

Posted 30 Aug 2016 at 18:32

Hello friends,

I had a down day yesterday, as I was informed that a dear friend has lost his battle from cancer, having passed away Sunday evening. He was only 52 years old!

Tomorrow I go to have a PSA blood test. Then next Wednesday, my wife and I go to our local hospital for the result. I'm not expecting any dramas, but the waiting game isn't funny.

My other health issue is my heart disease. On Friday I go to see a cardiac nurse at our local leisure centre, to be assessed for joining their rehabilitation programme.

Went on Google to find out how to clean a urinal bottle - such fun! Some people advise using steradent tablets, or vinegar or even hot water with washing up liquid. One woman suggested putting it in the dishwasher every couple days! What?? I'd expect such a comment from an idiot bloke! NOT from a woman in her 50s!!!

Apart from that, life is wonderful - as they say!

Frank.

User

Posted 30 Aug 2016 at 20:39

Sorry you had a down day yesterday Frank, they happen to us all at some point don't they.

You have a lot on your plate at the moment. I bet Steve can relate to how you feel, what with the cancer and then your heart problems too.

Good luck with the PSA tomorrow anyway.

Cleaning a urinal? I'm not sure about the dishwasher (I don't have one) but for sterilising one a babies bottle cleaning tablet would do it, or bleach since you won't be drinking out of it!!

The baby sterilising tablets are good enough to sterilise and clean my wine making demi johns so should work for a urinal bottle. Is the bottle glass?

******

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 31 Aug 2016 at 16:50

Hello Sandra,

no it's not glass, it's plastic, but does the job.

The sterilising tablet sounds good. I'll see how cheap they are at savers!

What gets me is, when I'm feeling horrible within my body, could it be my heart disease as well as my other side effects? Or possibly a combination of everything. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel down all the time. The worst thing about my condition is being tired quite a lot of the time, and on occasion, the need to sleep, which winds my wife up. But I can't help it!

Frank.

User

Posted 06 Sep 2016 at 13:56

Hello friends,

tomorrow morning at 9.40am, I see the specialist at our local hospital just 7 miles away, for the result of my 2nd PSA blood test.

I'm feeling comfortable about it, not worried in any way, just curious to find out where I'm at, with my Pca. As usual, to day I'm feeling quite tired, I may have a nap, while my wife is out! I've done a couple jobs of house work, so my wife doesn't have to do everything. I can prepare meals and wash the dishes, simple stuff like that. I can also do the hoovering, though not all at once, we have a 3 storey house; I can't wait to sell this house, so we can down-size, to a 3 bed bungalow.

Last Friday afternoon, I registered at our local leisure centre, to join the heart rehabilitation course, run by the British Heart Foundation. I'm looking forward to it, hoping it will kick start some motivation within me, to get out more - and just move!

Frank.

User

Posted 07 Sep 2016 at 00:32

Hi Frank,

Good Luck for your appointment and PSA results (later today). Hope they're good.

I think you'll enjoy the exercise classes, I've done two Cardiac Rehab Courses and one Macmillan Wellbeing Course. I enjoyed them.

Take care.

Steve

Edited by member 07 Sep 2016 at 00:33 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 07 Sep 2016 at 06:53

Best of luck for today hope all goes well.

Thanks Chris.

User

Posted 07 Sep 2016 at 17:01

Hello friends,

my appointment with the urologist went very well. Apparently my PSA blood test result was the same as the one 3 months ago. My PSA level is below 0.1. So I'm pleased with that. However, I still feel absolutely shattered. I've just come back from my 3rd walk today. It's strange, I don't seem to feel any benefit from it. But then, I don't go out on a regular basis.

So I'll have to keep plodding on, the best as I can.

Frank.

User

Posted 07 Sep 2016 at 18:02

Great News, Frank!

Long may it continue.

"I think the more exercise you take, the easier it will become" - even thought it's not happening for me yet.

Steve

User

Posted 07 Sep 2016 at 18:10

Great result Frank,

Regarding the walking perhaps it's better to only go once a day, building up the distance little by little?

Arthur

User

Posted 22 Oct 2016 at 16:28

Hello Friends,

I haven't been here for a while, my time is taken up with family. It'll be busier from tomorrow, as our grandson visits us for the half-term.

Today I've been feeling down - not depressed, just miserable. This morning with my wife, I walked up to the shop to get our weekend papers. To get there, we climb a bit of a hill, which I don't think is too steep. It's only about quarter of a mile, yet I had to make 2 short stops, to catch my breath. I'm not happy with this but it happens. Returning home was easier, but I still feel like an old git, walking along.

For the last 5 weeks, I've joined a heart rehabilitation course at the local gym, but I've missed the past 2 weeks due to a cold and chest infection. I went there yesterday, and the dude in charge, really pushed me, even though I said at the beginning of class, I wasn't feeling up to it! This could explain why I'm not feeling like my usual self.

I recently joined a group on facebook called wallk 500 miles, walk 1000 miles! According to my calculator, if I were to walk 3 miles a days, I could reach 1000 miles, the problem is, I don't walk every day. But it is something to look forward to, regarding my health.

Another thing that bothers me is, 7 months after completing radiotherapy, I'm still feeling the same as I did just before treatment. Am I being too hard on myself?

Frank.

User

Posted 23 Nov 2016 at 16:43

Hello Friends,

I'm still around, and still trying to make sense of my living with cancer.

Still I feel tired and some afternoons, I shall sleep, though my wife thinks I'm lazy. I'm not lazy, I'm simply worn out.

Now that winter is here, I am perishing cold. On occasion, I wear my gloves when I'm in the house, I cover my legs with a blanket while watching TV! Sometimes I wear gloves when I go bed, I'm not joking!

Although I love Christmas time, I'm looking forward to late spring!

Frank.

User

Posted 23 Nov 2016 at 17:03

Yes Frank I think you are being hard on yourself. Your body is protesting about all the nasty stuff done to it and don't forget we all heal at a different rate.

It's hard for our other halves to understand sometimes just how we feel but I'm sure yours doesn't really think you're lazy!.

As for the cold. Well, I've not had prostate cancer but the minute the current weather hits I want to hibernate.

I have been known to sit and watch TV wearing gloves, I already wear thermal socks and both John and I snuggle under our slankets to watch the box!!!!

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 23 Nov 2016 at 17:55

I am currently attending a weekly class at a Maggie's centre, the first weeks subject was fatigue. If you have a Maggie's near you might be worth a call or visit or there is a Maggie's on line service. The main points raised were no caffeine in the evening to aid a good night's sleep and set yourself realistic targets of activity and correct breathing to get you to sleep.

Fortunately I do not suffer with fatigue but the omitting the evening caffeine and doing the breathing exercises has resulted in a full night's sleep for the first time in a while.

Thanks Chris

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