My life with cancer

User

Posted 16 Jan 2017 at 17:31

Hello friends,

haven't been here for ages - my apologies. Spending too much time on facebook methinks. But I've had a lot of appointments this winter, I still have a few in next 2 weeks. So far I only have 1 appointment in February.

I had my 3rd PSA check up last Wednesday, and the result was very good. Exactly the same as my 2 previous check ups. My PSA level is below 0.1. So I'm happy with that. My next check up is 4 months time. However the urologist wants to see me within a month, to check how my liquid intake and urine output are doing, as I'm still visiting the loo quite often, about 18 times including night time.

This afternoon, my diabetic nurse phoned me with the result of my diabetes check up last week. It wasn't good. I've had 4 good years of good control, but apparently, over past 3 months I've probably enjoyed the wrong foods too much, plus Christmas. So that was a slap in the face!

Anyways, I believe I'm putting a right decision, into practice, which should improve my overall health. On facebook, I've joined a group called

#walk1000miles. So I intend to go and take a walk, as often as I'm able to, around our village. At present I can only manage to walk about a mile. I've got a pedometer and all the gear and 2 hiking poles, so off I go. I can't manage going out every day just yet. When weather improves, I'll try to do more.

Frank.

User

Posted 16 Jan 2017 at 18:53

Good luck with the walking Frank.

A lot of people eat the "wrong" things over special periods like Christmas and New Year. Obviously if you are diabetic then there is more to go wrong for you.

You know what probably caused your hiccup and I'm sure you'll soon be back on track.

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

User

Posted 16 Jan 2017 at 19:32

Thank you Johsan,

yes I do know what went wrong - me! I'm the one who doesn't want to end up like my dad. He died 4 years ago from diabetic complications and heart problems. I've also got heart disease, so I ought to know better. So I really have to stop buying and eating junk food.

I'm hoping that my attempting to make a go of my new walking regime, I'll hopefully get back to where I was. Of course, having cancer set me off on a tangent, so I ignored diabetes and ate whatever I fancied, but I've got no excuse.

Frank.

User

Posted 16 Jan 2017 at 19:50

If the diabetes is poorly controlled that may be contributing to the number of loo visits you are making!

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

User

Posted 17 Jan 2017 at 09:27

Hello Lyn,

as ever, you are full of wisdom!

I admit, that for the past 2 years, I did ignore my diabetes, which I know is wrong. Now, it's caught up with me - so I'd better take care. I'm going to investigate the low-carb diet, whether my GP likes it or not!

Frank.

User

Posted 17 Apr 2017 at 11:05

Hello friends,

once again, I've been awol from our forum, not on purpose. Stuff in life and my family get in the way.

I had my recent diabetes review 3 weeks ago, and somehow the results were amazing! My cholesterol down from 6.1 to 3.9 - wow! and other results had improved. I can imagine it's the new walking regime I've taken up. Yet, in the first 3 months of this year, I've missed about 50 days of walking; either through illness or the damn freezing cold weather.

During the past winter, I've experienced 4 viruses, including 2 chest infections! I went to my first prostate cancer meeting at Fishguard last week. Someone mentioned immunotherapy. Would this be worth looking into, and who do I go and see to enquire about it? I feel my immune system is crap - so I'm hoping the walking will eventually help me to regain some fitness. At present, I'm unable to walk further than 2 miles in one go. Also I can't do steep hills, although with my walking poles, I can go up slight inclines.

Frank.

User

Posted 03 May 2017 at 18:11

Hello Friends,

went for my 4th cancer check-up this morning, and I was pleasantly surprised to be told, for the 4th time, my PSA is below 0.1!

Also my next check-up will be 6 months time in November!

I'm on 2 water tablets to help me control my bladder, and they are slowly taking effect. I explained to the urologist, that I still get very tired, and he replied, that I would do, that I'm still recovering from my radiotherapy. I also told him, that since January of this year, I've taking up walking, so he was pleased with that, and he thinks I'm doing well. I just wish I could be doing better. So far, I can't do much more than 2 miles walking in 1 go.

I went to see my diabetic nurse yesterday, who quietly laid into me, saying I could be doing better with my diabetes. After my check-up in March, after talking to my GP, I felt like I was on cloud nine, as my results were better than Christmas time. But my nurse witch, made me feel like she dumped a wet rag on my head! She ain't NO Wiz!

I told her that because of my heart disease and cancer journey, I am finding life difficult - she ignored all that! I explained I've been walking since January, it seemed she didn't hear me properly, and seemed a bit sarcastic. I insisted to her that I am going to keep on walking and I'm hoping to fight my diabetes in this manner. She asked if GP had mentioned an injection, to replace 1 of my meds, I said no, I don't want it! I'm currently on 13 different tablets, that cover my 3 health conditions, plus I'm on Prostrap, my next injection in about 2 weeks.

During my cancer journey, my life hasn't been enjoyable. What I mean, is that I'm regularly tired, sometimes I get fatigue, also I suffer with feeling cold. Even now, I still go out with 3 or 4 layers, and on occasion I wear a small thin of gloves. My wife and I were on the beach last night, and the wind, in my mind, was perishing cold!

Does anyone else experience the same nonsense as I am? And how long must I put up with this crap? I'm no macho man, never will be and never have been. I've got no upper body strength since being diagnosed. Perhaps I'm being a little impatient?

Frank.

User

Posted 04 Aug 2017 at 20:23

Hello friends,

I'm still around, and still muddling through my experience of life, following radiotherapy treatment.

During the month of July, I have had diarrhoea on about 5 different days. One afternoon, I had diarrhoea 6 times! One day last week, I happened to be home all day, and my bowel movements for that day, were 6! What on earth is going on I simply don't know. It has to be the result of radiotherapy. One afternoon, I was embarrassed, while meeting a friend for coffee and cake, I went to the loo, and had diarrhoea 3 times! After 15 minutes, I re-joined my friend, who asked if I was ok, I must have been white like a sheet. He asked if I needed to go home, I said no. That was the first time, I had diarrhoea away from home.

Went to my GP and she referred me to hospital. I saw the consultant yesterday, so I'll be having a colonoscopy in 4 to 6 weeks time. Joy!

Another thing that's bothering me is, what exactly an oncologist for? What I mean is, just because I completed my radiotherapy treatment, does that now mean, that I've been wiped off her radar? Before I saw my GP, I rang my oncologist's secretary for advice on what I do about my current problem. Secretary rang me back, to say, I was no longer under the oncologist's care. I thought thanks a lot!

Do other members here have difficulty finding follow-up care? I pray that after my colonoscopy, no further sign of cancer is discovered.

Frank, feeling bewildered, and at present, not at all amused.

User

Posted 07 Mar 2019 at 12:47

Hello friends,

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

Last July, I had my last Prostate injection. But I still suffer from its side effects. I had my 7th check-up for my PSA test, just before Christmas, the result being 0.1. I asked the doctor, when am I going to begin feeling better? For the past 2 years, I've taken up walking. I'm not fit, but I do what I can. He said that the effects of Prostate, could take about 12 months to disappear.

All I would like, is to be able to do more walking. I can't walk uphill, which I find embarrassing, and at present I can't walk too far in one go. I can manage 2 miles.

Also I still have heart disease to contend with, I still get shortness of breath. A month ago, I had an echo-cardiogram, which came back clear, so that is something to celebrate.

Frank.

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