Cheshire Chris's Treatment Thread

User

Posted 04 Dec 2019 at 17:19

I now have two vivid red saucer-size circles on my chest which are rather tender, so so much for the "it'll take a week to develop" remark from the RT nurse 😀.

User

Posted 04 Dec 2019 at 21:09

Let's hope it does the business Chris. Interesting that they are giving you the treatment during the HT as you keep hearing that it is only effective if given before. I have to say that never made sense to me. Sounds like a great trip to Egypt - so much to see there.

User

Posted 04 Dec 2019 at 21:40

I'm having it now, Pete, because it's only recently that I've experienced noticeable breast growth. I think my oncologist was hoping that the Tamoxifen alone would be sufficient which, to be fair, it was for over a year.

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 12 Jan 2020 at 20:00

Feeling a bit sore at the moment. I went out for a walk earlier on and stupidly tripped over something and went flying. Unfortunately I landed very hard on a rather pointy rock on my right side, just where my one remaining kidney is. Slightly worrying, given that I'm in big trouble if I damage that kidney, but I seem to have escaped with nothing more than a bad bruise.

Chris

User

Posted 13 Jan 2020 at 19:50

Hope you’re feeling ok after the fall Chris. We gotta look after our bodies now we’re not teenagers any more 🤔

User

Posted 13 Jan 2020 at 20:13

Thanks. It was extremely painful trying to sleep last night, and I had some concern that I could have broken my hip, particularly since I'm on HT, which can weaken bones. I saw the nurse at my GP's surgery this afternoon, though, and after much poking and prodding she said that it's just badly bruised, so no permanent harm done. Probably going to be very sore for a few days, though.

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 13 Jan 2020 at 20:27

Hope you ok Chris. I tried a bunny-hop on my boys micro scooter aged 52 a few months ago. Totally wiped out but just managed to save my face and chin. My hands , shoulders and arms were agony for days !

If life gives you lemons , then make lemonade

User

Posted 13 Jan 2020 at 20:37

Thanks, Chris. I’m a keen walker, and this is the first time I’ve ever done anything like that. Hopefully it’ll be the last, too!

Cheers,

Chris

User

Posted 14 Jan 2020 at 09:56

None of us likes to be reminded we are getting older. Something the PCa made me very aware of and I struggled with that thought for a while.

Take care out there guys ....

Phil

User

Posted 14 Jan 2020 at 11:53

Sure does Phil, I was extremely fit 65 year old, cycling daily an average of 160 miles a week and entering 100km endurance events, some hilly challenges as well!

2 years down the road the RT and HT has knocked me back severely and I struggle with 3 times a week totalling 60 to 80 miles.

Cycling has been my life since retiring just before PCa and I never thought of my self as old as I was super fit.

I now feel it! I’m now 3 months since expired HT and every week I hope to feel better

User

Posted 14 Jan 2020 at 12:13

Yes , I suppose none of us wants to get old. Just to keel over at some point in the distant future while still as fit as a flea...

I think it’s been one of the hardest things for me to deal with.

Hope your recovery from HT goes well. I’m only days into the loss of HT so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Phil

User

Posted 14 Jan 2020 at 12:26

Another 33 days of HT for me. I believe that bicalutimide is flushed from the body relatively quickly, so I'm hoping to see changes within a few weeks of stopping HT.

Chris

User

Posted 30 Jan 2020 at 20:21

Chris, I had my last Decapeptyl hormone therapy injection mid July last year, That ran out in mid October so I’m now three months since effects of the injection expired. I have noticed no difference in any aspect of my life I was hoping that some of the ED effects would have lessened and also the hot flushes but that has not been the case

So I push onto my next landmark in my journey, which will be my review mid March where I will have a PSA and testosterone check, so keeping my fingers crossed as I am less than 0.1 PSA at the moment

Edited by member 30 Jan 2020 at 20:22 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 12 Feb 2020 at 16:07

Hi Pallance. I am now 4 months since last Prostap injection and not noticed any change yet. I have 4 weeks till my first consultant meeting since coming off the HT. So fingers crossed my PSA is still low and my testosterone is on the up.....

Good luck at your next consultation.

Phil

User

Posted 16 Feb 2020 at 08:43

Big day today - I've just taken my last bicalutimide and Tamoxifen tablets, so as of tomorrow I'm officially off HT! Hopefully this marks the end of my prostate cancer treatment, although I'm enough of a realist to know that, particularly given my relatively young age, I can't make any assumptions about the future.

It's certainly been an "interesting" couple of years. This time two years ago I was blithely unaware there was anything wrong with me, and then a "you're over 50 so we may as well check your PSA" remark from my GP started a whole process which ended up finding three potentially life-threatening conditions: prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and an aneurysm in my splenic artery. Now I'm minus a kidney, my prostate has been turned to mush by radiation, and the aneurysm sorted out by inserting metal coils.

But you know what? I feel a lot happier than I did two years ago! I now appreciate the value of life, and the stuff that used to get me stressed all seems trivial and unimportant. I've taken early retirement from my very boring job, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of my life, however long that may turn out to be.

I couldn't have got through everything that's happened in the last couple of years without the support of people on this forum, and I'd like to thank everyone who's given me such useful advice and support.

Looking forward to the future!

Chris

User

Posted 16 Feb 2020 at 09:22

Great post Chris. Wishing you a long time off HT and a happy, long life.

You've certainly been through a lot.

Like you I am a realist and won’t take things for granted.

Ido4

User

Posted 16 Feb 2020 at 09:40

Hi Chris,

You certainly have had, as you put it, “an interesting” couple of years. What a nightmare it must have seemed at the time but you always kept looking forward for the light at the end of the tunnel. So good to read your positivity after all you have endured.

I sincerely hope you are now able to enjoy a happy and healthy retirement.

I have also found this forum informative and a great help. Just to be able to express how you feel and know others truly understand and to read positive comments like your own.

With best wishes,

Ange

User

Posted 16 Feb 2020 at 11:08

Thanks Ido and Ange. As you rightly say, the real value of this forum is being able to talk to people who understand the stuff you’re going through.

Best wishes,

Chris

User

Posted 16 Feb 2020 at 11:20

Good post Chris. We, of course, were treated at the same centre albeit under different consultants. My cancer has reared its ugly head again but here's the thing, the PSA level is less than half what it was on diagnosis and there is treatment available which I start tomorrow (already on the bicalutamide).

I have just watched a YouTube clip from Dr Scholz of the US PCRI on survival rates in the USA - 99% at 5 years, 98% at 10 years and even 94% at 15 years. These figures come with the health warning that they are based on early diagnosis which is more common in the USA because screening is much more common (as it should be here by the way).

Dr Scholz also makes the point that by definition these survival figures are based on people diagnosed 10 and 15 years ago - treatment has moved on since then.

But you make an excellent point about re-appraising your life and priorities.

User

Posted 16 Feb 2020 at 13:20

Great Post, Chris. You helped me loads with hints and tips when I had my catheter. This forum changed the course of my life for the better. Wish you the very best and we are all here as a sounding board when and if you need or just let off steam. TG

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