Thread: A time for reflection.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago. Unfortunately it was the aggressive version so I elected to have it out. After the surgery a biopsy showed that it had not gone beyond the margins so I was pretty lucky there, but you can not be to complacent about this sort of thing.

Two weeks ago I came across a book by Prof.Jane Plant "Prostate Cancer - Understand, Prevent and Overcome Prostate Cancer" which is proving to be very interesting.
Her theory is based on the effect in the human body of growth hormones that are present in all dairy food that may accelerates the growth of prostate and breast cancer cells.

If anyone is interested her web site can be found at Jane Plant: www.JanePlant.com

Safari

It is nearly a year ago that I started this thread and an update might be of interest.

My prostate cancer cells are somehow still alive kicking and somewhere inside me. Although the treatment killed of most there are still some cells in me as my PSA has moved from the undetectable to 0.10. Still too small to detect on any scans but of sufficient concern that I now need 3 monthly PSA tests so that a careful monitoring is in order.

My auto immune hepatitis is now well and truly under control and I'm on a maintenance drug treatment to keep it that way. My 6 monthly ultrasounds do not show any scarring increase and are not giving my specialist any concern. My stomach ulcers are healed but my specialist has ordered another Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy just to make certain that there are no further internal problems.

My lung capacity is still only 5/6 of normal and will remain so for the rest of my life, because of my liver pushing into my right lung, and nothing can be done about it. However the cause of my hyperventilating all the time is gone by changing my blood pressure tablets so I'm feeling quite well as during the year I've been able to fix up the garden, paint our double story weatherboard house and fences and reorganized my workshop. Lately I've also have been able to do some turning.

All in all at last a good year and am looking forward to spending more time in the workshop finishing of the long delayed jigs and enjoying the new turning layout.


Peter.

Good to hear Peter.

It won't help you but stories like yours tells me what I have is trivial in comparison and to stop moping around and get on with it.

Hope things continue to improve for you.

Craig

Thanks Bob for your comments.

Although at times it was an awful journey to go through, I feel that others are in a much worse situation. For most of my life I never saw a doctor as I was as fit as a fiddle and a chance visit to my now doctor for an unrelated matter started the test that found out about my cancer. Without those tests I would never have become aware until too late for at the time I had no symptoms.

I've also been fortunate to become a patient at the Austin Hospital which is renowned for its cancer treatment, now all located at the Olivia Newton John Wellness Centre at the hospital and its liver department. It is Victoria's major liver transplant centre so the specialists can give great care.

Whilst it has been a trying journey I've always remained optimistic about the outcome and I've had the support of forum members, fellow men shed members and most of all of my family. Thankfully there is no black dog in my makeup just unavoidable delays to the things I want to do caused by treatments.

Peter.

Well peter, even if you are not totally out of the woods
it looks as if you are doing reasonably well and facing
your problems with equanimity.

I hope you continue to feel well enough to do more turning
and enjoy life as much as you can. You were dealt a rough
hand but have played it well and will continue to play it well
I am sure.

Cheers mate, and all the best to you.

That is especially good to hear Studee, considering the time of year we are now entering!

Hopefully things keep going on the up and up for you, all the best.

Foo

Thanks for the update Peter. As a fellow cancer survivor I know what it means. It is a shame that we can't have just one health problem at a time. It certainly would make it easier to manage. I suppose multiple problems comes with old age. Since my Cancer I have had to have a pacemaker and 2 total knee replacements which have slowed me down a fair bit or maybe it is that I turn 76 in 2 weeks. Anyway I'm still on the right side of the turf and starting to feel well enough to look after our property so I can present it for sale and retire to something more suitable to my age. Shouldn't complain and mostly I don't.

All the best for Xmas and I hope 2014 is as good if not better than 2013 for you.

Whitewood

It's been two years since I started this thread and an update seems appropriate.

My autoimmune hepatitis is still in remission and has settled into a long term watchful routine. I take tablets daily and have six monthly blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the condition and a yearly gastroscopy and every two years a bone density scan. This routine is preventative and I will have to do this for the rest of my life.

But my prostate cancer, having been undetectable, has reemerged during the last twelve months and rather aggressively. So after more scans in September I went back on injections to stop my body producing testosterone as prostate cancer cells need testosterone.

This has thrown me about a bit more then the first time I went on this about 6 years ago but finally seems to settle down again and I'm back fixing up a few major things outside that went by the way side for a long time. So whilst the going is good I'm working at fixing windows, properly enclosing the bbq area, converting a broken down shed into a gym and I have to fix the back staircases before I can go back to turning. These jobs take a lot longer these days with my breathing problems but they are getting fixed at long last.

But the injections has forced the cancer back to an undetectable level but at the moment is giving me a lot of hot flushes which isn't funny any more and my sleeping pattern is altered. I wake up about 4 times a night but seem to cope at the moment.

From the scans done for my cancer the doctors noted that there were some spots in my left lung that needed further investigation. I had another scan earlier this month and today heard that the spots in my left lung had cleared up but now there are some in my right lung that will need watching so another scan is booked for March to see if this will clear up as well.

Whilst all this seems major it is now more or less routine for me and I'm coping well and I'm not depressed about it. When I walk into the clinics at the Austin I see so many people that are worse of then me that I consider myself still lucky.

Peter.

Hi Peter,
i have followed your thread for a few years now but, at the time, it was like reading a magazine about something that happens to other people!
When I had a few health issues this year (all fixed now), I thought of you and how you seemed to get through it so stoichly. What has prompted me to reply this time is your comment about others doing it so much worse. When I was going through radiation therapy in January I was conscious that I was trying to extend my life for many years but others around me were hoping to get to February. There is a portion of 'good health' that comes from within, another portion that comes from genetics and yes, there is a little bit that is attributed to chance. It seems to me that you have that extra bit from 'within' that means you will be giving us an annual update for many more years to come!
cheers,
fletty

Peter you have shed a light where others can see stay strong

Fingers crossed, hang in there.

Hi Peter,

I don't sell Paulownia any more so my involvement with the forum has been reduced. I still do a search for Paulownia posts daily but that's it. I would not have received your latest update had it not been for the ultra efficient set up it operates.

I'm sorry to hear that the Cancer is back after such a long absence. I was told that the initial treatment attempts to attack and kill all the cells. If it does not kill ALL the cells then it is the strong ones that remain and return. It's a bugger when this happens but we have some guys in our support group that have been successfully holding their cancer at bay with injections and the latest developments. As a matter of interest one speaker made the observation that when a new drug/treatment/procedure is approved many doctors will not try it until it has been proved in normal practice. What this means is that the doctors in are very slow to take up proven new developments. It can take several years before they become the Gold Star method of treating any problems.

For my self it is over 9 years since my treatment and as at August there was no evidence it had returned. PSA was 0.06. I still have that feeling that it may return as I still have my prostate or what is left of it after the radiation.

Anyway keep up the positive approach. I believe if definitely helps. Ask your doctors on your next visit if there are any 'new untried' treatments available if the current one is not giving you exactly the results you need. The staff at your Centre should be on top of the latest developments in Cancer treatment and should be able to give you sufficient information to allow you the decide if you want to give it a try. The other thing I would like to say is that there are a number of hormonal drugs available. As you are reacting to this one the ask them to discuss and prescribe an alternative. Medicos have a habit of prescribing the least costly drug first to save money but it should not be at the cost to the patient.

All the best with your fight and have a great Xmas and a satisfying New Year.

John

Geez Sturdee, who's throwing the cancer rocks mate, but at least the treatments seem to be working . Keep the chin up and live life to the fullest.