Thread: A time for reflection.

My hat's off to to you, may 2013 be a great year for you.

Lots of good wishes your way Sturdee.
Kaye

And I though my last five years were crappy. I hope you've turned the corner and the future will be kinder to you.

Robert

Hi Sturdee,

Best wishes for a kinder 2013.

May you encounter good turning woods and get to spend much time family and friends.

Very best wishes from Perth, WA.

Chris

Thanks guys

I think I've turned the corner as my prostate cancer is no longer detectable, my hyperventilating problems have gone and my breathing capacity is now acceptable for the lifestyle I lead.

Whilst being under the care of the Men's health clinic I regularly, first every two month, then three and finally quarterly, had comprehensive blood test, about 35 different tests every time, monitoring my general health and yearly bone scans. Further last year among the scans done was a heart stress ultrasound, various CT scans, ultrasounds, MRI's, fluroscopies,a gastroscopy and a CT virtual colonoscopy.

So the doctors have a very good idea of my health and the only thing now worrying is the stomach ulcers and the auto immune hepatitis.

I have a further gastroscopy booked for checking up on the stomach ulcers in two weeks time. Just hope I don't have the emergency problem I had last time when whilst having the procedure my blood pressure kept falling and falling and was only arrested at 50. Waking up with about 8 doctors and nurses around you and with more tubes going into me then before was a bit surprising and I was kept for observation for about 7 hours before the doctors let me go home.

My liver doctors are now happy and are working out a long term dosage to maintain my condition and they don't seem to think there will be further problems.

So once this is sorted out all I will have to have is a psa test and abdomen ultrasound every 6 months. One to make sure that my prostate cancer hasn't returned and the other to make sure that I haven't developed liver cancer. Something that I'm now susceptible to.

So life's good.


Peter.

I like your out look on your life Sturdee and hope it is a very good future for you.

Foo

Hi Peter

Good to see your still well and truly on the right side of the turf and ready to climb some trees. This year can't be worse than the last. Your fortunate to have such an excellent medically facility to look after you.

Whitewood

This time of the year is a time a lot of us do find our selves in reflection. The time doesn't slip away now it fairly gallops away.
Pete you have certainly have had a time of it with all the health issues! Its easy to understand why people throw their hands in the air and say its just too hard. But you have faced all your problems and are on the right side of them all. I hope that this New Year will see less visits to the medicos and that you are not just well but are really well and you enjoy the life around you

Got to give it to you Sturdee! You are a tough bugger!!

Just hope things improve for you.

All the best for the new year!!

Saw the liver specialists today and I'm continuing to improve.

My blood tests are still good so we are reducing the Prednisolone down to 5 mg a day ( down from 40 mg when I started whilst staying on the same dose of Azathioprine for the next two months when I have my next appointment.

My 6 monthly Abdomen Ultrasound was clear as there were no lumps being the first sign of cancer, so that is even better.

Finally the last Gastroscopy showed that the stomach ulcers are healing so the antibiotics have worked. I'll need another one prior to my next appointment to make sure it's all healed.

Physically I'm feeling much better, since the new year I've been working most days to get the garden in shape, fixing the fencing and gates and painting them. I've used 60 litres of fence paint and am nearly finished with the garden. It was all overgrown as for the last two years I haven't been well enough to tackle it.

Still get tired at about 5 pm but at least I can do a days work again.

Next job will be to fix up and paint the outside of our part double story weatherboard house.Another job that should have been done last year so I'm looking foprward to get it done.


Peter.

Good on you sturdee. It can be quite a challenge. The period after can be a very reflective time. I know I think about what I should have done and importantly what I want to do in the future.

I had was diagnosed three and a half years ago - had the full job - Radical Prostatectomy, Radiation Therapy and Hormone Therapy.

Side effects have been slight incontinence and bloody impotence (which has knocked me around mentally more than I thought it would). My PSA is still rising despite all of that so I was 'lucky' it was found when it was. Could well be 'toes up' by now.

I like to think I don't have Cancer but I do and I put it to the back of my mind as best I can. I now have a broken marriage to contend with and all the associated things that go along with that.

So in the past six year I have been unemployed, worked casually, been diagnosed with Cancer and am going through a Divorce. I do have the children and a good job both of which keep me pretty balanced.

And everyday I get up glad to be alive and with a pretty cheery outlook on life.

I figure we only live once - make every day count.

That's good to hear Sturdee.

Hang in there KymG but you are right in saying, every day you wake up is a plus.

Foo

Sadly we hear of so many such journey's and we are all close to someone who is at some point on that journey. Hang in there mate & give it all you've got. Those oncology specialists & nursing staff are the best people arround. Make sure no matter what happens that you keep in touch with your interests like turning, & keep your hand in even if its only to make a small item like a pen or spin top every now & then, very theraputic. Get help early if you start feeling down.

I've just turned 6 (again) after a "heart attack" a few days after my 49th birthday. Its been an interesting 6 years with some hiccups, some dark times, some funny ones too, and some long breaks away from the lathe, and bloody frustrating that doing larger bowl projects etc create some physical problems for me, but you just have to make the best of it & help others along the way "that are much worse off than me."

I'm very thankfull that my condition is a rather "mechanical" and can be managed with an "EFI" system, high risks but fairly easily managed. Its keeping under the tacho limit thats the problem now & behaving myself.

Originally Posted by KymG

I had was diagnosed three and a half years ago - had the full job - Radical Prostatectomy, Radiation Therapy and Hormone Therapy.

Side effects have been slight incontinence and bloody impotence (which has knocked me around mentally more than I thought it would). My PSA is still rising despite all of that so I was 'lucky' it was found when it was. Could well be 'toes up' by now.

Sad to hear that mate and good luck with your difficult journey.

I think that I'm lucky that my PSA at about half way during the radiation treatment dropped to less then 0.01 and has remained that way ever since. As my Urologist said just before Xmas prostate cancer is the least of my worries but I will need to remain vigilant and have regular tests as I'll never know if I'm permanently cured.

I had the same side effects and the slight stress incontinence only stopped after 4 years when I started the steroid treatment for my liver problems.

Side effects from the 3 year course of hormone treatment included hot flushes, night sweats, loss of facial and chest hairs and finally I started to develop young girls breasts. The lack of testosterone over 3 years allowed the body's estrogen level to increase and slowly allowed my feminine side to take over.

These symptoms will go away when the treatment is over as after about a year I don't have hot flushes etc anymore, I have to shave regularly again and the breasts are disappearing as my male side is reasserting itself.

I found it helpful to share and discuss these things on the forum so if you need to talk let us know .


Peter.