I saw the oncology Consultant today. I can stop taking the Abiraterone (hormone therapy tablets) and Prednisolone (steroid). The reason being that they aren’t working anymore. The cancer has spread to the pelvic bone and lymph nodes in that area. The next course of action must now be chemotherapy.
This will start in a few weeks at the Cancer Centre (St Luke’s Hospital) in Guildford. It will consist of a two hours of treatment every 3 weeks. There will be 10 of these. This amounts to 30 weeks (if my mathematics serves me correctly ).
Bad news of course but I have to look at it realistically. I’m 81 and have had a full and fairly happy life, even if somewhat troubled at times. However, I’m not throwing in the towel just yet. I still have hopes of coming out of the other side.
There will be the usual side effects such as hair loss and possible sickness in various forms but drugs will be given to lessen these. The good news is that I won’t need a haircut or my eyebrows trimming anymore.
The Radio Therapy course has finished. It was only intended to be five sessions (one a day).
The few weeks bit was arbitrary. Just that the Consultant at Frimley Park couldn’t say when Guildford would be able to arrange things. We’ll see I suppose. I’m not feeling bad at present despite the condition. Onwards and upwards!
Wonder why? I am having the Radio Therapy now since six days and it will continue until February 15rh. So far no significant problems - no doubt that will happen in due course.
I’m sorry to hear that Mart, but not everyone has side effects, my friend has just gone through 12 weeks of Chemo with no effects apart from feeling tired, but I wish you every luck.
Thanks to all I’m pleased to read that you have no side effects Besoeker. I hope that continues. Maybe there are different strengths or durations of the Radio Therapy treatment depending on individual needs. Hard to say why the length it can vary. All that can be done as a patient is to follow the instructions and hope it helps.
Appreciated, Mr mart. For me it is a long haul for the trip - not the treatment, that takes five minutes - it’s the frequent long trips there and back.
I don’t put you to shame Swimmy. The things you bravely have to suffer don’t go unnoticed. I think you are a hero for always springing back from those bad days I read about.
Not the news I was hoping to hear Mart…
So sorry to hear that the cancer has spread and you are so brave to keep a positive attitude and keep us informed of your progress…I can only echo what Swimmy posted earlier and hope that the chemo is successful. It will be a long hard road but if anyone can do it, you can Mart.
I’m sure I can speak for all the members of the forum when I say that we will all be with you and supporting you the best we can. If there is a God, I’ll definitely be sending him a prayer for a good outcome…
All the best mate… …Man hug…
Thanks Bob On the practical side, I’ve just been reading about driving whilst undergoing chemotherapy. It looks like I shouldn’t. With the course being thirty weeks, my driving days could be over.
Don’t be too hasty Mart. When I had my heart attacks I couldn’t drive for six weeks after them, I love driving, but do you you know what, I quite enjoyed being chauffeured around and using public transport, it took some of the stress out of life, It might be hard for Mrs Mart though with her disability problems.
Just take it a day at a time Mart…
I’ll certainly use the offered hospital transport for at least the first appointment …maybe all of them. We have some great friends too who have offered to drive me there and back and spend the time waiting while the treatment takes place. I might take them up on it once I’ve seen how the initial treatment goes. Two hours has been mentioned but if it was any more than that, I wouldn’t ask them to take it upon themselves.
Do you have anything like ‘Firefly’ Mart?
It is a voluntary taxi service and takes cancer patients to Sheffield for their treatments. I have quite a few friends who have used it for prostate cancer treatment.
It might be just a local charity service.
PS:- I just looked them up and see that they are Doncaster based, but there might be something similar darn souf…
You have to be prepared for anything with this treatment as it affects different people in different ways. I’ve been through it with several friends/family and some have had hardly any side effects, others have really found it difficult. But it has given them all extra years of life.
I’ve only lost one friend to cancer and hers was truly a very aggressive type. The treatment managed to extend her life by 7 years and well over the 6 month prediction she was given! She really suffered with the treatment, but it meant she lived to see and enjoy her daughter’s wedding and then two grandchildren. She held her grandson in her arms a few weeks before she passed. I still miss her greatly.
Everyone else I know who has had chemo is still alive and well years later. So it seems to be worth the pain.
).
…Man hug…
