kpbw
Sole Purveyor Of 'Kaypee's Positivity Pills'™
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April this year. I'd gone to the GP about my chronically bad back and had a blood test as part of the initial assessment. That showed that my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level was above normal for my age (I'm 69. Very hard to believe I know!). A further blood test 6 weeks later it was higher so I was referred to the Urology Department at Leicester General Hospital. To cut an involved medical story short (I had a MRI, a biopsy and a full body bone scan as part of the assessment ) I had a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (in layman's terms they whipped the bastard organ out) at the end of July. The alternative treatment was a course of hormone/radiotherapy. Both have their downside side effects but surgery seemed the best option for me.
I'm very pleased to say that post-surgery tests indicate that the cancer has not spread and I don't need any further treatment. Long may that scenario continue. I shall be regularly monitored via blood tests to check no further action is required.
Needless to say it has been a fairly surreal and occasionally stressful experience. I'm eternally grateful the 'c' word (not caaant!) was caught relatively early thanks to the diligence of my excellent GP Practice and the swift follow up from all three Leicester hospitals I had contact with. I know people's experience of the NHS is inevitably variable but I can hardly fault my own throughout the whole process. The tip top surgeon who performed the op' told me "I've done a thousand of these procedures before and not killed anyone yet!" which was very reassuring. I've also been very fortunate to have had so much support from my family and close friends. I'm now back in the pre-match pub and almost back to 'normal'.
The main reason I'm sharing this is to strongly encourage those of you who haven't had a blood test to check your PSA levels to do so as soon as you can. It isn't a fool-proof diagnostic test as to whether you have prostate cancer or not by any means but it's pretty much the best way of finding out if further investigation is needed. As with all forms of cancer early diagnosis is key to improving the chances of successful treatment. There's a lot of it about for men of a certain age (and sometimes earlier) of which there are very many hereabouts. Without wishing to be alarmist I think there's a very good probability that there are users of this forum who have prostate cancer without them knowing it. I know three people (one of whom is a Roofer who had the same surgery not long before me with a similarly successful outcome) who were without obvious symptoms (a common feature with prostate cancer) who caught the disease early by having a blood test. I have two other mates who don't need treatment but whose PSA levels are being regularly monitored.
I make no apologies for having become something of an atheistic evangelist (there's an oxymoron for you!) on the importance of getting tested, as oneofthe8 of this parish can testify when I had the inordinate pleasure of meeting him briefly after the Everton game. The Prostate Cancer Research website is the definitive place to go for comprehensive information https://prostatecanceruk.org I'm more than happy to talk to anyone if they have any queries about this 'man thing' - message me on here if it's easier for you to do so.
'Carpe Diem' y'all!
Big love,
kp
I'm very pleased to say that post-surgery tests indicate that the cancer has not spread and I don't need any further treatment. Long may that scenario continue. I shall be regularly monitored via blood tests to check no further action is required.
Needless to say it has been a fairly surreal and occasionally stressful experience. I'm eternally grateful the 'c' word (not caaant!) was caught relatively early thanks to the diligence of my excellent GP Practice and the swift follow up from all three Leicester hospitals I had contact with. I know people's experience of the NHS is inevitably variable but I can hardly fault my own throughout the whole process. The tip top surgeon who performed the op' told me "I've done a thousand of these procedures before and not killed anyone yet!" which was very reassuring. I've also been very fortunate to have had so much support from my family and close friends. I'm now back in the pre-match pub and almost back to 'normal'.
The main reason I'm sharing this is to strongly encourage those of you who haven't had a blood test to check your PSA levels to do so as soon as you can. It isn't a fool-proof diagnostic test as to whether you have prostate cancer or not by any means but it's pretty much the best way of finding out if further investigation is needed. As with all forms of cancer early diagnosis is key to improving the chances of successful treatment. There's a lot of it about for men of a certain age (and sometimes earlier) of which there are very many hereabouts. Without wishing to be alarmist I think there's a very good probability that there are users of this forum who have prostate cancer without them knowing it. I know three people (one of whom is a Roofer who had the same surgery not long before me with a similarly successful outcome) who were without obvious symptoms (a common feature with prostate cancer) who caught the disease early by having a blood test. I have two other mates who don't need treatment but whose PSA levels are being regularly monitored.
I make no apologies for having become something of an atheistic evangelist (there's an oxymoron for you!) on the importance of getting tested, as oneofthe8 of this parish can testify when I had the inordinate pleasure of meeting him briefly after the Everton game. The Prostate Cancer Research website is the definitive place to go for comprehensive information https://prostatecanceruk.org I'm more than happy to talk to anyone if they have any queries about this 'man thing' - message me on here if it's easier for you to do so.
'Carpe Diem' y'all!
Big love,
kp
No bloke is immune from the possibility of getting it!
