Thursday 23rd November 2016

I had to see my GP last week. I've been experiencing a lot more pain when passing urine, bad stinging sensation and I've been running to the loo much more often and with much much more urgency.

I'd previously spoken to Claire, my Brachytherapy nurse at St Richards, and I was taking Ibuprofen three times a day after meals but these haven't helped with this stinging. I took a urine sample which didn't show and infection but as a precaution this was tested in the lab but nothing showed up.

The pain is better and I'm pleased to say that I haven't had the same urges to run to the loo. It's difficult to talk about incontinence but I want men to be aware that there are drawbacks with any type of treatment following the Prostate Cancer diagnosis and treatment. Luckily I haven't had any accidents but have come close (sometimes very close) many times. I carry a small supply of incontinence pads just in case.

Quite by chance I saw a twitter message from Macmillan Cancer Support @macmillancancer about a card which you can use to request the use of toilet facilities. The card is supplied free of charge. I haven't had to use it yet but it does give some peace of mind. I've also ordered a 'Radar' key, also from Macmillan, to enable me to use disabled toilet facilities. The charge for this is £4.50

It's very frustrating when you go to a public toilet (railways station etc) and find it locked with a opening time shown (07.00 - 21.00).

I've been drinking some extra Cranberry Juice and I've found that this does help. My doctor did suggest that I could have mild Cystitis and I know the juice helps that. 

Work has been very busy and this November has been my busiest month ever. Some very interesting events for CTF, CVS & Eclipse. I've been helping CTF with their LED panel displays, doing two large walls for the World Rugby Awards and a single large wall for a major company AGM. With each panel weighing over 11 kgs it's a good workout each time we build a wall. I think this has helped because apart from my waterworks I feel really good. That's all for now apart from telling you that my blog has been viewed over 2000 times. 

Update 15th September

I had my 12 month telephone consultation on Tuesday. Claire Deering, one of the brachytherapy nurses from St Lukes, phoned me while I was at work in London. I managed to find a vacant room and we were able to chat in peace.

Claire didn't have my latest PSA result despite me asking my doctors to forward it. She explained that it's quite likely that it was missed at the hospital. I already had a copy of the result from my GP.

As I wrote on my last blog it was 1.7 ug/L and I did have worries that the decrease wasn't enough. Claire seemed very happy with the result so I found this encouraging.

We had discussion about the pain I'm still experiencing when I pass urine. Claire explained that my prostate gland is still swollen and could remain so for quite a while. I'm still taking Tamulosin 400 microgram modified release capsules and on previous advice I had reduced the dosage from one per day to one every two days. Claire thought this was OK so I will stick with one every two days. I'm also starting a dose of 2 x Ibuprofen 200mg tablets three times a day for two weeks. Hopefully this will help the discomfort.

I also have to plan any journeys or work patterns to make sure I'm able to take a comfort break when I need one. I'm getting expert at finding toilets although there have been a couple of occasions when I was more than desperate

Just recently I had a job in central London and drove in, picking up a colleague on the way. he traffic was, predictably, awful and it took over an hour to drive from Vauxhall to Westminster. I dropped off my colleague and then drove to the underground car park near Westminster Green. I was absolutely bursting for a wee and there are no toilets in that car park. Now I was in a bit of trouble. I'm not one to pee just anywhere and besides, there were some people in the car park. I knew I had some old water bottles in the car so took the only decision, jumped into the back of the car and did my business.

Without being too graphic I finished, made sure everything was OK then realised that the child locks were on the rear doors. Already feeling a bit undignified I now had to scramble over the front seats to get out. 

Having worked in London at various hotels and conference centres quite a bit I know there are plenty of places to run to in an emergency!

But I think this is a small price to pay for the knowledge that the treatment is working.

Busy week coming up, working at a very prestigious hotel on Monday building a large LED video wall with my colleagues. We've been planning for this event for some time and have spent the past few weeks preparing the kit and checking all the connections we'll need to make. I'm not operating the kit during the shows so on Tuesday I'm working at Wembley stadium again for Eclipse Presentations. 

We de-rig the LED panels on Thursday afternoon and I'll be in the warehouse on Friday to unload then check-in the kit. On Friday evening after dinner Bev & I are travelling to Wolverhampton to meet up on Saturday with some friends that Neil & I met on holiday at Secrets Silversands in Mexico in June. Bev hasn't met them yet but I know she'll get on just fine. We're having a tour around Marsdens brewery on Saturday then having dinner at Nicky & Marks in the evening.

Rebecca & Chris, Emma & Alex and Neil are all going, should be good.

This follows last weekend when our friends Nick & Ellen, who Bev & I met, also at Secrets Silversands, in Mexico in February came to visit us in Barns Green. They bought their little Pug, Bentley and we had a great night. How cute is he?

Thats all for now

5th September 2016

Nearly 12 months have passed since my Brachytherapy procedure so I thought I would post an update.

I've been busy at work for the past three months, Worked at Excel for a large exhibition & conference then in Berlin for 9 days working on an major education conference. After that I've worked in CTF's warehouse PAT (electrical testing) and checking their assets register. Done a short spell for Eclipse covering holidays for one of their managers at One Whitehall Place, central London. So I've had plenty of exercise and I've been feeling very good.

I lost about 5kgs in weight a couple of months ago but have put on a little since.

I visited Dr Wheatley at the Princess Royal Hospital for a routing checkup for my Prolactinoma. Everything seemed OK, all my blood results were normal (normal for me) so I was quite pleased. I've been experiencing a few problems with my eyesight, nothing serious just the feeling of some slight clouding at times. My peripheral vision is still OK which is something I'm very aware of. The tumour has grown around my optic nerve and a reduction of peripheral vision is a warning sign.

Dr Wheatley arranged an brain MRI scan and I'm awaiting the results. I have a routine appointment with the Doctor next July. I'm continuing to take my usual medication
Cabergoline, Levothyroxine, Tostran and a vitamin D supplement.

I have a planned telephone consultation with Brachytherapy nurses Claire Deering or Doona Higgins at St Lukes later in September. I had a blood test to measure my PSA two weeks ago and my PSA level in now 1.7 ug/L. I was hoping that it would be slightly less, my last was 1.8, but I'm far from worried as before my operation it was 4.1.

Despite the reduction I have been experiencing some issues. I find that I've been getting a strong urge to pee at times resulting in running to the toilet. I've been planning my journeys based around the whereabouts of toilets. Luckily I haven't had any accidents although I have come close on several occasions.

I'm also getting a lot of pain in my penis when I pee. A lot of the nerves pass through the prostate and the swelling does affect sensation. I've lowered my Tamulosin to one capsule every two days but I have noticed a reduction in the urine flow since doing this. I'll speak to the nurses about it.

I'm currently using one Sildenafil tablet every two - three days to help encourage blood flow in my penis. It does work and it seems to help reduce some of the pain I've been experiencing. The side effects have been quite welcome.

I've been enjoying my photography just lately. I took some photographs for the BLMRA 12 hour lawn mower race at Five Oaks, Billingshurst, some photos can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1225587814127222.1073741915.100000280465018&type=1&l=cd0fa0c453

and I've just done some for Horsham's own John O'sullivan at his 'Come on My Sofa' show at the Capitol Theatre last Saturday. I wanted to increase my portfolio of stage shots and I was made very welcome by John and his backstage helpers. It was a very funny evening and John even managed to get me on stage a couple of times. I think I got some good shots and I've posted these on my Facebook page. If you want a look they can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1249577491728254&type=1&l=fad4af5a90

Bev & I are taking a short break this week visiting Christine & Robert in Devon later this week and we're looking forward to seeing the friends we met on holiday in Cancun in February Nick & Ellie who are coming over next week.

Looking forward to seeing Mark & Nicki, Chris & Becky, Alex & Emma sometime soon (and Neil of course).

Update 23rd May 2016

Monday 23rd May 2016

Currently working at the Oxford Belfry for CVS, at a conference for National Grid.

Feeling really good, have been working a lot and fitness level is very good. I've even managed to loose a little weight, still like my food a little too much so it's still work in progress, and will continue to be I expect.

Continuing to take the Tamulosin however have been able to reduce the dosage to one tablet every 36-48 hours with no ill effects. I also feel slightly different so I think the swelling has begun to subside.

Under advice from my nurse in Guildford I've also been taking Sildenafil tablets which are similar to Viagra. In my case they seem to have helped reduce the slight pain I feel when I urinate. Any other side effects are obviously welcome.

I just want to encourage any man in their 50's to think about being tested for Prostate Cancer.

I DIDN'T have any symptoms at all.

I was only diagnosed after routine blood test ordered by my endocrinologist for my pituitary problem. I'd still be completely unaware of my cancer had this not happened.

Ladies, talk to your husbands / boyfriends and make sure they're aware of Prostate Cancer.

I'm excited to be going on holiday next week with Neil whom I've known for nearly 50 years. We both felt that it's a good time to go before we're too old and too tired to enjoy ourselves. Bev has been fantastically supportive so I decided to book a short break with her in June (that way I obviously get two holidays in less than one month)!

Keep healthy 

update Tuesday 19th April 2016

Tuesday 19th April 2016

I had a conversation with a close neighbour earlier today and once again it highlighted to me  how easy it can be to miss the early signs of Prostate problems.

'R' is in his late 60's and wakes most nights for a pee. He also explained that the flow of pee is not as good as it used to be. Enlarged Prostate is very common but given 'R's age it will be wise to see his doctor and have a PSA test.

I've been feeling quite well with very few problems since I last wrote. I had a telephone consultation with Claire my PC nurse from St Lukes on the 10th March - and received some good news, my PSA level has reduced from 3.9 to 2.2. (it started off at 4.1 pre-operation). My testosterone level has increased so I've cut my Tostran supplement by 30%.

I still have some pain when I pass urine. I spoke to Claire about this and she confirmed that it is quite normal although she was surprised that I was still experiencing it. Claire suggested that I take a ibuprofen to help reduce the swelling which seems to work.

I tried to cut back my Tamulosin tablets from one per day to one every two days but this didn't work. I tried one every 36 hours but again I was having trouble peeing so I'm back to one per day. I'll have another try soon as I think the swelling is beginning to reduce.

I've decided to take a few breaks from work. Not for any health reasons as such but given the scare I've had it does make you think about things. I do love my work and I try to take on most jobs I'm offered but I think I'm doing the right thing. The first holiday is on the 31st May and once again I'm returning to Mexico but this time not with Bev. My very good friend Neil has been feeling a bit low for some time so we decided to have a boys holiday! Bev was very understanding, especially when we confirmed our second break in June.

I've just completed a job in Oxford for the Skoll Foundation. ( www.http://skoll.org/skoll-world-forum/ ) I've been lucky to work at this event for the past 5 years. It's always hard work but very rewarding. We were expecting His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama but unfortunately he was unable to attend due to ill health. Ex US VP Al Gore spoke well as did ex Irish President Mary Robinson, music was provided by Jaunez & Malek Jandali and there were good contributions from many others.

Thats all for now.