Bushwalk Australia

I expect my yearly check-up to go well; it isn't for anther month but I am OK.
What the don't tell you about is the HUGE emotional roller-coaster this sort of illness puts you through, I spent 3 days running around; mowing the lawn and making the place tidy before my beloved wife told me to stop and rest.
When she asked me why I was doing it I had to tell her that if I didn't make it i didn't want anybody else cleaning up my mess.
OH! Boy!! did that bring on the tears, but that was how it affected me before the surgery, you should see the mess the place is in now.

Sometimes i look in the mirror and see the big scar on my chest and think to myself "WOW Was that real?? I get phantom pain in the missing nipple from time to time and sometimes it itches and I go to scratch;- but there is nothing there to scratch; and sometimes I go a month without thinking about it or feeling anything.
I now have much more empathy with women who have to go thought this, it is a 100 times wore for a woman i am sure.

Getting back to work has been much harder than I thought, there is a reluctance on the part on employers ( stated or not ) to employ an older worker who has had a major illness and not working can be soul destroying, so i hope to work the full ski season a Falls Creek this year

Wish you all the best man, and congratulate you on having the balls to post your story here.

Moondog55 wrote:so i hope to work the full ski season a Falls Creek this year

Hey, what job do you plan on doing? We'll be up again this year. Buy you a beer!

Hey; i'm a cook
Used to work for Barry Jones at "Pretty Valley Lodge" Don't know where this next season, i'm starting to look now

I have only recently joined this forum and I would like to thank Tony and moondog55 for sharing their stories and experiences. I work in theatres and see people who have PC operations on an almost daily basis, BC in men I have only seen a few times. Even though I have seen so many operations I never get to find out the long term troubles and trials that people face during the recovery so I feel humbled that you both would share your stories with us as you have.

I sincerely wish you the both the best and am very glad that your recoveries have been mostly successful.

I cannot urge people men and women to do those regular screening (PSA tests, pap smears, breast scans, bowel cancer screening) regularly as it makes such a difference if it is picked up early. … Unfortunately it can happen to anyone including yourself!

Hi Turtle81,

Turtle81 wrote:I have only recently joined this forum and I would like to thank Tony and moondog55 for sharing their stories and experiences. I work in theatres and see people who have PC operations on an almost daily basis, BC in men I have only seen a few times. Even though I have seen so many operations I never get to find out the long term troubles and trials that people face during the recovery so I feel humbled that you both would share your stories with us as you have.

I sincerely wish you the both the best and am very glad that your recoveries have been mostly successful.

I cannot urge people men and women to do those regular screening (PSA tests, pap smears, breast scans, bowel cancer screening) regularly as it makes such a difference if it is picked up early. … Unfortunately it can happen to anyone including yourself!

Thanks for your and every ones support, since my diagnosis I have realised that Prostate Cancer is much more of a serious problem than I would of ever imagined. Since I have begun talking freely about my experience so many people have come to me about their experience with PC, themselves, brother, father, uncle, friend. My best friend (bushwalking and fishing mate) has just been diagnosed, a close friend of my best friend in Perth had is Prostate removed 3 weeks ago, my work colleague's father had his removed four weeks ago, another work colleagues father is about to have the operation, another work colleague had his prostate removed about 3 months after mine, another had his out a year before.

I can only backup what Turtle81 has urged people go and get regular PSA checks (FROM THE AGE OF FORTY) do not let doctors tell you other wise, if you are suspicious that something is wrong insist on further tests.

My PC was not picked up early and I had to have a bit extra removed, I still am trying to recover my full continence 9 months after the operation, if you are diagnosed with PC start doing pelvic floor exercises as soon as possible, my mates friend in Perth had been doing pelvic floor exercises for 7 years since he went to pre-natal classes with his wife and he had immediate continence recovery ( I can only wish).

Tony

And we all thought that "Skin cancer" was the only one we had to worry about, remind me to stop going out with no shirt on, kick me when I forget.
I can only say "Ask your doctor, check out the symptoms and have the damned tests"
Ted

Time for an update
5 year check-up on the 21st of July 2015 and the ultra sounds looked OK so with luck this will be my last clinic
I still have issues with pain from the regrowing nerves and weakness in the left arm but it's minor all things considered
All I can say is Thank Goodness no more Mammograms. Those things hurt
All things considered the time has gone faster than I would have thought, heart racing and feeling nervous every time I see the surgeon and he looks at the results of the scans but I think it will be OK in my head from now on
Once again thanx all for reading and putting up with my anxiety attacks and whinging

Many Thanx to Mr Conrad Brandt, the surgery and cancer treatment team at Geelong Hospital and my family, mates and friends for putting up with my anxiety and whinging from time to time
I have been DISCHARGED

Great news, mate.

ff

excellent news MD.

Great MD55! Best wishes in your continuing recovery.

Thanx ff, cajun & GPS Guided

Good stuff MD!

Gog News Moongog,
My Father Died as a result of PC (pulmonary failure ) brought on in Hospital with his PC so I have a regular PSA checks I am 68 and all clear as yet

Only the good go young MD plenty of years left for you.
Seriously, good news mate I was just wondering how you were getting on the other day.

That is great news MD, I hope the 10 year check up is a good.

I also recently had my 5 year post op. check up and like you all is good, the only minor problem is that while bushwalking I struggle a bit at the end of the day with my continence, I am fine cycling and I ride around 300k a week both road and MTB too keep fit, I am about to set myself up to do some cycle some touring.

Tony

This is a bit of a tough topic for me to read.

My paternal grandfather has just been through 3 years of relative hell with PC. Hormone treatment sent him up the wall, and 6 months of intense radiotherapy left him feeling a bit burnt... but the last test came back clear. The old fella is still a bit sore and the toilet can be a bit uncomfortable but i keep reminding him he is still alive and has plenty to live for. My paternal grandmother has had extensive bowel cancer, breast cancer and was up until recently undergoing treatment for secondary bone cancer... she too struggles with dealing with dying with cancer rather than of it. Again... you are much better than a lot of other people out there I tell her as she enjoys her 3rd red for the night! >_< Luckily my maternal grandparents seem to be relatively clear for all intents and purposes.

I have seen a few professional friends go through the C journey, and part of me wonders what my future holds... its certainly in the family. I already need to have a colonoscopy this year at 30 to start the bowel screening process. Better get them to check everything else whilst I'm out to it!

Thanks for sharing your journey MoonDog and Tony.

Hi,

Just saw this thread.

Tony and MD and others I wish you well.
Thank you for sharing.

Had classic symptoms, urgency, unable to fully empty bladder, poor flow, feel like you cannot hold, risk of incontinence.
I am lucky.
Oh I am 50.
Enlarged prostate, benign enlargement, PSA normal.
Every doctor/specialist had a poke, ultrasounds, CT scans etc.
On pill a day to manage prostate enlargment.
6 monthly checks now.
May require surgery at a later time or not...

While on this topic do the whole thing......all you men.....

Bowel checks too gents.
Colonoscopy Thursday......mmmmm...

We live in aworld where if we catch these things early it can be a very different outcome.

Oh and get on the Movember journey, it helps getting people to talk.

Just have to convince the other half she can exist without my beard for a month so I can grow a mow.
Sort of mad that......

all the best man. cancer is truly one of the worst disease that can happen to humanity but it's such a shame that we never truly find a cure to cancer

All the best to all who have this wretched ailment.

FF

corvus wrote:Gog News Moongog,
My Father Died as a result of PC (pulmonary failure ) brought on in Hospital with his PC so I have a regular PSA checks I am 68 and all clear as yet

Make sure you also have the DRE, An acquaintance in his 50s had his PC picked up early enough by a physical examination, even though his PSA was OK.

Yucky but needed procedure, uncomfortable but not painful and Yes it's Bl**dy time for another one
Been reading some interesting articles linking PC to our modern low fibre diet combined with all the other things we do to ourselves with alcohol etc

I hate to say it out loud but
"Oh F**K"
My tests have come back positive twice and it looks like I may possibly have Effing bowel cancer like my brother
I'm still in shock
I haven't told Cecile yet because she is in a plane heading home from the USA
Going back to the doctor tomorrow PM after picking her up from the airport
I'll talk to her after I come back from the quack. This isn't news anybody really wants to hear but it is possibly going to play merry hell with this seasons skiing trip
I'll update when I get home from the doctors I simply hate Colonoscopies, not the procedure but the 24 hours before hand.

Effing? One step at a time.

GPSGuided wrote:Effing? One step at a time.

Shorthand to avoid the swearword censorship
I know First step already taken in the second set of swabs
Second step is the dreaded colonoscopy

The we'll take care of business as it comes

Geeez mate, take it easy and let's keep those fingers, toes and what ever else we can cross, crossed. What an absolute bugger!!!

Best of luck with it all MD.

Well they gave my brother 6 months to live 2 years ago; we make advances in medicine and surgery at a rapid rate so who knows

My parents always did threaten to sell me off for medical experiments when I was a kid
Thanx for the support

Unfortunatly I have been diagnosed with a similar ailment.(but in stomach) Started chemo at the end of october last year and continued 24/7 for 18 weeks. Big dose every 3 weeks with a pump bottle full time, renewed weekly. Finished 10th march.
Not sure what's in the future, just heading off to see my oncologist in a few minutes.
Appointment 3pm wed.
Had scans since chemo but still a problem there.
When I know more I will post here.

Flyfisher