Ticking away ~ Day 1056 ... oh, that's a bit of a blow.

After a week of scans, bloodtests and what have you I turned up at hospital this morning wondering if I was fit enough to join the Clinical Trial I had been screened for ...

The doctor asked how my back felt and I told her that it had started to feel easier. She then informed me that the MRI scan showed that cancer cells had got into my spine and this had resulted in some compression of the vertebrae. As a result the only course of action she could recommend was radiotherapy ... starting today.

The chances of being involved in the clinical trial are obviously reduced but they are going to ascertain whether I can still take part if the radiotherapy is effective ...

By about midday I was once more being irradiated (you feel nothing) and I was home by 2-ish. I will now have treatment for the next four days (excluding the weekend). I have been warned about the possibility of increased pain (at least initially) so I need to keep my painkillers close by.

It's a blow. I have always been able to console myself with the thought that I would get better in a few days time ... or a week ... or a month.

I will prevail for as long as I can.

It is two years and two days since I retired. Here I am enjoying a pint as a newly retired Legal Executive ...

Ticking away ... Day 1029 ~ fungal infection and rash decisions ...

Where to begin ... 

They always say first things first but such a lot has happened during the past eighteen days. 

First, my sore 'area' is now much better you will be pleased to hear. Treatment with a couple of lotions/creams have cured that ~ one of them we had to keep in the fridge.

I developed a fungal infection though which necessitated three visits to the GP to see three different GPs. One of them [the second doctor I saw ~ who I like a lot] patted me on the shoulder after examining the rash [which is mainly on and under my arms but also down my front to a lesser degree] and said " ... very interesting ..." before recommending I saw the third doctor who had been on a dermatology course. The third doctor prescribed another lotion/cream which I don't have to keep in the fridge ... and which is also beginning to work ... and my rash is less of a problem than it was. Fortunately it hasn't itched.

The biggest problem though is that since the radiotherapy I have suffered with a very bad back. I thought it was muscular problems initially but I have to be realistic. It could be something much more ominous. Anyway I've been taken paracetomol and perhaps they help a little.

I've also been to discuss the clinical trial at the local cancer hospital ... and signed up. I have a two to one chance of getting the new drug that is being tested. The drug hasn't been officially approved yet but the results are encouraging, apparently. I have had some blood samples taken but I still need a bonescan and a CT scan. This will determine whether I am suitable. I could be rejected.

It seems that 160 men in the UK are being recruited in this clinical trial and I'm possibly going to be one of them ~ largely because I appear to be in better shape than I perhaps ought to be given my situation.  

Finally I want to apologise for not visiting your blogs. Sitting in my chair in front of my PC is uncomfortable after a relatively short space of time.

Ticking away ... Day 1007 ~ what happens next ...

A week after finishing radiotherapy I'm still feeling its effects and it may be another week before improvements are felt.

 

Today though I was back for my four weekly appointment. I've been taken off the Abiraterone which has served me well during the last seven months and I'm being weaned off the steroids. Abiraterone doesn't work for everyone. Someone we met today for the first time in over a year only had two courses [I had eight] and he is now probably worse off than me.

I have a number of options open to me :~

[1] Enter a clinical trial with new medication that is showing encouraging results. I have to meet certain criteria ... and even if I'm accepted I may get the placebo ! The clinical trial is finishing soon so I need to get in quickly if I'm going to get in at all. Paperwork explaining the trial will be sent to me in the next few days.

[2] Another course of chemotherapy. This won't be as effective as the previous course but could keep me going for longer than not having it at all ! It wasn't available ten years ago.

[3] Bone strengthening drugs. These may well be needed as the cancer appears to be attacking my bones. One drawback is that I need my teeth to be in good order and they aren't. A visit to the dentist may be needed. [I think the doctor has seen my smile.]

All these three courses of treatment have to be provided in the city hospital an hour away rather than the town hospital twenty minutes away.

The doctor mentioned in passing that the limp that I have may be caused by one of the bones in my pelvic area that is as good as broken. This is due to it being bone/cancer/bone. The radiotherapy may resolve this ~ the next week may tell me more. There's no wonder it hurt a few months ago when I missed the step on that stile ... and when I roll over in bed every night.

Here I am after the visit ...

 

On a positive note the bacon baps were as good as ever and the social side of visiting hospital continued when I met someone I'd been talking to just yesterday. I hadn't seen her for months before that ...

One negative note ... I'm not sure they do bacon baps in the big city hospital.

This photograph has already appeared on Facebook and someone has said that judging by my smile the news must have been good. I wouldn't go quite that far but again it's been a case of me getting what I expected.