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.
Not easy choices I'm guessing but better to have some options rather than none I suppose. You have a lovely smile as always and from what i can see perfectly good teeth, good enough for biting into those bacon baps anyway. Hopefully you'll see some improvement from the radiotherapy. Take care June (@weegiewalker)x
ReplyDeleteThank you June ... if I have to go through all the treatments I will go through them all. I know when I was having chemotherapy originally I thought I wouldn't fancy going through it again ... but of course if it helps prolong an acceptable quality of life then I will put up with all that comes with the treatment.
DeleteI'm being so much more positive than normal that I've already booked a check-up at the dentist !
Sending good thoughts your way. Whatever you decide, in the end it will be the right decision for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Karen ... I will hopefully be able to take advantage of all three treatments provided I meet the criteria.
DeleteI wonder what the current survival rate of advanced prostrate cancer is. A lot of news this week about testicular cancer 95% recovery rate this.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the survival rate for advanced prostate cancer will be as good as for testicular cancer. It depends a lot on the age of the patient and various other matters. I was told at the outset, 1009 days ago that I would die 'of' it rather than 'with' it. I accept that but obviously progress is being made ~ hence the clinical trial where the new treatment [I don't know what it is] is showing some encouraging results.
DeleteLots to think about Charlie,what ever you choose lets hope it works.As for the bacon bap I'm sure your team will sneak them into the hospital. Ann
ReplyDeleteI don't know that there is a lot to think about Ann ... I tend to think that if I want to keep on ticking away I ought to try all three treatments if possible. Admittedly if it all gets a bit much then I might revise that :-)
DeleteI echo what Ann said - lots to think about there. To hear that there might be an "as good as broken" bone in your hip had to have been a bit of a shocker. You know, I reckon your history of lots of walking has to have been a good thing in this instance as plenty of weight bearing exercise is good for bones, increasing density and mass. Having to go further afield for treatment will be a nuisance, but I'm sure you'll find somewhere to stop for a bacon bap fix. There are usually plenty of such places within easy reach of most hospitals, as hospital fare is notoriously bad and cafe owners aren't usually slow to catch on to a market. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, the 'broken' bone was a surprise Jenny whilst it explains quite a lot too. One of the problems I'm finding is that because I'm not walking the weight has piled on ... I don't think the bacon bap will help this situation [though it does satisfy a need !].
DeleteI must admit that you have been out of my radar a lot these last few months. I need to get you back onto my meditation and prayer list. In fact I think I will put you on the request list that our little church keeps for the Prayer Warriors group to concentrate on. I will only use your first name and say that your cancer needs destroying/annihalating. So there you go, if you agree, then you will have Christians on the other side of the world fighting in your corner. It can't hurt can it? There are some Quakers in the group.
ReplyDeleteTwo weeks ago I actually heard another camper in another site say they stopped for a bacon bap on the way up to the lake. I have never seen it on a menu in Canada, and was too shy to burst into their campsite to ask questions. At least I knew what they were talking about.
I am planning a few hours/days of catching up with other bloggers' blogs as that is relaxing for me. Then I will have to write about June and July and condense it to get back to regular daily blogging for a week. Then we are going back into the bush at rent-a-daughter's ranch about 200 m. north of here where we are house-sitting for two weeks.
Thank you Karyn ~ feel free to include me in your prayers. I am touched by this and I have no objections whatsoever.
DeleteI'm pleased that it's not just me who talks about bacon baps !
I will look out for your blogs in the near future. In the meantime it's good to hear from you and I hope you are well.
I hope the beneficial effects of the radiotherapy start to kick in soon, and hopefully it will also help to minimise the effect of the cancer on the pelvic bone. It's good that you have a range of options open to you. I'm sure you'll let us know which you decide on. But no bacon baps? That IS a cause for concern!! Still looking as cheerful as ever in the photo.
ReplyDeleteThe effects of the radiotherapy might just be easing up a bit Mitch though I still have a bit of a limp. Still, the doctor said wait until next Wednesday to see how things are and he's the expert. I've tried not to think too much about the bacon baps [or lack of them] ~ that's the sort of thing I could lose sleep over.
DeleteOh Charlie. On the positive side there are options for you ... and I'm sure that you will pick whichever one (or more) that will be best for you. There's a feeling of helplessness (sp)... I wish that I could offer some words of encouragement or good cheer. Thank you for keeping us up-to-date. I'll pray for you.
ReplyDeleteI believe the options are all available one after the other [unless I'm overtaken by events and subject to me being suitable for the treatments]. I am not down or depressed with my situation it's just how it is, so don't feel helpless. Prayers always help, so thank you :-)
DeleteFirst, let me apologise for the delay in replying to all your comments ~ this blog is set up on my PC and although I can access it from my iPad, I'd forgotten my password which enables me to comment from my iPad !
ReplyDeleteWell, my mind is slipping. I meant to make comment that you were "double-0 seven" in this blog entry!
ReplyDeleteI missed an opportunity there didn't I ...
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