Ticking away ... Day 921 ~ the further tales of a man and his own personal cancer.

Yesterday, Day 920, me and my Stage 4 cancer as well as my son travelled to Chesterfield Royal for another 28 day check-up ... though perhaps I should call it a follow-up appointment. Anyway, you get the idea.

I got weighed and my blood pressure was taken. The Atenolol I have been given for the last 28 days has done the trick ~ my blood pressure is down ! I've been having a weekly check on my blood pressure though I haven't told you. Even I know there's a limit. [I'm thinking of you. I don't want to labour a point].

I've not even told you about my mallet finger ... what's that ? You'd like to know ? OK ... well, I went to the Pulvertaft Hand Clinic within the Royal Derby Hospital  where, after eight weeks, the doctor asked me to take off the plaster around the splint ... "Don't you want to do it ?" I asked ... "No, I might hurt you if I did it ..." he replied. So, gingerly, I unwrapped my middle finger and, lo and behold, it stayed straight ! I think the next thing he said was "Don't bend it !" I didn't bend it but you know what it's like sometimes when you know you mustn't do something ... you do it ... but not this time ... so far. The next stop was the therapist who told me that for another four weeks at least I have to keep my splint on though now it will largely be held on with velcro with a bit of plaster. I have to perform two exercises ten times at one go to build up the strength in the tendon. These exercises have to be carried out eight times a day. One involves squeezing a tin of mushy peas very gently. [Note : it doesn't have to be mushy peas. Any can or aerosol will do but I mustn't grip and lift. I go back in ten days for a check up as regards the finger].

Meanwhile back in Chesterfield yesterday, I saw the doctor who seemed happy enough with how things were going. I did mention that I had some discomfort in my groin especially when I walk. It wasn't pain ... just discomfort. I can feel something in there. It could well be that the pelvic bone has been affected by the cancer or the drugs or the chemotherapy ... or all three for all I know. Anyway, radiotherapy may be an option further on down the line. In the meantime I can resort to painkillers though [as mentioned] I have no pain at present.

He did say though that he would like me to double up on the Sando-K, a potassium supplement. However, just in case it increases my potassium levels too much [which can be as dangerous as having low potassium levels] I've got to have some more blood tests ...

As long as they keep me pegged together though I'm happy enough.

A photograph was taken in the car park ...

Keep smiling folks.

Ticking away ... Day 836 ~ plugging that damn wall ...

Earlier today I had my first check-up after being put on Abiraterone. Everything seems to be going well except my blood pressure is up and my potassium level is down. This means I'm being given 10mg of Amlodipine as from tomorrow rather than 5mg ... together with all the other tablets of course.

There's not a lot to add really except the doctor and the pharmacist wanted to know how the Abiraterone was affecting me. I said the worse side effect is having to take them at 6.30 whilst half asleep. If I don't drop the top of the Buxton Water bottle because I'm fumbling about I have been known to drop one of the tablets [which I pick up hastily and swallow without thinking too much]. I don't have to take the tablets at 6.30am but I'm supposed to take them an hour before food and I don't fancy sitting around for an hour doing nothing before I have my breakfast. 

After talking to the pharmacist about my medication we had to go to the pharmacy to get the extra Amlodipine and then as part of my self-medication involves a hot bacon cob we adjourned to the Cafe @ the Royal ...

It had started to snow as we sat drinking our coffees and eating our cobs but there was still time for the usual photograph to show you how this 62 year old is looking nowadays ... 

 

Thanks to Jamie, of course, for taking me there and having to put up with his old Dad ... it is much appreciated Jamie.

Finally, I'd like to say 'hello' to Hayley's Grandma ... I sometimes wonder whether I'm going on a bit too much about the state of my health but when I learn that Hayley reads these blogs to her Grandma because she likes to know what someone else is going through too ... well, it makes it all worthwhile. 

Give your Grandma a hug and a kiss from me Hayley.

Ticking away ... Day 767 ~ we're talking 'quality of life' now ...

I was thinking that yesterday's check-up, the first in three months, might not be quite so encouraging as previous ones had been.

In the event it was probably slightly worse than I had anticipated.

The groin strain that I had started to notice about ten days ago is likely to be cancer cells in my pelvic bone according to my new consultant ... but this can be treated by radiotherapy with a view to maintaining the "quality of life".

My PSA reading according to my last bloodtest is now just over 30.

The small lump in my neck may be malignant ... but there are drugs that should be able to knock it back for three or four months.

So, it was more of a triple whammy than a double.

Still, all is not lost and the next move is to have a CT scan to see how far those cheeky little cancer cells have got and then I [or more likely the doctor] can decide whether I have some radiotherapy and/or some more drugs or adopt a 'wait and see' policy ... and then have some radiotherapy and/or some more drugs.

So although I'm hobbling a bit at present I am still making the most of life and I was still able to pose for a photo after yesterday's 'bringing you back to earth with a bang' session ...  

There was some good news though. When we went into the Cavendish Suite a good number of the nurses and staff remembered us and showed us the attention, courtesy and care they have showed us thus far ...

... and the bacon rolls and coffee Jamie and I had afterwards were very enjoyable [though I did think Jamie having two bacon rolls was rather excessive].