Post 540: A good use of a chatbot, if that’s what it was?
When it all comes down to I don’t know everything nor do I know much about other trades and their jargon or fine use of the English language, that’s where a chatbot could save the day.
This week has been gruelling and because of back pain I’m uncomfortable. The solution in the first instance is to get those new pills, the ones that sound like Dulux, they are still being made in a far off land and the elves are now too busy with seasonal gifts for kids and believers, so my order is at the top of last seasons pile; ha ha, I think I’ve had too much opiate… I must be slipping into dream-land, ha ha.
Anyway, the new Dulux pills will be here soon, I have no doubt and they will help.
At the same time, at great expense, the lowering of the steroids is hitting me from the other direction to balance up the drugs which allows them to be saved for another day when they’re needed to work earnestly, in the future, but that’s not now…apparently.
So this whole escapade has got me thinking, as you know, and I’m so tired of not much sleep (this week especially).
I’ve been asking myself the big questions again from a perspective of being in pain rather than on my high-horse.
It’s hard not knowing all the facts and easier to make discissions about yourself when you’re well but those decisions will probably need reviewing at a later date when a calm or excited eye can see through the bravado heading to a new horizon.
The new horizon for me is possibly to re-evaluate treatments every 3 months or so; leaving it forever is not a good move even though I’m very happy to do it for ease of my mind (and my time).
With this in mind and my back pain front and centre, I have endeavoured to get some “logically next” drug help this week at the hospice but I now want to know if I’ve dropped the ball when considering the last bone-scan reports.
Ok. I cannot have dropped the ball in this case because I didn’t ask about the report and took as red, that it’s was ‘what it was’ and there was no need to ask. Why ask what you already know or think you know; that’s me all over.
These reports, I’ve not had to look at nor worried about, reviewed the bone-scans with deference to the same one last year (back in October/November 2025) which was after my chemo had been abandoned on the fifth cycle. That while experience was an unpleasant one that is well documented early in this blog; ney!, is the reason for this blog.
So I’m back to the original question set in stone as the title of this blog, and that is…
To Hop-on or Hop-off is the question?
Back to the chat bot and a kind Cancer Care Nurse called Nina, who has watched over me on this sometimes chaotic cancer route I’ve stumbled along, always by my side, when she can.
In this case she suggested she could easily help me with a copy of both bone-scan reports - but said that they are hard to read and to her memory - there’s not much written in them.
There wasn’t much to worry about as the email came flying in and immediately I was reading the gobley-gook.
“Hey Mr. Chatbot” (Mr CB) was my next utterance and boy oh boy did it help.
Initially I received a complex but readable review from the first chatbot wrangling, then I tightened my grip on it as I refined more and more then asked Mr CB to plan out a series of thoughts for me to throw the way of my oncologist in the near future.
It’s there I’ll get a more accurate explanation for my current questions about Me (and my Shadow, ha ha).
The printed sheets are not yet printed because as always, I’ve asked too much of my friendly Mr CB and he’s politely told me that our Q & A would end for 24 hrs until I’m allowed a new quota of help when I can then start over, unless…
I pay for it?!?!?!?
Hell know.
Pay for an advancement in his abilities? No thanks, I’m good to wait.
This is me all over. I’m a skin-flint like Scrooge.
So I’ll await today’s 24hr deadline and then get the last tweaks done to my review to make it more streamlined.
In the meantime I might squeeze in a few thoughts about my homework from the U3A too
Why not?
Because I’m going to stay-put in my tv chair tomorrow and try my best to be in great shape for a visit in the evening to an old School-pal, his wife and growing family. But going on last nights performance I doubt we will go at all, to be truthful.
We were just sat down to watch Traitors at 8pm when I was struck down with tiredness over the pain I already had. I tried to sit tight and enjoy the show with my Darling but I just couldn’t. This led to a hasty retreat to bed for me, to which my Darling followed.
When I reached my bed I was actually surprised how comfortable I was and fell asleep very quickly, assisted by my opiate liquid helper and my Darlings help in reaching those darn socks that seem to be further away from my hands than they were earlier on.
I will await the new day to see what it brings. Meanwhile I’ve edited the raw and reviewed data and compiled a brief-brief of my own which I will digest and regurgitate at that next meeting.
And, because you are all close friends you may as well have a look at the work I’ve done. Don’t be scared of it, I’m certainly not.
It’s finally a way I can get some peace and quiet about my pain. I’ve been confused this week and tired of the lack of facts that might help me understand the ‘Best’ track to go down. A track I’ve dismissed out of sight till now.
I have my facts to take to that Oncology meeting which is when I get to see the visually challenging sights around my body on their screen.
All I need is a few answers and hey-presto! I’m free of confusion. (Did that make any sense? I hope so).
Good night, take care,
———
Brief Summary & My Key Choices 17/10/26
MY PRIORITIES
Pain relief → maintain mobility & independence → quality of life — above all else
CURRENT SITUATION
• Stage 4 prostate cancer — 4 years; on Zoladex (testosterone fully suppressed)
• PSA rising — suggests disease progression: PSA: 1372 (16/9/26)
• August bone scan:
Extensive widespread bone metastases — skull, spine (including L3), ribs, sternum, shoulder blades, pelvis, upper thigh bones & right upper arm. Conclusion: disease progression
• L3 finding:
More active than other vertebrae — unclear if weakened or cause of pain; needs assessment
• Other:
Small fluid around lungs; left adrenal nodule; history of pulmonary embolism; heart/fluid problems managed with furosemide & digoxin
• Pain:
Severe — back, right side, right shoulder blade
• Pain meds:
Gabapentin 1200mg (400mg 3 x a day)
Paracetamol (2 pills 3 x a day);
Duloxetine, 30mg (60 if tolerated);
Steroid Dexemethesone 0.5mg (am);
Slow release Morphine 40mg (2 x a day)
QUESTIONS TO CLARIFY FIRST
• Does L3 need urgent MRI/CT? Is it structurally at risk?
• Which lesions are likely to cause my worst pain?
• Are my thigh bones at fracture risk? Need orthopaedic review?
TREATMENT OPTIONS — TO DISCUSS & DECIDE
• Targeted radiotherapy:
Pain relief to specific painful areas. Willing to consider — need clarity on benefit, speed and side effects
• Radium-223:
For widespread bone disease. Previously declined — willing to reconsider if eligible and risks are clear
• Docetaxel chemotherapy:
Systemic cancer treatment. Declined so far — open to revisit only if clear benefit vs risks is explained
• Other systemic treatments:
e.g. hormone/androgen therapies. Need to know what's available without docetaxel, and what's safe given my heart and clotting history
• Bone-protective treatment:
To slow bone progression and reduce fracture risk. Worth discussing
———
