vital's APC blog

Earwig-o again: time for six … or not, as the case might be

2022-09-30T10:27:00Z

Am writing this just ahead of my sixth cycle of chemo to keep you up to speed. After my last scribble-drivel there was an episode: eight days ago I was feeling really crook [as the antipodeans like to say], whereas I had been expecting the worst side...(read more)

Five down, five to go

2022-09-02T19:10:00Z

Tuesday: into Hamwic House for the blood sample, counting down to the next chemo cycle, only a few minutes’ waiting then the business and then home. Before three hours passed I get a notification mail that something has been added to ‘My ...(read more)

An addendum to cycle 4

2022-08-17T10:29:00Z

Thursday was the drip, then Friday feeling pretty much as I was after cycle 3, Saturday I felt that tiredness all day and some woolly-headedness, nevertheless decided I was going to be well enough to go fly fishing on the Sunday. How wrong could I ha...(read more)

4th Chemo cycle - update by our valiant reporter

2022-08-12T12:24:00Z

Treatment, like the current heatwave in the south, continues: here I am reporting on August, winding up for the fourth cycle of docetaxel chemotherapy [and zoledronic acid]. Blood sample: tick [PSA 12, down from 14]. Telephone clinic consultati...(read more)

Third Chemo - live blog!

2022-07-21T16:27:00Z

Hardly what used to be known as a "live outside broadcast" but what exactly is it called when you are making notes "as it happens"? Took the four little tablets 12, 3, and 1 hours ago (4 each time), and now I'm sitting i...(read more)

Second Chemo cycle done [5 to go], time for another update

2022-07-03T13:56:00Z

Not entirely certain I'm not in the midst of a technical glitch, but I'll press on anyway, despite it being very difficult to type with fingers crossed! Sit rep: second cycle accomplished on the 30th of June. I was in hopes that the state I g...(read more)

June the 6th

2022-06-08T14:04:00Z

Didn't seem very long since i was last writing, but there's been a lot to take in! My last post saw me awaiting info ... "Just the facts, Ma'am, just the facts" ... The waiting never ends, remember? After that week&#...(read more)

Mid May Musing.

2022-06-08T13:42:00Z

It's been a while but here we go with an update; As part of the clinical trial I have had the Radiotherapy, 20 shots to be precise, the last of which I am currently awaiting in the waiting area ... where social distancing just doesn't happen ...(read more)

"A cruel C" ( no, not the old film " A Cruel Sea")

2022-06-08T13:33:00Z

Advanced Prostate Cancer seems an insane paradox. It is a living organism which feeds on me while trying grow and spread, yet it can't reproduce outside of me, and can't be 'caught' by someone else. Ultimately, it will kill both of us...(read more)

Wait for it ...

2022-03-26T12:52:00Z

Earlier this week I attended the Radiotherapy department at USH General. My appointment was for sign in at 09.55 then 'Patient Information' would follow, 10.25 for 'CT Drink', and lastly 10.55 the 'CT Sim 2 ' scan ...(read more)

Motorhead lyric "All things come to he who waits ... The waiting never ends"

2022-02-10T18:17:00Z

Wot now? I hear you say, or rather I don't. Yesterday I had the results of the last 'blood letting' which show my PSA level has risen slightly to 0.38, and the Testosterone level is apparently 0.8. That slight increase is &quo...(read more)

The waiting game continues ...

2022-01-17T11:52:00Z

Ought to update you: the latest blood test showed PSA level has fallen further, now down to 0.142. During the telephone appointment with my consultant she said "it's evidence that the hormone therapy is working" so I believe that ...(read more)

Happy Christmas and Positivity for 2022

2021-12-26T12:11:00Z

I probably should have been more realistic and written along the lines of " Have the Best Christmas you can manage, given the circumstances" but at least my bit about 2022 can stand as it is. The Apalutamide arrived even later, ...(read more)

More time down the toilet! Is it just continuing bad luck?

2021-12-21T15:11:00Z

Sometimes it is hard to get clarity on things that just happen. Found out yesterday that it's not only my doctors' surgery that has time-wasting cock-ups, they happen at the University Hospital too. I suppose the latter wasn't as bad as the fir...(read more)

Heard the latest?

2021-11-29T16:01:00Z

Have you heard the latest? It’s not out yet. But until it is, here are two things learnt since the last post: First, the blood test taken on the 12th of November subsequently showed my PSA level has fallen from 39 to just 0.8!...(read more)