New here following a January diagnosis of advanced prostate cancer. Still getting used to the idea that this nasty little beastie has colonised me whilst I wasn't looking. On a duplet HT treatment which has got my PSA down to 0.1 so it's stopped it growing for now but the efficacy of one of the meds is limited. Timeline indeterminate. Talk of when the Enzalutamide stops working possible Chemo with Docetaxel and Cabaziitaxel and Radium 223 mentioned as is a topical use of radiotherapy on the larger metastasis on the pelvis. To complicate matters a few other scares popped up with all the scans.
Possible primary or secondary cancer in the lung.. First biopsy went a bit tips up as I was discharged then a few days later my Urology Consultant reviewed my discharge X-ray and spotted a pneumothorax so I had to spend a couple of nights in the AMU. Took a few weeks to recover from that at home and was then told they needed to do another as that one had been "non-diagnostic". Bugger. However, next one was a doddle and if you compared timelines where I was being admitted to hospital on the first one after the second I went for a walk and grabbed a pint. Lab result came back as "no definite cancer cells" but CT recommended. I have the appointment so hoping I might soon be able to cross that off the list.
Following a CT then MRI on the inside of my noggin there's a possible distended blood vessel behind the right eye that has grown in size since an MRI back in 2012. That's a bit worrying as my Mum had a similar, unspotted, issue and the vessel burst and permanently wrecked her forward vision in that eye.. So waiting on a referral to the Ophthalmology Clinic.
Next up is the ticker. Following a GP appointment I was found to have high cholesterol to go alongside some chest pains (which might be acid reflux). So to be safe I'm not just on Omeprazole it's also off to Cariology I go. Echo Cardiogram and CTCA done but no results as yet. Seeing as the scans were a few weeks ago and the chest pains have receded with the Omeprazole it might be no news is good news as no alarm bells have been set off. Mind you I'd like confirmation as the list has been getting a bit long and I'd like to cull it.
So that's where I am to date. I'm racking up the Departments - Radiology, Urology, Respiratory, Oncology, Cardiology and Ophthalmology on the horizon. All this has happened this year in the run up to my 70th Birthday which was on the back end of June. Thank the heavens for ale and single malts as it's hard work being retired - from the NHS (oh the irony).
