Hi all. Just introducing myself
I was diagnosed with Prostate cancer just before Christmas. I was due to retire in September 22 but work asked me if I could stay on a year and then, in 23, I was asked if I’d help finish off a project and retire in Sep 24. Then, I found out I had stage 3 prostate cancer with a Gleason of 9. Work were, and are being absolutely fantastic. I can’t go in to work (too complicated to explain here) so, instead of a gradual wind-down into retirement, I’ve gone from full speed ahead to full stop overnight! My wife has a chronic illness so, I’m able to support her more but, she’s very anxious about how she can support me. However, I was feeling ‘at a loose end’ almost constantly and just couldn’t occupy either my mind or my body without it being connected to my cancer (exercises etc). So, to exercise my mind and body, I’ve enrolled at Ipswich Hospital as a volunteer. I’m just about to start and I’m already feeling better.
Hi Axel H and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read that you were diagnosed with prostate cancer but it's great that you've found voluntary work at your local hospital.
As the online community is divided into different support forums I'm going to recommend a couple for you to join. The first is the prostate cancer forum where you'll connect directly with others who have the same diagnosis as you and will understand the implications of the treatment that you've had and how that might leave you feeling.
The second forum is the life after cancer forum which is for cancer survivors and people who have finished treatment. It is a space to discuss things like the physical and emotional after effects of cancer, returning to work, or trying to move on with your life.
To join, just click on the links I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
