Surgery or Radiotherapy? Decision made!

I am in awe of last exchange between you two - you are so positive and strong in the midst of stage 4 cancer, plus eddiel your positivity regarding Lesley’s condition is similarly inspiring.  Exchanges on this site such as this one make me so grateful that I am on a curable pathway and I salute both of you as you battle on.   AW.    

Thank you AW, being positive is so much better than the alternative, and having the best family in the world makes that so much easier, but I have my down times too. I just remind myself how lucky I am, and having 54 unexpected years, thanks to the wonderful surgeons who fixed my heart all those years ago, to have had the life I have is priceless. Anyway I'm never sure about writing about non PCa matters,  I'm not even sure I've ever mentioned Lesley before, a little update, Mandy has been told she's clear of cancer for the second time, both times they said she was terminal, Mandy 2 cancer 0, Lesley has germcell tumours of the ovaries, sadly one which all, in her side of the family has had, none survived it, but talking to the surgeons the day after surgery, their very confident all visible signs of cancer have been removed, chemo will follow and for the first time the word cure was mentioned, so we hang on, as a family, to that little bit of hope, and know being positive brings better results.

Eddie 

I am glad for you and your family Eddie.

Your positive news has come on an off day for me, and it helps to see other people lifted up.

I will be positive all day. People will wonder what I have been smoking.

God to hear my friend, life goes on, I've seen Lesley today, she's started physio and we hope will be home Monday or Tuesday, and have two lunch/dinner dates. later.

Eddie

Just a quick update.  The omeprazole worked within 4 days and I haven’t felt the globus since.  However, I’m still aware of slight “warmth” in my throat first thing in the morning (presumably being horizontal for 8 hours makes reflux more likely?), so I’m staying on it until I have my doctor’s appointment on 3 March.     AW

Hi AW,

I Lifted my mattress under the head so there is a bit of a slop. It helps a bit with the reflux. Also last meal of the day should be 3 hours at least before bed time. 

Lots of love

Dafna

Hi Dafna - good idea - I’ll bear that in mind.   AW

I had my doctors appointment today and he diagnosed H-pylori - a bacterial infection at the top of the oesophageal region where gastric mucosa can be present, causing acid secretion that can lead to a feeling of a lump in the throat, similar to a globus sensation.  Hopefully a course of amoxicillin antibiotics will clear it up.  I wondered if my still slightly suppressed immune system (due to radiotherapy a year ago) led to the bacteria managing to get a hold.  The doctor said that  it was coincidental and that it was not a side effect of my PCa treatment.  It’s funny isn’t it?  After having cancer, you think everything else that goes wrong afterwards is linked to it in some way!   In this case, it would appear not to be.   As Millibob would say : “every day’s a school day”.       AW

You are so right!

Alpine Wanderer said:

After having cancer, you think everything else that goes wrong afterwards is linked to it in some way

So at my review I told my oncologist about the pain in my shoulder and she said - it's a rotator cuff injury - see your GP.

Off to the GP's - she's right and I have just landed myself with half an hour's exercises a day I didn't want!!

So Alpine Wanderer I wish you a speedy recovery - my other phrase of the day is 

"Prostate Cancer - the gift that keeps giving"

I hope you don't need this one .

Kind Regards - Brian.

Good morning Alpine Warrior (as I prefer to call you). Now this is one more up my territory. H. pylori is often picked up as a child and can remain without symptoms in the stomach and upper duodenum just happily multiplying and living amongst your other billions of gut bugs which are needed to keep you going. They can also be picked up from infected water or things like undercooked seafood. When they start running rampant then they can cause problems like ulcers but have also been associated with increased risks of other diseases. Once diagnosed then they can usually be treated with antibiotics quite successfully but sometimes the little blighters can take more getting rid of and different antibiotics are needed. Your saliva can remain infectious whilst being treated and until you have a negative test so no passing on oral fluids and plenty of hand washing. You are going to need to get your gut back into balance after taking antibiotics so look into boosting it with probiotics such as Greek yogurt, kefir and eat a varied diet. Sometimes the doctors recommend a ppi to reduce the acid production alongside the antibiotics.

I hope it soon clears up.