Good news for a change

Oh wow Slartiblartfast. Is it really 6 months since the start of your journey and I asked you what your name was from. It sounds as if you have had a rough time but can I suggest that you tell the staff tomorrow that you had a bad time of it for number 5. When my husband told his team they tweaked the medication and it wasn't so bad. If you have had 5 full doses so far then you have already had the minimum amount recommended so anything you get in the 6th dose is a bonus.

My husband had his last dose on the 11th October and I can honestly say he is now feeling the best he has been since being diagnosed in July 2020. He is similar to you in being T4 with lymph node but also  distant metastasis. His nickname is 'Boring old Fart' although Shar has renamed him 'Mr Newt' after his experiences of being p****D as a newt after two of his chemotherapy sessions so perhaps a production line of t shirts should be made. I really hope you will be fighting fit and raring to go in a couple of months time.

Like you we are living life to the full and will just roll with the punches. All the best for tomorrow and keep everyone informed of how you are getting on.

Sorry you have had such a tough time with chemo, it surprises me just how different it affects people. I love your new motto and I think you should get a t shirt done. Enjoy ringing that bell nice and loud

I'm glad your husband is feeling better, it gives me hope

I just want to walk back into the martial arts club and kick ass then I can casually say something like "6 months off with Stage 4 cancer and chemo and I still beat you"

Might have to be a bit of preparation over Christmas and New year ;-)

WOW - I am with Alwayshope here - it only feels like yesterday when I asked where your user name came from!! Great news and good luck with Chemo Number 6 - you have had it rough with the first 5.(If you don't know what his user name is you will have to look it up!!).

Slartibartfast said:

I fully intend to make use of what time I have available and my new motto is “Too Grumpy To Die”. I may just get it printed on a t shirt

That sums me up in a nutshell (should it be a walnut shell?). I feel just like that - someone's given me a second chance and I am going to make the most of it. Well said!!

Great news and thanks for the positive message - I hope you find the Hormone Therapy isn't as bad as it can be and you enjoy the martial arts. Please take care tearing round the countryside on your motorcycle - the NHS has invested a fortune in you - let's keep you in one piece!

Best wishes - Keep us posted - Brian 

Hi Slartiblartfast

I have just recently joined the group and just read your post and its great your doing well. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in October with PSA - 129 and my biopsy Gleason score of 9. I am on hormone treatment injections and will also be on hormone tablets Darolutamide. Chemotherapy Docetaxel  will start in January 6 cycles. My cancer has spread to the bones and lymph nodes so still being positive and hoping the treatment will work. Everyone here are so amazing and inspirational and they have given me excellent advice. Can I ask did your cancer spread to the bones and lymph nodes. I am being positive and fighting this cancer.

All I can say is try to keep positive and eat properly and exercise even when you feel crap after chemo

i still managed to walk the dog twice a day even after the 5th Docetaxel when I felt I had flu. It was a slow walk and I had to stop for a rest but I managed it

mine has spread to lymph nodes and multiple bones according to the bone scan

i know stage 4 cannot be cured but can be controlled and I’m going to control the hell out of it

Good Luck on your journey

Slartibartfast thank you for your advice and like you will fight this cancer all the way. Just to ask is there any food I should avoid.

I think once the chemo affects your taste buds it will be a question of finding something that doesn’t taste like crap

Ive found I’m living on salad and chicken a lot as that works for me. Also in the days after chemo I just live on soup and bread as it seems to help

i have found on the day of the Docetaxel that scrambled eggs and baked beans help with the nausea at night

custard filled donuts also taste OK but you can’t live on them. I also found a handful of plain chocolate covered raisins help give you a boost and don’t taste too bad. I buy a 3kg bag from Amazon and keep a Tupperware box full in the fridge. It lasts months

i think keeping them cool is also good for your mouth

water and coffee taste bad and I really like coffee. I drink a lot of Robinson lemon squash

the taste buds do get better between treatments but never fully recover before the next one

I’m so looking forward to getting my sense of taste back! I miss pizza

You really did get it bad. Another tip is frozen pineapple chunks to suck on. Ginger biscuits can help with nausea and I put a piece of Parkin in my husband's box to eat whilst he was having the infusion along with a cold bottle of diluted fruit juice. At his oncology centre they kept going round with jelly and cream desserts for anyone who wanted them.

Alwayshope thank you for your tips and everyone has been great with their advice.