Hi all you lovely courageous people. My first update since joining this inspiring Community and thanks for all the help and support so far - See my profile for my diagnosis and personal background. I want to update on my first Oncology meeting and to ensure I`m posting update stuff in the correct way or should I just update the BIO?
Anyway, my wife an I rocked up to the meeting on March 4th full of the usual fear and apprehension not knowing what to expect other than wanting to get cracking on the next phase of The Plan whatever that might be. I have had my first HT injection and completed a course of Bicalutamide on Valentines Day. My main concern was had anything changed since not taking anything since then as my CT/Bone scans were clear.
In between times I was also invited to discuss Radical Robotic Surgery to remove the Prostate and we trudged off to Addenbrookes for a meeting with a Consultant to understand if this could be a quick win! Long story short this was likely to be a huge gamble given my diagnosis and had all sorts of scary outcomes and impact on quality of life if it didn`t go to plan. TBF, the Consultant didn`t sugar-coat the procedure and possible downside so we took this away and said we would discuss with The Oncologist, although we had kind of made up our minds this was not going to be an option!
When we got the fantastic Woodlands Macmillan Cancer Centre at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, in Huntingdon, Cambs we were amazed to find free parking and a warm friendly atmosphere and were offered a cup of tea by a lovely volunteer lady which I declined as I`m try to keep fluids down for obvs reasons. As the appointment time approached we were told to go in and meet the lovely lady Oncologist and then......The Computers went down! She had no access to my records!
We were offered the option of waiting or re-scheduling - a complete no-brainer considering we`re hoping to take a much needed break in the Sun next week March 12th after 6 months of waiting for appointments, scans and results, We went and sat in the car so we could vape and make some calls but an hour or so later we were waved at from the front door and told to come in - phew!
The outcome was really positive and I will be moving forward with a "Curative Plan" to include HT and RT as experienced by many in this forum. The key is the word Curative which means we can work towards a cancer free outcome - all being well! It`s going to be a long journey and the RT fun will start in April following my second HT injection. Now waiting on results of PSA and looking forward to that holiday next week My wife Lorraine and family have been great and I feel for them more than I do myself but we are all keen to beat this thing no matter how long it takes.
Hello Geoff S
Great post and all looks good- fantastic service from the NHS. Enjoy the holiday and come back ready to do battle with the HT/RT.
I am a Gleason 9 T3aN0M0 on much the same journey as you only 26 months further down the line - life has been good - in fact I am writing this waiting for the sun to come up in Turkey - I have had issues but at the end of the day I always remember those two words used by the oncologist - "Curative Pathway"
Positive attitude and keep fit - you will walk it - Welcome to my world.
Best wishes - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
PS - I am scheduled to go to Pboro for RT in April for planning- will see what they’ve got to say about Brach Boost as that’s a new one on me. BFN 
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Geoff S
We`ve Got This!
Sorry AW - quick question on LINAC RT sessions- were you ok to drive yourself after each session. Worried about potential transport issues if I can’t 
Geoff S
We`ve Got This!
