Hi everyone,
I posted a few weeks ago when we found out that my partner has metastatic prostate cancer spread to lymph nodes and bones. I received incredible responses and support. I am very thankful for that! We were shocked and a bit devastated by the news but we both got back up pretty quickly.
This is a bit of a rant; I hope it’s ok!
I am fed up with doctors and specialists who think it is right to put a time stamp on someone’s condition.
I have been a silent reader here for the past few weeks and I am horrified to read about people having been told that they have “this much left to live”.
The truth is that they absolutely DO NOT KNOW. Yes, there are stats, but remember that stats are based on a small sample of the population and that there are always new treatments coming up that would affect those stats.
In my mind, if you tell someone: You have 2 to 3 years left, there is a psychological effect by which this time frame will be stamped in their mind and inevitably, they will not make it over 3 years.
No. This must stop.
I would like to share with you how my OH and myself are approaching this terrifying diagnostic of Advanced Prostate Cancer.
Some might say we are fooling ourselves, but I like to think they are wrong.
First of all, we have agreed a treatment plan that we trust: Triplet therapy.
But that’s not all. We lived a relatively healthy life, but made further adjustments based on a lot of reading and vlog watching about advanced caner (not limited to prostate). I am happy to share the readings, etc. if anyone is interested.
I share everything that I find with my partner. We have a positive mind and when one of us is having a bad day (they do happen), we lift each other up, we do something we like, etc.
We have changed our diet to have less meat (we do love a good steak every now and then), more vegetables, eliminate sugar as much as possible and have more superfood that are believed to interfere with the cancer. MY OH was very active before but even more so now, cycling between 50 and 70km every two days.
We stay away from the negative as much as possible. We have a great oncologist who agreed that we should treat this as a chronic disease rather than a nasty illness that is going to kill him soon.
He said Advanced Prostate Cancer (at least here, in my OH case) is not TERMINAL (I used this word myself early on). This term also must stop being used. It is treatable and there are lots of options in case the cancer stops responding to one of the treatments.
We don’t have all the answers, far from. But keeping a positive mind and working together against this disease is the best we can do. Life is normal-ish, we have just been on a two weeks holiday, we go out to concerts, restaurants, etc.
We chose not to give this nasty disease so much importance in our lives, we refuse to give it the power to govern our lives. We are in charge.
Wishing everyone a great mid-week!
Hi,
I take my hat off to you being a really positive person, is as a family are still working on it. Fantastic to know you are doing things and going on holiday but can I ask about your travel insurance
s we are going next February, my husband should be finished his chemo this November he doesn’t need any more chemo. Is the chemo an ACTIVE TREATMENT? that’s what is asks when doing a travel search. Also who did you get travel insurance with because one company won’t insure him another wants over 3K. What did you put in for the diagnosis cus they are asking , Have you had treatment or investigations within the past 2 years, very confusing what to declare without it shooting through the roof
kind regards
Good Morning batemac
Here's a link to our Travel Insurance Forum:
Travel insurance forum for cancer patients
Rather than spending ages completing online forms, may I suggest you ring the travel insurance provider direct for a quote - they all use the same systems for an online quote. We have an annual worldwide police with insurancewith the cost being £ 780. (See my profile for my issues!!).
I hope this helps.
Kind Regards - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
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