Just diagnosed

Thank you Brian I am very grateful to all of you for the support you are giving me. I am from Bury but I was born in Montrose Scotland.

Kind regards James.

Somebody asked about my last PSA test. It was 3.1 about a year ago. The threshold for a scan was 4. This year it was 4.8. Is that a large increase? My Kidney blood test was 56. My GP says this is not bad for my age but will do the test again when I have had all the other things done. 60 or above is normal apparently. A little worried about this. Possible Kidney failure !!!

Got my appointment for the Biopsy today on the 4th August at Fairfield.

Kind regards James.

Hi James

I do like Bury market for my shopping and as you are Scottish by birth I can confirm two of my foods of choice are Haggis and Lorne Sausage. (I love Bury Black Puddings as well!).

Your PSA is rising but it is within the range for your age. I think it will be interesting to see what treatment (if any) you are advised to have after the biopsy. The 4th of August isn't too far away and Fairfield is very easy to get to on public transport (much harder to park at!!).

I wouldn't worry about you eGFR (Kidney Blood test) a normal male is 60 so 56 is good. When I was admitted to hospital my eGFR was 8 -yes 8! My prostate had grown, crushed my bladder which in turn crushed my kidneys hence the low kidney function, which almost killed me - on Christmas Day too. 19 months on my kidneys are recovering but my eGFR is now 56 and getting higher with every test. No kidney failure for you. We will keep you away from the Goth funeral!!!!!!! 

Nice to chat - you take care and keep us in the loop.

Best wishes

Brian

You do make me smile Brian .  Cannae beat a guid bit o haggis lol.  My husband not so keen, I’m Scottish and hubby originally from Cambridge. I wanted to ask you about the hot flushes, as you know Martyn, my hubby, is on Prostap injections, second one due 20th August and first Oncologist appointment 24 th.  Although Martyn doesn’t take part in the forum he knows I do.  He is suffering a fair bit with flushes throughout the day but particularly at night and disturb his sleep.  I was telling him you take sage tablets so he bought some but has only been taking them three days so far, he asked me to  ask you how long before you felt a difference? He worries that they are so intense that at times he thinks they will keep rising to the degree he might pass out but then they suddenly pass and he feels cold.  I think his main concern is that at work he often drives a forklift and is worried about safety.  I’m pleased he is now actually asking questions, albeit through me, but it’s a start.  Thanks again for you help and the smiles !

Linda

P.S. James, I think you are doing great,hang in there.

Thanks so much Brian for your reply, it is much appreciated. I admire you because you have been through so much and are so positive, unlike me. I read that Kidneys do not recover but yours obviously are. I had the Scan which started of my Bowel Cancer Journey at Christmas. They had misread the CT Scan and a Colonoscopy cleared me. I don't know if they should have spotted the Prostrate problem on that CT Scan. I spoke to my GP today about the Surgeons report and he thinks it is encouraging. I have the best GP, he goes way beyond the call of duty to help me and will always contact me the same day if I ring at 8am. My food now is limited by my OCD and what my Bowels are OK with. I follow routines in everything I do. I will be taking a Taxi to Fairfield. Not allowed to drive now because of my M.E.I seem to become more useless as I get older. lol.

Thanks Linda.

Kind regards James.

Hi Linda

I feel that honesty, a dry sense of humour and being able to understand the facts of something are a fantastic attribute and I try and run with those rules. After I had been told I could have died on Christmas Day 2021 my outlook on life changed and not only do I enjoy every second - I am on a quest to help any one I can with this terrible cancer for which I feel there is little understanding, little support and where 85% of us "men" don't want to know!!

Anyway - hot flushes - I started with the sage tablets July 2022 - I had been on HT 6 months and everything "crept up" on me slowly - and wham - intense hot flushes - It took maybe 6/8 weeks before I had them under control. Now 19 months down the line I have maybe 2 warm five minuets every week. I have changed from some daily sage leaf tablets to some more expensive Menoforce tablets from Holland and Barrett - they do work for me - but not everyone!!

The issue I have had problems controlling with HT has been my HBA1C which is the type 2 blood sugar reading, the HT affects this and also increasing weight - it's hard not eating and drinking as a "woman" but I have now also got that under control.

I hope this helps - is your Martyn heading down the Radiotherapy route or don't you find out until the meeting on 24 August?

Best wishes

Brian.

Hi James

As I have said to Linda above with this dreadful cancer you need to have a sense of humour and after what I have been through, yes I try to be positive in all respects. I had my "dark days" but I had help from people on here - they are still around and they know just who they are - Thank you again. I just want to put back in what I have had out.

With my kidney issue I was told as it was a new issue and only caused by recent swelling of the bladder by pushing plenty of fluids through my system I should make a good recovery - between Christmas and New Year I have never drunk so much water - and as you are aware I prefer my water fermented with some yeast , hops and grain!!

I have a feeling you will be fine with the biopsy and you are doing great by being on here and joining in with the conversation (I almost said fun!!). Getting old - well it's a pass time I hope to enjoy lots more of.

You take care and we will speak soon.

Best wishes

Brian.

Thanks Brian.

 I am still convinced I have Bladder Cancer. I have just got my Cystoscopy for 2nd August at Rochdale. I have just been reading that healthy Kidneys should be in the 80s 90s on that Blood Test. They seem to miss my Prostrate on that CT Scan (it was analysed in Australia because it was nightime when I had the Scan) that I wonder what else they have missed. I had been losing weight at that time.

Kind regards James.

Hi James

I think I am one of the few people who have faith in the NHS. Yes there have been delays in my treatment and my prostate cancer was almost dismissed as the kidney failure took over and the medics concentrated on that.

I don't second guess what my issues are and I don't Google my symptoms, but I rely on my NHS app and my Manchester University Trust app for all my figures and targets. I assumed I had Prostate Cancer after the DRE and the GP said my Prostate was enlarged but waited until confirmed by the Consultant at North Manchester General before I told my family. Mrs Millibob has been a Nurse for 45 years and she knew before the DRE!

Weight loss is normal the older we get - we eat less - don't worry about it and let's wait until after 2nd August for your bladder results - you may be surprised.

I an curious as to your username - I did Latin at school and "retro" is old or backwards - but I can't hazard a guess at the rest. Would you care to enlighten me?

Best wishes

Brian.

Thanks for replying Brian,

 My name is based on Old Vampire. The Vanian bit coming from Transylvanian and Vampires. I like Latin and also did it at school. ( forgot loads by now) I used to make up Latin Curses or Phrases. I loved Latin in church services and used to go to a high church( Anglo Catholic) but even the Roman Catholics now use english. One of my hobbies is creating Lots or buildings for The Sims 4. Before EA messed up the Gallery where people used to put their creations I had 60,000 downloads of things I had created. Some of my Lots were based on Gothic Architecture with Latin names. The Sims always includes a Vampire Expansion Pack at some stage. I have a very dark sense of humour.

Kind regards James.