A poem by Peter Young diagnosed in 1993 and still here.
I feel it sums up Prostate Cancer quite well.
PROSTATE CANCER
One day you're feeling quite all-right
When cancer steals up in the night
And then you find you've got a fight!
Prostate cancer is for men!
PSA is checked and then
Does it measure more than ten?
If it does, biopsy sore:
Then you know your Gleeson score:
One to three - you don't want more.
Metastasis means it has spread -
Do not think this means your dead -
Eighteen years I've lived instead.
Treatment choice:- there's quite a range.
When new to you, it all seems strange;
The choice is yours which to arrange.
Prosectomy is surgeon's cut
Radiation kills cancer but
Hormones great but do your nut!
Side effects - there's quite a few:
Bladder weakness for some it's true,
Damaged bowels another clue.
Energy you have not got,
Tiredness, fatigue add to the lot;
The earth is warmed by flushes hot!
But your alive, count blessings great;
Forget about your cancerous state
Enjoy yourself, please do not wait!
So as you rise to each new day
Try very hard to work or play;
Cancer forget is what I say.
Written by Peter Young on 15th October 2014.