The journey has started

User

Posted 01 Jun 2016 at 17:04

Hi all,

Thank you to all the lovely people who gave me very useful advice on my first conversation "Worried of Cornwall", your comments made things much easier for me to decide on which treatment path to travel.

The process of deciding on the best treatment was long and involved, much internet research and many conversations with health professionals as well as this site.
It is best to exhaust all avenues before making your decision as once made you can't go back, BUT you must pick the one you feel most comfortable with, dont just let the Oncologist bagger you into the first thing he/she thinks is a good one - do plenty of research...!!!
Having seen my Oncologist a couple of weeks ago we jointly decided that IMRTradiotherapy would be the most suitable for me, taking into consideration a pre-existing health condition and my age (65 just).
Everything was explained to me in great detail, including length of treatment, side effects and and what I could expect at the end of the treatment.
Having made the decision I was immediately started on a course of BICALUTAMIDE 50gm tablets, having to take one a day for 21 days.
After 7 days, which was today I have had my first ot three injections of PROSTRAT to reduce the testosterone, got to have one every month now for three months then start my radiotherapy on 18th July.

Will keep you posted on how things progress, hopefully it may give some help to people about to undergo treatment or at least put their mind at rest over the process.

Harley Rider of Cornwall

Edited by member 01 Jun 2016 at 19:20 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 01 Jun 2016 at 18:36

Hi Harley Rider,

A sensible approach to carefully consider all treatment options before making your decision. I know it was a great relief when I made my decision and I am sure many feel the same.

Most people find RT no problem although some find it affects bowel movements but appropriate measures can be taken to counteract this. Also, some men experience a little soreness which can be ameliorated with an ointment the treating specialists can recommend.

Be prepared for the need to urinate more frequently.

Hope all goes well.

Edited by member 01 Jun 2016 at 22:30 | Reason: Not specified

Barry

User

Posted 01 Jun 2016 at 19:11

Thanks Barry, yes I am prepared for having potential bowl problems and more frequent trips to the loo, but hopefully the end result will be more than worth it.

Like you I felt a great sense of relief when the decision was made on which way to go, after nearly four months of living in limbo both my wife and I can now see light at the end of the tunnel since the treatment started, albeit a dim one at present.

Harley Rider

User

Posted 13 Jun 2016 at 12:34

Well today marks the end of the first part of my treatment, I have taken the last of my BICALUTAMIDE tablets so now just waiting until the 29th June for my seco d PROSTRAT injection.

I have to say I have been very lucky so far in that I have not had any side effects from the tablets other than a bit of "woozyness" after taking tne first 2 or 3 but since then, nothing.

So far as well I am only suffering from 1 side affect from the PROSTRAT, which is flatulence, embarrassing but can't be helped, I am hoping that this will wear off as time goes on and at least I am not getting some of the others that were possible which could have been somewhat worse.

Have to say that sincee my journey started back at the end of January, my wife, family and friends have been so surportive to me that it has made a huge difference, I am very positive that there will be a sucsessful outcome to the treatment and am looking forward to doing the things my wife and I had planned to do when I retirerd in January which we have had to put on hold through this dreadful disease that attacks so many men.

Will keep you all posted on how things progress and also thank those of you who have commented on my posts and given me such good information.

Edited by member 13 Jun 2016 at 12:36 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 28 Jul 2016 at 22:04

Well the hormone injections have started, I had my third one this week and after having no side affects other than a bit of a headache after the first one the second one started to give me very mild hot flushes and a bit of an occasional mood swing.
However following the last one, the hot flushes have become quite bad despite me taking Sage tablets daily for the past three weeks.

I have also started to put on weight, started to grow "Man boobs" (No comments please, but if anyone has a 36c bra they don't want I could put it to good use)😊

I also had to see my Oncologist last week and a Senior Radiographer with a view to starting my Radiotherapy but due to the wait I had (2 + weeks ) to initially see my GP to discuss which hormone treatment to give me and then a further weeks delay in seeing the nurse to give me the first injection, my start date has now been put back from last Monday utill the end of Augist as the Oncologist wants me to have at least three months on Prostrat.

To say I am annoyed is an understatement, but this is how our local health authority works now with their new appointment booking system, hopefully it will improve to eleviate these waits.

Anyway I am still staying very positive and my wife, family and friends have also been tremendously surportive which is a great help.
Well I think that just about covers things to date and hopefully it will give some people who like me have this awful cancer some insight to some of the affects that hormone treatment can have.

If anyone has any concerns and wants to chat about this type of treatment I am more than happy to chat to them as I am now two months down the road and have first hand experience.

Edited by member 28 Jul 2016 at 22:05 | Reason: Not specified

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