What are the chances

All I will say as someone who was "cured" then "cured" again only for it to return and become incurable at the age of 52, is live for the now. I will not reach pension age although who knows, I might. I live for the now and do everything I want to now, while I can and am able to. For me, there is no point waiting and I feel rich, not monetarily, but having control over the now. Lyn will be able to answer your question more specifically about the physical and treatment side of things but psychologically, I've asked myself every question going and that's how I approach my life as a younger man affected by PCa. Good luck in your soul searching brother.

Bazza

Edited by member 26 Oct 2016 at 09:43  | Reason: Not specified

Brian I thought i had retired but some how have stumbled into a 20 hours a week job , so maybe if possible to reduce your hours would give you those me times . Andy

Bri,

With your PSA continuing to drop I'd read that as really positive, i.e. the follow-on treatment was bang on target. That being the case, adelante! as they say. I'd still want a 6 month test though!

Flexi

What would I add to this Bri I know we are in opposite ends of the camp but actually my thoughts would be the same

Life is for living

Don't put of things for tomorrow because tomorrow may never come , make every day count we all get bogged down in the treadmill that we call life but in reality all of our lives are fragile and wether it's pca or a number 47 bus the end game will come to all of us.

Memories are not made of money and all we have to leave in the hearts of those that we leave behind is memories .

BFN

Julie X

Thank you all for your replies. I should have said poor but happy pensioner 😀

Most of us have the mantra of living for today in one way or another. The financial experts don't fully agree with that mantra for the same reasons i.e. We don't know what's around the corner.
But in my/our situation we have had a 'warning' which is why I queried the stats. Yes my PSA hit the 0.01 2.5 years after the adjuvant RT which is brilliant. My question is I wonder how long that will last. Don't get me wrong it's not a constant question on my mind.
Thanks for the links Lyn.... My PSA started rising soon after the RP which was/is a concern. I was already dx as high risk. So believe me when I say I am not being doom and gloom or anything but I do like to plan

Cheers all

Bri

Here Here! Paul

Bazza

Thank you.

Paul I am managing my work/work balance. But I think I have reached the stage where the downs of the job are out weighing the ups. I'd like to say it's due to getting older but it isn't just that. I shall refrain from a political rant.

Very selfish of your dad Lyn how dare he survive lol. My wife takes your view and would support me finishing tomorrow. I just wished I worked for her authourity as I would in all likelihood have been paid off by now. However, I am resistant to having my pension reduced significantly by taking it to early. But it maybe a case of needs must.

I do think if my PSA did start to rise and it wasn't just a fluctuation I would seriously consider leaving

Bri

Edited by member 27 Oct 2016 at 15:42  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Guys,

I think that there is another aspect of retirement that needs to be considered, people who are 'lucky' enough to live into their 80's, 90's and even 100's tend to become progressively less active and accordingly need less money.

Of course we all read about fantastic old men in their 90's who are still climbing mountains, riding motorbikes, living life to the full, however those news stories mask the truth, they wouldn't be newsworthy stories if it wasn't unusual for such old men to be so active.  Most old men in their 90's struggle to mow their lawns, and tie their shoe laces, just getting up and watching a little daytime TV is an achievement for many.

I remember a spokesman from the Guinness book of records commenting on local TV about a man who had broken records living to 110, 112 or something like that, the Guinness guy said 'Of course he led a full life and got up every day, lots of those aged over 100 often stay in bed for days on end'.

I am 63 and have retired a little early because of various factors like my mum needed caring etc, I am effectively living on a diminishing balance, no point investing in an annuity with interest rates like they are.

This year I have had 2 weeks holiday in Canada, trips to the theatre, football etc, I am off to an overnight reunion in London tomorrow, I am driving 14,000 miles a year, taking the grandchildren on trips to the seaside and theme-parks, happy in the knowledge that I might as well spend it now, while I am fit enough to enjoy it.

I haven't got enough money to spend at this rate for many more years, but I am being realistic, quite apart from PCa, I have arthritic hips, my knees are dodgy, the doctors have me on statins, which is code I am at risk of a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.  So if I am still here in ten years time, I probably won't be able to afford the health insurance for foreign holidays, my heart won't be able to cope with the excitement of a football match, and my grandchildren will be driving themselves to the seaside.

If I am still here in 20 years time, I will probably need carers to look after me, and if I have any money left Social Services and the Council will take it to pay for my care.  So I need to ensure that I either spend it all, or give it to my children, before that happens. 

So in planning for your retirement, remember you will have a few relatively expensive years, followed by relatively cheap years, and then while you still have your marbles, you need a cunning plan to ensure what you have left is passed on to your descendants and not snaffled by the government. 

:)

Dave

A friend of mine who is ex child protection and now probation management has mooted the idea of us doing something in consultancy/training. I'm not sure about this.

Lyn I chair many meetings but don't actually do much public speaking.

Dave I have visited many older people's nursing homes. Becoming dependent on others does not appeal to me

Bri

Hopefully these horrors are a thing of the past since we got the Mental Capacity Act - residential settings can't go around locking people in their rooms without a court order these days, and certainly aren't allowed to put someone in a home against their wishes.

Hi Guys,

I am sorry if I painted too bleak a picture.

On one level, the level that you and I would see it now, the nursing home was a wonderful place, full of caring staff, indeed I often wondered how care staff with such a depressing job, could manage to be so happy and upbeat.  And they did manage to keep mum alive for 12 months when she couldn't/wouldn't always eat or drink. 

And no Lynn, the doors to the individual residents rooms weren't locked, but there were locks and alarms to prevent them getting out into the garden, or making a dash for the pub. 

So far as choice is concerned my mother had had two strokes, the second one a major one that literally blew her mind.  Most days she seemed to recognise me, but from our conversations I think she thought I was my father.  A couple of times she was happy as the Queen had apparently called in to see her.  She hallucinated about a pet cat in her room.  She didn't know who she was, where she was, what day it was, even what year it was.  I am not sure she would have comprehended what a choice was.

It was a nursing home, one step up, or down if you like, from a care home, all the patients had suffered strokes or dementia, on one level many of them were like zombies, but if you spent time with them, and were patient, sparks of humanity were there to see, and believe me they all hated what had happened to them.

:)

Dave