What a whirlwind.....

Hi nobby,

The hormone injection is a pellet that dissolves over a three month period. The drug it releases blocks some receptors (I think in the pituitary gland) as long as you have even a small amount of the drug in your body 100% of these receptors are blocked. So as long as the next injection is before the pellet has fully dissolved 100% will be blocked, and even when you have the next injection and the drug may be double the concentration in your blood, it is still 100% that are blocked. So in short your PSA tests will be accurate irrespective of how close they were to a hormone injection.

I think a testosterone test may be a good idea. We need to establish whether the injections are not bringing your testosterone to castrate levels, or that they are and the cancer is castrate resistant. I have never heard of the injections not bringing the testosterone down, but also I have never heard of the cancer being castrate resistant within a matter of months rather than a couple of years.

If your GP won't do the testosterone test you can order one online.

The Will is very sensible. I really hope no one will be reading it for a few years. With advanced prostate cancer one usually goes through a progression of more agressive treatments starting with HT, and then various other things such as chemo. I would have hoped you would be around for at least five years if not fifteen.

I hope they find some treatment to hold the cancer back. 

I'm glad things are stable for you. 

I'm not great at taking medicine. Setting an alarm on the phone helps. Problem is if I have to postpone it, I then forget completely.

Well two weeks on the Enzalutamide(?) and I feel fine - hot flushes are about the same..... and have found a great app for the iPhone called Medisafe which not only recognises the meds but allows me to set the times to take them and reminds me.... 

It has to be said two after starting Enza I was diagnosed with a Kidney stone and Kidney infection and have been in and out of hospital with the a rather nice 7mm stone.....   Had it zapped this morning so hopefully it will be gone in a few days and I can focus on the up and coming Radiology.

Hope all are well and keeping safe.

Hi Nobby,

Good to hear from you. Actually a long break between posts is good, it means you are getting on with your life and finding better things to do than post here. Mind you a break of a year or more is worrying then we assume you dropped down dead.

Hot flushes at regular times is unusual, when I had them they were unpredictable, but hot weather was never good.

A belated Merry Christmas to one and all and an early Happy New Year.....  yes Happy..... we may not feel it but we are still here and that is a major thing.

Since my last post I have had a DEX scan for bone density and another blood test and another virtual consultation.

DEXA was normal -... me normal...... well that is a good thing.   

PSA Test - down by 50% again so from 1.78 to .712 ... ok it is more than 50% but who is quibbling about small numbers.  So the Enzalutamide(?) seems to be working and bar to hot flushes it all seems to be good.

Consultation conclusion..... don't want to talk to me for another three months..... well that is nice and I thought we were so close!   They also do not want to repeat the DEXA for another three years....

Forgive the somewhat flippant tone I have at times but that is my coping mechanism.   Like Hawkeye in MASH - yes I am that old - I tend to to use humour to deflect..... work well.   The good news is they think I may be here in another three years which given in Feb 21 I was given 18 months is good news.  

It is not all good news and sun flowers.   Yesterday when shooting I had a mega HOT FLUSH  but could not take my jacket off and felt like I was overheating..... lost concentration due to being so hot and had to stand down from the drive to try and cool down.   Lesson learnt..... always dress so you are able to cool down yet not get too cold.....   HOT FLUSHES at NIGHT...... sleep with the bedroom windows open with your feet not covered...... I still get hot flushes but not as bad and seldom have to get up.   DRINK..... water..... I drink 3ltr a day and when I don't I feel it feeling sluggish and heavy..... I also drink my two coffee's or two tea's but make sure these are Artisan brews so special and I make a real deal out of them so they are special.  WEIGHT..... with the reduction of testosterone I seem to put weight on very easily and although I walk 6-8 miles every day it does not seem enough so diet and exercise are key....... SLEEP..... I am still working full time and although from home I still find it hard by the end of the week and most evenings find myself dropping off on the sofa in front of the TV.  I am trying not to drop off in front of the Sofa but going to bed and making sure the sleep I get is good quality.......  but not too much.... I force myself to do things and keep busy both physically and mentally......

LASTLY...... What will be will be.... try not to think about it but when the emotions surface as they will let them..... have a bloody good cry and get it out of the system.   We are only human and bottling up stuff does not help.

Anyway.... enough prattling on from me.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR.......  and be safe :-) 

Good news Nobby, happy new year.

What a wonderful attitude. Keep well

Good to see some of the same people posting updates which gives me faith and hope.

Keep safe guys and gals and keep that still upper lip up, even if it is above a loose flabby chin :-)

We should all have a mass get together - Summer gathering :-)