A place to have a chat.

User

Posted 25 Jun 2026 at 19:30

Hi William,

I’m Just about to look for a self publisher, just completed my first book. I’ve been told Lulu is one of the better ones, but there are quite a few about. I’m just at the looking stage.

Leila

User

Posted 25 Jun 2026 at 22:32

Hello Leila and William

Looking for a self publisher is not easy and the cost can be very high. My wife has written two book. Initially she looked for a company to prepare the manuscript, edit it, format it and design the cover. The cost was prohibitive particularly when the sale is not guarantee. You have to watch out for companies which will promise a lot and once you sign the contract they deliver much less than promised.

I self-published my wife's books on kdp. The first was ten years ago and the sequel was last year. If you search for books by Jeannie Mehta on Amazon.co.uk you can view the books. If you are willing to learn about kdp self publishing platform you can do it yourself; it is not easy but we have saved a few thousand pounds by self-publishing.

I am in the process of self publish on kdp a book relating to my prostate cancer journey.

Edited by member 25 Jun 2026 at 22:42 | Reason: Not specified

'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.' Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

User

Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 17:12

Hi William,

Your trip to USA sounds amazing. Trust you managed to avoid bumping into that oversized orange blimp? You haven’t missed much here because we are all watching the World Cup. On which note, we are all still waiting for the ball to land, this being the very ball that Harry Kane, for reasons best known to himself, launched into orbit from Boston, instead of simply sticking it into the back of the net 6 yards away 🤬.

Sorry, I don’t know anything about publishing books. Take my hat off though to you and all our posters that have completed one, sounds like hard work.

Best of luck,

Spongebob

User

Posted 10 Jul 2026 at 06:03

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

You haven’t missed much here because we are all watching the World Cup.

It's all getting very exciting now. I watched the England v Mexico game at my social club. A non-drinking mate kindly picked me up at midnight.

I was amazed that about 200 people were in the club watching the footy on 'The largest screen in town!'

It was a great night, despite the kick off being put back an hour. What a game!

We left at 4:30 am listening to the dawn chorus.

Then the icing on the cake. My eldest lad sent me screen shots of a bet he'd had. £50 on England to win 3-2. Wow! Returned £2,050 @ odds of 40/1. The bookies had offered him to cash out for £585 with 30 minutes left to play but he had the nerve to let it roll. Balls of steel that lad. 😁

Being the miserable father, I am. I rang him and bollocked him for putting so much on a bet. "But dad", he said, "I had planned to watch the game at my local, but decided to stay at home. I'd have spent fifty quid in boozer."

I looked in my wallet and got his drift. 😁

Got back home and tried to soak up a belly full of beer with a bowl of cornflakes. Then collapsed on the settee. So as not to wake the wife.

Can't wait for tomorrow's game. I hope we put the vikings back in their longship and send them rowing back to Norway. However, my plans may be scuppered if Haaland plays a blinder and mutineers.

I watched Bobby and the boys win in 1966 when I was nine. I hope that the current crew can make me that happy again in 2026, when I'm sixty nine. 🤞

Anyway, back to cancer. 🥱

It was great to see this:

Dozens of pubs across the Black Country in the West Midlands are fundraising and raising awareness of prostate cancer during the World Cup, pub firm Marston's says.

Their Know The Score initiative aims to get customers checking their risk of the disease in 30 seconds via Prostate Cancer UK's online tool.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jyzvyy37vo

⚽️⚽️ ⚽️ ⚽️ Come on England! ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

Edited by member 10 Jul 2026 at 06:52 | Reason: Add more footballs.😁

User

Posted 10 Jul 2026 at 10:16

I too very much enjoying the Corrupt cup. England v Mexico definitely up there in my top favourite games. Wow! Wow! Wow! It was superb, well worth doing an all nighter for. A performance and win against all the odds. Amazing what it does to the physchie, all those additional positive vibes 😃, definitely puts a spring in your step.

Let’s hope we can continue the good run against Norway, who incidentally easily dispatched Brazil and look very accomplished. Particularly Oodergard who ran the show and of course Haaland, he’s a monster, Hollywood must be looking at him? This game could go either way 🤔.

Today continues to be scorchio, my body thermostat is well and truly busted, I might have to walk around to the Coop and spend the afternoon stood next to refrigerators.
BTW - next Wednesday is my Prostap Independence Day! Yippee! After 3 years on the stuff. My next jab would have been next Wednesday. So let’s see what happens as my body gradually starts generating some testosterone again. Feel free to join me in a celebration drink or two 😃

User

Posted 10 Jul 2026 at 10:43

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

So let’s see what happens as my body gradually starts generating some testosterone again. Feel free to join me in a celebration drink or two 😃

I hope it's not a case of having to 'lock up your wives and daughters' 😁

I'll have a few bevvies to celebrate with you mate. But we don't want 'brewer's droop' to impede your testosterone revival.

Seriously it must be such a relief to get off HT. I was only on it for a couple of months, whilst they were were deciding my suitability for RARP. Even in that short time, I got sore nipples and left like I needed a trainer bra.

User

Posted 10 Jul 2026 at 12:17

He sounds a good lad Adrian. Please do let us know what he's betting on the Norway game 😂

User

Posted 10 Jul 2026 at 13:38

Congrats on your approaching freedom day Spongebob!!

May your testosterone rise along with other things

Looking forward the next England game, I did think when they went down to 10 men that would be it, the boys done well!

User

Posted 12 Jul 2026 at 01:14

Wow! Wow! Wow!

I was worried, they are a very good side Norway, I’d have put a man on Oodergard, but fair play -superb!!

We will all be walking 13 feet tall when we walk round the Coop for my paper tomorrow.

Come on England ⚽️⚽️🍷🍷🍷🍷😃😃🎊🎊🥳🥳

User

Posted 12 Jul 2026 at 08:08

Not a solid performance (imho) fortunate winner from a rebound and sloppiness for their goal, the heat must be sapping though, but we will have to be considerably better to get past the Argies! Cannot rely on Jude to pop up at the right time. Kane needs to get in-between the sticks more.

User

Posted 12 Jul 2026 at 09:04

Oh dear. 😳

Went to the social club at 2pm. Had one over the eight. Trained home at 8:30pm. Ate the snacks the wife had prepared for me for the match. Fell asleep on the couch in front of the telly about 9:30pm and didn't wake up until 2:30am.

Glad we won though. 🙂

Edited by member 12 Jul 2026 at 09:19 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 12 Jul 2026 at 11:28

Fell asleep 😴💤💤💤💤💤.
Classic 😃.

You saved your nerve ends from a right bashing there.

User

Posted 16 Jul 2026 at 11:09

What a shame. One nil up and still lost, though, in all honesty, I thought the best team won. Messi stayed as cool as a cucumber, and his last assist was magnificent, inch perfect.

I feel a bit deflated today. I was sat in a beer garden yesterday at tea time. Loads of people of all ages, were coming to the pub, many wearing England shirts and sun hats. There was an air of togetherness and optimism. Things aren't so bright today, even the sun ain't shining here.

I dont know if I'll even bother watching the bronze medal match on Saturday. The French will probably trounce us and makes things even worse.

Instead of Lions go forth! Its more likely to be a case of Lions come fourth. 🙂

Knowing me, I'll change my mind, and watch the game and I'll definitely be watching the final. I can't miss any excuse to have a few snacks and bevvies in front of the TV.

I'm now hoping Argentina can defend the cup. It would be a fitting final tribute to Lionel. (How ironic that he's got Lion in his name.) 🙂

However, my last night's sport viewing, was uplifted by the 20 over cricket match in the Big Blast competition, which finished just before England kicked off.

Yorkshire, had reduced Somerset to 82-8 in the 15th over in chase of 162 at Headingley. At this time the win projector had Somerset at at only a 1% chance of victory

However, their number 9 batsman, Craig Overton, had different ideas. He smashed 79 from 30 balls, including three sixes from the final over in which the visitors required 22 to win.

What a knock! Best I've ever seen.

I've now also got the Open golf to watch for the next four days.

Sport, even just watching it, has certainly helped me, deal with PCa. I just wish there was a cure that could match Mr Overton's 263 strike rate and knock it for six.

Edited by member 16 Jul 2026 at 11:50 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 16 Jul 2026 at 12:28

Deja vu! I was hoping this would be the year, especially when you don't know if you'll be around for another World Cup!

Tuchel bottled it for me, a massive missed opportunity, even as kids you know 1 nil is a precarious scoreline, especially when you get the first. Imho we should have gone for the second, then park the bus. I'd rather have seen us lose 5-1 than not have a good go at them with our forward players.

Putting 6 at the back when only 1 nil up and sitting so deep was a big mistake when you're up against the likes of Messi. 12% possession after our goal is pathetic.

I hope Spain beat them, for their cynical first half fouling that went unpunished and then the political stuff.

Only another 4 years...

User

Posted 16 Jul 2026 at 12:49

Huge disappointment and massive missed opportunity, I’d really hoped that in Tuchel we finally had a coach who could take us forward. But c’est la vie and he reverted to tried,tested and failed tactics that was straight out of the Southgate playbook and the whole country except Tuchel could anticipate what was going to happen as soon as he took Gordon off and replaced him with Konsa.
Would have liked to have seen Saka, Watkins and Mainoo brought on to keep the Argy midfield and defence busy, when Kane and Rice had clearly run out of steam.
Anyway, so we blew it big time and can have no complaints, with chances the Argies created it could have been worse and they inevitably finished the game as the far the better team.
I’m sure that most supporters would rather we give it a proper go carrying on the offensive rather than to park the bus. There can be fewer regrets doing it that way.

Life goes on, there’s always the next time 😬

User

Posted 16 Jul 2026 at 16:34

Hi,

Some of you might remember a post I put on 2 years ago, in which I described how my son had flunked his final year at University. It was a nightmare at the time! And I was grateful for supportive comments I received on this thread - always appreciated (not all our problems are related to PCa).

Anyway, long story short, after tackling the University they agreed for him to retake his final year (fee-free), and after a lot of hard work and close monitoring, I am happy to report that he has now passed with a 2:1 😃.

Kids eh! Always a worry, even when they aren’t kids anymore.

Thanks

Spongebob

User

Posted 16 Jul 2026 at 21:53

Hi, Spongebob.

I'm absolutely delighted with your news. It"s made my day, mate.

User

Posted 18 Jul 2026 at 10:17

Great stuff Sponge Bob. It helps me immensely in my PCa journey to know my kid is doing well after uni and has a good career ahead of him. 🍻

User

Posted 19 Jul 2026 at 01:18

6-4 - How entertaining was that?? I appreciate that it was a false scenario, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. Come on, to reach the semi finals and then finish third is actually superb ⚽️🍺😃

Remember 74, 78, 94 when we didn’t even qualify!!!!!

Edited by member 19 Jul 2026 at 01:24 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 19 Jul 2026 at 07:16

Agreed, mate! What a game. I wonder what odds you'd have got for a 6-4 England victory! So many sensational goals.

It seemed more like a charity or exhibition match. Everyone wanted to score but no one seemed too bothered to defend.

I suspect in tonight's final, when the pressure is on maximum, the game will be back to a bit of a grind?

Edited by member 19 Jul 2026 at 07:57 | Reason: Rephrasing

User

Posted 23 Jul 2026 at 23:07

Hi Chaps,

Just reporting in. Suffering slightly from withdrawal effects inflicted by the World Cup.
One week on from my Prostap Independence Day and, well, my hot sweats are going through the roof. No need to cart barrels of water up to my drought affected allotment as all I have to do is go up and shake my head to water my plants 😬.
I consulted Dr Google who informed me that my brain is confused due to the shift in hormones caused by the lessening affect of the last Prostap jab. And that the confusion means that my body temperature thermostat is up the swanny.

He (or she) also gave some advice to alleviate these worsening symptoms as follows:” Lifestyle Adjustments: Avoid common triggers such as caffeine, spicy foods, alcohol, and very warm environments.”

So, what do you reckon?
Looks like I’ll be carrying on sweating as I reckon that I’ve earned my curry and beer this week 😃🍺.

Have a good one,

SpongeBob.

Edited by member 23 Jul 2026 at 23:08 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 24 Jul 2026 at 10:41

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

And that the confusion means that my body temperature thermostat is up the swanny.

The wife has never been on Prostap, but she's been running hot and cold for years. (Only kidding, dear)

Can you use a hose pipe on your allotment? Or would other holders grass you up. My fish pond is exempt. I can top it up to ensure my fish don't suffer.

I'm also missing the World Cup footy. But as a cricket fan, the start of the 100 cricket competition has eased the pain.

Enjoy your beer and curry, mate.👍

Edited by member 24 Jul 2026 at 11:34 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 24 Jul 2026 at 13:45

There’s no stand pipe/water supply on the allotment- only what I can collect in water butts off the shed roof, which surprisingly, does actually amount to quite a lot, but not near enough to get the plants through this drought.
Apart from shaking my head to disperse sweat, I have resorted to taking water up in the car, a bit of pain but it works.

Sportwise, I do like the Tour de France but extremely miffed that it has changed channels this year and tend to only catch the channel 5 highlights at 7pm. I miss the old presenters and commentators David Millar, Chris Boardman etc.

Yep, looking forward to a few of my favourite beers (still Citra from Oakham) 😃🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺.

User

Posted 14 Aug 2026 at 23:23

Hi All,

It’s all very quiet on here, perhaps we are too ‘old hat’🤔.

Just feeling a bit down, don’t know why. It’s my drinking night as well, had several bottles of my favourite beer, watched and enjoyed a lively game of footy on the telly and looking forward to the start of the new footy season. Maybe it’s because of all the negative news we are constantly been bombarded with, I don’t know?

Prostap Independence Day was 4 weeks ago and I am still sweating like, er I don’t know what! Sitting here watching rubbish and my hair is soaking wet, I look like I’ve been out for a swim in the river. Crikey, when is this going to end? Can’t imagine what it would be like just to get a full night’s sleep and have some energy. Still I know how lucky I am, not complaining 😬.

Anywsy, I hope you are all doing well, especially my fellow allotment holders trying to farm a desert. I could have done with hiring out a pneumatic drill to harvest my onions the other week. Having said that I have a surplus if broccolis, it’s a shame that we cannot share it all - that’s a downside of the online world.

I hope your favourite footy teams do you all proud as the new season starts this weekend ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️.

Cheer up Spongebob it is summer after all.

😎

User

Posted 15 Aug 2026 at 07:38

Hi Spongebob.

I'm sorry that you're feeling a bit down. I get spells like that. I try to convince myself that I've coped well with my cancer scare. However, occassionally the remaining side effects take their toll, and sadden me.

Yeah, it has been very quiet on this thread recently. Phil (Goalhanger) is still sorely missed and other regulars, like Harty and Kev T, look to have taken a well earned break. Another, Al, who was really quite poorly, hasn't posted for a while. I tried to contact him but didn't get a reply. I hope he's okay. 🤞

As for the weather, we are certainly in desperate need of some rain. My garden's looking very sad for itself. If this is climate change, I'm going to start growing 🌵🌵🌵🙂

However, my pond fish love the sun, and I spend hours watching them swimming about. I find it very relaxing especially with a can or two of lager. 🙂

Enjoy your footy, mate. ⚽️ 🍻

Edited by member 15 Aug 2026 at 10:24 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 15 Aug 2026 at 10:42

Morning Adrian and SpongeBob

I don’t think I have posted here before but have dipped in and out over the last couple of months.

It is strange how our feelings fluctuate as we progress through this disease. I am getting anxious about my Oncologist appointment on Wednesday and the associated blood test - I know it is normal to feel this way but I am still anxious!! I too get periods of sadness which are hard to figure out the reason for. But I have a few methods of recovery- getting out for a walk, exercise, putting some loud funky music on or even having loud funky music on when I exercise much to the annoyance of everyone else…

Glad that the thermostat has been turned down a few degrees- my hot sweats have had me literally dripping recently, not pleasant!

An interesting time of year - a first anniversary last week regarding my initial diagnosis and our 45th Wedding anniversary today. We can recall how it was a warm day and most of the blokes were out in the car park listening to the Test Match on the car radio!!!

Hope you both are well and looking forward to a little bit of cool…

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 13:55

Hi Ceepee,

45 years!!! 45 years!!!! Crikey, that is some going, well done, top marks 🎊. I’m just 25 years, not bad really as me and wife have absolutely nothing in common 😬.
Best of luck with your meeting with the Oncologist. I guess, the anxiousness is due to fearing any unwanted revelations. I certainly hope all goes well 🤞.

At last the weather has changed a bit, much more suited to my body thermostat, even some rain. I’m going to celebrate by going out on bike, see if I can get up the hill. I agree, exercise is key but of course it’s not easy. And I’m with you on the music, I like to blast out my Spotify playlist up on the allotment, which can be quite entertaining or actually embarrassing at times when neighbouring allotment people are within earshot because I like a wide variety of stuff which means that a Ronnie Hilton’s Windmill in Old Amsterdam might be followed by Black Sabbath’s Ironman. It’s the music equivalent of Russian Roulette 😬.

Adrian - might be worth getting a cactus or two around your fishpond, get your garden looking like the High Chapparral 🌵🏜️.

Cheers

Spongebob

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 14:23

Cee pee: Wow! Married for forty five years! You don't get that for murder! (Ony kidding, mate. 😉)

I was married exactly twenty years to my first wife. I've been together, with the current lucky lady 😬, twenty nine years. However, only married for the last fifteen years. I thought it best to have a fourteen year test drive before taking the plunge again. 😁

Spongebob: I used to love the High Chaparral. I had a teenage crush on 'Big John' Cannon's beautiful Mexican wife, Victoria. 😉

I remember all the cacti on their ranch. If this climate continues, I might start growing my own Blue Weber Agave plants and build a Tequila still in the garage.

Edited by member 17 Aug 2026 at 18:17 | Reason: To tone down the saucy content. 😁

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 17:36

So, question is, what was the beautiful Victoria doing with John Cannon? Crikey! Yes, we all fancied her. I reckon that he must have kidnapped her, forcing her to live at the High Chapparral against her will.

Yes, little boy Blue, Buck and Monalito all shooting baddies and Indians every Monday night - it was proper TV. That Monalito was a cool dude. Nearly as good as Alas Smith and Jones, otherwise known as Hannibal Hayes and Kid Curry, where no one was faster than the Kid! I used to love that - brilliant 😎.

At the risk of referencing another old classic….

Goodnight John Boy 😬

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 18:14

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

According to AI:

"On the television show The High Chaparral, Big John Cannon and Victoria Montoya begin their relationship as a cold, arranged marriage of convenience to secure a protective alliance, between John's ranch and Victoria's powerful father, against the Apache. Over time, mutual respect and shared hardship transform their political pact into a deep, passionate, and fiercely loyal love."

Awww. 🥰

Edited by member 17 Aug 2026 at 18:22 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 19:03

I recently came across the complete series of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on one of the channels through digital TV - what a memory boost that was as well!!

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 20:08

Wow - I was totally unaware of that High Chapparral backstory, it must have all gone right over my head at the time. Mind you as a kid I was more into the action than the plot stories.

I remember the Man from Uncle tv series, I think a lot of the plots went over my head then too. Napolean Solo and Ilya Kuryakin. I liked their suits, narrow lapels and narrow ties, very smart. Robert Vaughan played the same part in the Magnificent Seven (classic) but didn’t end well for him. And of course, when he wasn’t the Invisible man, David MacCallum played a key role in the Great Escape (classic), although it didn’t end well for him there either, getting shot in the back trying to do a runner to cause a diversion to help Herr Bartlett and Gordon Jackson to escape 😬

Night JimBob

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 20:18

I can remember me and my younger brother arguing who was going to be Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin when play fighting against the enemy THRUSH.

Apparently, all these years later, trush is still a persistent adversary. 😄

Edited by member 18 Aug 2026 at 05:07 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 17 Aug 2026 at 20:25

I can remember having one of those pistols that they had - with the shoulder stock, the silencer and the scope. Heaven only knows what would happen these days if you walked around with one of those!

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 22 Aug 2026 at 09:48

So it was that I was forced to miss watching the footy on Thursday 😩. The missus had booked us in for an evening of Bond theme music at Ripon cathedral. To be fair, she’d booked this quite a while ago.

Anyway, everything turned out well in the end (might have to arrange to miss watching more matches if it positively influences the result 🤔). It was really good with the cathedral being a stunning venue for the music. We followed the concert with a very decent curry, it was excellent, reminded me of the old days of eating curries in Bradford after a night out. And we stayed in a hotel called the Old Deanery, just across the road from the cathedral. Fabulous ‘olde worlde’ building with massive rooms and next morning we were treated with an exceptional breakfast. Really refreshing to experience, given that the trend these days is for pubs/hotels to adopt the “Ryanair” approach to breakfast offerings.

Everybody we met in Ripon was super friendly, really noticeable and such a delight, in fact it felt like we’d digressed into some parallel universe.
I highly recommend a visit, if you are ever in the area, then go 😃.

Enjoy your weekend

Spongebob

User

Posted 22 Aug 2026 at 10:38

Morning SpongeBob

That sounds like an excellent little adventure! It is so nice to be able to just do things like that isn’t it? I enjoyed watching the Sci-Fi concert programme from the Proms (on iPlayer).

I think there is a tendency to retreat into our “safe places” so it is nice to hear that you have broken out! And thanks for the recommendation for Ripon - somewhere I have never been.

I did get to hear a bit of a rehearsal for a musical evening at Durham Cathedral some time back and that sounded really good, pity we couldn’t stay.

Enjoy your weekend - I have just got back from a lovely dog walk and it is such a beautiful day.

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 02 Sep 2026 at 04:04

Awake in the early hours, yet again. I'm sure that I used to sleep better before PCa entered my life.

I wonder if there's been any research done on a possible connection with it and insomnia. 🙂

🐏🐏🐏........one, two, three........ 🥱

Late edit. OMG! 😱

Recent research : The role of sleep deprivation in prostate cancer and a preliminary exploration of its mechanisms concludes:

Overall, this study highlights a potential mechanism by which sleep deprivation activates the JNK pathway through the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis to promote prostate cancer, offering a theoretical foundation for developing treatment strategies targeting this axis. Further research on CXCL13/CXCR5 pathway inhibitors may provide new treatment avenues for prostate cancer, while improving sleep quality could become a potential strategy for preventing the progression of prostate cancer.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0344033826000300

Yet another reason for more sleepless nights! 😁

Edited by member 02 Sep 2026 at 04:21 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 02 Sep 2026 at 07:57

Hi Adrian,

Yep, I have many nights like this too. Monday night, a good example when I’d have been able to join you. Sometimes I find it best just to get up and do a bit of reading. Otherwise, I lay there trying to find a theme in my head from my past in the hope that it will send me off.

For me none of this is helped by relentless hot sweats, seem to be getting more intense and more frequent since stopping Prostap. When I am lucky enough to nod off I wake up in minutes due to hot sweat. In turn my body then thinks I need a wee so I get up go have a pee then come back to bed and the whole cycle of trying to get back to sleep starts again.

Still, not wanting to complain, happy to persevere until the day when, hopefully I can savour and enjoy a full night’s uninterrupted sleep.

Anyway, on to the day’s events, in between playing taxi driver ferrying wife and kids all over the shop, my boiler is leaking so chasing the bod who after servicing it appears to have caused the leak. And my Sky TV gone on the blink, won’t let me watch anything so awaiting on them too. (It’s amazing how much of a hole it creates in your life when you cannot even watch crap on the TV). Life can be so much fun for us grumpy old gits ! Victor Meldew on steroids 😬

Have a good one,

SpongeBob

User

Posted 02 Sep 2026 at 08:22

Morning Adrian

Well at least you used your time productively!!

I am classed as pre-diabetic and am on a support programme to reduce my Hb1Ac number (45 presently). The meds probably aren’t helping either…

I had a mentor message only yesterday about the role of sleep in relation to diabetes prevention and how important it is to get a good night’s sleep, you can imagine my response I am sure!!!!

Talk about rock and hard place…

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 11:35

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

It has been very quiet on this thread recently. Phil (Goalhanger) is still sorely missed

On Tuesday just gone, it was a year since Phil passed away. He made a huge contribution to this forum and was one of the regulars on this thread. He loved a pint of Spitfire, in our virtual pub, 'The Protocologist's Finger' 🙂 and nattering about his motorbikes, DIY projects and his beloved Spurs. We miss you, mate. 🍻

Just a reminder for newcomers that this thread was started because some of us felt that there was perhaps a need for a less formal place to natter about how we deal with prostate cancer and how it affects our daily lives.

The occasional criticism that it's become too much like a social media platform and less factual about the disease is accepted, but I feel the two are not mutually exclusive?

So, if you want a general chat, or even a rant, about how the disease affects you, just join in, someone at sometime, will always reply. 👍

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 12:14

Thanks for the reminder/nudge Adrian - I am one of those relative newcomers but always found the conversation on this thread enjoyable.

I agree that a loose framework is a good idea, no need for us to be talking about PCa all the time.....

So - perhaps we could talk about my hernia op? It has been three weeks since the op and all healing well externally, heaven only knows what is going on inside. A five inch incision is probably big enough to get the surgeons hand well inside and I think he had a good rummage!

I would have to say that the first two weeks were a bit of a struggle but I am on the up and up now. Even went out for a catch up with some old friends yesterday ( known each other since we started secondary school) and I took the opportunity to badger them about getting tested (for PCa not a hernia).

It is amazing how guys that have not seen each other for a lot of years can just fall back into the old easy chatty group that we were when younger - unfortunately the main reason we got together was to visit another of the group who is now in a hospice with aggressive brain cancer.

And yes, we did end up at the pub!

And yes, I did explain to them what happens when you have a biopsy.....(but they are still getting tested!)

And yes, I did let them know how awful chemo can be and how c**p it can be on HT - so they had better get tested!

Not sure if I went too far, but if they are OK then that will be worth it!

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 12:19

High Adrian. Well, over the weekend I had 5 pints myself. On friday last my wife found me on the floor out for the count. To much beer you might think but I have been Teetotal for over 3 years. To cut a long story short I was blue lighted to our Hospital 18 miles away.

They at first thought it was a cardiac event but turned ou to be severe Anemia. Over the 3 days Bed and Board I also was given 5 pints of Blood. Each transfusion took 3 long hours mostly overnight. No sleep as you would imagine.

I had the camera and other instruments down the gullet and a small bleed somewhere in my upper GI was treated with heat and clips. Actually I had good time really largely due to lovely sedation.

Glad to get out. Hospital food really is terrible.

As for my old prostate my PSA is now undetectible (0.025) and hopefully I can stop ADT after one year. I've done 9 months already. How time fly's when your having fun!!

All the best you and the rest of the chaps who post on this thread. I do hope others start posting again...

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 19:55

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing- how quiet we have all been on here lately, whilst I was toiling away scraping off wood chip from the landing ceiling 😬. Yes, I’ve been cornered into some DIY, crikey, that means that our house will be a right tip for the foreseeable!

DIY, whilst I still have my allotment on the go, currently battling an aephid invasion on the sprouts. I also have a weekly visit to my old mum’s in York where I am struggling to defeat an invasion of woodlice in her conservatory. And a weekly outing on the electric mountain bike up in the Dales. Cannot work out how I ever managed to find time to go to work.

Everytime, I see Spurs on tv or hear the pundits talk about Spurs, I think of Phil. I’m not sure whether he would be laughing or crying at their continuing uselessness. Phil’s stories used to give us a great insight into his early life as a southerner, it was one of cars, motorbikes, boats and being jack the lad.

Ceepee, what a nightmare, that hernia, crikey, made me weep! At least you would have enjoyed the sensation of being put out under anaesthetic (at least I hope you did). The best sleep I ever had, didn’t want to wake up 😬. And, I also find that, when meeting up with old school mates, incredible how after so many years we can just easily carry on as we were. We have a group called Last of the Clayton summer wine.

And Dave, what’s the world coming to? A few pints and ending up in hospital! Another nightmare! Hope you get it all sorted, if we cannot enjoy a couple of beers then we are stuffed.

A PCa note, I am now 2.5 months post when my last Prostap would have been (after 3 years on it). And, I still haven’t detected any improvement to date, still knackered, bone aches, weak and hot sweats- good game this isn’t it?

Anyway, I am glad that we are back incommunicado, I have a short break coming up where I’m going to take in Colditz. I’m sure that I’ll be wanting to share that 😃.

Look after yourselves,

SpongeBob

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 20:51

Hi SpongeBob. When I said 5 pints it was'nt beer, it was Blood. I have my Dracula Cape and all set for Halloween!!!

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 21:18

Hi Dave,

Ooops! Sorry, my mistake 😱. Shows where my mind is when I see the word ‘pint’. Must read things much more carefully in future.

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 22:23

That's OK. It was Adrian that mentioned pints and I thought I would make a wee joke linking beer with Blood... What happened with me last week was I past out at home and ended up in our local Hospital. Turned out I had leaked a lot of the red stuff in my upper GI. Severely Anemic but the problem was treated successfully.

Transfused 5 pints of blood over 3 days along with terrible Hospital Food and like you at the moment little sleep.

I'm sure your testosterone will return and the side effects will reduce. You were on ADT a long time and recovery after 3 years will be slow. I'm sure you know that.

Anyhoo lets try and keep this thread alive.... Cheers Dave

User

Posted 08 Oct 2026 at 22:50

I get my ears syringed tomorrow 😃, that might help me to read posts more carefully in future 🤔.
So, with your anemia Dave, it was the blood leaking that caused it rather than a lack of iron being absorbed? You don’t have to be force fed spinach from now on? The whole episode must have been horrendous.

As for ADT I could write chapter and verse on it. Obviously, the many side effects are relentless but for me one of the worst aspects is that everyone around me thinks that I am cured and back to normal not realising that difficulties drag on. Still, best not moan about it, positive outlook.

If I can escape the DIY, footy is back this weekend - joy 😬

User

Posted 09 Oct 2026 at 00:33

Hi, lads.

CeePee, I hope your hernia problem has been fully resolved, and Dave, I hope they've sorted your anemia out.

Spongebob, I'm sorry to hear that you're still having side effects from your previous ADT. But pleased to hear that 'aphids on your sprouts' is a gardening issue rather than a medical problem. 🙂

I'm beginning to think, that no matter how upbeat and positive you are when dealing with PCa, you're very lucky if you survive it physically and mentally unscathed. Having other medical issues, obviously makes it even more difficult to cope with.

Only two months after having RARP, I had a heart attack and was rushed into hospital. I was on a cardiology ward for three weeks. I was still suffering badly from incontinence following the prostate surgery but couldn't go to the toilet because I was wired up to a heart monitor. It was the worse time of my cancer journey. Having said that, unlike you Dave, I loved the hospital food. (My wife's cooking is not quite as delectable as she is. 😬)

Edited by member 09 Oct 2026 at 08:49 | Reason: Typo

User

Posted 09 Oct 2026 at 07:54

When I was on the oncology ward a few months back I thought the food was good and the portions well sized - I think there was a positive effort to get some good stuff into us…

I came across a post on another forum (MacMillan) which referenced a piece in the Guardian which discussed the concept of “The Long Middle” - the period when your are an incurable but are just getting on with life and everyone just assumes you are ok and “looking well”. I haven’t been able to copy and paste the link on my phone but will try later. Otherwise if you google “The Long Middle” it does come up…

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

User

Posted 09 Oct 2026 at 08:00

Hi Adrian,

I don’t think even the Christopher Columbus of aphids could find what remains of my sprouts 😬.

I’d forgotten your back story, that must have been scary stuff, and what might have otherwise been a relief to find yourself having 3 weeks in hospital scuppered by bed ridden toiletting issues - the stuff of nightmares 😱. Glad you enjoyed the hospital food though proving that there is always a plus for any given situation.

Might be worth considering commissioning a new tv series based on Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing, could base it on your garden pond and perhaps fish for sunken bottles of beer?

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