Annual health check-ups are wise at any age, but more so as we get older. My doctor has called me in to do my yearly blood and other tests for many years; the last one was in June. She was a bit concerned with the PSA level (an indicator of prostate condition), but when she felt it, it did not seem enlarged at all. She prescribed a course of antibiotics with another blood test after. It showed that the PSA was still elevated, so she recommended a consultation with a urologist. The urologist did an ultrasonic scan, which showed that there was only a very slight swelling of the prostate on one side, but he felt it was wise to do a biopsy.
The biopsy took less that 1 hour. It was done under a general anaesthetic, but I was back home after 2 hours. I was expecting pain and discomfort, as experienced by some people after this procedure, but did not feel anything. The biopsy revealed low to medium activity cancer. Currently, surgery is only recommended if absolutely necessary; my urologist is in favour of brachytherapy. It involves inserting tiny pellets containing iodine-125, an isotope with half-life of 60 days that decays via gamma irradiation to tellurium. I had to go for an MRI scan to give a 3D map of the prostate. This was used to determine the positions of the radioactive seeds.
I had the brachytherapy two days ago, on 10 August. It was done under general anaesthetic and I was home after less than 3 hours. I have had zero pain and discomfort so far. Thank goodness that our medical skills are still equal in quality to anything in the rest of the world, so I am in good hands. I shall keep you guys updated. As a further precaution, I will have 25 daily radiation treatments in October. I am fortunate to have good medical insurance and it has cost me nothing so far.
This whole sequence of events shows how important annual tests are. I feel perfectly healthy, although I turned 76 last month, without any of the usual symptoms associated with prostate problems. My medical team told me that many men don't realise they have cancer, because they have no symptoms. So, guys, I beg you to not be complacent: schedule your check-ups ASAP.
Zonks. Glad to hear that it was caught early!
Best wishes for an effective and minimally tiresome course of treatment. :thumbsup:
Glad you are doing well.
if you tell anyone, I'll deny I said such a thing.
Thank you, Recusant and No one. I've had a good life with very few regrets, so I am much better off than so many others.
Brachytherapy seems to have grown in popularity owing to its high success rate. I was one of 18 patients for it at the clinic on Wednesday morning.
I'm sorry to hear about your health problems, Hermes2015, but it's good to hear that you are in good hands. And advising everyone to schedule a check-up ASAP is excellent advice.
Quote from: Magdalena on August 12, 2022, 07:17:51 AMI'm sorry to hear about your health problems, Hermes2015, but it's good to hear that you are in good hands. And advising everyone to schedule a check-up ASAP is excellent advice.
Thank you,
Mags. Of course the recommendation applies to women as well as men. Although, for women breast tests are easier to do at home.
Whenever I hear of a regret free life, my mind always goes here:
metal makes everything better!
break a leg, hermes
im looking for a GP at this moment. i had a prostate resection a couple of years ago and came clean for cancer at that time.
but that was then
best wishes for a clean bill of health
Quote from: billy rubin on August 12, 2022, 08:57:31 AMbreak a leg, hermes
im looking for a GP at this moment. i had a prostate resection a couple of years ago and came clean for cancer at that time.
but that was then
best wishes for a clean bill of health
Thank you so much! Let them check your PSA level.
Quote from: No one on August 12, 2022, 07:52:35 AMWhenever I hear of a regret free life, my mind always goes here:
metal makes everything better!
Yes, I don't have many regrets, in spite of the many dangerous and silly things I did when I was younger.
Good to hear they got things early. I bet they haven't had a patient with such a good understanding of the treatment process before!
The Asmo, too, is suffering most severely from age-related creaks and leaks.
His Divine Shoulder Joint is all creaky and clunky, His back is only bendy when it wants to be, He's overdue for a oil change and could probably do well with a healthier diet too. :(
But hey, as slowly falling apart goes - not too bad.
Good to hear that the health checks actually bore fruit for you. Many a scary cancer is, if caught early, in fact not very scary at all.
Thanks, Tank and Asmo. I must say that my title of Dr was helpful during my various visits to the Morningside Mediclinic. If nothing else, it can be a useful lubricant sometimes.
https://www.mediclinic.co.za/en/morningside/home.html (https://www.mediclinic.co.za/en/morningside/home.html)
I hope this ends well! I've heard of the radiation treatments. The insertion of the biopsy needle, as well as the insertion of the radioactive pellets aren't without risk, but better than letting the cancer run rampant. A friend of mine had his prostrate removed completely, earlier this year. An interesting thing about prostrate removal, many times the sphincter grows back enough for urine retention. Freaky. My prostrate is enlarged (I'm 69) but sort of being controlled by some meds.
Quote from: Dark Lightning on August 12, 2022, 02:22:33 PMI hope this ends well! I've heard of the radiation treatments. The insertion of the biopsy needle, as well as the insertion of the radioactive pellets aren't without risk, but better than letting the cancer run rampant. A friend of mine had his prostrate removed completely, earlier this year. An interesting thing about prostrate removal, many times the sphincter grows back enough for urine retention. Freaky. My prostrate is enlarged (I'm 69) but sort of being controlled by some meds.
Thank you. My team seem to be up to date with the latest thinking and are not in favour of surgery. I just have to rely on their guidance, since I am a chemist and don't have any medical qualifications.
hermes2015, I just wanna make you smile.
Quote from: Magdalena on August 12, 2022, 06:47:12 PMhermes2015, I just wanna make you smile.
Ha, thanks. You succeeded. I was about to have an early night (it's 20:15 here) when I saw it.
Please keep us posted, as you recover.
Quote from: Magdalena on August 13, 2022, 03:59:04 AMPlease keep us posted, as you recover.
Of course I will. :love:
An update: I had a follow-up consultation, which is usually scheduled for 14 days after the brachytherapy, with my urologist yesterday. He did an ultrasound scan and showed me the little radioactive implants in the prostate. He joked and said he wanted to prove to me that they had actually done something while I was sleeping and that I hadn't been scammed. He was happy with my progress, so let's hope it continues like this.
good.
Good news.
Thanks, guys. In a way it is quite scary that I am feeling 100% normal, without any symptoms. The doctors told me that this can be a huge problem for many men who are totally unaware that they need to get medical attention, until it's too late.
An update on my prostate cancer situation. I completed the course of 25 daily radiation therapy sessions in the period of late October to end of November. The sessions of lying in the beam emitted by a linear accelerator were only 15 minutes each, weekdays only. Some people experience symptoms like diarrhoea and lassitude form the radiation, but I was one of the lucky ones and only experienced a slight drop in energy levels. After a recovery period of 6 weeks, a new blood test showed that the PSA level had dropped from 11 to 0.15, so I did not need a second hormone injection after the one I got in September. These injections are slow release and are effective for a few months. They cause a serious lack of energy, so I have done almost no creative work for a long time. Luckily, I have been feeling stronger every day, to the point that I have started feeling the urge to paint and sculpt again.
I want to repeat my appeal to you guys to have your PSA levels checked as soon as possible.
Great to see such positive results!
Bloody marvellous!
That is great news.
Quote from: Tom62 on February 06, 2023, 12:52:40 PMThat is great news.
Thank you. I was apprehensive about the results, as you can imagine.
Good results and good advice. I am 70 and my doc checks my PSA every year when I get my checkup.
excllent.
what are tbe first things you are gling to be working on?
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on February 06, 2023, 03:58:41 PMGood results and good advice. I am 70 and my doc checks my PSA every year when I get my checkup.
👍
Quote from: billy rubin on February 06, 2023, 04:12:27 PMexcllent.
what are tbe first things you are gling to be working on?
I've been working on the design for a bird feeder for a garden. It will be a life size sculpture of a man holding a tray for the seeds. It will be in concrete and should weigh about 90 kg. It is a labour-intensive project, so I will wait about another month before I start. In the meantime I am planning a painting of clivias for my ex wife.
Do knees count as age related? Both my knees give me hell but the right knee is seriously jacked up. As much as I dislike doctors I'm working on seeing someone.
Quote from: jumbojak on February 06, 2023, 11:57:37 PMDo knees count as age related? Both my knees give me hell but the right knee is seriously jacked up. As much as I dislike doctors I'm working on seeing someone.
Yes and no. Knees can a problem for people in their teens, if they play certain sports. However, not counting sports-induced injuries, one's knees and other joints do start deteriorating naturally. In your case it's probably related to all the sporting activities you enjoy.
I have traumatic arthritis from playing football (American) in high school. It taught me that you pay for everything in this life.
Quote from: Ecurb Noselrub on February 07, 2023, 06:47:04 PMI have traumatic arthritis from playing football (American) in high school. It taught me that you pay for everything in this life.
That's what we call the First Law of Thermodynamics in physics.
The second law says that we don't even break even, owing to that pesky entropy term.
Quote from: hermes2015 on February 07, 2023, 02:58:28 AMYes and no. Knees can a problem for people in their teens, if they play certain sports. However, not counting sports-induced injuries, one's knees and other joints do start deteriorating naturally. In your case it's probably related to all the sporting activities you enjoy.
:smilenod:
Here is a Asmo-logic straight from The Tome;
1. The Asmo knows people who play sports.
The Asmo does not know people who have not ever injured themselves playing sports.
Therefore, sports lead to injuries.
2. The Asmo knows people who munch upon junk food.
The Asmo knows no people who have ever injured themselves while munching on junk food (An occasional bit tongue or coffee burn notwithstanding)
Therefore, junk food is
obviously far safer than sports.
Fight Him!1!!1!1ONE!1! >:(
my knees suck but its because of motorcycles. cant blame anybody but myself.
now my hip is stiffening. cant have that because the motorcycle races are in july. so im working to loosen em up
Yeah, I've ruined my shoulder to a rather painful extent, but anti-inflammatories work wonders when it starts acting up.
I suspect that most of them "old age issues" are entropy - yes - but entropy helped by life choices, and to a not-inconsiderable degree.
For me it's osteoarthritis that's the big one. I've had 5 or 6 surgeries on my feet because of it, and have it to some extent in every joint. I also have a condition called monoclonal gammopathy that is currently not causing me problems, except for mild anemia.
This one is not not age-related. I've been walking around with the remains of a tooth that had been root canal treated years ago, but that had crumbled gradually until only the root was left. It was painless, so I didn't bother having it seen to during my prostrate treatments. My dentist felt it was better to have the roots removed by a dental surgeon. I saw one yesterday; he detected a cyst under the roots when he looked at the X-ray scan of my mouth. Less than an hour later I walked out sans roots and cyst, with instructions of what to do if the pain became bad. After almost 24 hours, I have felt absolutely no discomfort or pain and slept well last night. I had my usual breakfast this morning, without feeling anything.
Good news Hermes :)
Hermes has described, more than once, healthcare in SA. It appears to be clearly better administered than the US counterpart. I do believe that the US has medical practitioners and facilities that are as capable as any where on earth. However, My system is emphatically built primarily around the profit motive.
I do not wish to indict every medical practitioner out there. The matter of fact is that even the most dedicated, generous, and kind hearted individual who works for an organization or clinic is forced to toe the mark. He/she has to generate a predetermined billing amount in order to keep their job.
For damned sure the system does not operate with the same compassion and care that we see on so many of those hospital TV series. Sigh......
Yes, Icarus, if one can afford medical insurance, you get the best there is. That is not the case for the poor, unfortunately, who have to endure long waits at government hospitals. Once attended to, I've been told they usually receive good treatment.
My, fortunately limited, experience of the SA health care system (curry related) was very favourable and successful.
Quote from: Tank on February 25, 2023, 08:23:42 AMMy, fortunately limited, experience of the SA health care system (curry related) was very favourable and successful.
:evilgrin: Cape Town curries are milder, gentler, and sweeter since their origins are Malay and Indonesian. However, in Durban, with the biggest Indian community outside India, the curries can be pretty fierce. There is an old joke about the guy who answered "Durban" when asked to name the capital of India on a TV quiz show.
Quote from: hermes2015 on February 25, 2023, 08:46:26 AMQuote from: Tank on February 25, 2023, 08:23:42 AMMy, fortunately limited, experience of the SA health care system (curry related) was very favourable and successful.
:evilgrin: Cape Town curries are milder, gentler, and sweeter since their origins are Malay and Indonesian. However, in Durban, with the biggest Indian community outside India, the curries can be pretty fierce. There is an old joke about the guy who answered "Durban" when asked to name the capital of India on a TV quiz show.
It wasn't the curry itself but the microbes in it. 5 of us who had the same dish all ended up in out patients the next morning having disemboweled ourselves overnight!
Quote from: Tank on February 25, 2023, 11:09:16 AMQuote from: hermes2015 on February 25, 2023, 08:46:26 AMQuote from: Tank on February 25, 2023, 08:23:42 AMMy, fortunately limited, experience of the SA health care system (curry related) was very favourable and successful.
:evilgrin: Cape Town curries are milder, gentler, and sweeter since their origins are Malay and Indonesian. However, in Durban, with the biggest Indian community outside India, the curries can be pretty fierce. There is an old joke about the guy who answered "Durban" when asked to name the capital of India on a TV quiz show.
It wasn't the curry itself but the microbes in it. 5 of us who had the same dish all ended up in out patients the next morning having disemboweled ourselves overnight!
🤢
Quote from: hermes2015 on February 25, 2023, 08:46:26 AM:evilgrin: Cape Town curries are milder, gentler, and sweeter since their origins are Malay and Indonesian. However, in Durban, with the biggest Indian community outside India, the curries can be pretty fierce. There is an old joke about the guy who answered "Durban" when asked to name the capital of India on a TV quiz show.
i have a love for curries in the malay and indian traditions, and versions of them are among the only food i know how to make
but the fieriest curry i have ever had was in sri lanka. i was a teenager and was used to curries of standard asian street vendor heat but these were astonishing, a thinner liquidy preparationthat was so hot i once had to leave the table and go rinse my mouth out at the tap. i was happily acustommed to food so hot it would leave chemical blisters in my mouth but i met my match there.
a very good friend of mine has gone into hospice for esophogeal cancer. he has somewhere between one week to several months to live.
a really nice guy. he's a motorcycle tuner in the old tradition, and the reason i know him is because he held the land speed record for unfaired 650 pushrod motorcycles, until i took it from him.
he was diagnosed with cancer about four years ago, and took chemo and radiation, which knocked it back for a while. but they told him it was going to get him eventually, and a week ago he suddenly couldnt get out of bed.
overnight.
i spoke with him on the telephone yesterday. hes weak, cant get out of a chair by himself, and doesnt know whether he ll wake up tomorrow or not. i asked about a visit, but he isnt sure yet what he s up for. very sudden, it was, thjis last day stuff.
anyway, if and when he s willing, ill be up to visit on a day's notice. no fucking way to schedule this sort of thing, and the moment he says he s available, ill drive the 500 miles to say hello. or goodbye.
life is like that. and death too.
Here is a respectful salute for your friend Billy.
That is touching, Billy. Let's face it: we are just buying a bit of time with all the shiny machines and impressive procedures.
The world needs more Billys'
Sorry about your friend, Billy. :therethere:
this is him a couple of years ago
(https://i.imgur.com/lYKY3PCl.png)
he built this double triumph to run in the LSR races. two 1957 650 thunderbird motors in a custom frame. a very hard machine to make, what with phasing the motors mechanically and electrically, and then running them both through a single transmission. just arranging the primary chain drives were monumental
it went 142 mph on its first shake down run before it lost opil pressure due to a three dollar seal, was fixed but has never been back out because his rider is weird.
theres a tremendous amount of knowledge in this guys head that will go away when he dies. but then, thats the way it is for all of us.
Will that bike be looking for a home?
probably has one. he had a long-term friendship with his rider, who actually owned the bike while my friensd contributed design, labour, and tuning. but the rider has lost interest in racing and now owns a biker bar in new york state, one where you can ride your motorcycle into the premises. anyway, both the double and the original single motor LSR machine are now on static display inside the bar. so i imagine they will stay there forever, deteriorating.