I am 78 years old and some years ago was diagnosed with prostate cancer, shortly after retiring. After 37 radiotherapy sessions and two years on hormone therapy, my PSA tumbled from 70 to 0.01, the lowest they can measure, although it is now rising very slowly just as my oncologist said it would but it is still very low. The only symptom I had was when I helped my wife with the washing up, as soon as I heard running water, I had to run to the loo. My wife tried to get me to go and see my GP but being a man, I thought I knew better. Eventually it got so bad she threatened to make the appointment for me and at last I gave in. My GP was on the ball and guessed what it was straight away although he didn't tell me at the time. So folks, please listen to your wives/partners because I could have been diagnosed nine months to a year earlier if I had done so. Luckily the cancer was still contained within the prostate. I feel so lucky and as a result have joined several cancer charities in an attempt to try and help others. My father who lived in Canada had prostate cancer many years ago but it returned and spread into his bones and he has sadly now died and I have also lost my brother in law and an Uncle who lived in Canada to prostate cancer. I have lost my mother, my grandmother, an aunt, my mother in law and recently a sister in law all to cancer over the years, so cancer has affected our family very badly, so I am all to aware of the devastating effects it can have on a family. The total family members who I have lost to cancer now stands at eleven. I now know all to well what it feels like on both sides of the fence so to speak.
I have just recently also lost one of my Canadian brothers also to prostate cancer so it really does run in my family.
Incidental, I have chosen to call myself woodworm as I love wood-turning and woodwork in general and my dear wife tells me, just like a woodworm I leave piles of sawdust and shavings behind me everywhere I go.
