My Challenge to defeat prostate and bone cancer

First Published 30 September 2023

Well, here I am again. Another blog about cancer but this time it’s me! It is more than 11.5 years since I added the final chapters to the “Wendy’s Army” blog, so this is very much Déjà Vu. I don’t know what I have done to upset those “upstairs” but they sure are making sure I get tested in this life. They managed to take Wendy, sadly, but they are not going to get me without the same degree of fight and determination shown by her.

As Wendy would be the first to acknowledge, these journeys cannot be undertaken alone. No cancer patient can undertake the trip without the support of loved ones.

As many will know, Kim and I being together at this stage in our lives is a story, which goes back over 30 years. Maybe we will tell that story at some point. So many have said we should!

I want to start this blog by acknowledging Kim, who is as up for the challenge of beating this cancer as I am. I simply could not do this without the caring nature of Kim, her inspiration to support me and lead the effort to get through this and we cannot wait for the day we will be told I’m in complete remission.

Kim is my rock! She is right here with me, and I couldn’t be a luckier man to be facing this with her. I love her with all my heart and, together, we are going to be successful in fighting and defeating this disease!

Before I start to tell the story and start the journey, let me explain why I have created this blog. There are three main reasons:

  1. Firstly, and most importantly, the majority of my family, my friends and my former colleagues are now aware of my diagnosis. Naturally, they all wish to be kept informed about my ongoing treatment and, rather than constantly tell people individually, it makes sense to keep everybody that wishes to be kept up to date informed on a consistent basis. When recounting detail, it is very easy to forget what you have said and to whom.
  2. I find it very cathartic. Telling the story gives me the chance to reflect on what is happening, rather than just repeating facts about the treatment and, just as importantly, some of those reading the blog will have people they know that have been on the same, or a similar journey. I think sharing experiences is so valuable and I have already found others that have been able to provide valuable insights and connections, which I will cover later.
  3. Thirdly, I’m not the only one undertaking this type of cancer journey. I have already met other men who have experienced prostate cancer and there will be many more in the future. My experience may just help other guys on their own journey. In Australia, over 24,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, with 1 in 5 men at risk of being diagnosed before they turn 85. And it is far from being confined to Australia. In the UK, Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average – that’s 144 men every day. Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that’s more than 12,000 men every year.

  • So, what led me to discover I had cancer?

    It’s a long story! It started on Friday 11th March 2022! Around that time, Australia had experienced huge rainfall volumes. I think in Bawley Point, where we live, there was circa 250ml in a few months. This was following the bush fires in early 2020. They say this is a country of extremes and that

    Continue reading this update

  • Telling Kim the news!

    Let’s remember that Kim and I have only been together for 2 years. We have been so happy in our retirement in our new home and surroundings with our animals and those all around us. The first day we moved in a King Parrot came to see us. We started to feed it sunflower seeds

    Continue reading this update

  • Medical Reviews

    Ahead of the initial meeting I was asked to attend the radiology unit the very next day for a full body CT scan, which would then be available to Dr Nicholson. This was undertaken on Friday 4 August. On Monday 7 August I had a second meeting with Dr Burt, who had the CT scan

    Continue reading this update

  • Why is all this detail so important?

    Well, if I hadn’t hit that pothole, and if I hadn’t buckled the wheel, I would not have taken it for repair and a second new tyre. I would not, thereafter, be faced with trying to get the wheel back on the car and., therefore, would not have fractured my pubic ramus. Without the fracture

    Continue reading this update

  • The treatment journey begins!

    I had my first consultation with Dr Kasherman on 22 August. It was an almost three-hour journey to Dr Kasherman’s consultation rooms in Woollongong. Dr Nicholson had wanted me to see one of her colleagues, Dr Gary Tincknell, with whom she worked very closely, but he was away on holiday for 4 weeks, waiting any

    Continue reading this update

  • Non-medical considerations

    As you would expect, Kim and I had many conversations about the diagnosis. We had moved into our beautiful home just under two years ago, after I returned to Australia. I had returned to the UK to sell my home, gain a visa, and return asap to Australia. But I left on the last day

    Continue reading this update

  • Back to medical matters

    Following my meeting with Dr Helen Nicholson, the prostate oncologist, she arranged for me to see Dr Steven Chin, a radiology oncologist, with whom she also works close, and with Dr Tincknell. They are part of the same multidisciplinary team that meets weekly to review their cases. We met on Wednesday 30 August. At the

    Continue reading this update

  • Experience with the treatments

    As we sit here today, 30 September, this is where I have reached with my treatments:

    Continue reading this update

  • Next Steps

    I had my Day 10 bloods taken on 29 Sept. I’m seeing the cancer nurse at the clinic where I have my chemo administered on 3 October. He will have the 10-day blood tests. I have just arranged to see an acupuncturist on 4 October. Acupuncture is very good for trying to rebalance the body

    Continue reading this update

  • That was a good week, but sad!

    A week ago today, Saturday 30 September, our dream started to unfold. We had agreed that rehoming Kim’s horses was the right thing to do, as was moving home. We got a call from the lady that had agreed to take our beautiful 33 year-old Palomino pony, Kirra. I think it was the first time

    Continue reading this update

Space

I have been feeling really good!

I had my bloods checked on 10 October, the day before I was due to have my second session of chemo the following day. My white blood cell count had recovered sufficiently from the normal dip following the first chemo session. My day 10 bloods following session one were within the acceptable tolerances and towards the end of the cycle (days 14-21) I felt really good and close to normal health. I still felt tired occasionally so would just give in and have a short nap.

I had the second session on 11 October and the intravenous process was as uneventful and the first session had been. I had no reaction during the infusion and felt good for the remainder of the day. A couple of days later I had some nausea, but it wasn’t too onerous, and I took a tablet, which very quickly cleared it. Since then, I have been normal again.

Normal is:

  1. Feeling about 85% in terms of activity and energy
  2. Visiting the bathroom 3 or 4 times during the night
  3. Taking a lot of tablets and potions either provided by the medical team or those supplements recommended by the naturopath.

I have also changed my diet a little. According to the nutritionist, I had taken too many carbohydrates out of my diet, and this accounted for the drop in my weight and inability to eat other than small portions. My weight has stabilised around 80kg, which I and the medics are happy with.

I have also had two sessions with the acupuncturist, which I found really helped. I can’t explain why, but I feel very relaxed and will continue with the sessions once my acupuncturist returns from a training programme he is attending now.

I had my day 10 bloods taken last Thursday. The routine is that they are reviewed by the cancer team, and you only get notified if there is some concern. So, I was a little tense this morning when Renee, from the Milton & Ulladulla Cancer Care unit called me. My white blood cells have dropped. It is not a major concern, but I am currently VERY susceptible to infection. Having a low white blood cell count leaves me with low immunity. As a result, I’m going to lie low for a few days whilst things recover. Wearing a mask if I do venture out will be essential, as will regular washing of hands and general care of myself. I was warned, as I have been on several occasions, to keep a close eye on my temperature. Any increase needs immediate investigation, and I would have to head to the A&E Department at Milton Hospital for support, whatever the time of day! I have taken the warning on board!!

A couple of non-medical issues:

  1. There has been no activity on selling the home. The agent popped round on Saturday with a “statistics” folder to share. There have been lots of interest on the various websites, but yet, no viewings. She is not worried, and neither are Kim and I. There are a couple of people that are very interested, have pre finance approval but live more than a few hours away. We just need to be patient whilst they decide to view. That all said, we are happy to wait, the horses have gone and the workload, especially for Kim, has dropped significantly. She is now finding time to read more – something she loves to do. She has popped out today for a bit of pampering, something she wasn’t able to do when the horses were here. In addition, I am very happy with my treatment regime and the team supporting me. I’m not anxious to change them, quite the reverse.
  2. As we no longer have the horses, we no longer need our Ute to collect horse feed and supplies. I have sold it to Talya, Kim’s friend who has been working with Kim and the horses. She has also stayed over when we have been away to look after, not only the horses, but the dogs. They both love Talya and she adores them. The Ute will be great for her to get her horse supplies more easily than at present. A win-win all round.

Today is day 13 of 21 following session 2 of chemo. My next blood tests will be on Tuesday 31 October, when I will also have an update with the Bill, the cancer care nurse at the cancer centre. All being well, I will have my third chemo session on 1 November. I’m due my next acupuncture session on 2 November.

In summary, I’m very pleased with the way I feel. The warnings about possible side effects were quite daunting but have been next to nothing. I remain very positive and determined.

Kim has been just amazing. We are in this together, but it would be so much more of a challenge for me without her support, keeping me on track with medications and supplements. I am such a lucky boy to be with such a strong, wonderful person, who means everything to me!

Next Steps:

  1. Pre chemo bloods 31 October & check-in with cancer care nurse
  2. 3rd Session of chemo if bloods are all ok.
  3. 3rd session of acupuncture – 2 November