New Cancer Diagnosis and Blog

Hi Tom,

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis and I wish you well for your treatment.

I think its great you are keeping a blog. There was a survey done recently that showed men are not getting sufficient support for the issues they have during and after prostate treatment. And many men may not be able to talk about intimate problems they may be having. So I think your candid account of what is happening and how you are feeling will be great for you personally but also a big help to others on a similar journey.

Good luck!
Flo.

Hi Flo,

Thank you for your good wishes.

I had my MRI scan yesterday and my bone scan is scheduled for next Thursday. Shortly after that I will meet my consultant and find out the extent of what I'm up against.

As you say, I find blogging about the experience personally therapeutic. If it provides anyone with some insight to the world of the cancer patient that's a bonus. Thinking about the consequences of radical prostatectomy is hard, let alone blogging about it. All the more reason to persevere with it I guess.

All the best,
Tom.
http://www.tommolloy.com

Hi Tomm

It is good to hear from your blog that things are going well for you. Well done in posting the origional message and setting up the blog which I have found funny and informative. I think your postings will be a great help to other young (under 50 yrs) prostate cancer sufferers in letting them know they are not the only unfortunate to get what is believed to be a older mans disease at such a young age I myself am 42 and had the radical prostatectomy 4 weeks ago so I can relate to your situation very much. Even though my P.S.A (6.9) and Gleason (7) were not as severe as yours it has been one hell of a few months, since like most people when you get the shock of the diganoses you know very little about P.S.A or Gleason scores you just know you have been told you have Cancer. I have received good results from histoligy that they got it all so now I wait to do the post op P.S.A and see the consultant christmas week with trepidation and looking forward to the best Christmas ever.
All the best
George

Hi George,

Thanks for your comments. I can relate entirely to what you say about the shock of diagnosis and the PSA/Gleason learning curve. It's a steep curve because reading up on these things, on top of a recent, diagnosis is pretty damn depressing. All you can do is pick it up as you go along while trying to hold everything together.

I was given the all clear last week and, amazingly, I seem to have gotten away with urinary incontinence! Breaking wind is a little risky but apart from that, I'm dry and don’t need to wear pads! A brilliant result I think. The pathology on the tumour revised the Gleason Score downwards to 8, which is still a bit high.

Overall, I'm on the road to recovery now and feeling well, all things considered. I have learned of another guy who was recently diagnosed at the age of 40. So prostate cancer is definitely not just for the over-50s. The good news is that it is treatable if caught in time. It’s a very difficult time, from diagnosis to recovery, there is no getting away from that. But with the right attitude it is possible to turn it around to an overall positive watershed in your life.

Best of luck to you in your own recovery and maybe our paths will cross at a MAC event or something.

All the best,
Tom.

I am a good deal older than any on your blog, but when one gets the diagnosis its like joining a club! So many of my younger friends have unfortunately found themselves members, and seem to have found their feet after a time, well done.
The almost inevitable ED issue post treatment seems to be entirely absent from the professionals lexicon. Advice from reputable sources seems to be impossible to obtain, yet the topic, whatever age, is important.
What has been your experience re advice?