I'm feeling really upset at this mornings news regarding Chris Hoy's cancer diagnosis. Especially following on from the tragic passing of Jenny Hastings. Our family has been very involved in the Scottish swimming scene with my older boy being a member of the Scottish team for a while and my daughter doing international competitive lifesaving. Just want to say what a wonderful example he is to us all and that we're thinking of him and his young family at this time
Also need to say, Lads, yes that's you! GET A PSA TEST. Quite a number of years ago my youngest brother died with cancer. They found two separate cancers in him, the pancreatic which killed him and a second primary - so not related to the pancreatic - in his prostate. My other brother, who passed on just before last Christmas, and I got to talking and he was able to tell me the examination following our father's death - from stroke - revealed early stage prostate cancer. I hadn't previously known that. I had a talk with my doc who told me all about the PSA test and got me to thinking about the full implications of having one done and how I'd feel if it turned out positive. Anyway, I decided to get one done and, with the family history, he agreed it was the thing to do. The result came back with a higher than hoped for number but not so high as to give immediate concern. He explained to me this test is not all that accurate but a lot better than doing nothing and we should do it again in a few months. The next one came back with similar numbers so he gave me a physical examination again (he'd done one of those first time round) and said he could feel a small hard bump on it so thought I should have a biopsy taken. This was done - not the most pleasant procedure and a wee bit sore too - and the result came back "early stage cell changes observed but no signs of cancerous growth" I may have got some of the terminology wrong. "watching wait recommended" So I now get a PSA done 2 or 3 times a year and the numbers are remaining static and stable and below the threshold where action is required. I also take a couple of tablets. My doc says these cancers tend to progress much more slowly in older men, and mine is not yet actually cancerous, so I'm almost guaranteed to die from something else before it catches me - cheerful bugger, but he knows I like it when he talks straight out about these things. I hate people who "***** foot" about!
Update following my other brother's death. He told me shortly before his death that he'd got it - pancreatic cancer - and, although knowing something was wrong, had done nothing because he was too busy. Finally it got to where he couldn't ignore it so he went in for Brachytherapy which it seems was successful but, unfortunately, the heart attack took him last Christmas. With this history my doc says my boys should be being tested and I've convinced my older boy (in his early 50s) to ask to be tested but my younger boy is still a work in hand as he just says he can't spare the time due to work.
So guys, Please please do give some serious thought to doing this. It might just save your life.
Also need to say, Lads, yes that's you! GET A PSA TEST. Quite a number of years ago my youngest brother died with cancer. They found two separate cancers in him, the pancreatic which killed him and a second primary - so not related to the pancreatic - in his prostate. My other brother, who passed on just before last Christmas, and I got to talking and he was able to tell me the examination following our father's death - from stroke - revealed early stage prostate cancer. I hadn't previously known that. I had a talk with my doc who told me all about the PSA test and got me to thinking about the full implications of having one done and how I'd feel if it turned out positive. Anyway, I decided to get one done and, with the family history, he agreed it was the thing to do. The result came back with a higher than hoped for number but not so high as to give immediate concern. He explained to me this test is not all that accurate but a lot better than doing nothing and we should do it again in a few months. The next one came back with similar numbers so he gave me a physical examination again (he'd done one of those first time round) and said he could feel a small hard bump on it so thought I should have a biopsy taken. This was done - not the most pleasant procedure and a wee bit sore too - and the result came back "early stage cell changes observed but no signs of cancerous growth" I may have got some of the terminology wrong. "watching wait recommended" So I now get a PSA done 2 or 3 times a year and the numbers are remaining static and stable and below the threshold where action is required. I also take a couple of tablets. My doc says these cancers tend to progress much more slowly in older men, and mine is not yet actually cancerous, so I'm almost guaranteed to die from something else before it catches me - cheerful bugger, but he knows I like it when he talks straight out about these things. I hate people who "***** foot" about!
Update following my other brother's death. He told me shortly before his death that he'd got it - pancreatic cancer - and, although knowing something was wrong, had done nothing because he was too busy. Finally it got to where he couldn't ignore it so he went in for Brachytherapy which it seems was successful but, unfortunately, the heart attack took him last Christmas. With this history my doc says my boys should be being tested and I've convinced my older boy (in his early 50s) to ask to be tested but my younger boy is still a work in hand as he just says he can't spare the time due to work.
So guys, Please please do give some serious thought to doing this. It might just save your life.
that lightens things up nicely
