Have you got cancer?

[Plastic Nev]

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I am posting this for all our members, male or female, old or young, please read it and where possible share my story amongst your friends.

 

How many of our older members are finding it either difficult to relieve yourself, finding the frequency of needing to do so is going up with ever shorter times between, at the worst, are you seeing blood?

It is definitely not a sign of just growing older if you answer yes to any of the above.

 

I urge you to go and see your doctor and as soon as possible, if you are lucky, it may just be a minor infection quickly cleared up with antibiotics. A little less lucky, it may be a benign growth that can be easily removed with keyhole surgery, even less lucky it may be a cancerous tumour, which if caught early enough can also be easily removed.

 

If you are already under the doctor about these things, then I hope all is well, if not, please, please, please, do go see the doctor.

 

Otherwise you will most certainly finish up in my situation as I did leave it all too late.

 

By the time it had got to needing to go and empty my bladder once an hour, therefore actually restricting my movements to places where I knew there would be a toilet or restroom (for other countries understanding) that is when I finally went to see my doctor as also I had seen blood in what came out too.

 

First off was a course of antibiotics, which in my case did nothing, so My doctor referred me then to the urology department of our local hospital.

 

After a cystoscopy examination a tumour was discovered inside my bladder and quite a large one, I then went for a CT scan so they could determine a bit more. Then the next course of action was keyhole surgery under the knock out drops (I cant spell anaesthetic http://www.annemccaffreyfans.org/forum/images/smilies/th_whistle.gif ) to see if it was possible to remove the tumour, which proved that only a small part could, which was then sent for analysis. It turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer that had grown into and become part of my bladder.

It was then decided at that point that it would be best to have chemotherapy, followed by removal of the entire bladder.

However from the CT scan, a small anomaly was also discovered in the shape of some fluid at the back and outside my right lung, so a sample of that was taken. The results showed things were a good bit more serious than at first thought, as there was some small amount of the same cancer cells in it.

 

That has changed the ball game considerably, the chemotherapy course was altered, and also extended from the original three cycles to now six cycles, and my bladder will no longer be removed. (Not much point as it is too late)

At the very best, the cancer can only be sent into remission and never totally killed off by the present treatments, in turn that can now be a limiting factor on how much longer I will be here to post my usual rubbish on here.

There is still hope though, as there is a promising new trial treatment available soon and that will be looked into after the present course of chemotherapy is finished.

 

I am staying positive, I promise to post my brand of oddball humour now and then where appropriate, offer my advice where I can, and try to carry on living for as long as I can.

The hopefully good thing about the chemo should be that at least I might get a bit more bladder space back and not be tied down to somewhere I can go empty it at the by now every half hour intervals. Quality of life isn't good when it is like that, so I hope to get at least some of it back.

 

So to conclude, and back to my opening sentences, for all, both male and female, have some serious thoughts about your frequency of bladder emptying needs, if more than twice in the morning or afternoon, think back, when you were younger that it wasn't like that then, so be aware that may be the first warning signs that all is not well. Do not hesitate, please don't finish up with a similar tale to tell as mine above.

 

Nev.

[bob12a]

The title of your message could not be clearer Nev,

You know we are all thinking of you and no words can cover the thoughts.

Bob

[jontye]

That's not good news Nev, but just a word of encouragement for you. I found out that I had cancer of the kidney, which originally was diagnosed as kidney stones, six years ago.

The kidney was removed and although I'm still having treatment, I'm still here, asking you and your fellow gurus for assistance.

We have a saying in the North East, which is 'Gan Canny Marra'.

 

My thoughts and best wishes are with you.

Jontye.

[KenB]

Just in case our members think the staff here are ignoring Nev - we were made aware of Nev's problem some time back in the Moderator's Forum, which is not public.

We have made all of our comments there.

 

We wish you well Nev and hope that the coming months bring better news.

 

Thank you for bringing this subject ( which some find difficult to discuss ) to our attention.

[Plastic Nev]

As I said, if my warning to others can save a life by persuading someone to go to their doctor early enough, that is all I want to see.

 

Nev.