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Thread: Joe's Health

  1. #1
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    Default Joe's Health

    There are quite a few members here - and I don't really remember who, since I wasn't particularly worried who I told - who know that I had bladder cancer for the past 2 and a bit years since diagnosis. The urologist estimates that it had been there and growing for one to two years without any symptoms.....
    Anyway, my last cystoscopy (looking at the inside of the bladder through a camera poked up the urethra) no growths were found. "A pristine bladder" as the man said.
    I got lab confirmation today that it was all gone. Yippee!
    Still having immune therapy for another year (BCG) to make sure any new or remaining/hidden mutated cells don't get to survive and multiply again.
    So far so good!
    Thought I'd share my relief with my friends.
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Whoopee - seriously good news Joe - for you and us - totally selfish of course - we need your expertise and enthusiasm around here.

    Not sure about the camera up the whatsit though.

  3. #3
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    Thanks for the great news Joe, let's hope it stays away.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  4. #4
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    Congratulations Joe! You should celebrate by hauling another machine out of the scrap and resuccitating it!

  5. #5
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    Must feel great. Well done.

    Bill

  6. #6
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    Good on ya Joe!

    You can't keep a good man down.

    Thanks for posting though as it will remind a few more of us to get those darn check ups when we should.

    I had a PSA recently and the numbers were not good so it off to the urologists to verify yah or nay.

    Very good news to hear from you mate.It must be clean living that does it.

    Regards
    Grahame

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    ....
    Not sure about the camera up the whatsit though.
    Nothing to worry about actually. Fascinating technology. The tube they insert in the whatsit is about 8 or 9mm diameter. It's done under general or spinal anaesthetic. I had a spinal for all but two of the six procedures thus far (On one occasion I asked them to fix an epigastric hernia at the same time - which was too high for a spinal and the most recent one my back was too sore to tolerate a spinal anaesthetic). For the other 4 I stayed awake and watched everything. Both in my nether regions and on the screen.
    Through that metal tube they insert a movable camera, instruments, light, water in and drain out. Absolutely amazing. When he removed the first 4 tumours which filled up the entire bladder, taking 3-1/2 hrs, I watched him slice it all up with a radio frequency hot loop and wash the bits out. On subsequent occasions he had to slice out all the remaining scar tissue which could potentially contain mutated cells and put in a stent between bladder and right kidney. All very interesting to watch. Next was the replacement of the stent and some biopsies. Then its final removal, by which time a few new tumours had started growing in different locations In October last year was a routine checkup and 2 more tiny tumours had grown and were removed. So this one in February was the first 'clear' one. I have a few photos (not yucky!) of the inside of my bladder and tumours, in case the adage of "photos or it didn't happen" applies

    And thank you all for your comments and wishes!
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  8. #8
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    That is good news Joe.



    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Good on ya Joe!


    Thanks for posting though as it will remind a few more of us to get those darn check ups when we should.

    I had a PSA recently and the numbers were not good so it off to the urologists to verify yah or nay.


    Regards
    Grahame
    That is not such good news Graham. Just keep in mind that a PSA test is not a definitive answer. It is just an indicator. For example a mild infection will cause a higher PSA. Many other things will cause an elevated PSA.

    However if it is prostate cancer the survival rates are quite high most of the time, as it is generally very slow growing. There are some cases where it is aggressive, but it is quite rare. I might as well get this out now, but my father has caught the quite rare type (only 5% have metastasised to the bones upon diagnosis) and probably will not be here this time next week as today the palliative nurses started end of life care. He is at home and I am helping to care for him.

    When you see how he has suffered it would make people keep aware of getting yearly tests, just to look for trends if nothing else even though metastatic prostate cancer is the exception not the norm.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  9. #9
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    Blast, Richard. I'm very sorry to hear that your dad's health has turned for the worst.
    I wish you and your family all the best - and may your dad go in peacde and painlessly.
    I think going like that is all we van hope for aand wish each other, since we are all going one day....
    Cheers, Joe
    retired - less energy, more time to contemplate projects and more shed time....

  10. #10
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    All the best for your family Richard.

  11. #11
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    Great news Joe , all the best .

    I had a 20mm cancer tumour in my Kidney but it was found by a chance scan and surgery saved me . Over three years ago now the local GP informed me, I have CLL, a type of leukemia . It's been under control cross fingers !

  12. #12
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Off at the GP for my annual diabetes checkup and the ECG shows up something with my heart beat so I'm off to have a heart stress test tomorrow.
    Apparently I have to run flat out on a treadmill till I drop??
    Anyone had one of these?

  13. #13
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    It can be simulated with a needle in the arm with some magic fluid. Does the same thing to the body as the physical test.
    May put your mind at rest Bob.
    They did that to me. You feel a bit different but don't get puffed out.

    Hooroo.

    John

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Not sure about the camera up the whatsit though.
    Hey BobL
    Nothing to worry about at all.
    Its only a little camera,not CinemaScope wide vision

  15. #15
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    Richard,
    Our thoughts are all with you and your family.
    Grahame

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