Staines, I have just read this and thanks for the advice and good luck to you with your treatment mate.
Staines good luck mate stay strong and positive and all will be good. Th odds are with you. My Best mate was diagnosed with TC last year and all he had was praise for the NHS and how the handled it, they'll look after you.
So sorry to hear this Staines, you wrote a extremely eye opening post, and I wish you all the very best of luck.
I'm confident that you'll beat this, Staines, as they've caught it sufficiently early. Great advice to all us fortysomethings to not ignore the changes "down there". My father has prostate cancer, having been diagnosed well over ten years ago now. Bizarrely, he was 'fortunate enough' to first suffer a mild heart attack - a condition that was solved by the insertion of a stent - and the medics picked up the PSA count as part of the general post-attack care. So, having had it detected sufficiently early, he's had the infected area frozen and contained. They say that many, many men die with prostate cancer and not because of prostate cancer. In other words, when caught early it's either eliminated or locked in where it can't spread and do further harm. Good luck, Staines. Always respect your contributions on this site.
Just a word about cancer in general from the medics viewpoint. My missus worked in womens health for many years. A few years back she was called on to a few days cancer workshop as they call it, at the universities area in Manchester. I thought, oh God, here we go, all doom and gloom when she gets back. Strangely, nothing could've been further from the truth. The very experienced professor guy that ran the course, was the epitome of positive optimism. Mrs B was full of his stories and anecdotes when she got back - and me, I was all ears! Terrific stuff, not just in their scientific progress these days but equally in their practical and philosophical approach to 'sufferers'. Bottom line was, barring treatment or the latter stages, it's not so much about what we get but how we manage it. Even without remissions etc., if we approach things right from the outset, as others have said above, the prognosis can be fantastic. Many have lived with the condition for decades and without losing their independence or general quality of life. In the main, cancer's only a problem for the moments we let it into our consciousness. Stainsy, in deciding to help others by posting your most private and personal stuff on here, you have immediately become a pioneer. Men don't discuss those things - not cos they're men but because they're scared of being seen as vulnerable. Truth is otherwise. Our strength needs to be re-set into accepting our vulnerability and other people's. Having the guts to stick such matters on the table and talk to each other about it, essentially demystifies a taboo and encourages individuals to do the right things and check their concerns out. A lot to be said for ridding ourselves of machismo and bravado. Such nonsense rarely helps anyone. Go Stainsy. You R a real R!
Brix, the number of fingers i've had up my backside in the last few months i know i can DEFINATELY take it
It was IMO a brilliant piece of bare honesty ... I have had cancer touch my life on many occasions and by talking about it in the open way you have is IMO the only way ... It's a complex natural phenomenon with so many forms yet the word cancer seems to mean doom to so many. My story has seen people taken by it without a chance and people beat it with a vengeance ... your post has opened the door and again demonstrates that this forum is not always about football its about people. Thank you for your honesty Staines
Staines, a well written honest piece about something that we really don't want to talk about. With best wishes
Great post Staines a very selfless act that appears to have opened the eyes of one and all and while reading through the answers you have got to ask yourself would I rather read this or a piece written by a lazy jounalist who is making up crap about buying x,y,z. x,y,z actually, BUT seriously writing this a real story of what is happening in a real persons life and sharing your very personal situation makes me proud to be part of our group. Good luck Chap
Alright Lads, Just a final note to say thankyou SO much for all your messages of support. I promise i will keep you updated with what happens and reading all your messages has been a great comfort. You all are truly some fantastic fellas on here and hopefully some of us will get to meet face to face at the Bush. Thanks again Staines R's
