Cancer Free!

It’s been a long journey from some discomfort in my groin, through misdiagnosis, diagnosis, orchidectomy, recovery, chemotherapy, neutropenic sepsis, chemotherapy, recovery, RPLND surgery, recovery, low testosterone, and a decade of monitoring and checkups.

it’s been a busy decade. Divorce, marriage, two more kids. Several house moves. Several jobs.

About a month ago I had my final CT scan, and a couple of weeks ago I had a call from my oncologists office asking me to get blood tests.

Yesterday I finally got the call.

“Mr James I’m pleased to say you have no tumour markers in your blood results. Your CT scan shows no sign of cancer. It’s been ten years. If it hasn’t come back by now it isn’t going to come back. Congratulations. Your cancer is cured. You did it. You’re officially a survivor and I am going to close your file. At this point we’ve known each other for a decade and we are old friends so if there’s anything you’re worried about in future give our office a call directly.”

I cried. Obviously.

That’ll now likely be the end of the road for this blog. I always wanted it to be a start to finish record of the whole thing. And finally, 10 years, 7 months and 11 days after I had that first groin pain I reached the end.

In the big book of my life the chapter titled Cancer is finally finished.

Thanks to everyone who offered support in various forms along the way.

if you find this blog while undergoing your own treatment or supporting someone through theirs feel free to message if you’ve got any questions. I’m happy to answer where I can.

Nine Years Down, One To Go

I just had a call from my oncologist, which I did know was coming but had completely forgotten about.

Very short conversation along the lines of “are you well?”, “Yes, I’m fine, it’s all a distant memory now really”, “OK good, I will send you some bloods forms and book you a CT scan for 12 months from now, I will call you with the CT results when we have them and if you’re all clear you will be discharged”.

I barely think about the cancer anymore. It’s a big part of my life and I think it changed who I am and my outlook on life, but its a chapter of my life that I’ve left behind. It’s going to be a huge day when they finally tell me I’m officially all clear and fully discharged from the oncology service.

It makes me a bit emotional just thinking about it.

I’ve had a very busy 12 months and an even busier 12 to come so that discharge conversation is going to come around very quickly.

The “it’s been ages” update

It’s been a while so a quick update.

1. I’m still alive.
2. Fresh start, new city.

When i was 24, deciding to move 100 miles from where I grew up, leaving behind family and friends seemed like a massive deal. Basically the biggest thing I’d ever had to deal with up to that point.

But a lot has happened since then, not least of which being the content of this blog.

So, moving 200 miles from where I live now – being on my own for several weeks while I settle into my new job, sort out schools and a permanent home etc is going to be tough, but its nowhere near as daunting as it seemed almost two decades ago. Onwards!

The blog is still getting a reasonable amount of traffic and 99.9% of it is from people looking up RPLND or BEP Chemo.
This isn’t really a personal blog anymore so much as an archive for those people. But I wanted to put something out there for those who are stressed, worried or afraid about their treatment. Something to say “Hey look, you can get through this and continue a perfectly normal healthy life afterwards!”

Good luck!

5 years later…

December 31st 2012 was when I found out I had a tumour. Five years ago!

It’s been a long time, but feels like yesterday, especially around this time of year. I find myself in a pretty dark place around new year.

I have my next CT scan on 25th January. And Oncology a couple Of weeks later. Then hopefully just an annual visit for the next five years. Unless there’s a problem with that, which is unlikely, the blog won’t get updated much at all from this point onwards. It’s served it’s purpose. But unless something significant happens, it’s time to let it rest.

It’s still getting 500-1000 views per month. Mostly from the US and the UK, but all of the world in small quantities. And largely for the BEP chemotherapy treatment info, or the RPLND recovery.

I’ve had some great messages of support from people all around the world. And have been able to help countless more understand the journey they face when they’re given their own diagnosis.

If you’re reading this and have any questions that don’t seem to have been covered, feel free to send me a message and ask whatever you like. But looking back on it over the last couple of days there were a lot of details I’d forgotten about entirely, so I don’t know how much use I’d be if I didn’t mention it on here already.

if you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you know is going through something similar, so I wish you all the luck in the world.

4 Years

Four years since my RPLND now.  Officially 4 years cancer free.

Yesterday i went for my six month meeting with my oncologist and they confirmed they’re happy everything feels right, no concerns from my previous blood results and we will stick to the plan of a CT scan just before my next appointment in February.

However, I will not be discharged if all good in February.  She’d got a bit carried away with herself when she mentioned that.

One of the tumours removed during RPLND was a mature Teratoma.  Meaning it wasn’t the fast growing kill you quick type, it was a more patient hide somewhere and maybe eventually wake up and kill you quick. So to make sure, they’ll keep seeing me once a year and do a final CT scan around February 2023, 10 years after my chemo started.  If all clear then, i’m considered safe enough to discharge.

In other news, the testosterone gel continues to work well.  As long as i’m taking it regularly it really does help my energy levels and concentration a lot.  Unfortunately though i went away for a few days and forgot to pack any – so after two days away i was back to feeling tired and run down.  I’m now on day 2 of being back on it so shouldn’t be long before i’m up to speed again.  I feel a little bit better already.

Testosterone update 

It’s been 5 days since I started using the Testosterone gel.

I feel more alert. My usual limit of 20 press-ups has increased to 25. I thought my facial hair was looking a bit thicker yesterday, and when I’ve had a close look at it in a mirror this morning I noticed a lot more New hairs starting to grow in the gaps between what I already had.

I’ve not noticed any side effects yet. I’m half hoping I grow breasts to be honest. That might be fun for a bit 😏

[edit] The following day i found i could do 30 press-ups, and repeated that the next day.  Does this make me a drugs cheat?

Low Testosterone

I went back to Endocrinology yesterday for a follow-up on the first meeting with them 6 months ago.

My testosterone levels had been as low as 7.4 previously but were 10 in October, which is the lower end of the normal range.  When tested again this time they’re back down to 8, so they’ve advised it might help me out if i try a testosterone gel application once a day.  The idea being it should boost my testosterone levels up to about 18, which is a better level and over several months/years we will establish what the right level is for me.

I’ll have my next blood tests in 3 months, and then a further 3 months after that.

Further information can be found here, just to save you searching for it:
http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/Hypogonadism

edit: An alternative information leaflet can be found here:

Click to access Testosterone-replacement.pdf

Because the testosterone I’m using is in gel form and has to be applied to the skin once a day, i have to be careful to apply it and wash my hands afterwards so i dont spread it to my wife and daughters.  Avoid anyone coming into contact with the area it was applied for at least half an hour to allow it to absorb.

My Endocrinologist suggested i should see the benefits of improved energy and concentration before the exam I have in a few days time.  Which will be nice!

All is well

I had my bi-annual oncology visit this week.  All is well.

Assuming all continues to be well, i will have my next appointment in August 2017, after which i will be given another CT scan.

If all is well with that scan and my blood results are still all clear, February 2018 will be my final oncology appointment before I’m discharged and become a survivor statistic.

Fingers crossed.

Hello World!

I’ve sailed through 3 years cancer free and am quietly carrying on with life.

I’m on six month reviews, so very little to document now.  I feel fine.

My testosterone has been a little low, but having been referred to an Endocrinologist it turns out I’m OK – a bit more weight loss (I’ve lost 3 stone during 2016) and that will help Testosterone bounce back up a bit… and don’t take any off the shelf multi vitamin supplements as that can have an adverse effect by boosting Oestrogen (the nemesis of testosterone).

So, in summary, yay me!

 

 

update Feb 2016

I’m getting really slack with the updates now. Everyone always does, on all the cancer blogs I’ve read about treatment and recovery. It fizzles out. As life gets back to normal you forget to update, or don’t find the time.

My CT scan was all clear, and as I’m happy with it they’ve put me back onto the six monthly checkups. My testosterone level is low. Normal range is 9-32, every guy will have his own level that’s normal somewhere in that range. I’m usually at the lower end, but recently it dropped off to 7.4. Its nothing to worry about, two other hormones that would indicate a problem were at normal levels suggesting my body is ok with the level it was at. They’re keeping a closer eye on it and I can get a testosterone supplement if required.

That’s all for now.