Prostate cancer
Somewhere in the thread above, it may be from BoeingBoy, the poster said that the decision becomes an emotional one.
For me I'm two years down the road with PSA's around 0.36. No problems to report although probably as much age related I function best with recreational pharmaceutical assistance. Frequency is still more than I would like by day but I sleep well. Flying has continued by developing a deep meaningful relationship with a lot of 380ml Lucozade bottles (other beverages are available, but check the width of the bottle neck
)(Update July 20. Lowest ever PSA score at 0.31 so now discharged from Urology with just the Radio Oncologist to see next January. )
BB, we glider pilots use external catheters, a bit of tubing and bags or bottles. Saves fumbling in the cockpit.
I like these: https://www.urodry.com/products/geewhiz.html
There's a wide variety available. Stay away from the ones with adhesive (think ripping off a bandage) and and the flimsy ones.
For more info, search "glider pilot relief".
I like these: https://www.urodry.com/products/geewhiz.html
There's a wide variety available. Stay away from the ones with adhesive (think ripping off a bandage) and and the flimsy ones.
For more info, search "glider pilot relief".
A quick précis of my dealings with prostate cancer....... diagnosed 10 years ago with a Gleason score of 2:2 & a max PSA of 6... 3 options available ..removal, radiotherapy or brachytherapy.... opted for low dose brachytherapy at Royal Marsden Chelsea...... PSA dropped to .5 .... but now gone up to 6 ... had PET/CT Scans a few years ago & told treatment has failed, when I had brachytherapy was informed removal after treatment was not really an option but time moves on & now can be achieved....... face to face chat coming up in September to discuss what happens next which could be just anti testosterone injections or removal which could well involve removal of bladder at same time which obviously I don’t particularly want or maybe cryotherapy & my question is has anyone had or know someone who has had this option plus or minus problems with it?
As an aside it was amazing the amount of people who never were tested for their PSA reading & all I will say is please get checked it may save your life!!
As an aside it was amazing the amount of people who never were tested for their PSA reading & all I will say is please get checked it may save your life!!
Psychophysiological entity
It's astonishing that some doctors talk of the morbidity that the PSA check can cause and deem it a reason not to do the checks. I've always thought that was a bizarre bit of logic. Let's not put red warning lights in aircraft in case we upset the crew with false warnings.
I've not heard of low dose brachytherapy, though yours was a low Gleason. I'm sorry to hear of your bad news.
Mine was 4 - 3, the bad way round, and right on the borderline for the procedure. Given the choice again, I'd go with the same procedure. The only side-effect I had was 'Bowl-hurry'. 1 in 500 chance was stated, though I felt at the time it was a figure plucked out of the air. All it meant was the signal that I wanted to go did not give me much notice. I watched my wife and daughter ride the London Eye from the embankment, there was no way that I could be trapped in a place like that. Commuting to Texas meant a full Picolax procedure 36 hours before flying.
I've not heard of low dose brachytherapy, though yours was a low Gleason. I'm sorry to hear of your bad news.
Mine was 4 - 3, the bad way round, and right on the borderline for the procedure. Given the choice again, I'd go with the same procedure. The only side-effect I had was 'Bowl-hurry'. 1 in 500 chance was stated, though I felt at the time it was a figure plucked out of the air. All it meant was the signal that I wanted to go did not give me much notice. I watched my wife and daughter ride the London Eye from the embankment, there was no way that I could be trapped in a place like that. Commuting to Texas meant a full Picolax procedure 36 hours before flying.
When I was diagnosed aged 57 I encouraged work colleagues/ friends to have a PSA test ... some did some didn’t..... a couple who went to different doctors were told “ have you any symptoms “ .. no ... “ well don’t worry about having test done” ...... one work colleague/friend who eventually got tested had prostate removed at aged 52 & friend aged late 60’s had radiotherapy both now ok.
Low dose brachytherapy is the standard one with permanent seeds implanted 66 in my case but you can have a brachytherapy boost which involves radiotherapy & hormone treatment combined with the brachytherapy.
I don’t take it as bad news Loose rivets more as the case of another river to cross & I think it’s all about staying positive.
If anybody else reading this feels like they need to read up on forms of treatment etc etc the website to go to is www.prostatecancer.org ..... no offence to our colleagues across the pond but I was told don’t read about prostate cancer on American websites as you may think you won’t make it!
Low dose brachytherapy is the standard one with permanent seeds implanted 66 in my case but you can have a brachytherapy boost which involves radiotherapy & hormone treatment combined with the brachytherapy.
I don’t take it as bad news Loose rivets more as the case of another river to cross & I think it’s all about staying positive.
If anybody else reading this feels like they need to read up on forms of treatment etc etc the website to go to is www.prostatecancer.org ..... no offence to our colleagues across the pond but I was told don’t read about prostate cancer on American websites as you may think you won’t make it!
