Bob: the bullet that finally got me

[Bazza 907]

Now might be the opportune time to say that whist it might be hard to get a GP appointment, if you are over 50, PLEASE go and get at PSA (Prostate) check. You may think you have no symptoms (like me) so why bother, but I saw a thread on LEC that prompted me to get checked. I found I was at Stage 3 but luckily had managed to catch it just before it started spreading.

Do yourself a favour and get yourself checked - it's a simple blood test. 

[Escape]

Glad to hear there is a plan of attack to get rid of Bob!

And even better to hear you enjoyed IoW. 😉 

[Bibs]

Glad to hear you're ok mate, sounds like some luck there and a happy ending (for want of a better phrase!). 

I was in the doctors yesterday, I'm 50 in a week and asked for a PSA check as my Dad had Prostate cancer and my Mum also had cancer. They said no, I wasn't showing symptoms so no need for a check. I'm going to pay for one privately.

[jep]

NHS not geared for prevention. It never was and cannot afford to. 

It is changing, v slowly. Woman in particular are screened and it's happening for men but we are decades away from prevention rather than cure.

If you can afford it, have an annual check-up at a private GP. In London this costs £350. 

Over 50, every 5 years have a colonoscopy. Not cheap though and NHS will not do this until usually too late. 

Ultimately,  treat you're body like your Lotus. Expect to pay for routine annual servicing. NHS is like insurance, there when facing total loss/accident damage.  

Justin 

[Kimbers]

2 hours ago, Bibs said:

Glad to hear you're ok mate, sounds like some luck there and a happy ending (for want of a better phrase!). 

I was in the doctors yesterday, I'm 50 in a week and asked for a PSA check as my Dad had Prostate cancer and my Mum also had cancer. They said no, I wasn't showing symptoms so no need for a check. I'm going to pay for one privately.

I'm 56 and my Doctors refuse to do a "Well Man Check" which the NHS keep telling me I should have on a regular basis! All I get is "Do you feel ok?" Yes, You don't need it then. Prevention would save Billions of £'s vs treatment! We really need to sort the GP system out in the UK and stop building huge amounts of housing in areas without Healthcare in place, That is the pure reason I can't see a GP. FFS! My son cut himself due to depression and they would only do a "telephone appointment!"

[ramjet]

I presume that IOW is Isle of Wight? Or considering what you have coming up: In, Out, Whisky?

I have been getting tired a lot lately. Went to the doc. Blood tests etc. Bowel screening test from the government. I've always done it when it started coming in the mail. Has been ok until the last one. Both samples positive for blood. Blood test also showed up REALLY low vitamin D.

Colonoscopy. All clear, so that was a bonus. Except I have bad haemorrhoids. After the last time I had some banding done, that doctor said that if they played up again, that he would not be able to help due to scar tissue and said that I would have to get seen by a surgeon.

So the surgeon is the same guy that did the colonoscopy. I trust him completely. Really nice guy.

I was scheduled for early June, but then Liz trumped me with her surgeon (and then 6 weeks of recuperation) so my haemorrhoidectomy (and then 6 weeks of recuperation as well) has been pushed out now to the start of August because I can't get in to see my neurologist until the middle of July. I have to see him as the bottom surgeon wants me to stop my anticoagulant for a week before and a week after the surgery. I'm on that for life since my stroke and my GP is not prepared to make the call on whether I can stop it for 2 weeks. He is thinking that I should be ok with either Aspirin or Clexane injections.

So anyway, the surgeon has told me that after two weeks everyone hates him, but after 6 weeks they wonder why they waited that long to get it done.

So anyway as they say, it's going to be a real PITA!

I haven't given my three names like you have named Bob, but it doesn't matter.

Wish you all the best mate.

PS. I can't think of anything smart/funny/sarcastic to see at the moment. I'll have to leave it with the IOW thing at the start. Pitiful, I know.

 

[Chillidoggy]

“Eating semi-solid stuff.”

So, that’s Guinness, and Mulligatawny soup, then.

[Sparky]

38 minutes ago, ramjet said:

In, Out, Whisky?

My kind of Friday at the Horns.

[tim_marra]

1 hour ago, ramjet said:

PS. I can't think of anything smart/funny/sarcastic to see at the moment.

Oh, I don't know. You managed to say

1 hour ago, ramjet said:

I was scheduled for early June, but then Liz trumped me with her surgeon (and then 6 weeks of recuperation) so my haemorrhoidectomy (and then 6 weeks of recuperation as well) has been pushed out now to the start of August

Which I thought was subtle...

[Sparky]

2 hours ago, ramjet said:

I haven't given my three names like you have named Bob, but it doesn't matter.

Miles, Giles and Nobby Stiles?

[tim_marra]

32 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Miles, Giles and Nobby Stiles?

Chalfonts?

[Chillidoggy]

Farmer Giles, or Dukes.

[pete]

9 hours ago, Bibs said:

Glad to hear you're ok mate, sounds like some luck there and a happy ending (for want of a better phrase!). 

I was in the doctors yesterday, I'm 50 in a week and asked for a PSA check as my Dad had Prostate cancer and my Mum also had cancer. They said no, I wasn't showing symptoms so no need for a check. I'm going to pay for one privately.

So go back to the GP with 'symptons' and they will do the test 

[andydclements]

Bloody hell Sparky, that's fast turnaround for the NHS, I'm to be in London Monday and thought I'd see about swinging by but that's definitely out with you in hospital the next day (you don't need any foreign bugs from Narfuk, so I'll catch you some time soon.

[Sparky]

Would've been lovely to see you, but wise words mate!

[SJP68]

I know I don't know you guys personally and don't normally get involved in conversations, especially on personal topics, but like @Bazza 907 I too have been treated for prostate cancer, where my final diagnosis was stage T3. I had no symptoms, no reason to think of having a blood test and then fate intervened. The head of HR at work had proposed the company offer PSA blood tests for men over 40 through the Graham Fulford Trust who work in conjunction with Prostate Cancer UK. We are predominately a male work force and if enough men were interested,  a nurse would perform the tests on site. So I volunteered, my result was high. Which led to a second blood test at my GP, which was high again, after that things moved quickly and within 6 months I'd been treated. No complaints about the NHS. I've been in remission for 18 months and currently 6 monthly check ups.

My first appointment with the doctor was a telephone call (still following covid restrictions, although out of lockdown) and I got the 'well we don't normally use PSA test as a screening tool'. As I had my initial test result he agreed to a second. The problem is the PSA is not a direct test for cancer and your PSA level can vary leading to false results, but one blood test alone is not used as a diagnosis, but can at least be a pointer for further tests. I think the Graham Fulford Trust are campaigning for PSA blood tests to be offered by the NHS, like breast screening and smear tests for women.

So, if your offered any kind of test, don't turn it down because you think your OK and it doesn't apply to you. If you have any concerns about something that doesn't feel right, then get yourself checked. It could save your life and you get to drive your Lotus for longer. If my place of work had not offered blood tests a couple of years ago, I probably would not have had one to date and my cancer would have advanced further, I could be in a much different place.

https://psatests.org.uk/

[Gjk]

At 52 I do feel tired quite a lot. Not sure if that is a symptom but I’ll definitely enquirer at my doctors surgery for a test. Cheers guys, good to talk.

[DanR]

On 16/05/2024 at 20:05, ramjet said:

I presume that IOW is Isle of Wight? Or considering what you have coming up: In, Out, Whisky?

I have been getting tired a lot lately. Went to the doc. Blood tests etc. Bowel screening test from the government. I've always done it when it started coming in the mail. Has been ok until the last one. Both samples positive for blood. Blood test also showed up REALLY low vitamin D.

Colonoscopy. All clear, so that was a bonus. Except I have bad haemorrhoids. After the last time I had some banding done, that doctor said that if they played up again, that he would not be able to help due to scar tissue and said that I would have to get seen by a surgeon.

So the surgeon is the same guy that did the colonoscopy. I trust him completely. Really nice guy.

I was scheduled for early June, but then Liz trumped me with her surgeon (and then 6 weeks of recuperation) so my haemorrhoidectomy (and then 6 weeks of recuperation as well) has been pushed out now to the start of August because I can't get in to see my neurologist until the middle of July. I have to see him as the bottom surgeon wants me to stop my anticoagulant for a week before and a week after the surgery. I'm on that for life since my stroke and my GP is not prepared to make the call on whether I can stop it for 2 weeks. He is thinking that I should be ok with either Aspirin or Clexane injections.

So anyway, the surgeon has told me that after two weeks everyone hates him, but after 6 weeks they wonder why they waited that long to get it done.

So anyway as they say, it's going to be a real PITA!

I haven't given my three names like you have named Bob, but it doesn't matter.

Wish you all the best mate.

PS. I can't think of anything smart/funny/sarcastic to see at the moment. I'll have to leave it with the IOW thing at the start. Pitiful, I know.

 

Hey Michael, do some checks of squatting vs sitting when defecating. The jury's still out on hemorroids but generally positive about being easier and faster. (Seen those no squatting on the toilet seat signs at airports?) 

 

[Kimbers]

On 17/05/2024 at 20:00, Gjk said:

At 52 I do feel tired quite a lot. Not sure if that is a symptom but I’ll definitely enquirer at my doctors surgery for a test. Cheers guys, good to talk.

56 and knackered all the time. I have had cancer already but my Doctor has said "living your life the same way you have since your 20's, like working out at the gym, running, drinking and eating what you want (especially the drinking) and generally burning the candle at both ends is why you are constantly tired". Stopped drinking more than once a week (just Saturday now) and trying to eat healthy has helped. But he's right, we can't do what we used to do.

[Gjk]

Hi @Kimbers. I tried the link at the bottom of your page but it said the server may have changed?

[Kimbers]

Thanks @GjkAll changed now.

 

[Sparky]

That's the last of the food.  Operation Pebbledash commences at 1700hrs.

[Bibs]

Good luck mate, will be thinking of you. You, not your colon. You. 

[Painterdave]

Probably be like a shirts understeal gun good luck mate

[Hornsey Boy]

Good luck for today......bring home the bit of colon/appendix and pickle it in the finest gin you have, and raise a glass for all your many tomorrows