Club Arnage

Hi Guys,

Just over a month ago I had an incident that alarmed me.  I'll drive my self down to A&E I thought then realised that if they admitted me I would rack up some hefty car park charges. So I called the NHS help line.  

They advised me to visit the Doctor the following morning.   Which I duly did.  

The Doctor spoke about the possibilities of it being a Prostate problem but I'd already had the checks for that along with some blood tests to give them a base line for the future. When he looked up those results,  he said it didn't look like I'd get Prostate Cancer now as everything was normal.  None the less he would do another check just to be sure. (Hmmm.)  No problem found.  So he referred me to the Hospital for further investigation that meant I would have something smaller than his finger poked up a smaller hole in my body.

So on return from my trip to Spain I found my appointment amongst the post.  I needed to provide a Blood sample and only had about 35 minutes to get to the hospital to in time to meet the deadline before my appointment the following day.    With a bit of heavy right foot I managed it.  :-)

So I trotted along to outpatients at the appointed time saw a very nice Nurse who asked me lots of shall we say intimate questions.  She then gave me a second appointment for last Friday.   I needed  to have a CT scan and a Flexible Cystoscopy.

So along I went.   The CT Scan required the injection of some sort of die that I was told might have all sorts of effects including me thinking I was going to wet myself though the Radiologist assured me I would not.  :-)   Having injected the die I had to walk about for a minute or two.  Well it was better than just lying on the table.  But after about two circuits of the CT Scanner that started to be pretty non mind taxing too.  

After the CT scan I went for the Flexible Cystoscopy.  Now I know that we are pretty good a making things small these days so I had my idea of what the size of the Cystoscope would be.  The Nurse administered the local anesthetic then unleashed the Cystoscope.  Bloody hell I thought "That will never fit!!!".

Next I started watching the screen as the camera made it's way in to the more "discrete" parts of my body along with a running commentary from the Nurse. (I should say at this point I'd not done any research in to what the possibilities where.) "That's your Prostate,   and now we're entering the Bladder".   Along with the Camera is a tube that allows them to fill the Bladder with Saline solution.  So next she instructs the assistant nurse to squeeze the saline solution in.  Once that was done she proceeded to have a good look around.    Then into the picture came what looked to me like a pretty bunch loops of wool.  "That's the Cancer!"  she announced.  Then she showed me around my insides a bit more.  Before telling what would happen next.

"Your going to be sick of the site of hospitals."  she told me.
The first step would be a procedure called TURBT basically the same as what I have just had but to remove the tumour under general anaesthetic.   Then send it off for analysis.  
Following that I will have to be going back for regular checks to ensure things were healing and that there was no reoccurrence. In the first place that will be every three months.

There is a chance that the Tumour is benign hence the subject.

Of course once I got home I hit Google to find out more.  

It seems that Bladder Cancer is the 7th most common Cancer and 4th most common in Men.  
The NHS spend more on treating it than any other treatment.
But! it only gets a fraction of the research budget each year.

Yesterday I recieved the date for my Operation (the end of the Month)

So now I have to wait for the results to find out more and what the prognosis is.  

From what I have gleaned so far it's all a waiting game.

t.

Holy sh*t, Tom, that does not sound funny. I hope it turns out for the best.

Werner

Woo Tom, the joys of aging eh?

Good Luck with all that. At least they are not keeping you hanging around too long, but I bet every day feels long.

Hey Tom, that is a bit of a worry, luckily you have found out what is wrong and know how to fix it, plenty of time to do your nails while you are hanging around :)
I am sure they have it all under control and if it is so popular (?) then they will be well practiced in resolving the problem. Mind you having things shoved up Mr Willy cannot be a lot of fun.

On a lighter note it would have been a heavy RIGHT foot on your drive to the hospital unless you have a different car to most of us!

Take care and be positive.

>Martini...LB

No Werner it's not funny but I hope the story did bring a smile to your face in the way it was told.  
I'm staying pretty upbeat about things,  There is nothing I can do to change it  it's there.  But I don't feel any different today than I did before i knew all this.  So for now at least it's life as normal.

Yes Smokie the joys of being it thens to mainly be Male over 65 I think.   I hate to tell you this,  but there is a list of things that cause/contribute and smoking is one.   It's the only one that as far as I know i've come to contact with and I gave that up over 40 years ago.

Martini yes I did mean the other Left!  :-)  (Sorry my mind is not 100% focused on what I'm writing.)

As I said in the original post I did have a bit of a google and found quite a bit about  but till after the TURBT I won't know which bits apply to me.  I stopped reading it because until I know the Stage and Grade as I might frighten myself.  

Ironically last Friday evening I went to a Charity Ball in aid of Breast Cancer.   The lady that organised it had just been given the "All Clear"  but she has the scars to prove it so to speak.    

If I only need the TURBT then I won't have any scars.   As long as all goes well I'll be around for a good while yet.   Lets put it this way I intend to visit a field in France next June.  :-)


t.

Clucking Bell Tom!

not sure what to say -but good luck and hope all goes well

I know they are brilliant at hospitals and they have great nurses and Dr's - but they still scare the C@@p out of me -

So I'm sure will be mowing lawns for a long time, and sure we will all being drinking beer/wine/spirits and Tea in a field in france soon

So sharpen that mower blade and get mowing! (hey that could be the next BBC program)

Man Hug
Neil

Tom,

Good luck with all of that - it sounds properly scary.

Not sure if this helps but a colleague of mine collapsed in Sainsburys back in May.  She was whisked off to A&E, where she underwent a CAT scan.

They found a tumour on her brain the size of a tennis ball.

After a week and an exploratory op they declare the tumour as benign!

Though she has undergone major brain surgery and cannot drive until the new year she is fit & well and you would never know what she's been through.

So here's hoping that your's is equally benign and you'll be fighting fit for next June.

Regards,

Paul 

Hi Tom,
           That sounds scary  :o Good luck with getting it all sorted out. All that poking and prodding sounds a bit uncomfortable  to me.
Hoping for your quick cure and recovery.
Phil

All the best Tom, I'm sure it will be fine, a bit more time to plan that trip to Vietnam. See you in that field in France, I'm in charge of the ice!

Phil,

It was not that scary really well not the prodding and poking anyway.    Seeing inside your own body was actually quite interesting.   By the sound of things I'm going to be quite an expert at looking at my insides.   

Unfortunately they don't give you any pictures to take away. 

t.

Merde Tom, that isn't nice mate

You will meet us in that field knowing we are all on your side (and to be honest, hoping we're not in the team) Us old buggers don't need any extra excitement ta  :(

Willing you to get this crap sorted out safely friend, power of positive thingmy Tom

Merde

Tom, I thought the same when I had colonoscopy, it wasn't any thing like the drain survey video I had done on my house!

Tom,

The way you have told the tale did make me smile. From the sound of it you're approaching it and thinking about it in the right way, a bit at a time, not second guessing, and knowing that it takes time for definitive answers to emerge (frustrating though such a wait can be) to know the way forward. 

All the very best and fingers crossed for you.

MG Mark

Hi Mark,

I'm glad my post made you smile. 

t.

 

Not the best news Tom but I do like the positive attitude. When your'e in France apparently being blasted during the night by an 'ultrasonic snore wave' which is set to maximum may work wonders.  :) I will of course be thinking of you and wishing hard for a good outcome.

Bloody Hell Tom!  Who knew little loops of wool have the potential to be so nasty? 

Fingers crossed that you are indeed jumping the gun, that the TURBT will be the end of it, and that this becomes just another amusing story to be retold over a beer or three when I'm back in Blighty.

In the meantime - awaiting further equally light-hearted bring a smile to the face updates.

Dx

Oo-err, - the examinations sound fantastic!
Good luck Tom, I hope it all goes well, with just the right amount of discomfort. A mate of mine had a similar op earlier in the year, it all went well and he wanted to go back to work after about 3 days, his mrs had to hide the car keys. In the end he was back in the saddle after a fortnight, as recommended, and is right as ninepence now.
H

Good luck with the op Tom. Had the endoscope down the japs eye many years ago after i had cystitis! Unusual in men apparently. The thing that sticks in my mind is the Doctor about the insert what to me appeared hosepipe size endoscope and telling me to 'just relax'.

LOL!  Yep that's the one!   See times don't change.

t.

Stu

I can assure you there is nothing ultrasonic about the snoring I heard!!!!

t.

It's a date!

t.

Hi H.

Thank you for this.   I joined a BC support group forum.  Sadly there are a lot of people there in pretty bad shape.  Of course there are also a few good news stories. 

Your post is just the sort of thing I want to hear.  If the discomfort is not right I might hassle you for more information on some of treatments administered to you during and after the training for your bike ride.

Cheers mate.
t.

Good luck buddy, you did indeed induce a chuckle. It's not exactly "gallows humour", but maybe we could term it "Six month stretch in Ford Open Prison humour".  Anyway, all fingers crossed for you this end.

Somehow, I'd hazard a wild-arsed guess that proctology, unguents, emollients and liniments will feature extensively on H's treatment list....

MG Mark

Hope it all goes well Tom.

Suggest you all ( except our Lady contributors of course! ) get your doctors to give you a PSA test, if you are over 50. It may not give perfect results, but it's the only test out there at the moment that you can get without other symptoms.

The Lions quite often do mass screenings for free, so keep an eye out if you don't want to go to your doctors, or if they are reluctant.

Prostate cancer killed my father (66), grandfather (71) and great grandfather, if they catch it early there is a good chance of remission. So get tested, you know it makes sense!

Hi Barry,

I had that checked a while back.  Prostate Cancer took my Cousin.   So when I visited the Doc  I mentioned it and he did the Blood test.  The results showed I was very unlikely to develop Prostate Cancer now.   None the less he proceeded to do a physical exam again, "Just to be sure".

That said, Your advice is very sound.   The trick with all the cancers it early diagnosis.  I think that is why Pancreatic Cancer is bad,  It has to be quite well established before it presents.  By that time it's too late.

I'm just glad I didn't take the line.  "Oh, the problem has cleared up I won't bother going to the Doctor.".

t.

Damn Tom, not really the news I was expecting to read over here. 
Fingers crossed for a positive outcome, we'll have a few beers on that in a field somewhere in a small village in France next year !

Awful.
Good luck with the treatment and recovery.

Tom,

I'm really pleased that you and the docs are on top of this.  It's often when people trhink its nothing or ignore the evidence that bad news follows.

Keep us up to date, and I will trust it all goes well - it usally does.

Regards


Ian

Just catching up with things here and I see this >.< Sending you my very best wishes Tom.
Peaky

Just a quick update.  I'm in hospital and just out of theater well 2 hours ago felling pretty good under the curcumsiances.

Tom,

Really good news. You can now relax, lie back, reflect on where you are and think about these Carry On Nursing films.


Ian

Nice one Tom, I hope that all has went well...  :)

Just watch out for daffodils!

All the very best old boy!
Wishing you the speediest of recoveries.

And Hattie Jacques tits - one of those in the eye would make it water a bit. 

Best wishes for a speedy recovery,

MG Mark

Good luck with the rehab Tom, I'm sure it'll all go well.
I hope your day is going ok, - the first 24 hours after a general can be a bit up and down.
If you see any nurses even remotely resembling Charles Hawtrey, then keep tight hold of the sheets!
H

Well it's my second day at home. I'm feeling pretty good un the circumstances. 

Did see Hattie or anyone resembling her.

The highlight of today will be a walk to the postbox.

t.

Sound advice as always H!

Tom,

Good to hear - suggest you time your daily postbox run to coincide with collection times - the highlight of your day may, thus, be augmented by the sight of a shapely post person.....

MG Mark

Tom, sorry I'm late to this.
My very best wishes for your recovery and rehab.

Steve

Hi Guys,

I thought I should give you all an update on my situation.    

After my TURBT I woke and my first thought was I need to visit the boys room PDQ.  But the nurse assured me that was normal and I only felt like that because of the Catheter.  So I started to look at what the situation was.   There were two large 3 Litre bags of Saline on a stand like they use when your on a drip.   The pipe from the bag disappeared under the rather fetching gown they had given me to wear.   Also appearing from under the gown was the exhaust pipe  and that disappeared over the side of the bed.    I was in the recovery area for quite a while while they waited for my room to be cleaned.  It turn out I was going to the "private wing" and the NHS where going to foot the bill.  :-)    After a while I plucked up the courage to check out the plumbing a bit more closely.    Moving back he gown my first thought was "Oh that looks like a USB symbol." only much larger.  Basically it was a unit to merged three pipes in to one. Once again I was quite supprised and wondered how on earth they could get something so large to fit.

The following day the Surgeon came in to see me telling me things had gone really well, but due the position of the tumour he was going to send me for a Pregnancy Ultra sound scan to check the passage from the kidneys to the Bladder.   He also confirmed that by the looks of things i.e. the exhaust from the catheter.  everything was going well and that they could remove said catheter and I could go home that afternoon.

Before leaving the ward I was given a beefing on what to watch for.   If it the colour of Larger thats OK,  If it's the Colour of Rose wine thats OK,
If it's the colour of Strawberry Jam thats bad and I should get myself to A&E.   If it's like Blackcurrant Jam thats good it's just the scab coming out.
I should add at this point my partner had not really be paying attention to things and wondered why I could eat Blackcurrant Jam but not Strawberry Jam.

I had been warned that things might be a bit painful for a day or two.  However that turned out to be more like three weeks.  Never again will I use the phrase "A piece of Piss.".

I went to see the Nurse two and a half weeks later.   She had the results of the biopsy.     She explained that my tumour was pTa Grade 3.  pTa means it's early stages non-invasive and from what I gather that's about a good as it gets.   However,  Grade 3 is not so good it means it can reappear.   She couldn't tell me what the next move would be until after a meeting to discuss my case the following day.   The options were go for another TURBT in a few weeks or go for BCG treatment followed by TURBT after that.

She phoned the next day to say I would be getting the BCG treatment.   So I was pretty chuffed about that.

For those that don't know BCG is the Tuberculosis Vaccine.  The treatment is having yet another tube poked up my intimate parts though thankfully this one is far more manageable. Then pumping about half a cup of BCG in.    So my routine is every Friday morning a trip down to the Hospital for the treatment.  I've had two treatments so far and no significant side effect though I'm told they do get worse each time.  So you can get a temperature and flu like symptoms.  I have four more to go this time.   Then I get three months off followed by three more doses three month off then another three months after the forth lot it goes to six months that all goes on for three years.

The treatment works in seven out of ten case so I'm hoping I'm one of the seven.

I'm still upbeat about things.   It's not life threatening nor do I have to change my way of life.   On the day I first heard about the possibilities I went to a Dinner Dance in aid of Breast Cancer.   The event was organised by a lady who had suffered from Breast Cancer and has the scar to prove it.  I'm pleased to say she has now been given the All Clear.    Compared to her I'm pretty fortunate I don't even have a scar.

t.

That's good news Tom, even tho I felt "too much info" at some points of the tale :-)

Good for you, and a gold star for the NHS. It really isn't so bad mostly.

Great to hear some good news from you, Tom!

Nice one Tom  :)

Smoke just filter out the bit you don't need.  :-)

It's OK, I'm "of an age" now when I need to be more tolerant of ailments discussion, and comparing medications.

Have the visitors been yet?  ;D

Tom - that's good news, really glad to see it. Undoubtedly sufficent detail to ensure unambiguous comprehension.

MG Mark

When your un-ambiguouity has been comprehended, I hope you are feeling a lot better...
See you in a field in June hopefully, take care buddy

>Martini...LB

Tom - Nice good news - glad all these posative waves have been working

As for your story involving the catheter, I skipped that, I'll tell you a funny story in Le Mans about that next year  ::)

Keep smiling
Neil

Glad to hear Tom - I hope to see you in a field in France next year

It all sounds like good news, if not rather uncomfortable!
Fingers crossed for you.

It all sounds pretty damn good to me Tom, you'll be sinking a cold one in France before you know it!
Loved the detail.
H

Tom, good news, all the best!!

Tom,

It sounds like it's all going in the right direction.

Please keep us updated.

Ian

Hi Tom

just to advise

This treatment stuff...

I have been positive vibesing like a 'Sutherland' mate

I hope to see you in in the month of June for a cold (ish) one



good news mon ami

Hi Tom,

I hope you had a good Christmas and a cracking New Year?

Looking forward to meeting up some time before LM16  ;D

Paul

Hi Guys,

Time for an update.  I finished my BCG treatment in January.  Compared to the OP each treatment was a breeze.  Just a small catheter to inject the BCG. So each treatment involved sitting around waiting for the appointment then ten minutes with the Nurse.  Though I did feel a crappy and tired in the evening. 

On Monday I go for the next check up it's under General Anaesthetic again and they will most likely take a biopsy.   I should be in and out the same day so there shouldn't be any posts with too much information.

One of the drawbacks to the problem I have found is I need to plan ahead a bit more than i used to.   So on my recent trip to Mexico I spoke to the Cabin Crew.  Explaining that if it was turbulent and the seat belt sign was on I may still need to visit the washroom and might not be able to wait. They were most understanding and in fact the cabin supervisor said if I need to I could use the Premium class washrooms.

t.

That sounds good and positive, Tom.

Keep on going.

Regards

Paul

all the best Tom!!

All the best also from me. I hope everything will develop in the right direction.

Werner

Tom,

With all best wishes, positive vibes, and trust all goes well for you!

MG Mark

Using the posh loos on the aeroplane eh?  I knew there had to be some benefit to all this for you.   ;)

In all seriousness though - all best wishes for the procedure on Monday, and the following prognosis.

Everything crossed for a positive outcome.

Dx

Good news Tom, may it continue.

Rock on Tommy!

well I'm out of Theater tucking in Theo an egg and tomato sandwich plus some digestive bickies.  lots of water too. 

slightly amusing story to follow. 

t

Not TOO graphic please, Tom as I'm eating my lunch!  ;D

Waves of positivity coming in your direction Tom.
Very best wishes and fingers crossed for a totally positive outcome.

Steve

Okay I'm back home.

First thank you for all the good luck wishes.   I can now tell you I was trusing more in Great Expertise than good luck.  :-)    Not sure if I've said this before but Frimley Park Urology Dept is highly rated and for sure the best in this area.

When I went for the pre OP the nurse asked "What treatment are you going for? Botox"?  
"What"?  I replied. " It's supposed to be a Cyscoscopy and may be a biopsy" I siad. "You can't get Botox on the NHS can you"?  I asked,

It seems it is a treatment for some Bladder conditions.

So I put that in the memory thinking make sure I don't get that teatment.

So now for todays events.

Woke at 6.05 had a quick shower, shave and sample.
Arrived about 5 minutes late at the hospital but that was no problem.
Having checked my identity and labling me and making put on a pair of stockings.  The nurse told me she didn't want my sample
Once I was in bed it was time for the Spanish Inquizition.   I suspect they were not sure I was the person I was supposed to be.   Everyone asked
Name? Date of Birth? Address,  What Medication, Are you diabetic,  Are you alergic to anything?  This list seemed endless.  I no wknow my name and date of birth off by heart!

When the Conultant arrived out came all of the questions agian including the Botox one.   So I pointed out that was not my understanding.   He looked at my notes and said " Oh yes I remember your case.  It going to be a Cysocopy +/- a biopsy."   Phew I thought.  
I check out with him how they would looked at things  checking it would be an injection of dye that will fluores.  "Yes, we call it Blue Light",

After watching a couple of programs I'd downloaded to my iPad the nurse came to take me to Theatre.   She wheeled me on the bed quite a novelty the other twice I'll been fo an op they made me walk to the Theatre.  

Spanish Inquizition again.
I made sure that  every one in the Threatre  knew it was a Cyscopy +/- Biopsy I started on the Oxygen that seemd to have no effect. I remember comenting on the decor in the room very pink with a massive picture of a Flower.   Next thing I knew I was in recovery and was offered a cup of tea.   I thought that after my last episode I check out the plumbing.   Nothing mush to see just a small almost empty clear liquid drip going in to the Canular.  Before the tea arrived they wheeled me back to the ward.  

Knowing I would not be allowed home before I had given a good sample  of number ones.  I set about drinking water.  

The Consultant's Junior Doctor came along to tell me how things had gone.

"Everything went well.  No recurance or sign of the tumur,  They did take a biopsy just to be sure.   So once you have given a sample you can go home".

So I celibrated with another litre of water.    That did the trick and 20 mins later I got the all clear to go home.

Obviously I can't celibrate fully it I get the results of the biopsy but none the less good news.

So nothing graphic to report this time.  But I hope it brings a smile to your face.

The only downside is no alcohol for 24 hours. :-(

t.

As long as it's not for THE 24 Hours ;)

Very pleased to hear that the news is good.  Fingers crossed the biopsy comes back clear and you can get on with getting on.

Dx

Just let me know when the proper celebrating starts and I will join in, remotely... :-)

Nice one Tom, so are you doing Sebring?

As you know, I'm not but I will be in Egypt next month for a couple of weeks. 1st time I've missed Florida in March for about 13 years... :-(

It was just working out beyond any reasonable person's budget... not the racing, but the two week holiday surrounding it...  >:D

Great news Tom, where did you have the Botox done? :)

You say no drink for 24 hours I take it that is the immediate 24 not the 24

Once again, great news.

>Martini...LB

Good news Tom, all sounds very positive.

This does sound pretty damned good Tom, hoo-bloody rah I say

Now that 24hrs must be over have one on me, I'll pay you back in June with another

In that field by the 'noisy motor car place' where we seem to end up so often :)




phew

cant tell you how glad I am mate

Nice one Tom. Looking forward to seeing you in apparently 15 weeks (as I was told today)

Did you get the trout lips with your botox?

Well even if it was I think I would ignore that advice.  :-)

Hmmm.... No though I like the idea of a new nick "Thomas Trout Pout"   ;D ;D

t

Tom,

Great news.

But why did you turn down the Botox?

Will we see you in June at Goodwood?

Aricus

I think the lack of food was the reason I'd not eaten to be ready for the General Anaesthetic.


That depends on my treatment.  Even if the biopsy is clear I will still have to continue the BCG treatment.  If I've got the timing correct I should be able to make it.

t

Sounding good Tom.
Hope that all continues to go well.

Tom,

Good to hear - even if timing is out though, surely the NHS does a field treatment kit?

Amongst the galaxy of talent here, I'm sure we could help with all sorts of medical procedures, probably including surgery, given the right kit and a set of instructions.....

MG Mark

Don't forget "sufficient" quantities (don't forget, too much is better than too little...) of "antiseptics" and "anesthetics" for both the patient and the medical team (Oh hell, let us not forget about the "theatre" also...)   ;D

I'm happy enough to tackle any procedure Tom.
If there's anything that's outside my comfort zone, and tbh that's not likely, then my mate Dave should be able to step in. He's a great bloke, and one of the best bricklayers this area has to offer.
H

There is not much to the treatment.  All you need is a bit of tubing and a pump.  Oh and the BCG.   I think that's a mix of Beer Cider and Gin. Though in Le Mans TVR might be a better mix (Tequila, Vodka and Rum.)

t

I usually take the MG mix myself

(M G = Mostly Grog,  ...  unspecified)

See you there Tom

Keep yer chin UP

Time for another update.

I called the nurse today to see if the result of the Biopsy were available.  It was and brilliant news!!!!!    ALL CLEAR!!!

I still have to go for a check up every three months and continue with the BCG every three months.

I tell you nothing feels as good as giving Cancer a "kick up the arse".   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Nice... great news!!! :)

Awesome news !

Fantastic news Tom.   ;D ;D ;D

Dx

Fabulous news
See you soon

Great news Tom.

Tom,

Really great news - v pleasing to hear -  even if it means we won't get to carry out DIY medical treatment on you in June....

MG Mark

Well, two outa three ain't bad. You's can all still practice with "sufficient" quantities (don't forget, too much is better than too little...) of "antiseptics" and "anesthetics" for both the patient and the medical team (Oh hell, let us not forget about the "theatre" also...). 

I won't be there (some day...) but I will be there  in spirit and with spirits...  :angel: 

'Don't know any of ya's but am glad to hear the good news.  :)

 

Cheers Mark,

I'll still be needing treatments.  Even though it's clear right now we still need to keep kicking ass!!

t.

Hi Tom,
          Excellent Result  :) :)
Phil

great news!!

great news!

Excellent news Tom!

Aricus

Time for another update. 

I've just been for another look around the more discreet parts of my body.   The job was done under local anaesthetic so I got to see it all again.   It looks very different this time.  No little wool loops. 

It's good to know the treatment still seems to be kicking ass.

I should get another round of BCG next month.  Then off to the Far East for some R&R. :-).

Long may the good news continue.   :)

Dx

Excellent news!


Enjoy the r&r...

Oh blimey that's news that does get better

Hoorah

Keep up the 'getting better' stuff Tom

I'm more of a JagerBeam man, personally.

One half-pint glass containing a triple Jim Beam mixed with a triple Jagermeister.

Or you could ditch the Jagermeister in favour of the mighty Absinthe.

Tom,

That is great news! Hope it was bearable after the anaesthetic effect wore off....

Mark

Good news. Thankfully no video.

Great news Tom.

All the best Tom.

Hi Guys,

Time for another update.  Pretty good news I think.

I've just finished a round of treatment.  Sadly I screwed up prior to getting the treatment.  I had some Jabs before going away.  But when I told the CNS she said I would need to leave 14 days between the Jabs and my treatment.  So that meant I could just fit the treatment in before my holiday.  Not ideal as I tend to be in a bit of discomforts after the treatment and it takes a week to fully recover. (That is for my trips to the loo to be less frequent and not so uncomfortable.)  When I went for the second round of treatment it seems that the white cell count in my Urine was a little high so may be I had an infection.   (She gave me some antibiotics in case things got worse while I was away.) 

So we decided to wait until I returned from my holiday before finishing the treatment. 

Just before i went away I popped in to see the nurse at my local surgery to get things checked and it turned out any infection had cleared up on it's own.

So I've now finished this round of treatment and it's a year since my op.   I'm due to go for another cystoscopy in March and then more treatment in the May time frame.   I've now moved on to treatment every six months and not every three months.   

Add to that if all goes well I only have two more years of treatment.

I'm feeling cautiously optimistic.

T

Where's the Like button on this forum??

Nice one Tom... :-)

Brightened my day... you must feel pretty good too  ;D

Thanks for the update Tom, so we should see you in June along with the Canadian...

>Martini...LB

Tom,

+1 for day brightening. Good news and headed in the right direction.

Mark

Great to hear some good news hopefully the recovery/treatment continues on the positive path !

Tom,

Yes, excellent news.

So no more Carry on Nurse?

A

Sadly not.  I will be getting the treatments every six  months for the next couple of year and while I'm still clear it will got to Annual checkups for another 15 to 20 years.

On a slightly more amusing track.  Last time I went the Nurse asked Is it ok if I uncover you now. My replay was "Well you not going to be able to do much if you don't".  Why should I worry any way it nothing shee hasn't seen before.

T.

Hi,

Well it had to happen!! 

I went for a routine cystoscopy to check on my progress. Where the tumour was removed the area was a little red.  The Consultant would not had been so cautious if other parts were inflamed he would nat have been bothered. So the consultant wants to take a biopsy to check that it's not a reoccurrence. 

So it's just the wrong time.  It won't stop me going to France in June but it may mean I have to leave for France later than I normally would and I'll have to rush back for my next round of treatment after the race. 

It could well disrupt my plans to go to Spa too. 

So although it's not major set back so far it it is a bit of a bummer.

<sigh>

It's a real bummer as I can't plan anything till I get the results of the Biopsy.  It's a real pain in the arse and disruptive. 

Fingers crossed for you mate on all counts.

MG Mark

Cheers Mark.   

All the best Tom

Sigh indeed.

Fingers crossed.

Dx

Crap !
Hope it all works out well ...

all the best Tom...

Hi Guy's

It's time for a detailed update.  :-)

I woke at 05:30 and set of for the Hospital at 06:15.   By 07:20 I was on the ward and soon the Spanish Inquisition started,   Name, DoB (I am now certain I know those off by heart :-)   When did you last eat, Allergies,  Metal implants, Crowns and loose teeth and any Jewellery type questions from Admissions Nurse, Registrar and Anethasist,  Then the Consultant turned up asking what procedure I was expecting him to carry out.  "Cystoscopy and Biopsy again".
The Registar asked if there were any questions I had.  "Yes, Can I go to Spa for the next round of the WEC?"  I asked.  Yes as long as you feel up to it was the answer.  (Right answer!! :-)
The admission Nurse tagged me with a wristband just like they do at some Circuits or Drinking for Holland.   I was told i didn't need to change yet you're not going down till mid morning.  Then a few seconds later a the nurse arrived to say get changed now  you going to theatre now.  Here's your Breakfast two paracetamol.  (She didn't really but when you haven't eaten since the previous evening that's what you think to yourself.  :-)  I set off for the Operating Theatre a quick glance at the clock and it was nearly 08:00.

So in to the Theatre,  Name Date of Birth and so on yet again.   After that the conversation turned to my interests and hobbies.  My first thought was there is not time for me to tell you all about Sports Car Racing and the WEC.  So I kept it at the small talk level.  It turned out they were just passing time while they completed tests on the equipment before things got under way for the day.   Then he said OK you'll start to feel a bit drowsy now.  That was it!  The next thing I knew I was waking up in the Recovery room.   A nice cup of Tea and a couple of glasses  of water.  Then back to the Ward by 09:15.  All that was left was to pass water a couple of times and see the Registrar before being discharged.  Then the wait  a couple of weeks  for the Biopsy results.    Another cup of tea and a couple of packets of Biscuits.  Felt like a feast I was famished.   More Water.   After I'd passed water a couple times the nurse gave me a Pregnancy Ultrasound Scan and was able to confirmed I was not pregnant so that was a pass.  :-)

Not too much of a wait and the Consultant poked his head though the curtain and said "Nothing to do!  Just go on with the BCG!"  it turns out the camera use for the procedure is a higher resolution so he could see there was no return of the Cancer.  So no Biopsy. 
"Great,  Thank you.  I tell everyone the good news! "  I said.    "Have one for me" were his parting words.   :-)

Back home for lunch.

Great Day!  I feel great.  It's so good to know they are still kicking Cancers Arse!!!!

I feel so fortunate to be able to tell how well I'm doing.   

So guys if you piss blood go down the Doctors and get checked out without delay.

t.

Fantastic news, Tom!

See you weekend after next for a Jupiler or two  ;D

Tom,

That's bloody marvellous news to hear!  Really pleased for you, although I observe that pregnancy confirmation would have given you significant pub bragging rights.....

MG Mark

great news Tom, see you in a field in France soon ;D

Great news Tom, see you in June.

Just had a friend over here given the all-clear for the second time, but also recently lost a couple of friends :(

Take care

Martini...LB

Great news !  Let's have a few beers on that next week.

Now that's what I call a good idea!

t

Excellent news Tom, good to hear. Maybe bump into you at LM or nearby hotel of significant historical interest ;-)

Great news Tom, good to hear.

 Fantastic news!

Enjoy Spa  :D

So very happy to hear this.  Just fantastic news!

Dx

Made my day that Tom. Keep strong lad.

Hi,

I didn't realise it have been so long since I posted an update to my progress.    There has been anything eventful to report really.

Today I received my last BCG treatment.  It's taken a bit longer than the 3 years in the initial plan. 

There is still no sign of the Tumour returning.  I will be having a CT scan in the next few weeks and then regular follow up cystoscopies for many years to come.

Hopefully they will all show no sign of the Tumour returning.  Fingers crossed!

T

'Best wishes and prayers.  :)

Excellent news Tom,

Spotted you in the ACO grandstand with Canada Phil back in June, you were just down and to the right from where Steve Brown, Ewan, Andy, Me, Nigel and some other reprobates were sat!

All the best,
Jules

Good news Tom.

Great News and fingers crossed

This is very good news. My best wishes.

That is bloody marvellous news Tom, thank the deities

See you in a few months

Excellent news Tom, let's hope it stays away.