From time to time in the last six months folks have 'complained' that these blogs have not been updated. My apologies but really there was just nothing to say.
When my intensive radio therapy came to an end the medics did a PSA test. In that I don't have the P(rostate) part of this the test ought to reveal a negligible PSA. This was also to provide a bench mark point for future PSA tests. It was hardly measurable. For the future this is how we monitor my condition.
I have just received the results of my 6 monthly PSA check and the results are that my PSA levels are 'undetectable', either zero or under the 'radar' of the the PSA test. This is the best possible 'test result'. It implies that there is no trace of my prostate cancer. While I am grateful to all the medical care that I have received, I am also conscious that I have not just been in the hands of the medics. Thank you so much for all your prayer and love.
As regards 'after effects', there are some. My energy levels are very much better although when I get tired I do get very tired! I take a nap most afternoons and I am doing well on this. I am back to pretty much my old schedules for preaching and have some extra tasks coming online soon. It has also left me with a measure of incontinence. This is mild and easily manageable but does mean that longer journeys take a little more organisation and I am not planning any flights for the time being.
I am feeling well and looking forward to lots of things I want to do. I am well advanced with my first book called 'The Better Covenant'. It is in the final stages of proof-reading and will hopefully be available on Amazon and with ebook and Kindle versions. Watch this space!
Again, my love to you all and my continual thanks for standing with us during these last 12 months. Surely our times are in His hands.
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Loosing the moorings
A few folk have commented recently that there have been no updates since September so let's see if we can improve on that.
Really there is nothing to report except the steady restoring of stamina. I am discovering that currently I cannot do 'morning, noon and night'; any two but not all three. If I do all three the next day leaves me pretty well wiped out.
Last weekend I travelled to Liverpool to be with one of the churches there for the whole of the Sunday. I have been preaching occasionally at home here in Reading but the combination of travelling to a location, preaching in the morning, talking all afternoon, preaching in the evening and travelling back the same day is too much to contemplate just now. Time was when I could have taken it in my stride but currently I am having to measure my energies a little more carefully.
I took the train to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, preached at the morning meeting, chatted throughout lunch, TOOK AN AFTERNOON NAP, and then preached again in the evening. I left the train journey home until Monday. It all went very well. It was a delight to be with the saints and to share the word of God and renew many old friendships. The danger is, of course, that the adrenalin starts circulating and you forget that you are going to have to pay for it a little later on. The journey home was a bit messy with points closures and more changes of train than expected but it all went well.
On Tuesday I took a quiet day off and slept a couple of times! All in all it went well and I am encouraged. I have a diary of appointments building up now and I want to keep a eye of how it all works out.
I am still doing the 'Speakers' Corner' sessions in the fellowship here and have returned to editing my book. I have now sent the first few chapters and synopses of the others to a prospective publisher; I await their comments! We now have a busy weekend scheduled with a family wedding in Norfolk so life is slowly returning to normal! Thank you all again for all your prayer and good wishes. I have a monitoring appointment in a couple of months and I will do a post when that is done. Love to you all.
Really there is nothing to report except the steady restoring of stamina. I am discovering that currently I cannot do 'morning, noon and night'; any two but not all three. If I do all three the next day leaves me pretty well wiped out.
Last weekend I travelled to Liverpool to be with one of the churches there for the whole of the Sunday. I have been preaching occasionally at home here in Reading but the combination of travelling to a location, preaching in the morning, talking all afternoon, preaching in the evening and travelling back the same day is too much to contemplate just now. Time was when I could have taken it in my stride but currently I am having to measure my energies a little more carefully.
I took the train to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon, preached at the morning meeting, chatted throughout lunch, TOOK AN AFTERNOON NAP, and then preached again in the evening. I left the train journey home until Monday. It all went very well. It was a delight to be with the saints and to share the word of God and renew many old friendships. The danger is, of course, that the adrenalin starts circulating and you forget that you are going to have to pay for it a little later on. The journey home was a bit messy with points closures and more changes of train than expected but it all went well.
On Tuesday I took a quiet day off and slept a couple of times! All in all it went well and I am encouraged. I have a diary of appointments building up now and I want to keep a eye of how it all works out.
I am still doing the 'Speakers' Corner' sessions in the fellowship here and have returned to editing my book. I have now sent the first few chapters and synopses of the others to a prospective publisher; I await their comments! We now have a busy weekend scheduled with a family wedding in Norfolk so life is slowly returning to normal! Thank you all again for all your prayer and good wishes. I have a monitoring appointment in a couple of months and I will do a post when that is done. Love to you all.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
on course
My apologies to the folk who have been writing for an update. I was waiting for a significant appointment with my radiologist today.
A few days ago I had a blood test and the results were sent to the radiologist prior to this appointment. We are using the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) count to monitor any cancerous activity associated with the original prostate cancer. The aggressive nature of the cancer means it was important to make sure that no stray cancerous cells from the prostate had missed the surgery or the radio therapy. In that I don't now have a prostate, it ought to be zero or pretty close to it. The PSA was too low to be measured which it just the result we all wanted. So we are on course. When we rest in God's care we are never really 'off course' but this is the medical view of things.
The process now is that I have no more treatment or appointments for the next 6 months and then we have another blood check and what is called a telephone appointment; that means that I will talk over the results of the next blood check with my Urologist or one of his specialist nurses. So... no more doctors/hospital appointments for 6 months; that is a pleasant prospect.
On the practical level my strength is slowly improving and my continence management is also 'on course'. So, many, many thanks for all your love and prayer; it, and the fellowship it speaks of, have been a great encouragement over these last 10 months.
Please pray for wisdom in the choices I need to make for writing and preaching in the coming months. I want this to be 'on course' too. Again, many thanks and much love to you all.
A few days ago I had a blood test and the results were sent to the radiologist prior to this appointment. We are using the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) count to monitor any cancerous activity associated with the original prostate cancer. The aggressive nature of the cancer means it was important to make sure that no stray cancerous cells from the prostate had missed the surgery or the radio therapy. In that I don't now have a prostate, it ought to be zero or pretty close to it. The PSA was too low to be measured which it just the result we all wanted. So we are on course. When we rest in God's care we are never really 'off course' but this is the medical view of things.
The process now is that I have no more treatment or appointments for the next 6 months and then we have another blood check and what is called a telephone appointment; that means that I will talk over the results of the next blood check with my Urologist or one of his specialist nurses. So... no more doctors/hospital appointments for 6 months; that is a pleasant prospect.
On the practical level my strength is slowly improving and my continence management is also 'on course'. So, many, many thanks for all your love and prayer; it, and the fellowship it speaks of, have been a great encouragement over these last 10 months.
Please pray for wisdom in the choices I need to make for writing and preaching in the coming months. I want this to be 'on course' too. Again, many thanks and much love to you all.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
a brief catch-up
I have had one or two enquiries as to my ongoing health so I thought I would drop a line.
Things seem to be going well. I have an appointment with the radiologist later this month. It was to have been this last month but a visit to a brother's funeral on the day of the appointment put it back a month. I shall have a PSA test next week in preparation for the appointment.
Health-wise I think I am well, strength-wise has been something of a revelation. I am still very tired and my 'get up and go' has certainly 'got up and gone!' I read an interesting prayer the other day...
I don't feel at all 'cast off' but I understand the sentiment. The psalmist is sustained my his remembrance of God's faithfulness from childhood, through youth, to 'hoar hairs', as the old version puts it. We do rejoice in our faithful God. I will post again when I have had my appointment.
Thank you for your love and prayer.
Things seem to be going well. I have an appointment with the radiologist later this month. It was to have been this last month but a visit to a brother's funeral on the day of the appointment put it back a month. I shall have a PSA test next week in preparation for the appointment.
Health-wise I think I am well, strength-wise has been something of a revelation. I am still very tired and my 'get up and go' has certainly 'got up and gone!' I read an interesting prayer the other day...
Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. Psa 71:9 NKJV
I don't feel at all 'cast off' but I understand the sentiment. The psalmist is sustained my his remembrance of God's faithfulness from childhood, through youth, to 'hoar hairs', as the old version puts it. We do rejoice in our faithful God. I will post again when I have had my appointment.
Thank you for your love and prayer.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Radiotherapy completed.
Well, it has seemed a long time but my six and a half weeks of radiotherapy are completed. Apparently any side effects should peak in about a week's time and then it is just a gentle climb back... I have been able to get quite a bit of reading done waiting for broken machines to be mended. The machines are very sophisticated and high maintenance and I guess I don't want to hear the radiotherapists say 'well it's pointing in roughly the right direction'!
I have a final appointment with the radiologist at the end of August.
I have been very well but am feeling very tired just at present. There is grace for this too. My times are still in His hands.
I have a final appointment with the radiologist at the end of August.
I have been very well but am feeling very tired just at present. There is grace for this too. My times are still in His hands.
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
take it easy
I had never realised just how 'busy' being unwell could be. This morning I started with a visit to the local blood clinic for samples to be taken for further tests. Then a couple of hours later I had my daily visit to the radiotherapy unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Then just time for a brief bite of lunch and an emergency visit to the dentist for some attention...
At the radiotherapy centre they say "you will be tired, take it easy..."
Tell me about it! ;-)
At the radiotherapy centre they say "you will be tired, take it easy..."
Tell me about it! ;-)
Monday, 28 June 2010
half way through
Just a quick update. I am mid-way through my radiotherapy, 16/32 as they say here. All seems to be going well. I have not experienced much loss in energy and natural functions are fairly steady.
The treatment only takes about 5 minutes and most of that is getting me just in the right position. The radiotherapist constantly call out numbers to each other to ensure that I am just in the right spot for the treatment. One of the therapists today said, "you are really good at this. You are relaxed so it is easy to get you into position"
I didn't tell her my secret. I have had a mother, wife, four daughters and two granddaughters... I am used to being manipulated by the gentler sex!
The treatment only takes about 5 minutes and most of that is getting me just in the right position. The radiotherapist constantly call out numbers to each other to ensure that I am just in the right spot for the treatment. One of the therapists today said, "you are really good at this. You are relaxed so it is easy to get you into position"
I didn't tell her my secret. I have had a mother, wife, four daughters and two granddaughters... I am used to being manipulated by the gentler sex!
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