ALMOST 7 YEARS SINCE MY LAST POST

 So,my last post was made in January 2019....almost 3 years after brachytherapy.At that point my PSA reading had dropped to 0,01,

After brachy one still has a prostate and any reading below 0,5 would represent an outstanding result.

I didn't bother to have the prerequisite annual PSA test for around 3 years thereafter.till 2022,where the result was unchanged at 0,01......big sigh of relief!

This week (September  2025) I decided to get some bloods, including cholesterol/tryglyseride/kidney etc. All 100% still,at the tender  age of 72.

The most surprising,....and possibly the best news....PSA virtually imperceptible at 0,007.

Everything still working 💪  pretty well,with the only "side effect" being the need to wake once or twice per night for a pee.

A bit of a ballache but I'll take it with open arms. When first diagnosed in 2014.....11 5 years ago, my 1st reaction was that I'd most probably be history by now.....I'm a lucky bugger!

Looks like my kids might be waiting a little longer for that inheritance ?

This will definitely be my last post on this particular blog .

 

SYNOPSIS

Hell ,it's been a long time since my last post,.....and things have been going so well that I had completely forgotten to go for my 6 monthly PSA test some time ago.
So I went last week.
There's always just a bit of trepidation involved in doing this simple blood test as one is aware that the result thereof dictates whether this journey is basically over (for now) or whether one will need to take another "step" in the process.
So many of my friends and contemporaries who have this lousy disease have been confronted with still rising PSA levels and resultant further uncomfortable ongoing treatment.
Well i'm really pleased to report that my PSA had dropped even further to a barely discerible 0,05 now, 2,3 years after the brachy!Wonderful news!!!
I contacted my urologist and asked whether i needed to come in and see him any time in the future and his response was to the effect that i am now clear!

 We couldn't have wished for a better result and I've literally spent 2 x 10 minute consultations with my urologist since the op (none with my oncologist)

So,....unless this scenario changes in the future this might well be my last post.

At outset I had decided,via this blog,to map out the process involved and to place some emphasis on the difficult decisions that need to be made when one enters this domain of the big "C".

After 2 years of research after choosing a treatment option (brachytherapy) I optimistically titled this blog;

"PROSTATE CANCER-A POSITIVE STORY"

As it turns out it has been a long but very positive story, for which I am eternally grateful!

Perhaps positivity forms a part of the success of this trying time ?
The most important factor though,in my humble opinion,is to choose an understanding and competent surgeon.
Fortunately I landed up with the best !

18 MONTHS POST-OP

UTAH

 Had 18 month PSA test and it's still going in the right direction,albeit a much slower reduction than previously.
Presently 0,18 👍

NEAR SALT LAKE CITY

FELLOW BIKER IN THE MIDWEST

17 MONTHS POST OP

Add caption

Well,.......it's been a long,long time since I posted,......not that much to say really.

After around 13 months it seemed that my nocturnal peeing had suddenly deteriorated somewhat,and i landed up going twice/night,which was a bit of a bitch (i'm a light sleeper) but certainly not unmanageable.

I kinda accepted it as a small price to pay considering the fact that i presently appear to be cancer free (according to PSA levels).

However,.........over the past 3 months this "problem" seems to have virtually disappeared 😅

I'm virtually sleeping through now and occasionally getting up after 4 or 5 hours or so,.....and that's it.

Had a couple of nights recently where i've gone 6 hours without needing a pee,.......and the flow's better than ever.

PRETTY OBVIOUS?

CUSCO

RIVER @ MACHU PICCHU

Don't want to jump the gun here but it seems that the radio-activity level has dropped off completely now and has no effect any longer on my nether regions!

The radio active "stuff' has now passed through 7 or 8 half lives leaving just a fraction of the potency still active now.

Haven't had another PSA yet since the last one at 11 months (0,23) but shall be going next month to keep a check on it.

TOWN BELOW

MACHU PICCHU

1 YEAR

Llama herder Antiplano/Bolivia

Camping Patagonia

I'm almost exactly 1 year post-op now and shall be going in to see my urologist next week.
Took a PSA test last week and my PSA was down to 0,23,.........wonderful news and exactly to plan!
Absolutely no more SE's and i'm thrilled with the results,which could hardly have been any better.
In all likelihood it should go down even further over the next 6 months and hopefully will remain down in that vicinity.
I keep track of another similar blog by a South African where he describes those older males who don't know their PSA ,and who simply say,...."no my quack says it's fine !" are ,.....DICING WITH DEATH.Ensure that you know (and can track) yours in order to deal with it swiftly if/when it rises more than it should!

bedtime for the bikes Cusko/Peru

10 MONTHS

Just returned from a month in Turkey and realised that i hadn't posted on this site for ages now,......mainly due to the fact that there's very little to report.
I'm amazed at the recent lack of any SE's whatsoever from my brachy treatment almost a year ago (10 months now).
I've recently got back into my bad,bad ways and the one "SE"that I might've singled out (i.e. excessive peeing when consuming alcohol) has all but disappeared,......and i'm presently getting up only once at night .
My urinary function is probably back at 90% ,.....and everything is functioning absolutely ok (almost said "perfectly",....a little unbelievable at 65 years old?)
I'm due to see my urologist again at the end of October,....armed with my PSA count at that stage.....which will take me to exactly a year afte.
I'll check in for (hopefully) a 10 minute session.
At that point I shall have spent a grand total of no more than 40 minutes with any medical people subsequent to my procedure.
I'd certainly have taken that with open arms when I eventually made the decision to go the brachytherapy route!

9 MONTHS ON??

LEAVING PIREAUS HARBOUR

CHERYL EATING AGAIN PRAGUE

SOMEWHERE IN CROATIA

STUNNING TREVISO

I have to think carefully nowadays to deduce (or even remember) where I am,and how far i've come since the "brachy" procedure was carried out 9 months ago.
I literally have no SE's to speak of here apart from the fact that I get up once (sometimes twice) at nights to have a pee.
I'm still not on any meds and my flow is improving by he day,although the night time flow seems to be a little restricted for some strange reason?
Nothing serious ,but clearly due to inactivity of the relevant "muscles" whilst sleeping,which take a minute or two to "click in".

Look,......if you'd offered me what I have a year ago,.....i'd have grabbed it with open arms!!!
I have absolutely no doubt now that my decision,albeit a very much delayed one,was the correct decision.
Haven't had a PSA test since 5 months when it registered at a most acceptable 0,7,and my next one will be when I pop in at my urologist in November for my yearly check-up.
Here's the real PLUS though,.........unlike my mates who've had RP and consequently spent half their lives with various practitioners post-op, i've been just twice over the 9 months,for 10 minutes each time,basically to thank Conray for doing such a fine job!
I've had quite a bit of feedback from my blog and have just (a few days ago) spoken to a 53 year old with G6 who was about to go through RP,........just to get rid of it??
His wife (who follows my travel blogs) had heard that I had cancer and came round to discuss it ,together with her husband.
As with most men,......he hadn't researched at all really,and wasn't aware that G6 is often regarded as a benign form of cancer ,giving him a good bit of time to look at alternatives.
Not sure what they've done,but at least they now know that there are alternatives to ripping the thing out!