WHY A BLOG ON PROSTATE CANCER??

4500m IN THE ANDES

FERRY TO OMETEPE ISLAND NICARAGUA

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If you google "tony heath motorcycling"it'll turn up a "BLOGGER USER PROFILE" for myself,namely Tony Heath, listing my various travel blogs over the years.
I've been blogging for 6 years now exclusively with a view to documenting and recording my various travels and adventures,particularly regarding various motorcycling trips through the Americas,Europe and Namibia/South Africa.
Over the 6 year period, since retiring,I've managed to complete a 6 month motorcycling adventure through the Americas (south/central/northern America/45 000km) and 4 x 2 month trips through various parts of Europe (20 000 km).
The aim of these blogs have really been mainly for the benefit of family and close friends whilst travelling,but have become my sole reference when looking back on some of the most meaningful periods in my otherwise boring life.
They provide a nostalgic source of photographic and written memories during these periods,documenting my daily experiences and innermost thoughts during these wonderful times in my life.
Around 3 years ago,through a routine annual PSA test,a too rapid escalation ,(for some time prior to then) initiated a prostate biopsy to check for prostate cancer.At the time my PSA level was around 4,5.
Gratefully the biopsy was negative and I was obviously pretty relieved!

The following year,by which time my PSA had elevated to 6, I  underwent yet another biopsy which revealed a small focus of fairly low grade prostate cancer (GLEASON 6) in 2 of the 14 samples taken from the prostate which was beginning to resemble a pin-cushion.
My urologist at the time suggested that I whip it out and,after reading up extensively in the various treatment options,I decided to move on to another urologist who appeared to be happy to give me some time on "active surveillance" whilst i decided whether/when to go the treatment route.
The reason I've decided to initiate this blog is the fact that,after much research and endless googling on the merits of the various options, I had concluded that brachytherapy appeared to be the route for me.
Unfortunately however it seemed virtually impossible to glean any real advice from previous patients who'd taken this (or any other) route.
For some strange reason victims of PC seem unwilling to discuss such "intimate" issues (a man thing i guess)?
Virtually all threads and "actual" reports seemed to contain a host of pretty scary feedback involving a host of "side effects" including ED,impotence,incontinence,nappies,pads,pain,inability to urinate and plenty of post operative medication which came with serious "side effects" of their own.
Six weeks ago, after 2 years of careful research and deliberating,I underwent brachytherapy and feel the need to relate what to date has been a largely positive experience,although it's still early days.
Until this serious (cancer) diagnosis I had lived a very active 61 years and had been (and still am) involved in motorcycling,running,squash,cycling etc.
What I was looking at was hopefully some means of ridding myself of this "demon" and remaining as active as possible for as long as possible.
A huge ask when one considers the apparent effects of the various treatments designed to rid one of this horrible disease!

ABODE IN OSA PENINSULA COSTA RICA

NAMIBIA FISH RIVER CANYON

As I sit here,some 6 weeks since undergoing the dreaded brachytherapy,I (so far) have a largely positive story to tell.
There aren't hell of a lot of "interesting" photos around prostate cancer so,for aesthetic reasons i shall punctuate my boring text with travel photos as described above😏