- Joined
- Feb 8, 2014
- Messages
- 494
I was 82 years old last Sunday. Seven years ago my doctor said there is no need to check your prostate because your PSA is low, you sleep all night without getting up to pee and if you get prostate cancer at your age you will die of old age before the cancer kills you. OKAY? Fast forward to two years ago. Still no typical symptoms, PSA 0.94, because of a suspected lung problem I had a full body PET SCAN. Guess what no lung problem but they found advanced Prostate. After biopsies, it was graded at a 9 on the Gleason scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is the worst. So, 45 radiation treatments, 9 weeks 5 days a week, a barrier injected between my prostate and my colon, and a hose up my butt to keep my colon deflated. I also received monthly injections to suppress my testosterone, cancer thrives on testosterone.
How did that all go? Well, first I started to need to pee every hour and a half to two hours day and night, due to extreme exhaustion I could only spend 2 to 3 hours in my shop whereas before I worked 6 to 8 hours daily. The injections caused me to have extreme HOT FLASHES, MOOD SWINGS, LOSS OF MUSSEL STRENGTH, LOSS OF SEXUAL DESIRE, AND DEPRESSION. Sound familiar? Think change of life as a woman gets older. In December 2023 things were so bad I stopped all cancer meds, injections, etc. against the doctor's recommendations. I convinced my doctor to give me something for depression, I explained I was suicidal. TODAY. The hot flashes are nearly gone. My strength is slowly returning. No more dark thoughts, depression is gone. Everyone says "The old jerry is back." I work daily in the shop for 6 to 8 hours. I can sleep most nights without getting up to pee. I still can't get an erection, but the girlfriend understands.
If the cancer comes back? Screw it I'll just put up with it till it gets really bad the then I'll end it myself. In the meantime, I enjoy what life I still have.
How did that all go? Well, first I started to need to pee every hour and a half to two hours day and night, due to extreme exhaustion I could only spend 2 to 3 hours in my shop whereas before I worked 6 to 8 hours daily. The injections caused me to have extreme HOT FLASHES, MOOD SWINGS, LOSS OF MUSSEL STRENGTH, LOSS OF SEXUAL DESIRE, AND DEPRESSION. Sound familiar? Think change of life as a woman gets older. In December 2023 things were so bad I stopped all cancer meds, injections, etc. against the doctor's recommendations. I convinced my doctor to give me something for depression, I explained I was suicidal. TODAY. The hot flashes are nearly gone. My strength is slowly returning. No more dark thoughts, depression is gone. Everyone says "The old jerry is back." I work daily in the shop for 6 to 8 hours. I can sleep most nights without getting up to pee. I still can't get an erection, but the girlfriend understands.
If the cancer comes back? Screw it I'll just put up with it till it gets really bad the then I'll end it myself. In the meantime, I enjoy what life I still have.