Feb 14, 2013 10:44
Having decided to stop blogging on this subject some time ago, I've now decided that enough has happened to justify another post.
It is now over 6 years since my diagnosis and all is well; indeed, better than before. I have found the whole process to be life-affirming! I no-longer consider myself depressed and I feel more affirmed than for a long time; I spend half my time voluntarily applying my professional skills in a major Cardiff charity and have also become a church warden. My hairstyle has returned to its pre-chemo abundance.
I had my 6-monthly check-up this morning. My current PSA reading is 0.3 down from 0.5 last August! I'm tempted to put this down to increased libido and thus increased sexual activity.
I also want to say that I think the current Macmillan nurses advertising campaign is ill-advised, "bigging-up" cancer and its emotional effects. Yes, (late) diagnosis can be devastating but this advert will, I think, intensify the "stiff upper lip" problem we have in Britain. Too many people here ignore symptoms as they fear the consequences of finding out they have cancer or, even more stupidly, "don't want to be any trouble" and think they would have wasted NHS resources if they go to their doctor and it turns out not to be serious.
Apologies to anyone reading this who thinks I am being callous, I am not but I am cursed with a very objective outlook on life. Be assured that I would never say this outright to anyone I know to be affected by this issue and all those with cancer have both my empathy and sympathy.
prostate cancer,
late diagnosis,
psa,
macmillan nurses