May 11, 2009

Cancer is serious. Like the flue or a cold, you can’t just take a pill to get cured. It cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, unlike the flue or a cold which are expressed very soon after contracting the disease, cancer can lay latent, hidden until the right moment to be expressed. But, cancer can provide us with warning signs which are often ignored, particularly amongst men.

Yes, I’m talking about cancer of the prostate. Symptoms include slow urine flow, slow to start, burning sensations, even a pain in the back. Just a sniff of cancer regarding the prostate and many men go into an apoplectic fit. “No ones going to stick a finger up my arse,” they laugh. But if they have the cancer, they don’t laugh for long. A lousy thing to say, but unfortunately true.

You know, there is no loss of dignity about the digital-rectal inspection. It is still rated as a major test for cancer of the prostate. No, it cannot diagnose the disease 100%, but it certainly suggests that the disease may exist within the prostate and is a prompt for more accurate tests, such as a biopsy.

Choose life, not false pride or manhood. I’m sure your family will be please if you do. Life goes on after the procedure. I have lived seven years beyond the operation which eliminated my cancer, and I expect to live a lot longer yet.

Be positive. Take the test and get satisfaction of knowing.

May 9, 2009

It is seven years since I had my prostate removed because of cancer of the prostate. Seven years is a long time when confronting cancer, and I believe that I will endure many more years yet.

Since my initial operation, I have had radiation treatment and Hormone therepy, now, I am at the will of the Gods, so to speak. I am free lancing, living from day to day without a thought for cancer. I bring it up now, because I need to demonstrate that you can fight prostate cancer.

Yes, there may be side effects which many men might find daunting, but I am alive and loving it. I have a new grand daughter, Mika making a grand total (no pun intended) of grand children of seven. Seven years since the operation and seven grand kids. A lucky number.

If I had not undergone a radical prostatectomy, I might not be here now to tell you about it, and I would have missed out on seeing my grand children growing up. Which is more important? Keeping my self image as a man alive or living to tell the story while keeping a watchful eye on my grand kids? I know what I would rather do, and I did it.

Since my operation, I know four other men who have since gone under the knife and had their prostate removed. All of them are grad that they did and are living healthy lives. I believe that we owe it to our families to live and enjoy life with them, rather than put them through the trauma of death. Why am I saying this? Because too many men refuse to have a check up and too many men refuse to do anything about it when they find out that they have cancer of the prostate. What a shame. Death is forever, life is short so why not make the most of life and have a check-up or, have the vital operation which will save your life. What have you got to lose!

Be a man, face your problems head on and live to tell the story.

Help support Kids with cancer. Look through my web pages and find my eBook on cancer of the prostate. 80% of royalties go the kids with cancer. I will add your story if you choose; send me an email telling me about your experience.

December 1, 2008

Just saying the word, cancer, conjures up images of gloom and doom. Saying the words, ‘I have cancer,’ creates axious feelings where death is usually the end point.

When I heard, ‘you have cancer of the prostate,’ for the first time, I tried to put on a brave face. I am a man and shouldn’t show any emotions, isn’t that true? I mean, I’m not a ‘girly man,’ who cry’s just because he is diagnosed with cancer!

Well, I did break down, but only when I had to tell my wife and family. In the presence of the doctor, I put on a bold face, full of bravardo, holding back the choking feeling and the tears. I wonder if the doctor saw this?

Yes, having cancer was not a highlight in my life, but I overcome it. I am still alive, after seven years. And it came back! But I beat it again and will continue to do so. In fact, I believe that I no longer have cancer, though no one can say this for fact.

My encounter with cancer has provided me with an experience that I would have preferred not to have, but which I can pass on to others who feel the same as I did about the disease. I feared it. I wanted it out of my body.

I have met many people since who have had or have cancer and strangely, we were all the same. I accepted it as did the others. I fought it as did the others. I will continue to fight it and I am sure the others will too.

I have written an e-book based on my experiences. My aim is to paint a posive and encouraging view of the disease, and to encourage men in particular to get tested for Cancer of the Prostate. I am donating 90% of the royalties to ‘Kids with Cancer’, using the remaining 10% to keep this site open and to update the book with stories from my readers.

In fact, if you have a story, and need to get it off your chest, or want to share it with others, send it to me by clicking here. I won’t print your story unless you give permission. Together, we can show the world that the disease can be beaten.