Prostate gland cancer?

Thursday 26 May
My wife and I went to see the specialist surgeon at the Oncology Unit. He also explained to us the pros and cons of the 4 options we have. We can either wait and do nothing, or we can opt for removal of the gland, or the surgical removal of the cancer, or the radiation.

He said the cancer that was spotted is  a focus, which means that they are not 100% sure of cancer, because the gland was infected.

Anyway, he did another rectal inspection of the gland and there was no pain or swelling of the gland. Then he sent me for another blood test for the PSA reading. My last reading in February was just over 3 he said. So I have to return to see him in 2 weeks' time. At this time we also have to discuss a treatment plan.

Keep well, and remember go for your tests. They are vitally important after the age of 45.

Lower Back ache

Monday 23 May 2011

I have injured my back the previous Wednesday afternoon. I was helping to move my sister-in-law from the bed to a massage chair. She had suffered from a major stroke and was treated at home by her daughter.

Unfortunately I could not position my feet and body correctly in relation to her body. That is when I injured my back. Strangely enough, I did not feel anything untoward at that moment. It was the next day that I started feeling slight pain in my lower back. But then the pain got really intense on the Friday Afternoon. In fact, I was in bed almost the whole of the Saturday as well as the Sunday.

I had to go to our GP on the Monday, as the muscle on the left side of my spine (lower back) was in a spasm. He gave me a muscle relaxer. But I am not completely over the pain yet. It is better, but not completely well.

In retrospect, I should have asked for a referral to a physiotherapist, for further treatment.

Anyway, he booked me off for 4 days, until Thursday 26 May. So I returned to work on Friday 27 May 2011.

Be careful with your back. Back injuries are serious, as almost all movement is via our spine, or our spines are involved in almost all movement of the body, directly or directly.

Prostate gland cancer

Hi

Last year on 20 May 2010, I had arthroscopy in my left knee. The knee is fine. I walk a lot. It favours uphill, and I have no complanints whatsoever.

A few weeks ago I went to our family doctor with flu. I also him to send me for blood tests to check blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, prostate gland health etc.

The test came back with a high FSA reading, which means that something could be wrong with my prostate gland. Our doctor then sent me to a Urologist, who did a physical rectal inspection of the gland. I experienced no pain or discomfort and there was no sign of swelling of the gland. I also did not have trouble urinating, and I did not have the need to urinate frequently. (although I had some blood in the urine, which our house doctor picked up).

The urologist then suggested a rectal guide scope and biopsy, to make 100% sure that the prostate is healthy. I went for this procedure on Thursday 21 April. What a bloody affair.

Then on Monday 10 May I had to go and see the urologist, who had the results back from the lab. He told me that early signs of cancer was found in two places in my prostate gland. I had 4 options i.e. (1) I could do nothing or (2) I could go for hormone treatment where the testicles are removed with all the complications thereof, or (3) I could have the prostate gland removed, and face the negative effect thereof, or (4) I could op for radiation. Internal radiation is preferred rather than external radiation. With internal radiation radioactive pellets are inserted into the prostate gland via the penis. These pellets will then radiate the cancer away with time. The urologists asked me to discuss the problem and treatment with my family and then to come back to him when I have made a choice, on which treatment option to follow.

When I checked the pros and cons of the treatment options on the internet, I decide to go for the Internal radiation. My wife agreed. In fact, we went back to him on Friday 14 May. After that his office arranged with an oncology lab for the radiation pellets and things. He told me thes pellets are ordered from the USA.
I have to see that specialist now on Thursday 26 May at 1.00 pm

Keep well. If you are a male over 40, I urge you to go for these yearly blood tests.

It's time for action

Hi everyone

It is time to get active. Last night I went for a walk, as part of my rehab. it was pretty cold. but I have skipped the day before and skipping 2 days in a row is not on.

My knee is feeling much better. I am working the muscles with the prescribed exercises.

Many people make the mistake of staying indoors in the winter. Keep on going. It is difficult to lose those extra kilos in the summer.

I am losing weight at the moment. My immediate target is to lose 10 kilograms. I now drink tea and coffee without sugar.

The only other thing I need to overcome is snacking on savouries and sweets. But it will come right.

Keep well
Greetings
Tommy

I am up and about after my op

Update

It’s been a week since my op last week. I must say that I did struggle to sleep for the first few nights. But things got better with time. The problem was that one does not know which way to position the affected leg, and one has to change body position every now and then.

I do my walking every day, as well as the prescribed exercises.
The only things that I am not allowed are:
• Driving
• Stairs
• Unequal surfaces in general

Walking is prescribed, since it helps to strengthen the muscles and tendons of the joint. Furthermore the joint is kept flexible as well.
I have an appointment with Dr Swart in 1 week’s time.

C u soon!
Tommy

Arthroscopy in my left knee

Update

As I have mentioned before, I consulted our GP on 3 May, and was off work on both days 3 and 4 May. I visited the Orthopedic Surgeon Dr KP Swart at St Georges Hospital on Friday 7 May. I tried to work on the Monday. I was booked on from Tuesday 11 May to Friday 14 May by Dr Swart.

I returned to work last Monday the 17th, but I worked very short days. The couple of days off work and the rest meant the world of good to my knee. It was actually not a good thing that I had to go back to work.

After I went to see Dr Swart that Friday, I also had a pre-op examination and interview. I had to obtain an authorisation code from my medical aid and I was told what to bring with on the day of the op (yesterday 20 May. I also received an exercise chart showing and instructing me how to exercise the operated knee for rehabilitation purposes.

Dr Swart explained to me in his surgery that three holes are made sort of in a triangle shape on the left, right and I think the rear side of the knee. A small camera is then passed through each hole in turn. He would then check on a monitor the condition of the cartilage and clean away loose debris or shave the cartilage smooth remotely. How clever!

The Big Day 20 May 2010
I had to report there at 6.00 am. I had nothing to eat or drink since 10.00 pm the previous night. I was in the ward at about 6.20 am.

Preparation
My heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, bloods sugar level, and urine was tested. An ECG was done to check my heart function as well. Everything was OK, except that my blood pressure was on the high side - the reading was over 170. My left knee area was shaved - this hospital use baby powder and not a soapy lather. Then betadine antiseptic was smeared over the whole area.
The anesthetist came around later and they offered me a tablet to relax. I had to place it under my tongue.
The last thing I remembered was that I was wheeled to the operating theater waiting area at about 8.00 am.

Recovery in the general ward
I awoke in the general ward, with a drip on my arm. The nurse said my blood pressure was low at just over 90. I was also given a special solution intravenous for nausea, at my request. I felt terribly nauseous. I had a nice meal later, when I was feeling better. Dr Swart came to see me and said that my left knee interior was very red, and he booked me off work for 3 weeks. I will only return to work when the schools re-open after the extended June holidays !!!

I have a booking to see Dr Swart in 2 weeks time.

I was picked up at the hospital by a colleague of mine. On our way home we picked up a painkiller and an anti-inflammatory from a pharmacy.
My colleague lent me his crutches, as he has had 3 of these ops already. The biggest mistake he made the first time was that he sat down after the knee, with the intention of giving his knee a rest. He told me that the rehab exercises were vitally important for a complete recovery.

I will go for a short walk and do my exercises later today.

See you.
PS Dr Swart emphasized that the walking is important.

C u soon!
Tommy

PS I will post a pic or two soon!

Knee surgery needed

Last Monday, 3May, I had to visit our family doctor, as I was suffering from acute pain in my left knee.

Previous symptoms
Somewhere in the last quarter of 2009 that I noticed that climbing up steps with my left knee was becoming strenuous and painful. At the instant when I have to raise my body with my left leg, I started experiencing pain in my left knee. I changed my walking route to avoid climbing those steps.

Over the last few weeks, I started walking again, after a lay off. I work in a new location, and there are many steps I have to climb each day. At the end of my walking routine, there are a number of steps that I have to climb, and that is where the trouble started again. My left knee was very uncomfortable.

My family doctor agreed that I should see an orthopedic surgeon, so that a scope of my inner knee can be taken


Orthopedic Surgeon
Last Friday, 7 May, I did see an orthopedic surgeon. he was actually very glad to hear that I walk for fitness. Jogging is very bad for the knee joints, he said.
He tested my left knee joint, and found that there is a possibility of cartilage damage inside it, as I experienced pain during one of the tests.

I got booked for the operation, on the 20th of May.

I had to go back to him yesterday for a stronger pain killer, and so that he could book me off work for a few days. Well, I got a stronger pain killer from the pharmacy, and he booked me off work for the rest of this week.

Look after your knee joints.