drat01

On 18/04/2024 at 03:29, YLN said:

A PSA is not a risk free test. The number increases with age and leaves you open to some really invasive unnecessary investigations that can lead to really significant problems. >50% of 90 year olds will die with Prostate cancer, but it won't be the cause for their death, just something rumbling in the background. PSA test on request is not recommended.

GPs seem to love running them, but they're bad news. Interactions with doctors are like when US cops pull over minorities. The chances of getting shot/ made impotent/incontinent from an unnecessary prostate biopsy goes way up when your GP runs a PSA and you don't know any better. YMMV

Excuse me if I don't agree with this. Very much the PC cancer fighter community would say that a PSA test is the way to go for an indicator of anything untoward. Its an indicator not a definitive, but when so many blokes have little to no symptoms (I was very much one of them as was one of my best mates), the PSA test started the journey where we have now a better idea as to what stage our cancers are at and we receive the correct levels of treatment. A very recent PC conference held with many specialists in this area (last week) said the same.

Just now, dAVe80 said:

I'm normally a fairly pragmatic person, and I kept getting told it could be a number of things, but when you get told you're on a cancer pathway, your mind does get the better of you. 

I nearly posted on here about it, but for some reason I never did. I appreciate this thread giving me the chance. 

The mental side of things are beyond anything I've ever faced before and that is why It's important to realise you ain't unique and importantly alone. I hope the treatment you are getting now improves things for you mate and you know now the importance of getting things checked. Top man and thanks for sharing your info

2 minutes ago, dAVe80 said:

Very recently I'd been showing symptoms of bowel cancer. When you're sat on the bog for the 4th time in a few hours, you start to look at the back of the loo roll packet, and start ticking off most of the symptoms. Scary shit (pun intended). 

I went and got checked out, and got put on the cancer pathway, and send for a colonoscopy. I'm thankful to say that although I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, it wasn't bowel cancer. 

As such I absolutely endorse every word you've said there. I totally admire that on top of dealing with everything you've been through, you also had it in the back of your mind to tell people to go get tested. I'll say the same thing, and tell everyone go get tested if you start to feel symptoms. It is scary, but the sooner you know, the sooner you get sorted. 

Mate it must have been scary, top man for going to get things checked though.

12 minutes ago, tonyh29 said:

He’s changed you know , might not be the old drat you remember , He was drinking from a Thatcher’s glass  the other week  

It was flat, over priced, not to be served to minors, and gave me the shits ......

49 minutes ago, rjw63 said:

Drat01?

RantinRob?

Never heard of them, they sound right plonkers.

 

Glad to hear you’re doing ok Ian, but I’d be careful of liver damage. I’ve seen your pictures

- I heard 'Rantin' found god and can now be found searching the internet for nubile young ladies to convert ....... . I will tell you one day about the report I got back from the docs re my liver after one of my hols, its now on my permanent NHS record and its brill - I am sure he was pissing himself when he wrote it. Glad you are doing well also mate, and the holiday you went on recently looked unreal

Just now, blandy said:

Ah, ok, well that then. It’d be good to meet up.

Still on the same phone number mate? mine is the same

Just now, blandy said:

Thanks for the update, Ian. Sounds like good news with the level coming down. I’m not on Twitter anymore, so have missed your updates, but I’ll say what I said back when you posted the news, let’s celebrate with a beer when you get the all clear. 

Certainly up for a beer any time Pete - the reality is there will probably never be an all clear moment, but as the onco team says its all about control.

13 minutes ago, NurembergVillan said:

Does this mean you're back? Like, are you gonna be on VT again?

It's great keeping up on Twitter but I miss you on here.

Too many holidays, beers and doing stuff Rob ... (By the way I have a good trip to Canada soon including a few days in Vancouver and back to Calgary also - followed by a cruise to Alaska) Mrs S has been nagging me about going to Germany again soon also and has seen some pics of N'berg !! I told her if certain people lived in both not to expect too much

Just now, colhint said:

I'm really sorry for your situation but I will say you've been missed.keep fighting pal.

Cheers mate - Certainly will keep fighting. Hope you and yours are good also

Just now, villa89 said:

At what age should you start getting the PSA test? 50?

Recommendation is 50, but if you have a family history then down to 45 and black men should think about an earlier test also, apparently.

2 hours ago, AVFC_Hitz said:

Glad you're still fighting and punching cancer in the balls @drat01

Hopefully the Spireites getting back into the league cheered you up.

Thx - Yeah went to the game they got promoted in. Hopefully we can draw them in the League cup next year

8 hours ago, Dodgyknees said:

Sending you all the love in the world @drat01. Thank you for sharing, I will get checked. 

Thx and great re the test mate. That is exactly what this is all about. People getting tested. Thx for that !

Just now, T-Dog said:

Hey mate - I've been looking for you down the Lower Holte for some time, after chatting for almost 15 years online it was nice to finally meet you in person last season  A lovely chat about that blue and white china plate. Have followed your journey through all this and found your attitude to it all inspirational. I don't think there's many blokes out there that can make jokes about what you've gone through.

BTW, you promised me you'd be coming to Tenerife, not sure if you remember  

Take care sir, if you ever see me down the lower, do come and say hello again, be great to have a pint with you

Ha - yeah that was a good day mate. And yes the Tenerife visit is still very much on the cards ... remind me to tell you what happened when I called my "man sausage' the Tardis during a procedure I had to have after some treatments. ... don't say you were expecting that

Just been to the doctors and told him that I keep thinking I am a pirate, he said we can cure that and gave me a patch

He said I was overweight, I said that was due to a dripping tap I have. Ooooh how I love dripping

While there I had a genealogy test, turns out I am related to Aladdin

My uncle who's a lion tamer has fallen on hard times, the bank have made him bankrupt and taken everything except the animals. At least he still has his pride

The Twitter world champion for contributions has died, we shall not see his like again

Let's say a big welcome to the new chairman of the British Budgerigar Society....
Hugh Zapritti-Boyden!

I loved it when Leo Sayer said I looked like Sam from cheers - he made me feel like Danson 

The average size of a male midget is 132 cm (4.33 ft)It's a little gnome fact.

I've just been adding 4 Fisherman's Friends to 13 Lockets then subtracting 7 Tunes - all in my head. It's a bit of menthol arithmetic.

I have a blind spot  ..... worst guide dog ever

One of our kids just got their GCSE results - last time I heard that many D's match of the day was starting

In science the saturation point at which grated cabbage can no longer absorb Mayonnaise is known as Cole's Law

I once dated a red head ... no hair just a red head. Everyone thought it was a perfect match

I've got a talking dog, last night at the Karaoke he was booed off stage when singing "its oh so quiet" - suppose his Bkork s worst than his bite

I just sold my old Mic on ebay, so annoyed no feedback