Thursday, June 3, 2010

No fun getting old!

Yesterday I drove friends to St John’s hospital in Subiaco. Haddon is a close friend of almost 60 years. We spent our youth in the Sea Scouts on the Swan River and have stayed close friends since then.

About a year after I was diagnosed with prostate cancer Haddon was also diagnosed. His was more advanced than mine which hadn’t jumped out of the prostate. We both had a Radical Prostatecomy, but unfortunately his cancer was also in the bladder. He has, over the years, had lots of chemotherapy and up until relatively recent times…probably just a few months, coped well with it.

Just recently he has lost his muscle strength and needs help to get around. His GP and indeed his oncologist, cannot pinpoint any specific reason for this development.

Haddon is on a double blind trial of a newer chemotherapy regime…neither he nor his oncologist knows whether he is getting the real chemo or just a placebo. He feels that it is this latest chemo that is making him very weak and sick. His PSA level is not outrageously high. I get the feeling that he may well pull out of the trial in the hope that he regains his strength.

Joan, my wife, is very happy not to be on a double blind trial. She knows what treatment she is getting.

It's a bugger getting old!

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