So 2017 is here and so am I (still)

So a mixed bag with me since I last wrote. Its funny but when you are where I am, one starts to read things into everything health wise, sometimes that’s justified and others are just paranoia but that’s the mentality of a cancer patient.

My latest blood test results came back last week, my “score” had not changed from two months ago which on the face of it sounds fine but in my head it’s the first time they have not improved in a year. On the back of that my Doc wants me to have a bone density scan as I have been on the drugs for a long time now (does that mean longer than most, paranoia?) and a side effect to add to the others is osteoporosis, deep joy, so that’s in a few weeks but at least its not an intrusive one. No need for one of the doctors “special” hand shakes!

As for running, not the best update here. My left hip started playing up just after my email on 6th November when I spoke too soon about being injury free, for no apparent reason  just painful after a bit of running. This got worse and the 50k run I did in November finished it off. So seen a physio a few times (thanks Lisa at  Nuffield) and my sports massage hero (thanks Steve) which improved things whilst I rested. Over xmas did 5 consecutive days of fast walking with a bit of running on the sand in North Devon, not too far, about 6/8 miles a day and all felt gradually better. Last week I ran/walked 15 miles and could feel it but nothing grim however of all things on Sunday, running the line for my 12 year olds football team a couple of sprints (12 year olds are quite fast you know!) tweaked my muscles in my hip and has put me back weeks so much so that I took a reluctant decision to pull out of the 45 mile race I was due to do tomorrow. In my situation not running is unbearable and missing a whole race is disastrous.  

I did not take the decision lightly as whilst I think I could have done it there are reasonably aggressive cut off times and I would have put myself back a long way on the slow road to recovery with the next race 62 miles only 3 weeks away and the desert race now only 84 days away, yikes! Already I know that I will not be as fit as last year which is so disappointing as in October I was far fitter than I was before so if you decide to watch my dot online on the tracker in the desert (they tell me it will be better this year) you could be watching for a long time!  

So I am probably (hopefully!) just being silly but I also know that it is likely that the cancer will spread to my bones/soft tissue in the future so every ache and pain worries me somewhat.  

Despite that lot and the dark thoughts that they bring in all too often I am trying to stay positive, I presented to another 130 senior people from RBS/Nat West this week, I don’t think I will ever enjoy standing up in front of others to speak about myself but take great comfort in the number of people who speak to me or email afterwards, it means so much to me,  helps keep me going and gives my life some good purpose. The guys and girls this week were no exception, it makes me proud to work for such a caring organisation despite what the press will have you believe. I can not put a value how important still feeling like I have a job is even though I am nowhere near as effective or useful as I was before, my own boss and the tolerance I get from him and others makes my world bearable.  

If ever I doubted the benefit of my emails and presentations that was given to me just before Xmas. An old (not age just from the past ha ha)work friend who I had not spoken to for a couple of years emailed me to apologise for not being in touch, he said that on the back of an earlier email of mine he had identified a similar symptom to me and went to the docs straight away and was told he had early stage prostate cancer. I am so glad to say that because he went early they were able to cure him (the process is still not very nice though so its no walk in the park) and now hopefully he is cancer free. I wont embarrass my friend (you know who you are) but just hearing that in some small way I may have helped has given me even more reason to keep writing and speaking. Without trying to lecture anyone please do go to the doctors with any change in your body(or pester someone else if its them)  that is unexplained no matter what it is as you never know what it may be and better safe than sorry.  

Back on the running, whilst I have some very short term challenges my run in Iceland is not that far away so I spent a great day in Brecon with the guys from Likeys ultra adventure shop who kitted me out in stuff so I could try it out in the cold now rather than in August (when it may be too hot to have 4 layers on in England ….hopefully!), as ever grateful for their support (and discount!). You just know what my Xmas presents were all about! Snow on the ground today, maybe I will go out for a short walk looking like I should be running just to see how warm I am!  

My current drug regime is ok at the moment, tablets morning and evening plus some supplements that I have researched as being beneficial for my immune system however following  a conversation with a friend at work about some of the side effects I am getting I went off to see an acupuncturist on his recommendation. I started this about 9 months ago and to be honest you don’t feel a thing even though I am like an advert for the Hellraiser movie with pins out of my face, ears, arms, palms, wrist, thigh, knees and feet. This also introduced me into Chinese medicine, tastes nasty but I take extra powders twice a day and to be honest I have seen an improvement in many areas of my general health so I am a bit of a fan now, hey a few Billion Chinese and a couple of thousand years of practice cant be wrong? I have checked and it is ok with conventional treatments but at least I think I am taking some control in what happens to my body.  

Prostate Cancer UK continue to be a great support for me (and others in my world), there are some exciting advances being made but there is much more to be done. I have now raised about £53,000 with support from many of you since I was diagnosed. I would of course like to do more as I and they believe it will be possible to tame this disease before my kids are 40. I was at a presentation by the charity a little while ago and a senior research doctor said that it only costs about £20 to carry out one extra lab test in many situations so those of you who have supported me please feel proud of what your money does, thank you. Every bit helps, I am so grateful for those who have already supported me. I am also organising another golf day after the success of last years one in May, its at Surbiton and if anyone fancies putting in a team or has any memorabilia I can auction there then please email me as places are going fast.  

Back in December just my Brother, cousin Barry and I spent an afternoon rattling buckets for the charity at The Shack 68 pub in Twickenham before the England v Australia match Everyone was again so generous as the three of us collected over £800 and we definitely raised awareness for the signs of Prostate Cancer. I must say a massive thank you to Murray and the guys and girls in the pub as it was rammed yet they still looked after us so well and have offered other rugby weekends for the charity to carry on rattling. Murray offered to let the charity collect at his pub after hearing me speak last year and gave us exclusive access so if ever you are in Twickenham then buying your beer in his great pub will repay some of his kindness to the charity (the foods pretty good too).  

Finally, as ever the support my family gives me is the best, I have said before that it must be harder for them than me, in particular my long suffering wife Sarah who has to deal with my present, future and after, at the moment I am not even going out for long runs so she has to put up with a less smiling me for longer!  

So that’s all folks this time, sorry its such a long one, well done if you have made it this far! The next update will hopefully be after my next blood results when I will know about the scan and if I managed the next race.  

Just remember, smile don’t scowl, it will make a massive difference to you and those around you.  

Take care  
Kev