The Unwelcome Guest

With thirty-six rides on the doughnut of doom complete, there are only three more to go. By 10am next Wednesday my radiotherapy treatment will be complete; there’s light at the end of the doughnut.

Today Mrs Preen and I attended my final treatment review session with Maggie who seemed pleased with my progress. Not much has changed as far as side-effects go, though at night I’m wearing out the carpet on the way to the loo slightly more frequently. About three weeks ago this was getting to be quite a drag and lack of sleep was making me feel as tired as a teddy bear. It’s amazing how the body can adjust, because now, even though bog attendance has increased, once back in bed I generally go straight back to sleep. Feeling more rested, I managed to stay up until 10.30 last night; so rock & roll.

Maggie warned that for a week to ten days after treatment the side-effects may get a little worse but by strength of will and force of character, I’ve decided that’s not going to happen to me. Let’s see who wins, me or the doughnut.

For anyone reading this who’s about to start RT all I can say is that it wasn’t so bad though of course everyone’s experience differs. Alan, one of the early morning cancer crew, has found sleeping very difficult as he’s trudging to the loo on the hour every hour. The poor guy looks tuckered out.

I’ll be glad not to have to slog to hospital every morning, but the bicycling has kept me fit and I’ve continued to work throughout, though perhaps not quite at full speed. (Don’t tell the boss)

On our way out the door Maggie handed me a sheet detailing support group meetings for prostate cancer patients. At the end of every month there’s an event called Prostate Life! (their exclamation mark, not mine) where guest speakers are invited to talk on subjects ranging from ‘Prostate Cancer – what is it?’ to ‘Psychological issues and managing stress’. Interesting stuff and no doubt you’ll want me to put your name on the door, but the one I’ve got my eye on is The Festive Meeting on 28^th December. Obviously, I’ll be wearing my Christmas jumper, but what does one take to a festive prostate cancer meeting? Frankly the mind boggles.