CANCER............. do we men take enough care ?

[Oz.Man]

Hey gang,

I thought that I would share my experiences as well. Two days before my 30th birthday I was told that the ulcer on my tongue was in fact a stage 2 tumour. I had been experiencing shooting pains in the right side of my jaw that, in my young male manner, I had just assumed were being caused by my wisdom teeth. After three months of putting up with the pain under the belief that it would just go away like my previous bouts of wisdom teeth pain, SWMBO finally lost patience and made an appointment for me to see the dentist. The dentist informed me that whilst my wisdom tooth was indeed impacted, it was not causing the pain. A quick trip to a good GP, booked once again by my wife, turned up the ulcer on the side of my tongue which was biopsied to reveal that the ultimate cause of my pain was a tumour that was growing into my tongue and putting pressure on one of the nerves.

I've never smoked and I'm not a serious drinker, I was 29 and relatively healthy. To cut a long story short, I had part of my tongue removed and a six week course of radiotherapy and I have been disease free for four years now. I had my final follow up session with my ear, nose and throat surgeon just last week at which he told me to go away and (hopefully) never come back. I was lucky because the tumour was found relatively early, but it could have been found much earlier if I hadn't indulged in self-diagnosis. As is often the case in these stories it was my wife who did all of the work in getting me to the medicoes.

So in answer to the question posed in the thread "do we men take enough care" I would have to say that in the past I did not, now I do. It is a shame that it took cancer to point this out to me.

Cheers,

Oz Man

[Eddie Jones]

I had a similar experience as Oz. Man. In 1990 - at age 43 - I was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer of the Maxilla - upper jaw. The slight pain I felt, when chewing etc, I self-diagnosed as a dental problem. I put off seeing a dentist for 3 months. Stupid mistake that nearly killed me. The dental Xray showed a shadow up above my teeth that turned out to be a cancer. After partial removal of the upper jaw, plus a month of radiotherapy, the long wait started to see if they got it all. Although it's now nearly 17 years and I am fairly confidant, you are never quite sure.

My surgeon told me I probably wouldn't have seen out 6 months if I hadn't had the op.

So please add my voice to the others. Don't put it off! Get that checkup! Get it now! If not for you, for the sake of everyone you love.

Eddie

[Iain]

Got my CT results, I have a blocked sinus caused by an absess on a front tooth, the nerve was removed from the tooth many years ago hence no pain but it will have to go, damned expensive excercise as this tooth is one that a metal plate hangs on to, so a trip to the tech for some mods to the plate as well.
Can't be simple can it
The icing on the medical cake is that I lost my reading glasses last weekend, that's only about $300 so I'm wearing some old pair that I've put together from bits laying around, and it's obvious too, one silver arm, one gold one, different lengths and styles, just haven't had time to get to the optician yet.

[Eddie Jones]

Don't have to worry about the medical bills any more! Just turned 60, and along with the Vet Affairs pension, a GOLD CARD turned up! Totally unexpected!

Almost worth getting sick.

Almost.

[rona]

OK Cisco Kid, how did you go with the check-up a week ago, I trust everything was OK, i know the thought of going is not nice, but it has to be done ! Good to see that a couple of the other fellas have also been along. I went back for another reading a week ago and it is not looking good, I have only lost 2 points on my PSA reading in the previous 7 weeks which brings it down to 1189, so have a long way to go; Have to decide now if I am going onto Chemo as of next Wednesday, So I'll say it again to everyone..............
if your over 40 please go and have a PSA bloodtest it only takes 15minutes
and it may make a hell of a difference down the track.
I don't like to be dogmatic about anything but when there are others, like wifes and children, to think of.............. go and do It!

Cheers,
Ron.

[Shedhand]

I gave up male doctors many years ago because they just didn't seem to care about what I was saying and asking. I've always been inquisitive anmd health conscious (in spite of smoking for 50 of my 55 years.) Female doctors are much more empathetic and willing to listen and talk. I love my Doctor (metaphorically I mean) and we have become good mates (she still charges me though). I can tell her anything and I listen to her advice. However, I told her I don't expect her to check my prostate and that made her happy.

[rona]

Hi Sheddie,
I can appreciate your decision to give up male doctors and go with female ones, and I possibly agree with you that they are more attentive in listening and understanding your problems. However atthe end of the day, a doctor is a doctor and if you are in need of treatment or attention of any sort they will make themselves available and help in the best way possible.
The thought of a female doctor wishing to attend to your prostate may seem daunting at first, however remember firstly you get a blood test and if your PSA reading is normal ( 4 ) or close to it, there isno need for her to do the manual bit that you are worrying about If on the other hand you have an abnormal reading, well in excess of 4 (like mine at 1966 ) you will be given a refferal to a specialist who will then proceed with testing your prostate and taking a bi-opsy. So if you have any concerns don't put it off because down the track you may regret your decision, just because she is a female she may never get the opportunity to put that hand there anyway.

Cheers,
Ron.

[Stuart]

???? me , but there is some scary stories in that lot. I hate doctors - so many are a waste of space, and money. Go see one and they invariably send you off with a script that costs a squillion dollars to fill, and doesn't fix the problem anyway.

So many times I have taken an issue or other to the doctor (normally because of the the red hot poker that SWMBO is waving behind me), and have had the issue waved away, or given some pointless script. My fear is one day they will dismiss something that really was important.

However, I'm not against regular checkups etc, and the above examples highlight just how important they are. Just wish doctors (ie GPs) had more credibility.

[Ivan in Oz]

A Vet Surgeon once gave me some advice;
[ Yes; some Ppl think I am an Animal ]

#8. Cherish your health.
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

From the BLOGS of 'Count' on www.Person.com


I like #4 -------- Enjoy the simple things

[rona]

Hi Stu,
Unfortunately what you are saying is usually right, many doctors do not have the patience interest at heart like they used to. My own Doctor is a personal friend and i know him well outside of the medical centre, actually I will not step foot inside the medical centre for reasons similiar to what you have mentioned. My Doctor visits me 2 or 3 times per week at my house and stays for 2 hours or so each time........... a bit different to the norm.
One thing that has been a surprise to me is that anything connected with cancer, especially specialist visits are free, tablets are very basic price
example six month injection $2097.00 was only $22.95. most others are over $100.00 and cost around $20 - $30.
I was very concerned early days as I am no longer a member of a health insurance, which is a rip off anyway.

Cheers,
Ron.

[Ironwood]

Well I'm off to Brisbane in the morning for my next round of cancer treatment.

'Radioactive Iodine', just have to pop a pill, and then sit in an isolation room for 3 days, and wait until I stop glowing green.

Not much fun. I was hoping I would be able to watch the cricket final, to soak up a bit of time, but thats fallen through now .

I'm hoping this dose will nuke what is still in my system. Fingers crossed.

[Gumby]

I think we are at the stage where we should ask for a second opinion on major health issues. In past generations, they used to take the doctor's word as gospel but not so anymore.

But to save time and money, i just bypass the first doctor and go straight to the second one for his opinion. It has saved me heaps over the years.

[Shedhand]

I think we are at the stage where we should ask for a second opinion on major health issues. In past generations, they used to take the doctor's word as gospel but not so anymore.

But to save time and money, i just bypass the first doctor and go straight to the second one for his opinion. It has saved me heaps over the years.

I have always advocated a similar approach to wives.

[rona]

I went to see the other specialist yesterday, he is possibly the top oncologist in Australia and is based in Ballarat, fortunately he visits Stawell each fortnight to see patients. It is frightening to see the number of patients that are waiting for him each week.
After going through all the pros and cons of my prostate it is becoming rather daunting, as it is classified as aggresive and very difficult to control so
starting next Wednesday I will be on chemo,followed by radiation the following Wednesday and a drip with a bone strengthener to try and build up the bones before they start breaking on me too. This will go on for quite a few weeks to see how it takes.A few CT Scans thrown in,along with blood tests every two weeks. If I had been seeing the Doc probably 10 - 12 years earlier I may not be in this situation now, but you must think positive and try
and beat the bloody thing.When my PSA readings were coming down I thought I was OK, but they have plateaud (Leveled out) at 1189 so thats why I am in trouble now because the figure we were looking for was 4.
I am pleased to see that over 700 have read my thread regarding cancer, I would of course like to see more read it and more importantly g for those check-ups!. I have never been one to try and push anyone into doing things,letalone going to the Doctors, but I can now see that it must be done as I may not be round much longer.

OK , All the best,
Cheers, Ron.

[Eddie Jones]

[quote=rona;460196]......I was very concerned early days as I am no longer a member of a health insurance, which is a rip off anyway.
quote]

Ron,

Glad you brought that up, I'd forgotten about that part.

When I was ill, apart from the operation and the follow-up radiotherapy, I had around 3 CT scans, one MRI, god knows how many normal XRays, plus a total of 3 weeks in Royal Adelaide. Plus flown Darwin - Adelaide, plus accomodation.

The cost to me? Zippo, zilch, nuffink! Why? Because I was a public patient. I don' pretend to fully understand the workings of the system, but if I had had private cover it would have cost me thousands. Apparently if whatever you have is life threatening, you not only get priority, but it's free too. Well at least it was for me.

I agree - Private cover is a total rip-off.

Eddie