Well, today was the day I was supposed to have thyroid surgery at Royal Perth Hospital (I would have been there right now, appointment time was 6:30am) but they phoned me last Thursday and said they had to reschedule it for March 11th due to an emergency).

I'm having the right side of my thyroid and the lump that's attached to it removed, I was supposed to be there all day today and overnight. I had a biopsy done at RPH last July but the results were inconclusive. The doctor said last September there was a 15% chance it might be the beginning of thyroid cancer (0% chance that it could be prostate cancer appearing in the thyroid).

The good thing is I can now be with my aunt today on her 91st birthday. I did organize for my cousin and his wife to visit my aunt for lunch while I was supposed to be in hospital (they're still coming).

At least the 8 weeks of 5 day a week radiation treatment I had for prostate cancer at GenesisCare, Fiona Stanley Hospital from mid October to mid December seems to have had the desired effect so far. Got the results back from a blood test I had a week ago and my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level has dropped to 1.8 ug/l. It was

69

when I had blood tests done in September, 2019 and it had dropped to 6.5 two months after my first Lucrin injection last June (Lucrin stops testosterone production which 'feeds' prostate cancer).

It usually takes between 18 months and 2 years for the PSA to drop to its lowest level (the nadir) after radiation treatment for prostate cancer and I need to have Lucrin injections every 3 months until then at least.

Apart from all that I feel fine, the minor urination problems (sudden urges to 'go' and not much coming out a lot of the time) from the radiation treatment seem to have almost disappeared now.

So glad I had shingles in September 2019, I know that sounds strange and I was cursing it at the time but if it hadn't been for that I probably wouldn't have found out about the prostate cancer until it was too late to treat it effectively since I'd never been to a doctor in my life up until then.

wow you have had a rugged time Carl  sorry to hear all that news...and the delay can be frustrating    but then you wouldnt have been there for your aunties very special birthday.....so that can be a plus...I wish you well for March   a thumbs up for only good news..I always tell them that when I am having anything done....and so far so good..

Carl D wrote on Feb 25^th, 2021 at 8:52am:

Carl D wrote on Feb 25^th, 2021 at 10:00am:



so many complain when they get delayed!    so well done to you for sucking it up.. I remember spending a whole day in emergency with a bag pf peas that were once frozen on what ended up a fractured ankle  I  was just about to see someone  [ it was a public holiday I only so stuff then]   after many hours when a gun shot wound came in... we all sat back...there are just so many doctors and specialists...]

dont ever do something dumb on weekends or public holidays..

Good luck with it all Carl. Hope it all turns out well for you!

Setanta wrote on Feb 25^th, 2021 at 8:47pm:


Poor wiping technique?

Thanks, everyone.

My aunt enjoyed her birthday yesterday, especially the visit from my cousin and his wife. We haven't seen them for 12 years.

He also had serious prostate cancer which was diagnosed about 10 years ago and he decided to have his prostate removed. I did ask about having surgery myself but these days radiation treatment is just as effective as surgery - with less unwanted side effects.

Redmond Neck wrote on Feb 25^th, 2021 at 2:17pm:


Definitely worth getting checked out. The lump on the right side of my thyroid is actually pushing my windpipe sideways (the doctor at Royal Perth showed me the images last September) but I haven't had any difficulty swallowing food up until now.

Thanks, Cods.

I hope he's OK.

The lump on the right side of my thyroid was 2.5cm when I was first informed of it in October, 2019.

When I spoke to the doctor at RPH (the one who will be performing the surgery) last September he said that it was nearly 4cm so it must be slowly getting larger.

From what I've read and heard, thyroid lumps are very common as people get older. Apparently, women tend to have them more often than men although the majority of lumps (for both sexes) turn out to be benign and not cancerous.