Some great news in my fight with cancer

It’s been several days since my last results have come through during a discussion with my oncologist. I’m still pinching myself a bit and wondering if the conversation had really happened or did I just dream it.

Well to fill you in my latest scan results were extremely good, her words remarkable. After nearly 2 years since my diagnosis of stage 4 prostate cancer the cancer is still shrinking, in fact the only place it shows up is on my right pelvis all other areas seemed to have gone or nearly gone.

I’m not out of the woods yet but those results were as good as it could possibly get for someone with this type of aggressive cancer. I’ve still got cancer but it seems to be in remission and long may that last. I still need a full on miracle to be healed totally but I’m certainly on the right path in this rollercoaster of a journey.

Of course there is a caveat attached to this great piece of news. It can’t all be good can it? The other side of the story is the scans are picking up signs of osteoporosis in both of my legs, this means my bone density is now a problem due to the hormone treatment and steroids that I’ve had.

Still I think I’ll take that over the flip side which is I could be sitting here writing to you and telling you the cancer has gained traction and has spread and got worse. So let’s just follow the silver lining and I’ll take what Ive got. Also my psa level was 0.01 which had dropped from the previous month of 0.03. I know it’s a tiny fall but last month’s 0.03 again started sending my thoughts down a negative pathway for a while.

A peaceful moment by the lake

I’m right now doing what I enjoy the most, sitting beside a very calm lake with a nice cup of decaf latte with oat milk, just observing the nature and listening to its orchestra.

The wind is cool but not cold and the sun keeps making fleeting appearances as the clouds skittle across the sky. When the sun shines it’s like a heater has been switched on as the heat suddenly bathes me.

The lake is peaceful, I can see the silluett of a heron perched on a small boat, I guess he’s fishing as he sits perfectly still. There are so man sounds happening. A small splash as a moorhen dives or a splash of a large fish as it breaks the surface.

If I close my eyes for a few minutes I can hear mother nature’s orchestras she creates an endless symphony of wonderful sounds. The orchestra has a background of song birds as they make impossible sounds that delight and soothe, I wander how many of us hear this or just ignore it, too busy with our phones and other distractions. The song birds are backed up by a gentle breeze which stirs the trees and cools my face. There is a flock of waterbirds which are honking and hooting and splashing and occasionally squabbling with each other.

Ducks geese swans and all manner of different water birds have suddenly appeared as I open my eyes, perhaps in the hope I’ve come to feed them. A couple of brave geese come out of the lake and waddle over towards me, they are not afraid. I could touch them.

I’ve got a busy weekend coming up, today I’m meeting up with my sister and we are going for a walk. Sadly she lost her beloved greyhound Wolfie last week. If ever a dog and a family were meant to find each other then this is it. He had such a troubled early life as a racer in Ireland but lived out the remainder of his days with the most loving family. He was my friend too and I will miss him.

Tomorrow I’m going to London and walking 10km in the March for Men event, this is organised by Prostate Cancer UK and will raise thousands of pounds into research into this illness. I’m going on my own my wife and kids are on holiday in Lanzarote I’m too much of a high risk to go abroad at the moment maybe I’ll be able to go away next year. I’m looking forward to talking to others on the walk and sharing thoughts and stories and perhaps a word if wisdom or two🙏

Well I wanted to finish this blog with some thoughts. Lately I think I’ve been at my most peaceful with life. I’ve learned the values of appreciation and gratitude and just stopping when things get a bit rough . Taking a few breaths and switching off when things start to get overwhelming. It’s easy to lose yourself in a cascade of thinking when you get overwhelmed and things just seem too much. Having this diagnosis has made me see the strength in letting go and just precticing some mindfulness. Just sitting down for 10 mins and just listening to the birds or focusing on a place of calmness. I genuinely can’t recommend it enough.

Love Woody ❤️

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