Like everyone I’ve seen the adverts regarding prostate cancer, and I suppose it’s been now highlighted by the news that King Charles has been checked and is now undergoing treatment.
I think this could be great for the male population, as he’s accidently become a champion for men to go an get regular check ups. From the sounds of it, there are many men who don’t suffer any symptoms until it has become too late or that they will have to undergo more invasive surgery. Obviously the success rate is then cut, and in that time it may have spread.
I’m writing this post from my friend’s house, in a very wet and windy south Wales. He’s the same age as myself, 55 in case you’re asking, and has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and I’m here to give him moral support, and I think it will be financial support too. They’ve caught it at an early stage, and treatment should have started, but what I’m realising is I’m dealing with someone who frankly is procrastinating, and not making it a priority. I just roll my eyes!
I know he’s scared, and it’s set off his arterial fribulation heart condition, or racing heart, which is Catch-22, I can see is him stressing as he’s just lost his job, has not been paid for 3 months, has picked up a warehouse job in a very cold factory which doesn’t cover his costs, but hopefully he’ll get one of the other jobs he’s applied for. I’m busy writing his CV for him. He’s getting ratty, but he’s made it a priority to see a bunch of friends, rather than knuckling down and sorting his CV, LinkedIn and other paperwork. That’s my grumble over. But the upshot is that treatment has been put back until his heartrate settles. My fear is that I’m only here for another month, and that when he will really need me, I’ll have had to go back to London.
I have to say that I’ve been supported really well by the people on the MacMillan Cancer chatrooms. They are there for those diagnosed and their families. I am going to look to see if my friend could get some financial support, because I know when I, friends and members of family have had radiotherapy, it absolutely wipe you out, and if nothing else, hopefully I can look out for him and start getting things in place for when he really needs it.
I urge you all to go and get checked. It’s a simple check and could save your life.