I didn’t realize today was Remembrance Day until I started today’s post. The minute of silence at the eleventh hour was something I grew up with but now not so much. My maternal Grandfather served with distinction in the First World War winning the Military Medal and my Dad served overseas for most of the Second World War. Compared to the obstacles they overcame, Rupert is just a pimple on an elephants arse.
The Hormone Therapy I’ll commence when I get back to Canberra will involve periodic injections and maybe tablets. The side effects are a bit of a bastard –
- loss of interest in sex (lowered libido)
- erectile dysfunction
- hot flashes
- loss of bone density
- bone fractures
- loss of muscle mass and physical strength
- changes in blood lipids
- insulin resistance
- weight gain
- mood swings
- fatigue
- growth of breast tissue (gynecomastia)
Not too happy about most of those but given that the alternative is Orchiectomy (or as I like to call it Gelding) I think I’ll give it a try. I’m still a bit too attached to my Salada Crackers to go down that route.
The reason I’m not a candidate for removal of the Prostate is that Rupert has already snuck into my lymph nodes so it will be Hormone Therapy initially maybe coupled with Radiotherapy and/or Chemotherapy down the track a little bit.
At no stage have I experienced any pain whatsoever but I know I have that waiting for me at some time in the future, but when it does I’ll deal with it. Apart from having to get up to pee too many times during the night, being incredibly tired all the time and having to always wear an incontinence pad, life goes on as normal.
I’m currently on the Gold Coast playing in the Pan Pacific Masters Games with dear Baseball mates from 5 decades ago. An upside to the wearing of an incontinence pad is that I’ve found Heavy Duty Depends Male Guards make an excellent alternative to a jock strap and cup.
On the day it was confirmed that Rupert was Stage 4 (only 7 days ago but it seems longer) my beautiful 6yo Granddaughter, Ainsley, FaceTimed me to let me know she’d got engaged to Patrick at School and that he had given her a paper engagement ring. She assured me that she was “really looking forward” to getting married. Yesterday she informed me the Engagement was off. Life comes at you really fast these days.
Living With Rupert 