Last Friday I faced death

FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2014

I’m going to share an absolute screaming miracle here. Last Friday I went into surgery to remove my Prostate gland. I had an aggressive cancer that was intent on killing me. I didn't want anyone other than direct supporters to know yet, in case it all went bad.

One week later I've just got home from lunch with my step sons and their dad. Today I've worked, done domestic duties, driven the car, and had all the usual body functions except one that is best described as the Male Fun Function (MFF). Shortly I'm headed for happy hour at the local. 

My surgeon just called to say the pathology shows ALL the cancer was inside what he took - nothing has escaped. It's over.

I'm CURED. I'm FREE!

My turbo charged recovery is one thing. The whole back story is another.

In October I met the girl of my dreams after a rugged and horrible year of divorce and mayhem. She has been, and is pivotal to my recovery. 

A few close to me know how extreme things in my life were in 2013, often out of my hands, and enough to make a man drink even more. If you pretty well imagine it, I've probably had it happen. I bumbled my way through.

In December (a month before I write this) I was diagnosed with aggressive Prostate cancer. We only just caught it. Then on January 10, 2014 I had the offensive organ removed using Da Vinci robotic surgery. They make six keyhole incisions. I will never need that thing again.

That same operation day I walked up-stairs in hospital. One week ago. The physio put a giant TICK on my chart and I didn’t see her again.

I was released within 48 hours. The pain was only Panadol threshold! Just six days after the operation I was unwired from the post-op hardware and I am NOT incontinent. Far from it - all the mental prep work the physios have done is wasted, as I am operating entirely normally!

I hope and expect to regain great erectile function fairly quickly too given my profile. Not boasting, just sayin..... these two are the sleeping bogies of Prostate Cancer, but they don’t NEED to be!

A year of Pilates really helped. Please do consider this form of exercise; with its focus on core and pelvic contraction. Most men thing it is girly, but once I started, I fast got back to how I felt as a young man! Many guys tell me it cures aches, pains and sore backs too.

I went to work on day 5 (after the op) for a few hours. On day 6, I did my usual journalistic work from my kitchen table as usual. And I’ve been down to the pub every day for a beer or three as well. No more daytime sleeps. 

I feel ready to rumble.

So this blog is to rejoice, to help you to thank whatever faith you worship (or not), and to salute the beautiful people in your life who stand beside you. Oh, and make sure if you are aged 40 or over that you talk to your doctor every year about proactive health measures. And younger? Talk to your doc about other things, boys ‘cos we are all here for a fun time not a long time!

Please share this with other men, of all ages. It isn’t all-bad. Is it?

(Gory Details. Footnote)

This is ALL because the Cancer was detected and did not traverse outside the Prostate gland. And because I elected to treat it FAST. 

I get checked every year in November. I go to my GP and request a long consultation, and a full medical. She weighs me, checks reflexes, height, spatial reaction, and orders a blood sample. She does a DRE. Look it up, I quite enjoy it! She and I laugh a lot.

I take home a bowel scan kit and send off the two easy swabs with a small payment. I fast one morning, give blood, piss in a jar. I do this every year since I turned 40. (I am now 56).

The November blood results came in with a PSA of 4.2 so we repeated it after 6 weeks and it measured 4.4 (normal is less than 1).

THEN I went STRAIGHT to a Urology specialist – Manish Patel in Sydney, highly recommended – and he suggested I pay for an MRI scan. Then a Biopsy (under a general, do not attempt this while awake) and a Bone Scan to make sure nothing had escaped into my system. Don't mess around. If you don't have the cash, pay for it and then apply to your super fund for a medical release of your money.

I had a bunch of physio sessions before the operation to prepare the pelvic floor – listen to EVERY word they say.

Because the cancer was inside the gland, Professor Patel could filet around, and 'preserve' the layer of erectile nerves. He told me they were 'invigorated' and 'active'.

I had the robotic removal in a private hospital. Don't wait for the public system to schedule you with a specialist down the track that does the old fashioned full operation - you'll be munted.

I got this monster (Gleeson 7, Stage 2) just BEFORE it went berserk. It came on FAST, within 12 months of my previous clear PSA and DRE.

Be careful men!