Celebrating the Road Often Traveled
But Seldom Spoken Of
(a 2017 post refreshed in 2021)
The road? Prostate Cancer treatment! The celebration? Eight roots in eight weeks and cancer clear!!! An Erotic Journal? With all the ups and downs of this bumpy road, perhaps it is an E-rocky Journal!
Doctor's Orders
I don't think anything can be more unsettling to a man's lusty sex-life, than the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
I guess it was on the cards - 60% of 70 year olds will have it. And I've always been health conscious and have had annual medical checkups for the last 20 years. So a slowly rising PSA level gave advance warning of possible issues. Early this year, my PSA passed a 2nd critical level, so it was off to the urologist for an MRI, a 10 needle biopsy and CT scan. Fortunately, we caught it early, it is entirely contained and only about 1cm in diameter. At my age and current good health, it was recommended that it should be treated (if left untreated, life expectancy could be 10-15 years - I'm aiming for another 25 years at least). I was offered either robotic surgery or radiotherapy. I opted for the later.
Radiotherapy lasts about 8 weeks for 5 days/week. The preliminary CT scan, size and location analysis, determined that I needed 78 RADs, at 2 RAD per treatment, meaning 39 days of treatment were needed.
Week 1, Day 1
After the 1st treatment, I go in to talk with the radiation oncologist doctor. I ask him the most important question of all,
"Is Viagra and sex OK during radiotherapy?".
"No problems" he replies. "You can continue your normal sex life".
Well, that's a relief. That was my main concern about radical prostatectomy surgery. Although modern robotic techniques are very good, there was still the possibility of nerve damage, with incontinence and/or impotence side-effects - NO THANKS.
Continue a 'normal' sex life? What is normal? My sex life has definitely not been regular nor 'normal'.
A plan is formulating in my mind. I will set out to have a 'normal' sex life for the duration of my treatment. Doctor's 'orders' after all.
This is my planned 'treatment' of 'prostate exercises'. This will keep the plumbing clear, keep the good prostate tissue working in tip-top shape and boost my endorphine levels for a positive outlook.
Now the radiotherapy centre is a half hour drive from home, allowing for 30-90mins in the centre, it is easy to slip in an extra hour to visit one of my regular ladies-of pleasure.
To summarize, on explaining my condition and planned 'treatment', all my ladies were even more accommodating than ever, and eager to assist with my 'treatment'. Thankyou ladies.
- Day 5 - Ruby.
- Day 9 - Crystal
- Day 13 - Amber
- Day 18 - Jess (Ruby was on holidays)
- Day 23 - Amber
- Day 28 - Ruby
- Day 26 - Amber
- Day 39 - Ruby - Celebration๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ
Its just a pity that my health insurance doesn't cover these extra 'treatments'.
The Wait
So now I have a 3 month wait before a PSA test and visit to the urologist, to confirm that the cancer has all gone.
PS - Radiotherapy Side Effects
Fortunately, the side-effects of radiotherapy are usually minimal. Mind you, the bowel irritation gives me the shits, and bladder irritation really pisses me off. But that's it, no pain, no fatigue.
PPS - Radiotherapy Humour
One day, I was lying on the radiotherapy table with my pubes and mid-riff exposed. The female operator was getting me aligned - I have had target marks tattooed on my mid-riff and thighs and a pair of laser beams show the correct alignment. Her cold hands on my thighs push and roll me a little to get alignment right. At which point she says "Beautiful!". I tell her that "Only special ladies are allowed to say that!". I get a little laugh.
A couple of days later, I have the same operator, and she says the same things. This time, I say "Well, thank you!". She says "Your welcome" and we both laugh.
PPPS - Six Months - Declining Side Effects
Doctor's report is that I am cancer clear and my PSA levels are back to a very low normal. One of the minor side-effects was reduction in the volume of ejaculate, and as a consequence reduced ability or time to cum. But here at the 6 month mark, I can see an improvement in volume due to prostate function returning to normal (for my age).
PPPPS - Three Years - Up For It, Just
Well my 6 month review was a bit optimistic. In fact at 2 years I wrote "Paradise Lost - Vale Sir Lust".
But I wasn't going to give up. After much research, I resorted to a 3 month course of daily low doses of Viagra, with very regular DIY sexercises, to the point where I was achieving usable erections, so a test drive was scheduled, with moderate success.
Then COVID hit so it was back to DIY for 12 months. But here we are in 2021, open for business, and time to dip my toes in the water (perhaps that should be dipping my willy in some pussies). Getting up is OK, but my issue is staying up, so I need to use cock rings - a vibrating rabbit ears novelty ring has added some fun, much to my buddy's delight.
And so dear Erotic Journal, my journey has been bumpy with lots of ups and downs. The key is to enjoy the 'ups'!
My father was diagnosed over 10 years ago and is still doing great. His positive attitude and sense of humor I think have helped, and it seems you share those traits. All the best to you as you go through this process!
ReplyDeleteWow. I've read snippets of this journey of yours, but to see it all laid out in one post is attention-grabbing.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got treated quickly and that things are 'normal' (ish) now -- especially given these abnormal times.