24.9.12
Dear friends and readers,
Much has happened since the last issue of this infrequent ramble and my search for cancer cures both traditional, alternative and completely odd continues.
I recently visited a Maggie’s centre at Charing Cross hospital, where my friend Tim Hyman is artist in residence, and dropped in on a prostate group meeting at which a rather dour doctor talked about palliative care (dealing with the very sick and incurables). Not very cheerful until one of the group started talking about the Dignitas clinic in Zurich where they will end it all for you. The lecturer had a dim view of this saying that it costs £10,000 a go (only one go necessary surely!) and suggested that with good palliative care it’s something we needn’t be concerned about. I asked if that’s because she could do it cheaper? This lead to talk about what qualifications are needed to set up one’s own murder clinic. After that it was a lot more fun. Tim sat there drawing it all. It really didn’t seem a very appropriate subject for a group of men who were all hopefully recovering.
It turns out that one has some choice in where to receive their palliative care – home, hospital and hospice seem to be the favourites. I was informed that fortunately my nearest hospice is St Joseph’s, just down the road within crawling distance. Sounds grim. I wonder if they could provide care in a pub?
Recent news is good. For the first time I left a specialist team meeting more cheerful than when I went in. The pathology test report says that the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes and is not present in surrounding tissue. It also says that the tumour has passed 1mm beyond the gland. Having seen a doctor and the surgeon in the past few days it is uncertain whether this means there are cancer cells still in the area. This will be informed by my next PSA test at the end of October. Looks like future treatment will be based on the decision I make between monitoring PSA readings every 3 months and radiotherapy.
The tumour was quite large, filling the left side of the prostate and half of the right side. The doctor I saw seemed genuinely surprised and happy at the result. They reckon that the cancer had been there for up to 5 years – with no symptoms.
After receiving this heartening news I took a stroll to the Hunterian Museum on Lincolns Inn Fields where I celebrated by watching a couple of short films. The first showed the interior view of a prostate operation in which the gland was carved up using a heated wire loop and flushed out of the bladder in bits. The B film which was much more exciting featured the removal of a brain tumour. On the way out I had a chat with the man running the museum shop who turned out to be a recently retired prostate surgeon. He pointed out that although the Da Vinci machine was not available 7 yrs ago they wouldn’t have wasted that sort of operation on me if they thought I was going to peg it soon. They could do with him back at the hospital.
I’ve managed to get in contact with the main man in the UCLH imaging dept. who is keen to collaborate with regard to using the scan and biopsy images to make something or the other. It appears that he and several other doctors have already been talking about developing artworks from images so it’s good timing.
Fishing Therapy – The cancer fishing luck seems to be holding out with a recent catch of 2 tench and a big roach that was seized on the way in by a monster pike which snapped my line. Cancer may improve piscatorial good fortune but I don’t recommend it. A change of bait would be a lot simpler.
Once again, many thanks to all who have given support with odd dietary suggestions, vile tasting nuts, lucky talismans, interesting drawings and trips to the seaside. It is all greatly appreciated and will not be forgotten.
Luv
Magnus xxx
PS. Most of my friends have already rushed off to their GP for a prostate test. If you haven’t done so and you’re over 50 give it a go. Don’t be afraid of the digital rectal examination it is actually the best bit of the whole process and it’s free. This service is not available to women.