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Cancer treatment costs more than we can afford

  • COMPLICATED HEALTH ISSUES

      28 December 2020
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    I was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 prostate cancer metastisised into my bones, soft tissue and lymph nodes, 4 years ago. I was not allowed chemo, but had two radiation treatments. I also had 2 hormone treatments which caused me to put on a lot of weight. I have been fighting this cancer with special diet and herbs, but 30 months ago I was shown to have at least nine blockages of heart arteries. This meant I could not exercise to bring my weight down. On July 31, 2020 I had open-heart surgery to by-pass these blockages. My wife and I are renting and have no income apart from the pension, so we cannot afford the special diet and herbs I am on. As of Dec. 28 I cannot exercise due to lack of strength and stamina. The hospital refuses to do an MRI to show what the cancer is doing so I have no idea if my holistic treatment is helping. They originally told me that the PSA would not give them an accurate account because my cancer is at level 9 on the Gleason scale. Now they tell me that the PSA can, so what do I believe?

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  • CANCER TREATMENT COSTS

      12 March 2020
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    Diagnosed with aggressive stage four prostate cancer at a Gleason level of nine, nearly four years ago, Colin is still following as much council as he can afford from on line sites to fight his cancer. Oncologists refuse to do another MRI to show if the cancer has gone, so the cost of organic food and special herbs and other supplements are too much for their budget. Now Colin has heart problems as well, that complicates it all.

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  • October 2019 Update

      30 October 2019

    My oncologist talked me into another Zoladex injection [hormone therapy] I did not want that but wanted to have my testis removed to stop the production of testosterone which the cancer feeds on. Side effects are not bad he assured me. Well I had that on 1 Nov 2018 and I have put on lots of weight, grown large boobs, lost most of my upper body hair, get lots of severe hot flushes, pain in all parts of my body, cannot do anything physical for more than two minutes before I am totally pooped with severe pain in arms and chest, and short of breath. Saw him recently and he assured me that this was all common side effects from the Zoladex and it could continue for another six to 12 months! I had a heart scan which showed the main artery 100% blocked and two others 'seriously diseased.' I am now waiting for an invasive angiogram to see why these two arteries are so bad. Doctor put me on 15mg of prednisone daily and the pain has almost all gone! Must have been polymialgia back again.

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  • Cancer treatment costs more than we can afford

      29 April 2019

    My oncologist talked me into another Zoladex injection [hormone therapy] I did not want that but wanted to have my testis removed to stop the production of testosterone which the cancer feeds on. Side effects are not bad he assured me. Well I had that on 1 Nov 2018 and I have put on lots of weight, grown large boobs, lost most of my upper body hair, get lots of severe hot flushes, pain in all parts of my body, cannot do anything physical for more than two minutes before I am totally pooped with severe pain in arms and chest, and short of breath. Saw him recently and he assured me that this was all common side effects from the Zoladex and it could continue for another six to 12 months! I could have punched his lights out lol. I tried packing kiwifruit again but could not do it, and had to stop after four days, so will not have that income again like last year. , .

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