George (Funnyfut) Pitcher

[funnyfut]

Thanks Steve, I have had a really crap weekend and I was awake at 3am with the pain but I could not take any Oramorph as I would have been out of my tree when they called . I took it as soon as I had hung up and have now just come round enough to post. I hope you are stiil doing ok and lets hope some good comes out of today.

[Spardo]

Sorry George, I missed it what with the time difference and all.
I spent some time finding 5 live as it isn't on my list and when I got there, I think, there was just some bird on a rolling advert for all the stuff they do so had to go back to radio 4.
All the best mate, thinking of you.

[funnyfut]

Hi everyone
After my bit of fame on the radio I did an interview with The Sunday Mirror and a local paper on the Macmillan fuel poverty campaign both of which were printed and the response was better than expected. I went to the conference in Gatwick on Monday and managed to get my views across regarding the little help cancer sufferers and other terminal illness sufferers get from the goverment. I did use your phrase about the doctors finger, it produced a laugh but the message got across.
I am doing fine, my legs have finally given up along with the hips but Mac have provided an electric wheelchair on which I fly around. The hospital are pleased with my latest scan results showing the cancer slowing down again in the bones but unfortunately it is attacking my nerve ends which is why I am having trouble with the legs etc. I have my reflexology lady coming today which does work very well I don't know how but it does improve the pain so I can have a good nights sleep.
I am on Trucknet every day and really enjoy reading all your posts even though I don't input that much it reminds me that I miss being on the road but with all the topics it softens the blow.
Safe journey all
George

[Spardo]

Keep the faith George, glad to have been of service . I remember Billy Connolly doing quite a long humerous piece on stage about the horrors of the 'finger' test and I laughed like a drain at the time but am not sure now that it was really helpful. It may be a bit undignified but is not in the least painful or uncomfortable and, as a first line of defence, so vital.

Are you on the south coast somewhere? We are coming to England at the beginning of December and might make time for a brief meet, if it was convenient to you. Having said that we do have a load to do travelling from Dover along the coast to Truro, round to Llanelli then via N. Wales and Oldham to Sunderland and Dundee before returning via Nottingham to Dover.
Talk about tramping , tentatively scheduled for a fortnight, we wisely haven't booked the return ferry yet.
One of the advantages of retirement.

Whether we meet or not, best wishes for the time being, talk soon.

[funnyfut]

Thanks David it did go down well, I live north of Worthing but with that tramp you have planned I would think you would have to keep moving I will look for the cloud of dust and then I know it will be you flying down (or up) the road hope you have a good navigator
Best wishes to you and safe journey
George

[biggusdickusgb]

nice one george, keep up the good work.
you should've let us know about the mirror interview
all the best.

[Spardo]

hope you have a good navigator

I have George, me, I'd trust her in the next seat about as much as I'd trust the sat nav.
We'll be coming ashore in Dover around 0900 on Tuesday the 2nd and I'll be visiting the aged Dad at Caterham before shooting down to Worthing to see my cousin, then off to the west. That day or the next.
I'll PM you my English mobile number so if you feel like ringing to see how we are doing, feel free.

[dinosteveus1]

WOW, George you never cease to amaze me. You seem to just take everything in your stride.
Do you have any Family supporting or helping you? (if it's too personal I'm sorry, just ignore me)

[funnyfut]

Thanks for the number David I will try to call you if nothing else just to say hello. Steve I live on my own now I lost my wife to MS in 2001 but I do have the Mac nurses who are always there if I need them and friends that come and have a chat when they are passing so not entirely on my own, plus the lot of you on here .
I have now been asked to appear on channel four for a documentary about cancer patients who have no family close by and the support I get, this is for the New Year which should be interesting to say the least. I am back at the Oncologist this week to have some internal bits done which should allow me to get out a bit easier without making frequent trips to the loo (I'll let you figure that one out ) The only other thing that I have this week is my pain control which means I will probably have stronger Morphine patches so another free trip on the NHS
Anyway hope you all have a good weekend
Safe Journey
George

[Spardo]

On the 11 th of January George moved into a hospice where he will get 24 hour care.
It is run by the Macmillan nurses who I know from personal experience with my Mum are brilliant.
I speak to him each week and he is bearing up very well but I know that he enjoys our chats and would love to speak to any others who could spare a few minutes now and again.
If anyone would like to I have his mobile number. If he's not off out gallivanting somewhere it deverts directly to the phone by his bed.
If you want it PM me and I'll pass it on.

[Spardo]

Some good news for me at least. At my post op inspection on Wednesday the doc said 'no cancer'. All I have to do is have someone's finger up my bum and a blood test once a year for the rest of my natural and job done. A small price to pay for peace of mind.
So come on all you over 50s brace yourselves, it doesn't hurt and it isn't really all that embarrassing, but it could save your life.

If you're still reading these pages George, sorry I missed our Sunday chat last week but I have been called away urgently to help a friend who has loads of dogs to look after while she herself is on a mercy mission to Holland. Don't have the credit for international mobile to mobile and using her landline is a bit cheeky I think. Hopefully I'll be back home by Sunday so will call then or Monday.
Did you get to talk to Steve, he did get your number off me?

Kiss a MacMillan for me.

[funnyfut]

Hi everyone sorry Dave and Steve for getting you so worried I am back at home for a few days then going back to hospital on Saturday only for a few days then I move into a new sheltered housing place in Rudgwick. I am a new drug which has lowered my pain levels and improves my mobility quite a bit, I will be looked after continuously by both my Macmillan nurses and the NHS nurses but I have made my decision to be at home when my time comes. Sorry Steve but this is one race I want to come secound not first but we could go for a tie and really bugger up the man with the scythe.
I will keep updating whenever I get the chance

[biggusdickusgb]

i'm with you on that one george, i think we should just take it easy then and not race.
at least you're still with us, i'm just glad i decided to give your house phone another go.
you take it easy, i'll give you a call on monday to see how you're settling in.

[Spardo]

No apologies needed George, not from you anyway, although I have got a little humble pie to eat after the mild roasting I gave the lady who replied from Macmillan. She was only doing her job but I got a little annoyed with all that Data Protection Act nonsense.
Glad you're still with us and thinking positive thoughts. I'll give you a call very soon.

[jessicas dad]

is there any update on this thread.

[funnyfut]

I have not posted for quite a while for many reasons, mainly because my health goes up and down and I never know how I will feel until the day starts.
The cancer is very aggressive and spreading throughout my body, I now have hot spots in my skull, shoulders, arms, ribs, lower spine, pelvic area and legs. I am lucky in the fact that it has not yet attacked any of my major organs which will be the cause of my death. Getting about is now very difficult without my walking aids indoors and when I go out I have a wheelchair or on a good day my mobility scooter, I also have a mobility car which has been adapted for my use which is a god send when I feel well enough for a trip out.
Spardo calls me every Sunday morning to make sure I am still ok and he is on my Macmillan nurses list to contact when the time comes, hopefully not too soon. My time is taken up with Macmillan and getting information out to the men out there regarding Prostate cancer and also the little that is done for all cancer patients and carers.
I am on 200mg of morphine per hour plus Fentanyl 800g for pain breakthrough when it occurs, this is backed up with various drugs which try to slow down the cancer spread, all of which give me hot sweats you could not imagine. The pain never goes completely so you tend to get used to it and only when the break through pain happens do you realise what pain can mean.
No rosey picture but if it makes you think about getting tested for PSA levels then good.
Safe journey all
George

[Jonah 1]

George sorry I havn't been in touch.
I got your contact details off of David but me being me managed to delete the email before I had wrote it down .
Could you P.M me your contact details and I'll arrange to come down, on the trike with Trina, and see you.

[jessicas dad]

im glad you are still about george keep on going buddy.

[harry_gill]

hiya,
george, have been looking out for your posts nice to see something from you, not the best news but nice to see you're as cheerful as can be, you may remember we've spoken on here before,i'm hopefully recovering from the "c" thingy so i have a good idea how you feel, keep your chin up mate it's all one can do and good luck.
thanks harry long retired.

[bestbooties]

Some of the guys on here will not care for what i say next but that isn't my concern. I'm no billy graham but i do believe in the healing power of God! Prostrate cancer can be healed by God, no matter what doctors say My prayers will definately be with you funnyfut.

Don't underestimate the power of prayer.No miracles are guaranteed,but there are some people who have benifited.
Our prayers are with you.

Ian and the Rev'd Ann

[funnyfut]

Thanks for the kind wishes all, I will try to keep you all updated when I can and if not Spardo will pass on any news, he has been a great help over the the months with his phone calls every Sunday mornings.
With regard to prayer and the power of healing, I have been lucky enough to have a close friend who suffers from MS who regually takes me to church for prayer and although I have not had any miracle cure I find it very helpful in understanding the sense of inner peace which it provides.
This week I have my usual hospital visit providing them with my blood samples and then more MRI scans followed up with the pallative care nurses checking my various needs. The good old DWP have been slow in paying me any form of benefit until my Macmillan nurse got involved and when she obtained a DS1500 form from my doctor, which states my life expectancy is 6 months or less, then because of this the DWP have to pay me full benefits with no further questions. This has given me a financial boost so at least I can go out now without the worry of being able to afford the costs of buying something as small as a cup of coffee.
My Mac nurse took me to a local fete today which was very good and we were lucky enough to have the sun shine with us all the time we were there and now I am back home I am tired out and ready for bed so I will go for a lay down.
Safe journey all
Georgee

[Spardo]

Hey, who says you ain't lucky George? Pissing down with rain and then it brightens up for your trip out.
No dramas I hope with the machinery. Still can't get that image out of my mind of you and Sheila careering out of control at the garden centre.
Stay lucky mate, will contact you somehow next weekend while we are away.

[bestbooties]

Since my doctor confirmed several months ago that after having a Low Glucose Tolerance for over 30 years,I now have type 2 Diatetes.I am very lucky that it's only by the hospital blood test that shows that,my own symtons don't seem any different,and I am still on the diet I have been on for years,and that is not too strict at the moment.
However,to monitor my situation,my practice diabetic nurse gives me a blood test every 3 months,no sweat.This last timeI have asked for a check on my prostate condition.(When you have a blood test,they only usually check for the condition you have).The doctor did state that any reading given on the condition of the prostate through a blood test was "not conclusive".I insisted that it was checked anyway as that is not a good enough reason NOT to have it checked.
On the result of my last test,I was told it was clear.I asked how often the check was recommended and told that every 12 months is sufficient.

[Jonah 1]

Hey, who says you ain't lucky George? Pissing down with rain and then it brightens up for your trip out.
No dramas I hope with the machinery. Still can't get that image out of my mind of you and Sheila careering out of control at the garden centre.
Stay lucky mate, will contact you somehow next weekend while we are away.

This "incident" didn't happen after I spoke to you did it George.

You may wanna think twice about Saturday if it did

[funnyfut]

Don't worry Sean I am sitting here waiting for you with my tin hat on and sandbags all around me so that I won't get hurt by anything

[funnyfut]

I had my latest results yesterday which unfortunately were not good, my PSA count has shot through the roof, 191, which means that all the drugs for slowing the cancer growth are not working. The cancer is very aggressive and now is continuing to attack my body without any resistance from the medication. I have been offered both Chemo and Radiotherepy but the side effects outway the treatment as it would only prolong my life by a maximum of 2-3 months and I would rather spend these last months being able to get out and not suffering the sickness and fatigue these treatments would give me. The average time for my stage of this particular cancer is 6-8 months so at least I will reach my 60th birthday as I still want to claim my extra benefits from this tight goverment and I will enjoy that.
On a brighter note Sean came down on his trike on Sunday and took me out for a ride which was great he really cheered me up and made sure I had a good time, so thanks mate you made my weekend a one to remember.
I will post again when I can to keep you informed of my progress.
Drive safe all
George

[garnerlives]

The average time for my stage of this particular cancer is 6-8 months so at least I will reach my 60th birthday as I still want to claim my extra benefits from this tight goverment and I will enjoy that.

Hi George,

Been following your posts on this topic, never posted as didn't feel it was my place to or whatever. I've got to say your are a fantastically courageous guy and I really admire you for what you're going through. In relation the the above quote, what a fantastic incentive to keep plugging away, they'll happily roll money out to people/organisations who don't deserve it but don't supply it to those who do. Keep in there and I look forward to hearing what you get up to.

Regards

Jon

[harry_gill]

hiya,
george does it depend on the area you get the treatment what benefits one gets? a friend of mine also suffering stomach cancer same age as myself, had the majority of his stomach removed as did i he had all his treatment in another hospital he told me the macmillan nurses got him lots of benefit extra's filled his paperwork in for him and liased with him even after release, myself on the other hand saw a nurse on diagnosis given her card and told if necessary ring anytime, never heard anything since, that was two and a half years ago, have never had as much as a bean extra, have tried under my own steam but always told i don't qualify.PS tried to contact macmillan on release from hospital told would get back, still waiting.
thanks harry long retired.

[funnyfut]

Hi All
Sorry Harry for not replying to you question sooner but I have not been too good, as far as I know it does not matter where you are regarding the benefit payments and with Macmillan all I can say is if it was not for them I would have given up ages ago. They have helped me through all the benefit payment issues and made sure that the treatment I get is the best and if I call no matter what time of day, they respond immediately. I must also say that Steve helped me a great deal, then and even now as I regularly use his words of wisdom he gave me. I have now given a GS1500 certificate to the DWP and I now qualify for every benefit possible as the document is certified by my doctor which tells them I have about 6 months left in my life. That does not mean I will definately go by the end of 6 months as I plan to see he new year in first.
My problems now are the pain which is very difficult to control as I will not have the radio therapy because I wish to be able to get out when I can without being ill from all the side effects, same with the chemo. I am on 400 mg patches and use a fentanyl (morphine substitute) spray for when the pain gets to much to bare, but I am happy as usual. I do not class myself as brave or what ever, when you are given a time to live you either accept it and make sure what is left is used as you wish or give in to it, I will not give in.
I will pop back again just to keep you up to date, if anything goes wrong Spardo will let you know so drive safe everyone and I will post again soon
Cheers
George

[brit pete]

all the best thinking of you , and wish you well