It's something you could reflect on.

If God suddenly appeared as a burning bush and asked you to lead Cornwall in a new 'It's a Knockout' tournament.....You'd spend twenty minutes arguing with him over rule changes.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I'd spend longer demanding he prove himself as real and that the bush wasn't a conspiracy theory.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I will tell the whole story so you can pick the bones out of it.

I was diagnosed by accident! I went to the GP with backache. He had a hunch. He probably saved my life. Prostate cancer can move to the bones. He arranged a blood test. My PSA, which is the indicator for prostate cancer, was high. A DRE (finger test) revealed a tumour, a subsequent biopsy that it needed treatment and then things moved fast. I had a prostatectomy (removal) in a 3-hour op. The post-op biopsy showed it was a 4+3 cancer.

For the first years, no more PSA was found, which indicates complete success as the prostate is the only place PSA can be made. If any is found it means some cancer cells have escaped. If the PSA level increases it means they are growing and the "doubling time" indicates how fast. I was told I was cured but should continue checking. 4 years ago it was detected again. Very low level, but there and was growing. So I was given 6 weeks of radiotherapy and it disappeared again. Keep on checking though and then last year it was back again and this time radiotherapy wasn't possible. It's doubling quick enough to be a concern but not an immediate problem. Hormone therapy comes next, which has nasty side effects, so it's only given when it becomes absolutely necessary.

I was showing what I now know to be symptoms for years before I was diagnosed. Frequent night peeing. Restricted and slow flow. I even had a "TURPS" for an enlarged prostate, when they remove part as that was thought to be the reason, but the cancer wasn't found.

So if you detect any of the symptoms go get your PSA tested. If you have the slightest doubt go and get tested. It's a simple blood test, with a quick turnaround. I can go in the morning and see the result online that afternoon.

The doctors don't test by age or routinely. Unlike breast cancer. The NHS is, I believe, concerned that too many early-stage cancers would be found which won't yet need any treatment but worry people.

Sorry for the long story, but I hope it helps.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

You aren't being the least nosey. This needs to be talked about as it's the most common cancer for men and too many ignore it.

It's so long ago that I cannot remember how bad the backache was but nothing very dramatic. It got a little bit sidelined! It's still there though bone scans reveal no cancer in them. Prostate cancer cells can escape and grow elsewhere and it seems that the bones are a popular home for the little rascals. The prognosis is uncertain. More people die with it than of it. The hormone therapy curtails your production of testosterone which is what these cancer cells feed on. This then slows their growth but doesn't eliminate it. The hormone given is estrogen-based and the side effects are weight gain, especially in "non-manly" places, lethargy and mood swings. So deciding when to start and at what level is important. There are also new treatments being trialled, which might involve me.

On the plus side, it's been a long time since this was first diagnosed and the recurrence came late so they think the cells that escaped might be weaker as a consequence. Which is countered by the increasing rate I am now seeing.

So lots of unknowns. Nothing to be done but carry on, enjoy every day, stay happy and useful, be as kind to those you love, and pass on as much of the little wisdom as you have acquired to them as possible. I am blessed by having the most wonderful wife any man could hope for, who worries how she will manage without me. Which is my principal reason for being determined to be around for a long time yet.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Notice how quiet Democrat and Democratic supporters are about election interference after this election.

You could hear a pin drop.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

I concur with all of this