PREAMBLE
Na...(post two days ago) is not where to leave it.
Cancer at the point of diagnosis* does not define (me) - any more than death would - each are just part of the Life/ Death Trip.
*July 2024. After the transrectal prostate biopsy, from thirteen cores, they found only 2.4mm of clinically significant Group 2 Gleason 7 (3+4), in just two of the cores (1.2mm in each) - that was (and still is, my GRADING). For the remainder of the year, I remained on Active Surveillance. I had a CT scan and an isotope bone scan (each negative for metastases), between August and October, which gave me a provisional STAGING of T2c (the T stands for tumour and the c was because the low level of disease was found in each of the left and right lobes. In January 2025, I had a transperineal prostate biopsy (entry point through skin between the scrotum and rectum), which took another twenty nine cores (about 10-20mm in length). The transperineal technique enables better access to the anterior (front) of the prostate, as well as to the apex (the prostate gland is like an inverted pyramid with the base sitting on the wall of the bladder). They found more disease, but none of it exceeded the GRADING, Group 2 Gleason 7 (3+4). In all, ten cores from forty-two were positive and clinically significant, so I moved from 'Active Surveillance' to 'Curative Intent'...
I feel pretty good (at the moment) even though it must be (in some way) affecting my (physical) homeostasis - besides removing/reducing, by degree, the PCa favourable conditions i.e. androgen/testosterone, twelve days into hormone therapy...
18/06/25 update - Started hormone therapy with a 28 day course of tablets (one per day) and approximately half way through, had the first of four weekly analogue injections. Before I had the first of these (at 12 days into the course of tablets), I had another PSA blood test. My PSA had dropped by nearly 40%! With lower testosterone, this is making the conditions harder for the PCa to develop (in fact, my burden of disease is probably shrinking - though the hormone therapy alone will not eradicate the PCa). Whilst I had mild side effects with (each) hormone therapy towards the beginning, my tolerance has improved at this time of writing - I'm just feeling a little more tired at night. The short bouts of mild nausea and mild occasional limb pain, I have not felt, for days. The analogue injections will be repeated until I've had six months treatment with hormones in total. An earlier PSMA PET scan has now firmed up my STAGING at T2c - this is a relief because it confirms my disease burden is currently totally organ confined. So far so good! X....
16/07/2025: Further update: My PSA level has now fallen by 76% since the start of my ongoing treatment! It's now at the pre-2022 measure, I'm obviously delighted. Onwards...X...
WHO'S THAT GIRL?
I mean the girl on the front and rear cover of "The Best Years Of Our Lives" (Harley) EMI Records 1975.
It's not Yvonne Keeley, Linda Lewis or Tina Charles - Yvonne, Linda and Tina, I've known by sight since the 70's of course, because of their own hits. Is it Liza Strike (I haven't yet Googled her)? Or is it a friend, a girlfriend or a model? Mick Rock designed the album sleeve, was it someone he knew? There is a narrative going on, whether real or illusory. On the back of the album cover, the two, the mystery woman and Steve, have turned away from each other - in the back of the 'limo', consumed by their own thoughts. Intriguing. Oh, by the way, the mystery woman is not Liza Strike...
That coat she had on - brings to mind - 'She's In Fashion' by Suede (on 'Head Music' I think, 1999). I don't recall seeing many of those, back in the mid 1970's, not with a metallic look - but I stand to be corrected by anyone else that does remember them.
I like the shot of Steve on the inner sleeve - the rebel. This is the final Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel that features images of other band members of Cockney Rebel (none, apart from Steve, were on Face To Face even - this seems strange). This brings me back to the later posts on my thread, ' The Human Menagerie of Cockney Rebel' (1973) (link below):
www.steveharley.com/forum/7-welcome-mat/...el-1973.html?start=6
EDIT of 30/05/25: 'A Cancer Triptych';
HERE and
www.steveharley.com/forum/6-general-disc...harity.html?start=36
and
www.steveharley.com/forum/5-forum-questi...thin-the-psyche.html
EDIT of 30/05/25: Pop Trivia;
On the same stick that I listen to (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna, Judy Teen, Beauty Queen, Conversation, Could It Happen To Me, Learning To Fly, Big Girls Cry, 5AM, Allentown, I Believe, Waves, Ziggy Stardust, many others, I listen to Who's That Girl (Madonna). Up. Punchy. Melodious, Sexy...
EDIT of 30/05/25: Too many 'another...', removed. But also, added a little (partly explaining the narrative, as I see it).
EDIT of 30/05/25: Some Christmas's ago, Sasha bought me a book, '1000 Record Covers' (Michael Ochs, TASHEN, 1996). 'The Best Years Of Our Lives' is featured, along with three by my other favourite band, Roxy Music. Steve and Cockney Rebel's album is on page 481.
