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.

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*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'...

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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...

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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 (measuring Prostate Specific Antigen). My PSA had dropped by nearly 40%!

With lower testosterone, this is making the conditions harder for the PCa (Prostate Cancer) 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....

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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...

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17/08/2025 update: No further improvement, as yet, on PSA reduction beyond last reported on 16/07/25. My PSA is presently a little higher than that considered normal for a man over 70 (for me that's not that far ahead - and we all know that time seems to fly - more so when you're older!) My PSA is, currently, less than twice the level considered normal for my age, when earlier this year, it was almost eight times the normal level!

I am now only receiving the LHRH (Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone) analogue injection, whereas in the early periods I was receiving what is known as CAB (Combined Androgen Blockade), because of the initial 28 days of one a day tablets being taken in conjunction with the four weekly LHRH injections (the last four tablets were taken between the first and second injections). This might explain why my PSA reduction, at least for the moment, has halted (?)

Without being specific about medications or doses, for clarification:

1. The purpose of the tablets was to block the action of androgens, especially testosterone, at the cellular level. They prevent testosterone from binding to androgen receptors on prostate cancer cells, so inhibiting growth and division.

2. The purpose of the LHRH injections works to lower overall testosterone production in the body (the prostate cancer cells need testosterone to grow and proliferate), so this action effectively starves the cancer cells, resulting in a shrinking of tumours or at least holding existing disease in check, halting further growth.

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26/08/25

3. There is another potential explanation for the current stalling of my PSA reduction (?) In their 2010 paper, 'Hormone therapy in the management of Prostate Cancer; evidence-based approaches', Gomella et al, pointed out that LHRH analogue only reduces circulating testosterone by 90% (that produced by the testes). The other 10% is converted by the adrenal cortex.

The adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney. Reading this immediately captured my attention because back when I was 55 years of age, I had my first DRE (digital rectal examination) and CT scan (both following a urine infection). Whilst my PSA at that time was normal, the CT scan picked up that I had a 'bulky' left adrenal gland. Maybe more than 10% of my testosterone is still circulating? I will raise it, with my oncology and urology teams. The bulky left adrenal gland was picked up over a decade ago.

Neither of my scans since 2024 has highlighted a bulky left adrenal gland. Besides circulating testosterone, there is also testosterone to consider that remains within prostate tissue. One of my 'discovered' Japanese papers touches on that (I may or may not later refer to it)! For me (I know I now have a vested interest in being aware), this kind of thing made my OU health sciences modules (2018-2023 inclusive), so interesting!

End of 26/08/25, back to 17/08/25:

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I should also report that I have been feeling periodic hot flushes - but for me these are not lasting too long and they are infrequent. These are a common side effect of the treatment (around 70% of patients will experience them).

I have also found some interesting Japanese scientific papers on hormone therapy for prostate cancer, which I may refer to again, the next time I update. I'm happy the way things are going. I've got a decision to make during the first half of next month but I want to see what my next PSA reading is before I make it...I hope YOU are all well.

Tara for now...X

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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.

Hi Jem, the girl on the cover was a friend of Mick Rock, called Birgit. I believe Steve once said she was married to someone who helped design some of his album covers. The silver jacket though, that belonged to Yvonne Keeley..
I'm truly sorry to read of your health issue and I hope you respond well to the treatment. Stay strong Jem, you can beat this..