Health

[Izzy]

On 04/09/2025 at 23:26, Izzy said:

Mum died of Pancreatic cancer last December.

 

Found out today that my Dad has Prostate cancer.

 

Fvck cancer.

 

Taking my old man to get his biopsy results next week and find out his treatment plan.

 

In the meantime he phones me last night to say he's also had tests for testicular cancer and that's come back positive.

 

Double cancer whammy. Poor sod 

[Jattdogg]

9 hours ago, Izzy said:

Taking my old man to get his biopsy results next week and find out his treatment plan.

 

In the meantime he phones me last night to say he's also had tests for testicular cancer and that's come back positive.

 

Double cancer whammy. Poor sod 

Damn that is tough Izzy. Hope things work out for the best long term wise.

 

[SpacedX]

23 hours ago, Izzy said:

Taking my old man to get his biopsy results next week and find out his treatment plan.

 

In the meantime he phones me last night to say he's also had tests for testicular cancer and that's come back positive.

 

Double cancer whammy. Poor sod 

I'm sorry to hear that. Both are very treatable if caught early but that does not make it any less of an ordeal for him. I have prostate cancer, stage 2 contained and have been on active surveillance for three years. I may decide to have treatment soon because it is increasing in volume and pushing up the PSA. Although the lesions are unchanged and the cancer is ostensibly stable, I suspect that there are slightly higher grade cells in there since 30% of prostate cancer biopsies undersample. Either that or they are mutating. Remember, prostate cancer is a stealth killer because it is asymptomatic until it has escaped. So providing that there is no metastasis, knowing that it is there is half the battle won. I hope that there is a favourable outcome. If it is Gleason Score 6 they will recommend 'watchful waiting' and it's likely something that he will die with as opposed to of. 

Edited 26 September 2025 by SpacedX

[ajthefox]

On 25/09/2025 at 08:46, Izzy said:

Taking my old man to get his biopsy results next week and find out his treatment plan.

 

In the meantime he phones me last night to say he's also had tests for testicular cancer and that's come back positive.

 

Double cancer whammy. Poor sod 

Jesus, what a rough year for the pair of the you. 

 

Wishing you both all the best mate.

[UniFox21]

BBC News - Most men should not be screened for prostate cancer, says UK expert body - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm20169gz44o

 

On the surface this is a disappointing read, basically suggesting mass screening would be more harmful than good.

 

In reality, they should be encouraging any man above the age of 45 to go to their GP and get a PSA/blood test annually. I do find the promotion of mens health to be ineffective when it's so difficult to even get into your gp.

 

Edit; especially frustrating the suggestion is only those with a specific variant should be tested. And obviously you're only finding out you have said variant by getting a blood test

Edited 28 November 2025 by UniFox21

[TheUltimateWinner]

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

[Spudulike]

14 minutes ago, TheUltimateWinner said:

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

Lot of it about but the jab is helping, apparently. Did you get the flu(?) virus less than 2 weeks following the jab? Perhaps it wasn't as effective.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flu-vaccine-providing-important-protection-despite-new-subclade

 

[Spudulike]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crk7j8nxlr6o

 

[VLC86]

19 minutes ago, TheUltimateWinner said:

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

That’s not good.

 

I had the flu a couple of years ago and ended up on antibiotics for 2 weeks so I now have the jab every year. Wouldn’t fancy getting that again.

[FoyleFox]

The other half is on week 4 of a chest infection, had antibiotics and steroids but it's nasty. 

Apparently, quite a few people with one of those,  too. 

[UniFox21]

14 hours ago, TheUltimateWinner said:

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

It isn't a effective this year, part of the flu virus mutated shortly after the vaccine was "locked in"

[danny.]

17 hours ago, TheUltimateWinner said:

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

Yea I was pretty rough for 4-5 days, pretty much recovered now but when I do anything exerting I can tell it's still there, seems to linger
 

2 hours ago, UniFox21 said:

It isn't a effective this year, part of the flu virus mutated shortly after the vaccine was "locked in"

It's always a bit of a shot in the dark isn't it, as low as 10% efficacy some years IIRC
 

10 hours ago, FoyleFox said:

The other half is on week 4 of a chest infection, had antibiotics and steroids but it's nasty. 

Apparently, quite a few people with one of those,  too. 

What symptoms do they have? My other half has what I thought the same thing I had (probably this flu) but she's no better at all after 2 weeks. Keep telling her to go to the GP but she says it's just a cold. But she's normally better from a cold after 24-48 hours.

[VLC86]

No idea how accurate this is on the Gov website but suggests the vaccine is 70% effective this year.

[danny.]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/flu-vaccine-providing-important-protection-despite-new-subclade

 

Quote

70 to 75% effective at preventing hospital attendance in children aged 2 to 17 years and 30 to 40% effective in adults.

 

[UniFox21]

7 hours ago, danny. said:

 

It's always a bit of a shot in the dark isn't it, as low as 10% efficacy some years IIRC

Basically goes off of the flu in aus/Asia at the start of the year etc, but has to give time for it to be developed etc 

[Parafox]

On 09/12/2025 at 16:01, TheUltimateWinner said:

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

 

20 hours ago, FoyleFox said:

The other half is on week 4 of a chest infection, had antibiotics and steroids but it's nasty. 

Apparently, quite a few people with one of those,  too. 

I'm also on week 4 of what was diagnosed as a chest infection.

 

The first couple of days I was vomiting green stuff and was breathless any time it tried to move. I got to see a health practitioner after 2 days of trying for an appointment.

 

Antibiotics and an inhaler and that helped but I'm still coughing and short of breath on exertion. Also I have almost completely lost my voice for 3 weeks.

 

I've never known anything like this before.

 

I feel for my ambulance colleagues being under pressure from this strain of whatever it is. 

 

Edited 10 December 2025 by Parafox

[Leeds Fox]

On 09/12/2025 at 16:01, TheUltimateWinner said:

Despite having the jab, I currently have what I can only imagine is the flu

 

Knocked me for six, worse than any covid I've had in the past, anyone else unwell with it? 

Not personally but a lad at work had a ‘flu’ virus worse than he said he’d ever had before. Strongly urged him to go home when he was looking particularly rough one day and thankfully didn’t catch it.

 

A couple of the other lads want to come in whatever state they’re in (even though they’re paid regardless and it isn’t looked on negatively being ill). 
 

The ignorance to possibly passing it onto others and then subsequently their relatives, who might not be able to afford to be ill through other health issues is staggering. Really grinds me 

Edited 10 December 2025 by Leeds Fox

[FoyleFox]

13 hours ago, danny. said:

 

What symptoms do they have? My other half has what I thought the same thing I had (probably this flu) but she's no better at all after 2 weeks. Keep telling her to go to the GP but she says it's just a cold. But she's normally better from a cold after 24-48 hours.

 

3 hours ago, Parafox said:

 

I'm also on week 4 of what was diagnosed as a chest infection.

 

The first couple of days I was vomiting green stuff and was breathless any time it tried to move. I got to see a health practitioner after 2 days of trying for an appointment.

 

Antibiotics and an inhaler and that helped but I'm still coughing and short of breath on exertion. Also I have almost completely lost my voice for 3 weeks.

 

I've never known anything like this before.

 

I feel for my ambulance colleagues being under pressure from this strain of whatever it is. 

 

The first two weeks were a highly productive cough (I believe is the polite way to describe expelling so much phlegm) wheezing and crackling when breathing. The past two weeks a less productive but still terrible cough and also a lost voice and/or very hoarse.

Also, exceedingly lethargic. 

 

No flu type symptoms of nasal congestion, runny nose or aches and pains. 

[deejdeej]

Had a really bad hemiplegic migraine today, whilst at work. Vision went blurry, one side of my body went numb, mouth went numb.

 

Then once the blurriness had gone and I was driving home I had a phone call and completely lost the power of speech, like the words were coming out in slow motion but so slurred. I've had them before and even recently had an MRI scan to look for anything more sinister which thankfully came back clear. If I'd never had one before I'd be certain it was a stroke, they're scary man!

 

[danny.]

3 hours ago, deejdeej said:

Had a really bad hemiplegic migraine today, whilst at work. Vision went blurry, one side of my body went numb, mouth went numb.

 

Then once the blurriness had gone and I was driving home I had a phone call and completely lost the power of speech, like the words were coming out in slow motion but so slurred. I've had them before and even recently had an MRI scan to look for anything more sinister which thankfully came back clear. If I'd never had one before I'd be certain it was a stroke, they're scary man!

 

Sorry to hear that. They are so scary. I’ve lost one side of my vision a few times and also language a few times. Instead of slurring I just came out with random sounds, which I heard back as gibberish. Also letters and numbers just looked like shapes. Good news is you’re probably fine and it’s “just” a migraine. 

[Zear0]

3 hours ago, deejdeej said:

Had a really bad hemiplegic migraine today, whilst at work. Vision went blurry, one side of my body went numb, mouth went numb.

 

Then once the blurriness had gone and I was driving home I had a phone call and completely lost the power of speech, like the words were coming out in slow motion but so slurred. I've had them before and even recently had an MRI scan to look for anything more sinister which thankfully came back clear. If I'd never had one before I'd be certain it was a stroke, they're scary man!

 

I was hospitalised with vertical double vision, droopy eyelid and loss of sensation in my right hand for a few days last year.  Spent a week on a neurology ward and woke up one night with every back functioning as it should.  Had numerous tests for myasthenia, strokes, CT and MRI scans etc. and nothing was identified.  Same thing happened a few months ago too and the neurologist asked if I'd had any migraines recently and I remembered I had in advance of this stuff happening.  Thinks I suffer a severe migraine which causes inflammation in the nervous system causing these symptoms.  They're absolute rancid things and I met a few other people with similar symptoms to what yourself and I endured recently.  Keep a diary of things that happen as until the neurologist mentioned migraines I hadn't even considered that link.

Edited 11 December 2025 by Zear0

[VLC86]

5 hours ago, deejdeej said:

Had a really bad hemiplegic migraine today, whilst at work. Vision went blurry, one side of my body went numb, mouth went numb.

 

Then once the blurriness had gone and I was driving home I had a phone call and completely lost the power of speech, like the words were coming out in slow motion but so slurred. I've had them before and even recently had an MRI scan to look for anything more sinister which thankfully came back clear. If I'd never had one before I'd be certain it was a stroke, they're scary man!

 

I get these, not very nice at all is it.

 

Worst one was while driving on the bloody M1 in rush hour.

[Tommy G]

13 hours ago, Zear0 said:

I was hospitalised with vertical double vision, droopy eyelid and loss of sensation in my right hand for a few days last year.  Spent a week on a neurology ward and woke up one night with every back functioning as it should.  Had numerous tests for myasthenia, strokes, CT and MRI scans etc. and nothing was identified.  Same thing happened a few months ago too and the neurologist asked if I'd had any migraines recently and I remembered I had in advance of this stuff happening.  Thinks I suffer a severe migraine which causes inflammation in the nervous system causing these symptoms.  They're absolute rancid things and I met a few other people with similar symptoms to what yourself and I endured recently.  Keep a diary of things that happen as until the neurologist mentioned migraines I hadn't even considered that link.

My wife has chronic migraines - linked to hormones rather than anything else - probably have to have a hysterectomy to get rid - takes approx 10-15 sumitriptan per month 

 

It's really debilitating, the amount of things she's had to cancel over the years due to them is life changing really. 

[deejdeej]

17 hours ago, danny. said:

Sorry to hear that. They are so scary. I’ve lost one side of my vision a few times and also language a few times. Instead of slurring I just came out with random sounds, which I heard back as gibberish. Also letters and numbers just looked like shapes. Good news is you’re probably fine and it’s “just” a migraine. 

Yep, its annoying and I know all of the signs that im getting one now as I've become accustomed over the years but still scary especially when trying to communicate with people.

[deejdeej]

17 hours ago, Zear0 said:

I was hospitalised with vertical double vision, droopy eyelid and loss of sensation in my right hand for a few days last year.  Spent a week on a neurology ward and woke up one night with every back functioning as it should.  Had numerous tests for myasthenia, strokes, CT and MRI scans etc. and nothing was identified.  Same thing happened a few months ago too and the neurologist asked if I'd had any migraines recently and I remembered I had in advance of this stuff happening.  Thinks I suffer a severe migraine which causes inflammation in the nervous system causing these symptoms.  They're absolute rancid things and I met a few other people with similar symptoms to what yourself and I endured recently.  Keep a diary of things that happen as until the neurologist mentioned migraines I hadn't even considered that link.

That sounds awful! I've been keeping track of triggers especially lately but some are impossible to avoid especially in my line of work. Things like strong smelling solvents and flashing lights are the worst for mine.