So, I have Cancer.

[Alan Paterson]

Tony,

I'm embarrassed to say that today is the first time I've read of your problem (rather a small word for it). I know you're a brave guy and I hope it all works out for you.

Kind regards

Alan

[andydclements]

Kimbers, along with the rest here you have my thoughts and sympathies (I'm feeling your pain just by thinking about this).

Now to the less serious bit.

On a positive, if you are a Doctor you can read about it...with pictures (yes they took lots of pics of my willy) in upcoming journals to let doctors know what to look for...I had to sign a document saying it was ok....

These modern camera lenses are great, they must be to enlarge it enough to print.

[martynv]

Good luck with the treatment Kimbers I hope it all goes well and I wish you a speedy recovery. I'm sure there's plenty more hoons left in the old dog yet.

Best Wishes

Martyn.

[madmezza]

Wow... I come back to the forum after 5 years and see this thread! It's been a while since we spoke Kimbers. Really sorry to hear about what you've been going through. Thoughts are with you mate, and all the very best for the treatment.

Rich

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

Sorry to hear you news Kimbers, good luck with the op, thinking of you!

[richardvg]

I must say ....this is the first i have seen this thread (so much for my detection skills)

One sits back and thinks how bad this horrible disease is and wonders why ,if there is a man up there ,does he persist on doing this to good people ?

For us here on the forum ,we get to know people and their persona's far better than most of the internet "avatars"

To give one or two examples,Buddsy from Norfolk is the type of person that made UK ,Molemot is good old school traveller and then we get you ....Kimbers .Probably one of the most knowledgeable and respected ,level headed and a good in depth knowledge of the product we all commonly have a passion for.

This passion links us and grounds all of us hence our ability to be ourselves here.

I digress as usual .....what i am attempting to say to you Kimbers ,is that going through this traumatic ordeal ,you have shared the intimate details with characters and people you have over time ,learnt to trust.

With this information at hand and your operation imminent ,there will be support from the doctors and perhaps social workers .

It is important for you and the good wife to know that HERE is one of your most important support groups.....and i do believe i speak for all the regulars .

So when you are feeling down in the dumps or wish to express yourself ,do not even hesitate as to whether or not you should mention something ....JUST GO FOR IT.

Strength !

[Iconic Ride]

There's not much I can add to what's already been said, Tony. Sometimes life just throws you a curveball out of the blue, and they take away your bat before you even get to take a swing. Appeals to the umpire fall on deaf ears, and the call stands. You think it unfair. You played by the rules, gave the game your best shot, and still the fickle finger finds you and sends you to the dugout to try and make sense of it all. And that's when you have to dig deep, and tell yourself that you've had a hell of a good season to this point.

By all accounts you have a great family, one that you had a direct hand in creating and nurturing. They're still there, rooting for you, as we all are. Take comfort in that knowledge. May your recovery be swift and your adaptation to new circumstances a positive one.

All the best,

John

[GavinT]

Best wishes kimbers.

[obione]

I missed this thread until just now - really sorry to hear your news KImbers. Fingers crossed for you and hope it goes well

[islandbloke]

Hope it all pans out well for you Kimbers. Getting older is a miserable bloody task - when I was younger I could pee over the garden shed...nowadays I just drain (slowly).

I've had regular examinations though because my old man had prostrate cancer once (and survived) and I've had a PSA test or two. Last time the doctor (a dour Scotsman) gloved up I asked him if he could nibble my ear first to get me warmed up...he didn't see the funny side!

[rudolphwolven]

Very, very sorry to hear this, Kimbers.

Try to remain positive and be prepared for a good outcome.

I wish you much emotional strength and cross my fingers for a good recovery and healing.

All the best to you and your relatives.

Regards,

Ruud

[BC007]

Hi Kimbers,

Just caught up with this thread. Sorry to hear about your illness. Much respect for being so open on what is such a personal issue and for encouraging others to keep a check on their health.

Stay positive and wish you a full and speedy recovery.

All the best.

Brendan

[Newts]

A few weeKs ago I noticed one of the twins was larger than normal, as a direct result of your post Kimbers I went to the doctor, which resulted in a scan at the hospital. Outcome is a build up of fluid which is quite common, but thanks for the inspiration because I would probably not have got it looked at and worried about it for ages.

[Andrew C]

Stay positive, Kimbers

Regards Andrew

[esp88]

Good luck Tony and I hope it all goes well

Yasuo

[Kimbers]

I am heartened (even in my hungover state due to drowning my sorrows over the Football) that so many people have been reached by what I have said.

We all know about Testicular cancer but sometimes its the rarer ones that can get you because you don't know what you are looking for. Apparantly theres a huge probability that my Cancer comes from an infection or something I picked up many years ago. But because the itching was treatable with Canestan I thought it was fine. However because I didn't get it treated properly it developed into firstly abnormal cells and lastly into Cancer in form of a Carcinoma.

If you want to read about it then by all means do: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002267/

So the long and short (it will definately be shorter ) is that I am discussing this with the specialist on 12th July. I appreciate all your kind words and sympathies but its not why I mentioned this. I will let you all know how things go.

[jonwat]

May your god go with you & look over you.

[Kimbers]

*************UPDATE*************

So I thought Critical Illness cover was a good idea when I took out the Mortgage. My wife said I should claim, I mean, after all, I've been paying for it for 20 years and Cancer is covered according to the documents........

Only its not. Heres a little hint. If you are going to get a critical illness don't make it a form of Skin Cancer because skin cancer is excluded. Why? I asked. Because much of the time its self inflicted and can be avoided? Bit like getting lung cancer by being a smoker. Also they are "Easily treatable" and not considered life threatening.....even though the treatment has not worked and it has to be removed or I can die?....Yes.

But I'm not a nudist and its not self inflicted, I argued. But its excluded so tough....oh, unless its spread and is terminal. Then we'll pay out on skin cancer. But then, I argued, it would be a life claim, not critical illness.

What a load of arse!

BTW I just checked on my Holiday insurance and it excludes me claiming for Skin Cancer treatment because its a "Critical Illness with life threatening results".........So they want it both ways even though they contracdict each other. Jeez!

[arbell9]

I think this link is a bit more specific tony.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0032823/

[Kimbers]

Thanks mate. Thats really interesting. I knew most of it but theres some good information there.

[madmezza]

I'm not sure if we're allowed to swear (I mean properly) in here, but that's is properly "not good" about the insurance. I'm gonna leave it there before I get arrested. Grrrrrr!

Best wishes mate.

[Al]

Tony, I have been following thread very closely from the get go and wondering about a PM, as although we have never met I feel I somehow know you like many will through posts and other PM's. Nothing I can say to add to any of this that I can think off that is even remotely humourous or witty, so just - All the best with your fight and thinking about you. You have great family behind you.

I work in a very male orientated industry and we get lots of advice about testicular cancer (& I had a fright with lumps some years ago) but this was a first for me and I am sure many others. On that basis I have asked the Medics on board to raise it as one of our quarterly topics for pushing on board during weekly safety meetings We have a captive audience of 180+ males at any time.

On the insurance note I see an article in the Daily Wail today in Money Section taking about these insurance policy deals. Another get out clause contained in some policies small print (this one was Scottish Provident) who would only pay out for terminal cancer for 1 year. So despite everybody agreeing this guy was terminal the pay out was limited yet he'd paid a fortune over years. Disgusting.

Chin up and good luck mate.

[ramjet]

Kimbers, I'd be getting legal advice on the insurance thing. That's crap. Plain and simple.

[shawty_82]

Only just got up to speed with this thread!best wishes to you kimbers for your recovery,I hope the next phase of your treatment is successful.restec-p to you for manning up and talking about it,and for raising awareness of the subject

[Kimbers]

Thanks Al for your kind words and even more so for mentioning this to your "Captive Audience"

Some things to consider:

1. When you see a blemish on your Penis, or a raised section of skin or a white bit don't leave it. My specialist said that abnormal skin cells in that area have an 80% chance of developing into Cancer.

2. My doctor gave me all sorts of treatments before he decided to refer me. If you're not happy ask for a referral. Things to watch for are the things in 1, irritated or itchy skin inder the foreskin or on the penis, discharge or dry skin or anything that looks different to normal.

3. The specialist told me that he'd just lost another case who was 47 yrs old. He didn't get it treated and even a Penectomy didn't save him.

Thanks Tim and Michael and everyone elses advice and kind words.