Good for you.

A few day before Phoenix Forum my dentist told me she thought I had oral cancer, and ordered me to a special doctor. I couldn't go right away because I had to go Phoenix, and the entire time I was there I was sweating it out.

Turns out I"m cancer free, thankfully.

Thanks mate. The first step is to get rid of what I have now and then change my life so I don't get it again. Yes the doctors did a fantastic job and all on the National Health scheme. :)

Yes, first Eva's accident which was a year ago and then my problem. The good thing is through it all we had each other to help us through. Eva is now running the business while I do a little from home. And running me back and forth from the hospital.

It seems a few did not know, will try to keep the news updated. A lot depends how the radiation effects me. It could be a harder time. Luckily I have every reason to stay around. :thumbsup

some good news here.Congrats :)

That's really good news Paul :)
conGratz!

all the best to you Paul:thumbsup:thumbsup

Paul, It's YOU who beat the Cancer !

There is still unknown to science why the same treatment to patients with same type of cancer in similar stages, sometimes work and sometimes don't.

Best explanation Doctors can come up with is that the patient's "Mental Attitude" plays a HUGE role in the successful treatment.

Give yourself props for that Paul, because that stubbornness of yours to concede and give up sometimes might as well saved your life !

I witnessed a similar experience with my aunt. The Doctors said 6 months. She lived 15 more years and died from a totally unrelated cause.

So keep that attitude up Paul, refuse to accept the fact that that thing can live on you and believe that you are stronger than that because you really are !

Best

Just had a chat on ICQ about what led me to think I had a problem. Long story so be warned.

When Eva had her accident I was looked after by very close friends of ours, Bailey of Sapphic Erotica and his wife who was a nurse on the Ear, Nose & Throat ward here in Brno. She was the first to notice the lump on the side of my neck and told me to get it looked at.

Had a few other things to worry about at the time and left it a few weeks. But when I did get checked out I had blood tests and ultra sound tests. The results were negative for cancer. Then got a sore throat that even anti biotics did not get rid of so insisted I went to the hospital. To be honest this was 6 months after originally seeing the doctor, had Eva to look after.

There I had further tests, doctors sticking their fingers down my throat to feel the base of my tongue and a camera down my throat. All gave a new respect for girls and gays who can do Deep Throat. :winkwink:

Still nothing showed up but the hospital doctors were suspicious and sent me for a CT scan. This came back with a very big black area that showed the cancer was advanced. I got to see it when I met the "Cancer Committee" in February this year. It revealed the primary tumor in the base of my tongue with 2 secondary tumors on the left and right side of my neck.

The atmosphere of the committee was very down and negative, however they prescribed this new experimental mixture of Chemo Therapy. Eva and I walked away devastated and thinking the Chemo was clutching at straws, plus the hospital was paid for providing guinea pigs. Eva and I spent a few days crying.

I did the first Chemo session and the results surprised everyone. They were hoping for an arrest of the cancer and it had clearly reduced the secondary tumors, so I went on fr another 2 sessions.

The moral of this story is don't give up and make sure all avenues are investigated. Thankfully I do not have he bills to pay. :)

There's life in the old dog yet then. All the best Paul.

Great news..my mother in law has beaten it twice. It gives me hope knowing people that have beaten it.

Thats awesome dude!! Keep getting better!

great news sweetie. I wish you the best!

Hi Viki, been doing some research on this and it looks possible but smoking, age and diet still seem to be the favorites to me. Will get Eva checked out for cervical cancer.

She agrees.

Thanks Scott.

Maybe a part of it is due to my nature to never back down to anything. All the specialists have said a lot of those who recover are the positive ones who never give in to it.

For those who want to be kept up to date here is the news. :winkwink:

Had my first radio therapy session today, it followed a 5 hour chemo session.

The chemo involves me sitting on what can be best described as a dentist chair and the nurses feeding into me 6 different drugs. It takes 5 hours and boring as hell, can't get reception on my laptop so read 200 pages of a paper back and had a couple of naps.

Also have to drink 3 litres plus every day so have to be disconnected every hour and a half. Embarrassing at first but the nurses take it in their stride.

Then onto the radiation therapy. It took longer today because they were programming the computer so the beam hits the same spot every session. They are targeting from 3 angles.

Boring day and I have to have radiation once a day Monday to Friday for around 6 weeks and 4 sessions of the chemo.

Looking forward to seeing if I get any after effects of the chemo. NOT!!!

Feeling good so far.

good luck

The pictures Eva took on her mobile phone of me getting radiation.

The plastic mask is to keep my head and neck in the same place and I'm clamped in position.

It's a hard plastic that was molded to my head while it was hot, and fits so snug it leaves marks on my face and shoulders. Not pleasant and should take 5 minutes, today it took 25 and I was getting a bit claustrophobic in the end. They were lining up the light on the computer so it's the same and right every time.

http://www.paulmarkham.com/temp/paul-radio2.jpg

http://www.paulmarkham.com/temp/paul-radio.jpg

Congrats Paul, I am very proud for you!

Can I ask a question please?
What if someone gets cancer and has no insurance here in the US?
Could that person even get insurance after they find out they have it?
What would you suggest would be the best route to take in this situation?
Thanks and Again.. CONGRATS!

Paul, I'm so glad you are doing better.

My unlce, lived for less then a year, after they realized he had cancer...

Excellent news.

Get well soon Paul! Great to hear that things are improving for you!

Congrats Paul, and Best of Luck to you :thumbsup

It happened to a close British friend of mine living is the UK.
He was with a big multinational who decided to cut senior staff and he lost his cover.
Between getting new covered he discovered he had prostate cancer.
All he had in the US was tests, total bill $20,000.
The estimated bill for treating the cancer was $80,000.
He lived the American dream and does not have $100,000 in the bank.

He tried to get Medicaid and was turned down.
He's late 50s, single, no dependents and out of work, even though he will find employment when the cancer is cleared.
During his nearly 30 years in the US he had full cover and paid full taxes on wages that were well into 6 figures.
No insurance company would touch him and cover the cancer.

He flew to the UK and as a British citizen had an operation to remove the tumor.
The UK specialists said it was the cheapest, best and most certain way of ridding him of the prostate cancer and the American recommendations would of not been as good.
He had radiation treatment to make double sure it was gone.
He flew back to the US to take a job and flew back to the UK for check ups and a bit of further treatment.
Total cost for this was the cost of the air flights, I think less than $5,000.

In the US he was a dead man. In the UK he was cured as every other UK citizen. It's a service with a lot less thrills and a lot less cost to all who pay, but the survival rates are far higher. Less money for a better system. And as you can see a system I believe in.

In Czech I'm covered by the CZ National Health system. Over and above my National Insurance tax it costs $1.50 a visit to the doctor or hospital. Today the hospital car park cost $20. :1orglaugh

Will cut that cost down. LOL

Sorry I posted the above wrong, it should say he was living ad working in the US. Near Silicone Valley actually. The crazy thing is his guy earns well into 6 figures a year and pays taxes, he produces wealth for the US as well as the company he works for. If he he had died that tax and profit would of been lost.

Because he slipped through the net.

Best of luck,keep staying strong man

Paul,

Don't know you but VERY glad to hear you are winning this battle and I wish you and your family all the best and continued health for many many more years.

Thanks.

Cancer is something we should all keep an eye on if we're over 45. Ignoring the growth on the side of my throat was my big mistake.

For everyone, no adverse effects from the chemo or radiation yesterday so that's good. Only problems was I could not sleep last night so maybe they fed some sort of booster into me. Been asleep most of the morning. :)

He would have been treated in the US also...with or without insurance...and with or without money. He may or may not have owed money for the cure...depending upon his financial worth...but even if he did owe money all he would have been required to do would have been to pay...at the bill.

Well he tells a different story. Maybe he could of got the treatment and ended up owing a fortune. Medicaid turned him down. The US hospital was presenting bills that were very big ad in the opinion of the UK specialist were carrying out treatment that would not of cured it as easily or cheaply as an operation.

Still think the system here in Europe is far better. Not perfect but better for less money.

For those who want to know how I'm doing the news is, bad. The chemo is kicking in and I'm very weak, the radiation is starting to effect the saliva in my mouth, also lost my appetite. Only a few days in and a long way to go. :(

It's funny to watch the commercials on American TV where they try to say how bad free healthcare is because the people in power would rather keep the greed based system we have right now.

Paul, very good to hear such good news, keep it real!!!

Very true, they are selling a lie which is nothing unusual in advertising and marketing. But this lie effects your life and health. I am very biased against the US system. 21 years ago a small hospital in O.C. California, kept my father in their ward to do tests when they should of immediately sent him by helicopter. He had heart problems, he had had open heart surgery a year earlier, and the small hospital were not equipped to treat him.

The delay could of cost him his life, it did not help. My Mother was presented with a bill for the tests, she did not pay.

The problem is when you have a health system based on profit instead of curing you can run into trouble.

Just a short update to those who are interested. Getting the chemo and radiation treatment. My mouth us really drying up and I'm having troubles eating, few things have any taste at all now and my appetite is screwed. Got my weight up to 90 kilos and I will probably lose a lot of it soon.

Friday before last I fainted and go taken to hospital where the blood tests showed a lack of potassium in my system so I had a week of 2 hour infusions to put it right.

So I'm not around much, even though today is a good one.

You probably shouldn't jinx it by saying you are winning.

Congrats on the good news :) keep on truckn'

Hang in there Paul. My boyfriend's mother went through two rounds of chemo and she reported much the same symptoms. It's not fun, but it's worthwhile. Take lots of vitamins and such. *cheers*

cool doode! great news! good for u!

Good to hear you're getting better

Good to hear Paul, fight the fucker!

Thats great to hear Paul, I wish you all the luck in the world. Sincerely.

Stuff your face with food even if it tastes nothing, keep your strength up. Just imagine it's English cooking :P

Good to hear you doing good. Not sure if you remember but we were working on some banners for you right as you were undergoing the stuff and it was just left in the air so when you get back together and feeling good, email me to continue that!

http://15dollargalleries.com/order.html (instantly delivered to my desktop)

awesome to hear

Glad to hear things are getting better! Just keep your head up - a lot is in your mind IMO.

And be sure to live your life to the fullest, being thankful for every day you get to spend here with your family and friends. :thumbsup

Will get onto it today, got a few I want done.

English cooking is great, Balti, Korma, Tandori, Sweet and sour, kebabs to mention a few. :1orglaugh

Thanks to everyone else. early here but I thing it might be another good day.

I guess it all depends on perspective, doesn't it?

If you have money, and you get cancer, do you fly to the Mayo Clinic or Prague?

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/200...ary-by-country


So there you go. Your sample set of one person with prostate cancer getting treated in the UK is leading you to believe that the UK is better suited for treating prostate cancer. In reallity, and as demonstrated by research derived from a sample size of more than 2 million, it's not true.