West Kent News - Issue 12 - Flipbook - Page 28
ISSUE NO.12 SPRING 2024 | WEST KENT NEWS 28
PASTORAL
CARE TEAM
(PCT)
LOSING THE POUNDS AND KILOS
ONE FOR THE DIARY
As this issue of WKN goes to press we have
reached the tenth week of this year9s Weight
Loss Initiative and the weight is pouring off!
The
Care
Team
have
pencilled-in 29th June for the
PSA test session this year, the
venue will be Dartford and as
soon as the details are all
worked out we will circulate
further information.
44 participants have stayed the course and
over the first nine weeks have shed a
cumulative 163 kgs, that9s 360 lb in old
money; a very commendable feat. George
has set weekly challenges to beat his
suggested cumulative weight loss. Week 109s
challenge is set at 375lb, the indications are
it may well be broken. As at previous events,
partners were invited to join and this year the
wives of four Brethren have taken up the
challenge.
The session was launched with a
motivational Zoom 8conference9 and the
WhatsApp group has enabled the sharing of
successes, failures and tips, with virtually all
of the participants contributing on a regular
basis.
By the time you read this the 2024 effort will
be over but, if there is sufficient interest, the
project will be repeated in 925.
The Team is much indebted to George
Buckberry for running the scheme and
producing the statistics.
PROSTATE
CANCER
YOUR LOVE LIFE
&
Prostate cancer treatments
can affect your love life. Some
treatments can affect the
levels of hormones needed
and others damage the nerves
that support full function.
Colin Wright - Apart from
those that have experienced it,
nobody knows what it's like to
sit and be told quite coldly 'you
have prostate cancer'. There
is no way that it can be put
into calm, acceptable words,
no matter how sensible and
stable you might be.
However, rarely is thought
given to the wife/partner and
the effects on their lives.
They have to cope with
learning to live with cancer
and its treatment for the
patient.
In addition, the impact on your
personal life is also rarely
discussed.
The graph demonstrates the impact of the early stages of dieting, with the
losses gradually tailing off as participants near their goals
No matter what age, there is always the
potential that your love life might be
affected, and of course, that impacts
your partner as well.
How many prostate cancer sufferers
have you heard talk openly about the
downside of prostate treatment? It is the
fact that a very important part of
marriages and partnerships can come to
an end, and there is a feeling of intense
guilt towards the partner.
Men who discover an inability to engage
in normal marital activity will be mentally
affected to some degree. Feeling a loss
of manhood and masculinity.
As one who has suffered the downside
of radical prostate treatment for 20
years, the plus side is that I am still
alive. Modern surgical treatment has
greatly reduced the 'downside' of
prostate procedures, so when advised
to undergo surgery, go for it, as the
alternative could be death.
Make sure
you talk it through at length with your
surgeon. Have a list of questions ready.
Call the pastoral care team who could
put you in touch confidentially with
someone who has 'been there'.
Treatments for sexual problems
There are different treatments available
to help you manage. Talk through your
options with a doctor or specialist. Ask
them to refer you to an Erectile
Dysfunction Clinic if they are not able to
give you this specialist advice.
Counselling and therapy
Talking to your partner about your
difficulties can help. Or it may help to
talk to a close friend if you are not in a
relationship.