For Autoglym Aqua Wax fans - a tip, plus life advice!

[36bells]

It’s lovely now that (at last) we’re breaking out of winter and the days are warming up nicely. So today I decided that, ahead of a holiday in the van, it should receive a wash and a shine. (Nb. Our outings this summer are going to be a bit limited, and probably last minute. So nice to have the van shining! Read on, to Tip No.2). I’m a big fan of Autoglym products, including Aqua Wax. As the name suggests, it’s a wax you spray on to a wet vehicle. It’s a wonder product, making drying streak free a doddle. Except that is when it’s hot, and the vehicle dries before you’ve had chance to apply it and dry it off. To be fair, it’s a bit of a pain then, and you continue to find dots of unpolished Aqua Wax all over, until you wash it again!

So here is Tip No.1. Get a spray bottle, and fill with 80% water and 20% Aqua Wax. Even on a bone dry vehicle on a hot day, you can spray and dry with a microfibre cloth as you go without leaving a trace. The end result is just the same as neat Aqua Wax, but I guess the hygroscopic qualities won’t be as long lasting. But it’s quick! I carry a bottle with me in the van, for a mid tour spruce up if needed. I first tried a 50/50 mix but that didn’t work. 80/20 is fine, and tested in 40deg C in France. And whilst this tip will just save you wasted minutes of polishing, the next one could be a life saver.

So, to Tip No.2, and why our touring is being restricted this year. Guys - if you’re over 50 you‘d be wise to have a PSA test every once in a while (IMO). If you are over 60, you should Definitely get a PSA test regularly - in my (non medically qualified, but born out of experience) opinion. This tip might just save your life (I hope).

If anyone has concerns about either tip, feel free to DM me.

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Hey great advice for all the guys out there...

 

[Kenb17]

Thanks for the thread and I too am a fan of Autoglym products and will give your Aqua Wax tip a go.

Regarding Prostate Cancer: I am 66 and have had regular PSA tests for the last couple of years, last August it moved up a little and the GP referred under the 2 week rule. Had a MRI, result something worth looking at; Biopsies 15 of 23 showing cancer Gleason 8; CT and Bone scan to check it had not spread out of Prostate; Treatment options RT with hormone therapy or Radical Prostatectomy. Had RP in February, Histology indicated that cancer had reached edge of prostate (T3A and the sort that could be picked up by a digital rectal exam). PSA last week - now less than 0.014 ‘undetectable’.

Lessons: PSA maybe unreliable but best we have at the moment and no serious treatment would be started without further tests. DRE is also unreliable, I had 2 and both showed ‘enlarged but otherwise fine‘. Few symptoms in my case - up in the night a couple of times associated with enlarged prostate. Without the PSA I wouldn’t have been referred.

Prostate Cancer UK (brilliant resource) are running a £40m trial of MRI scanning funded by them and the NHS - until there is such a scheme I would suggest a PSA test, it is a simple blood test, and it may start a trail that will show changes and in my case the right result.

Thanks again for the post - good to talk

Ken

 

[Hawthorn37]

Thanks @Kenb17 for sharing. I also saw my GP about changes to peeing frequency and he said my prostate was a little large, but that, and the peeing frequency, was consistent with my age. ‘Nothing to be concerned about’. I asked about PSA testing, as a colleague had strongly recommended it. He cited the public health guidelines about testing, and the potential negatives for the patient, mainly unnecessary biopsies- which aren’t pleasant. As I trusted him, he convinced me not to have a test, but to ‘come back if things change’. That was three years ago. Who knows what the PSA might have been?

However now, I have an advanced tumour that is not contained. I am starting treatment, which may or may not be curative.

I attend a patient group session each month with around 70 men attending. Their stories generally mirror my own., and either a friend or their spouses pushed them to get a psa test, even though they had no specific symptoms.

So, whilst I accept most published information is against regular PSA testing, you might understand why I shared my advice. Also, when camping, like now, the age demographic tends to be people in their “silver years”. I thought that would extend to many Cali Club members. Hence the post.

 

[pchmlk]

Good luck with it all Hawthorn, my father was ‘screened’ after another relative was diagnosed and they discovered dad had prostate ca. This triggered his brother to be tested and, yup, another ca found.

I’m in healthcare and understand the screening stance but completely understand your POV and it gave my father 10 years he wouldn’t have had.

 

[Kenb17]

I am sorry to hear of your situation and I hope your treatment goes well and is indeed curative.

I think your ‘tip’ is a good one, there is little harm in getting a PSA test if all appears fine it is a first marker, if you are in your “silver years” get them annually - may need to push the GP but use the arguments that there are few symptoms and PSA is better than nothing. If a false negative then the next PSA should hopefully pick it up, in the event there were a false positive then next step is an MRI which stand down further treatment. If PSA has given a good result (as in my case) then you can get on with the follow up tests and treatment.

In short: In the absence of MRI screening PSA is all we have I would advise friends to get one done.

Best wishes
Ken

 

[18ME]

Thanks for sharing @Hawthorn37 and sorry to hear of your diagnosis and really hope the treatment is successful. You’re probably aware but there is lots of very good info on the prostate cancer UK forum.

It seems like there are a few of us here that have gone through similar, probably because as you say many Cali owners are in their as you say “Silver Years”.

My own experience with PC started in early 2021 when I was persuaded by my other half to go to the doctors with back pains, which started when we were all walking in lockdown. I was 54 at this time and hardly had any cause to see the doctors most of my life and when she said she wasn’t sure what it was but wanted me to have a PSA test. I remember saying to her that other than hearing of Prostate Cancer on TV etc I didn’t actually know what the prostate was in even what it did. Had the test and it was raised enough to go on for further tests. DRE didn’t show anything, not even enlarged and it was smooth. I then had an MRI that showed 5 on the PIRADS chart which was the highest level meaning highly likely cancer was present. Had other scans including bone scan and a biopsy. They couldn’t find anything but because of the PIRAD score the consultant said that I needed a template biopsy to make sure. Sure enough they then found the cancer, diagnosed Nov 21. My Gleason was 4 & 3 so not advanced but after seeing two different consultants from two different hospitals they both recommended radical prostatectomy. I really didn’t want to go through the operation because of the side/after affects so spoke with a consultant from the main prostate cancer hospital in London (London College?) who did offer HIFU on trial. After discussing all this with my other half I decided on the operation which I had in Feb 22.

Two years on I’m ok continence wise, which I was fairly straight away after the caphater but the other main side affect still hasn’t quite returned. The main thing though was to ensure the cancer had gone. Still having 3 monthly PSA tests which should now be every 6 months but my PSA has risen on the last 3 tests so want it checked more frequently. The specialist urology nurse said that as long as it doesn’t rise past 0.1 then they won’t even do any checks as Cheltenham hospital where I had the operation don’t go any lower than 0.1 whereas my bloods which go to Worcester hospital from my doctors go down to 0.01. I feel well but still suffer with back pain which apparently is unrelated but now grateful that I did go to the doctors when I did.

I do now say to friends and family to get checked because you never know, especially when you’ve got no symptoms. However a friend of mine who runs Supercar Society UK was complaining to others of back and abdominal pain mid last year didn’t go to see the doctors until late last year, who then diagnosed him with stage 4 bowel cancer which had spread elsewhere. He went through Chemotherapy straight away but unfortunately wasn’t affective. I went to his funeral last week

 

[Hawthorn37]

Thanks for sharing @Hawthorn37 and sorry to hear of your diagnosis and really hope the treatment is successful. You’re probably aware but there is lots of very good info on the prostate cancer UK forum.

It seems like there are a few of us here that have gone through similar, probably because as you say many Cali owners are in their as you say “Silver Years”.

My own experience with PC started in early 2021 when I was persuaded by my other half to go to the doctors with back pains, which started when we were all walking in lockdown. I was 54 at this time and hardly had any cause to see the doctors most of my life and when she said she wasn’t sure what it was but wanted me to have a PSA test. I remember saying to her that other than hearing of Prostate Cancer on TV etc I didn’t actually know what the prostate was in even what it did. Had the test and it was raised enough to go on for further tests. DRE didn’t show anything, not even enlarged and it was smooth. I then had an MRI that showed 5 on the PIRADS chart which was the highest level meaning highly likely cancer was present. Had other scans including bone scan and a biopsy. They couldn’t find anything but because of the PIRAD score the consultant said that I needed a template biopsy to make sure. Sure enough they then found the cancer, diagnosed Nov 21. My Gleason was 4 & 3 so not advanced but after seeing two different consultants from two different hospitals they both recommended radical prostatectomy. I really didn’t want to go through the operation because of the side/after affects so spoke with a consultant from the main prostate cancer hospital in London (London College?) who did offer HIFU on trial. After discussing all this with my other half I decided on the operation which I had in Feb 22.

Two years on I’m ok continence wise, which I was fairly straight away after the caphater but the other main side affect still hasn’t quite returned. The main thing though was to ensure the cancer had gone. Still having 3 monthly PSA tests which should now be every 6 months but my PSA has risen on the last 3 tests so want it checked more frequently. The specialist urology nurse said that as long as it doesn’t rise past 0.1 then they won’t even do any checks as Cheltenham hospital where I had the operation don’t go any lower than 0.1 whereas my bloods which go to Worcester hospital from my doctors go down to 0.01. I feel well but still suffer with back pain which apparently is unrelated but now grateful that I did go to the doctors when I did.

I do now say to friends and family to get checked because you never know, especially when you’ve got no symptoms. However a friend of mine who runs Supercar Society UK was complaining to others of back and abdominal pain mid last year didn’t go to see the doctors until late last year, who then diagnosed him with stage 4 bowel cancer which had spread elsewhere. He went through Chemotherapy straight away but unfortunately wasn’t affective. I went to his funeral last week

Thanks for sharing this and I’m very sorry to hear about about friends experience. As you’ve mentioned back pain, this and hip pain are apparently indications of PC. I have hip pain, which is started to seriously concern me following the PSA test, but it’s unrelated. However, it is something for men to be aware of, as PC can spread into the spine and pelvis.