TheSkySearchers

Partly cloudy skies gave way to clearing, so I took out the 120 for a bit this morning. Took a look at M35 and then some random scanning around. When I put the 2-speed GSO focuser on the 120, I took off the 8x50 finder. I need to put a finder back on, but will probably go with a 6x30 to save some weight.
And I sold my 90mm Mak. Proceeds will help finance a some-kind-of-frac.

I know you are going through a very difficult time at the moment Juha.

We all wish you well and hope your treatment goes to plan.

Keep us updated on your progress when you are feeling well enough to do so.

Take care.

turboscrew wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:10 pm A quick status update.
Got imflammation, and had to get back to hospital.
The inflammation is getting cured well, and the cancer treatment continues as soos as the inflammation is cure and the patient is in good enugh shape.
I haven't had enough strengh to report earlier.

Stay strong and keep fighting Juha.
We're all sending good wishes your way!

Joe

Keep fighting it all Juha, best wishes for a resolution.

Had a biopsy back in July which came back with a +ve for prostate cancer so the last while has been CT scans, Bone scans, Xrays, more CT scans and Dr visits. Oh well, up to 2018 I had rarely been ill apart from the flu. Guess it is time to play catch up.

Very different experience this time around. 2018 I had an aggresive type of leukemia and everything was happening right now! This time it is "well, get some tests, read up on options and we'll see you in a few weeks". Anyway, have caught it early and it does not appear to have spread which is a very good thing. If it spreads it is apparantly quite a different story

Treatment is either external radiation or surgery to remove it, and some nasty sounding hormone treatments - maybe. Was leaning towards one of the radiation treatments but have found that a possible side effect is the ^%$! leukemia I just got cleared of about a year back. I tell you, when I do eventually go, me and the gods are going to have a few words.

Did get approved for coverage by WCB though. They recognize 15 cancers as occupational diseases for firefighters. 13 more and I'll have the complete set

Anyway, sorry for the long ramble. Do get yourself checked out. I have been getting annual blood tests for a battery of things since my 40s. This showed up in a small uptick in my PSA levels and my GP sent me to a specialist just in case. Guys should also have the always fun 'Bend over' every few years as well.

Ha, not very astronomy oriented but the thread did ask what I've been up to lately

turboscrew wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:10 pm A quick status update.
Got imflammation, and had to get back to hospital.
The inflammation is getting cured well, and the cancer treatment continues as soos as the inflammation is cure and the patient is in good enugh shape.
I haven't had enough strengh to report earlier.

Good to hear that you continue to keep on keeping on. Best.

turboscrew wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 12:10 pm A quick status update.
Got imflammation, and had to get back to hospital.
The inflammation is getting cured well, and the cancer treatment continues as soos as the inflammation is cure and the patient is in good enugh shape.
I haven't had enough strengh to report earlier.

I can't imagine what it is like having to go through this. I wish you a quick recovery from the inflammation and a successful continuation of your treatment. Thanks for the update!

Chich wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:27 pm Did get approved for coverage by WCB though. They recognize 15 cancers as occupational diseases for firefighters. 13 more and I'll have the complete set

Anyway, sorry for the long ramble. Do get yourself checked out. I have been getting annual blood tests for a battery of things since my 40s. This showed up in a small uptick in my PSA levels and my GP sent me to a specialist just in case. Guys should also have the always fun 'Bend over' every few years as well.

Good luck with your treatment Chich, hopefully it is treatable - it sounds like it. Thanks for the advice. Personally, I am getting an annual complete physical. The times of bending over have passed, my old doctor did it but the two new ones since then simply look at the blood tests. It's good to know that these tests are actually effective. Best wishes.

Stay strong Juha and Chich, and keep us posted in your progress.

Chich wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:27 pm Had a biopsy back in July which came back with a +ve for prostate cancer so the last while has been CT scans, Bone scans, Xrays, more CT scans and Dr visits. Oh well, up to 2018 I had rarely been ill apart from the flu. Guess it is time to play catch up.

Hi Chich,
Sorry to hear this. The good news is that treatments for PC are very effective. My dad had it for many many years. He was diagnosed late and it was investigated and they diagnosed his as "inoperable." Once he was on the hormone treatment, it kept everything under control for many years, never spread or gave him any problems except for the obvious side effect.

He died of something unrelated at a ripe old age.

My brother and I have been getting tested regularly since our early 40's.

Best wishes
Joe

Chich wrote: ↑Wed Sep 07, 2022 3:27 pm Had a biopsy back in July which came back with a +ve for prostate cancer so the last while has been CT scans, Bone scans, Xrays, more CT scans and Dr visits. Oh well, up to 2018 I had rarely been ill apart from the flu. Guess it is time to play catch up.

Just got to respect that attitude,,,

Very different experience this time around. 2018 I had an aggresive type of leukemia and everything was happening right now! This time it is "well, get some tests, read up on options and we'll see you in a few weeks". Anyway, have caught it early and it does not appear to have spread which is a very good thing. If it spreads it is apparantly quite a different story

Aggressive leukemia... I think my lugn cancer is comparable, since it's aggressive, unknown variant, slightly spread an not operable. Were you scary? I am. Anyways, 1 cancer should be quite enough for one person!

Treatment is either external radiation or surgery to remove it, and some nasty sounding hormone treatments - maybe. Was leaning towards one of the radiation treatments but have found that a possible side effect is the ^%$! leukemia I just got cleared of about a year back. I tell you, when I do eventually go, me and the gods are going to have a few words.

Did get approved for coverage by WCB though. They recognize 15 cancers as occupational diseases for firefighters. 13 more and I'll have the complete set

Anyway, sorry for the long ramble. Do get yourself checked out. I have been getting annual blood tests for a battery of things since my 40s. This showed up in a small uptick in my PSA levels and my GP sent me to a specialist just in case. Guys should also have the always fun 'Bend over' every few years as well.

Ha, not very astronomy oriented but the thread did ask what I've been up to lately

Well, thisis off-topicas well. :-D

BTW: looks like the days of savng on hair cuts ha arrived,,,

Hope you start to feel better soon Juha & Chich & good luck indeed with your on-going treatment!

I just ordered an RA motor for my EQ5 for tracking - since getting into binoviewing and spending more time sharing the night sky objects with my family having some form of tracking has become more "essential". I thought I may as well take advantage of purchasing it now while we're due storms and rain well until next week anyway! :p

Packing up the car for a trip to New Jersey, ugh almost a 12 hour drive.

We normally get a sleeper compartment on Amtrak, which leaves here at 1AM and arrives before lunchtime, sleeping through most of the trip is certainly more bearable lol.

Going to visit friends and relatives and look at some real estate.

My old in-sink-erator stopped working. I got a new one, read the manual and realized that I jumped too fast - pressed a little red button underneath the bottom, used a hex wrench to rotate it by hand, et voila it works again... I should have asked here first, of course! I think I'll keep the new one.

This is the first weekend we can move again, at any other place besides the beach. This is hopefully the end of the heat wave. We finally had some nice rain last night! This of course, while my roof is being replaced and there are no shingles on it yet. The felt layer apparently worked well because it stayed dry inside the house.

EQ5 RA motor arrived this morning so I quickly installed it during my lunchtime break. Of course it's raining and cloudy now but the forecast is at least pretty good at the moment for tomorrow night.

Having to concentrate on my MSc summoning up the motivation to get on and write my last module assignment and also start thinking about a decent subject for my final project / dissertation.

Chich and Juha, I feel for you guys, I hope things progress well.

We have been on a short UK break around the Lincolnshire coast, nice days - great nature trails and clear skies, but all my gear was 100 miles away. Still, refreshed I have sorted out my presentations on Artemis 1 and the JWST today. First meeting of the season (September - April) of my Astronomy Club tonight. Expect #'s to be down as a lot still away on late hols.

Looks pretty cloudy here for the forthcoming...

Vixen SLV 25mm (used but is in absolutely immaculate condition) arrived this morning and managed a quick first light session with it for some solar viewing with the 80ED during a late lunch break. It was quite hazy so not the best conditions, but the eyepiece is really nice and very comfortable to use.

I've hit the 100 species personal milestone for species-level identifications in iNaturalist!

Most IDs are from sporadic moments of opportunity around whatever house I've been living in. Primarily iNaturalist is a social media platform that provides tools for tracking and sharing observations, but the data are made use of by various organizations concerned with biodiversity, land management, research, etc.

Had a bit of surgery today...nothing life threatening.
Had fun making the nurses laugh.
All went well.
Resting at home tonight enjoying the forum.
Got some good pain meds.

Peace to you all.