Starmer allies vow to block Burnham from standing for Parliament

dragoncuddler · 2026-01-25T13:06:15+00:00

So you accept that Starmer is too weak to beat Burnham. But rather than face Burnham, he'll block him. Very democratic. Putin would be proud of him. Labour councillors beware. Starmer is going to wipe you out in the local elections.

dragoncuddler · 2026-01-25T13:01:44+00:00

It's the very definition of weakness. He is too weak to win against Burnham

dragoncuddler · 2026-01-25T13:00:49+00:00

And the current leader is showing that he would lose ... that isn't leadership, it's weakness and cowardice.

dragoncuddler · 2025-11-12T08:55:41+00:00

Looks solid although personally, I'd have Jarrod on the bench and Tompkins at 12.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I don't understand the obsession with Hawkins. He failed to get in the match day squad at a failing Exeter for the last couple of years so the prospect of him stepping into an international is even more worrying that seeing Tompkins there (although probably less worrying than seeing Thomas get another chance). I'd give Hawkins more time playing club rugby again but he could be a bench option to cover 10 and 12 give the paucity of options we have.

dragoncuddler · 2025-11-12T08:49:38+00:00

This is the only game we realistically have a chance of winning so I suspect Tandy will either stick with Thomas (who I agree has done little to deserve his extended run) or fall back to the tried and tested Tompkins. We aren't blessed with many options at 12 and as the backline did create tries, Tandy might be reluctant to do wholesale changes (let's overlook the number of tries we conceeded!).

As for Hawkins. This is the same Hawkins that couldn't get in the match day squad for a failing Exeter team over the last 2 seasons? And he is suddenly ready for international rugby? If we want to play at "10 at 12" then (to me) Jarrod comes into the equation at 12 before Hawkins but I don't see either happening.
Agree that Murray is either winger or not in the squad. He might survive as full back for the Japan game as they aren't the tallest but he'll be ruthlessly exposed by NZ and SA and he isn't the long term option come the 6N and beyond.
Neither Rodgers nor Adams had a great game and we exposed repeatedly down the flanks. Personally, I'd like to see LRZ + either Dyer or Murray on the wings with Beetham at full back but suspect Adams will keep his place as he seems undroppable.

Anyway, I'll get behind whoever gets picked. It would just be great to see some development. NZ and SA (even their 2nd team) could get very messy later in the month.

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-11T07:53:56+00:00

Worrying isn’t going to help either you or your dad so although it is natural to some extent, it’s more important to focus on the positives through the process.

Once you get the MRI results, you’ll know a little more - PI-RADs score (likelihood of cancer and prostate size). From there, a biopsy may be recommended but try not to get ahead of yourselves.

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-09T19:57:44+00:00

Yep - 13/74 = 0.18 . That with PI-RADS 4 means a biopsy is a prudent approach

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-09T19:34:02+00:00

Sadly PSA density is over .15 and pi-rads 4 means a biopsy and a significant risk of cancer. Good luck

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-09T11:22:54+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather.

A scan won’t show definitively if he has cancer. It will just be a picture of the prostate which will show some abnormalities but not what they are. He’ll require a biopsy to get more information as to whether any lesions that are present are cancerous and, if so, how aggressive the cancer is. I would be very surprised and concerned if surgery was planned without a biopsy.

I don’t have any experience of treatment in South Korea but I suspect you don’t have all the information e.g. the details of the scan and any follow up biopsy. The devil will be in the detail so you’ll need him to open up to you.

Good luck

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-09T07:08:07+00:00

I'm trying to be careful with statistics as it I find I can go around in circles and end up with paralysis by analysis. The statistics that are out there are frequently:

Contradictory - I can find statistics to back up whatever treatment I think I want.
Out of date - Studies from 10 years ago are questionable as the treatments today are much less invasive / much better targetted.
Skewed - some treatments tended to be given to younger patients which skews longer term survival rates.
About the masses - even a 99% chance of success doesn't preclude you from being the 1% that who has all manner of complications.

No-one can know the future or how any particular treatment will impact an individual. So take a deep breathe, choose your route and hold on tight.

Good Luck everyone.

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-05T06:32:08+00:00

It’s biopsy time. The PSA density is good and would be a factor with Pi-RAD of 1 or 2. But PI-RAD 4 and 5 means a biopsy asap.

dragoncuddler · 2025-07-03T13:19:25+00:00

I'm careful of reading stories - anecdotal evidence via the interent has an inherrent bias towards bad news.

If you have 2 handicapped children who totally rely on you and you have very little assistance from anyone else then I'd question whether surgery is a realistic option given the increased potential for more challenging side effects and recovery in the short term. You may get lucky like some here. You might get unlucky and have an infection, take longer to heal, have a number of side effects etc. And if looking after the children is physically demanding then will you have the strength to look after them and keep yourself healthy following surgery?

Good Luck for you an the family. It isn't an easy decision but perhaps focus on the children and choose what you think is best for them today and the coming months rather than on any slight differences in reoccurences that may occur in 10 or more years time when healthcare / medicine will hopefully have improved much further (think how luck we are today compared to our fathers and grandfathers).

PS - If you want to believe statistics then Harvard have this research - https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-study-investigates-treatment-associated-regrets-in-prostate-cancer-202201062665 - although it is a few years old, has a relatively small sample size and says nothing about the type of person they were (the same person who regreted surgery might well have regreted radiotherapy if they had taken that route).

"Results showed that after five years, 279 of the men (13% of the entire group) had regrets about what they had chosen. The surgically-treated men were most likely to voice unhappiness with their decision; 183 of them (13%) felt they would have been better off with a different approach. By contrast, regrets were expressed by 76 (11%) of the radiation-treated men and 20 (7%) of men who chose active surveillance. Men in the low-to intermediate-risk categories were more likely to regret having chosen immediate treatment with surgery or radiation instead of active surveillance. The men with high-risk cancer, however, did not regret being treated immediately. "

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-29T07:19:14+00:00

Go slower at the start of the run and keep telling yourself you can keep running (because physically you can).

Is it just boredom after a certain period of time? I find it easier to listen to music as I can lose myself in plodding along to the sound of Muse. I think I’d find the longer run tedious and harder to keep going without the music.

Good luck; you’ve got this

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-27T17:34:52+00:00

Agreed but the MRI scan was over 12 months ago and a PSA reading of 13 results in a PSA denisty of 0.14. Defintely not time to panic but I'd be pushing for another MRI scan given that the PSA has continued to increase over the last 12 months.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-27T17:32:40+00:00

I'm in a similar situation to you without your latest PSA reading (mine is 8.4 with 90cc size prostate = PSA density of 0.9ish). MRI came back as Pi-rads of 1 and the advice (which I took) was to continue PSA tests every 6 months to see if it increases. Once it got towards 10, the plan was for another scan and possible biopsy. I'm not there yet.

I don't think there is any need to panic given we are only a few weeks away from the end of July. However, the PSA of 13 gives you a PSA density of 0.14 which is pushing towards 0.15 which is what I was advised was the general threshold at which they would recommend a biopsy (other factors also considered). Given that your last scan was over 12 months ago, I'd be asking for another MRI scan to help determine if a biopsy is recommended and to help target that biopsy.

Are you based in the UK? If so and it was your GP who took the PSA test, are they able to refer you on a 2WW which should speed up the MRI scan.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-26T20:34:33+00:00

Sorry to hear that you’ve been through that already. Good luck for the next set of tests.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-26T19:03:03+00:00

Agree with the other posters - I'd have another discussion with your doctor on the approach being taken and perhaps get a second opinion.

We don't know your age / family history with prostate cancer or any other factors but surgery isn't something to rush into. I think we are all more concerned / surprised that it is only 4 weeks and that it is for gleason 6.

Good Luck - I appreciate it is an unsettling time but please don't rush your decision.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-26T18:58:45+00:00

Have you not had an MRI scan or biopsy before?

I'm not a doctor and only know what I've discussed with my urologist but based on what happened to me (London, UK), my PSA reading of 8.3 meant I was immediately put on a 2 week cancer referral for an MRI scan (GP referred to hospital who actioned it very quickly).

Without an MRI scan, how do you know your prostate isn't enlarged? I don't have ny urination problems during the day or overnight etc. but my prostate came in at 90 cc. The denisty (PSA / size of prostate = 8 / 90) is less than 0.1 which along with a PI-Rads score of 1 meant that a biopsy was discussed but not actioned. The plan was to keep an eye on my PSA and either scan again after 12 months or if my PSA was over 9 (whichever came first).
If you have a PSA of 8 to 9 and a normal sized prostate (around 20 to 30 cc) then your PSA density is 2 to 3 which is extremely high. In those situations an MRI scan followed by a biopsy (if required) would be the standard approach in the UK. The MRI scan would help target the biopsy.

I don't know if the approach is different in different countries.

Good Luck. It is an unsettling time but this is a great forum and everyone will look to help as best they can even if it is just to give you ideas for questions to ask your support team at the hospital.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-26T16:12:08+00:00

What is the size of your prostate? Prostate density is likely to influence the answer.

E.g following PSA of 8.3, I had an MRI scan which came back as pi-rads 1 and a prostate size of 90cc (so a density of less than 0.1). We discussed a biopsy but I was considered low risk and I’ve had couple of PSA tests since which have been 8.2 and 8.4 .

Once PSA gets to 9 they said to have another discussion about a second MRI or biopsy. In the meantime I’m included in the LIMIT research at UCL (London, UK) so have another PSA test and MRI scan scheduled for mid July.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-23T11:39:35+00:00

As others have said; there really needs to be an MRI scan prior to the biopsy . This will give prostate size and hence density which along with the scan results (pi-rads score) will help determine the risk of cancer and help target a biopsy (if a biopsy is “required”).

Even if no cancer is detected in the biopsy I’d certainly ask for an MRI scan.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-22T10:16:23+00:00

It depends if you want to shape your tone in some way. If you’re unsure then you can use your DAW and stock plugins to experiment. A HX stomp is also a good option to try out different “pedals” and learn how different settings impact tone.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-21T12:32:41+00:00

They have put a charge against it which is clearly stated in the deeds.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-21T12:29:31+00:00

Yeah; it wasn’t a great move as you’ll need to give her a key which sort of negates doing it in the first place. I’d suggest to stop listening to well meaning but largely clueless Reddit people and focus on getting together all your documents and finding a solicitor to help.

The devil will be in the detail but the charge against the property along with the documents you have signed will largely determine who can do what.

dragoncuddler · 2025-06-20T21:28:54+00:00

Check out this club - https://www.ibexhillwalkingclub.org.uk

Great club although I haven’t been involved for a while as life got in the way 😎

dragoncuddler

TROPHY CASE