Maya: Hi Donna, Bill has had a prostate biopsy and 3 days in hospital due to bleeding from the bladder. He has cancer of the prostate but it's early stage so is treatable. We are grateful as it could have been worse.
Donna: My dear Maya, so sorry for you two. But don't worry too much. Prostate cancers are nowadays no longer life threatening  and are curable. And you have a superb health system in ZA after all.
Donna: Anyway I do a lot of thinking about you Maya. What a pity we are so far apart!
Maya: Dearest friend, thank you for your supportive message. In 10 days' time we see our urologist and will discuss the treatment. I'm feeling very positive, but Bill not so because he is still in pain from the hospital treatment...
Donna: Poor chappie! No painkillers?
Maya: Only mild ones as he can't take anything else. He is a bleeder now that he is on blood thinning meds. Our urologist said it's his worst nightmare!
Donna: Of course being in pain is an absolute horror. Has he still a catheter?
Donna: Why is Bill taking blood thinning meds?
Maya: He has no catheter now that we are at home.
Maya: Where should I begin? In April, when Bill had a full medical, he was diagnosed as very nearly having a heart attack and 2 almost closed arteries. A stent fitted to one artery, the other arhery too small for a stent. He was put on blood thinning meds plus cholesterol plus high blood pressure pills. That's why.
Donna: Sounds a real mixture.
Maya: We are told by the heart specialist that without all these meds he has a high chance of heart attack or stroke.
Bill has prostate cancer; it's early stage and treatable. He has had a prostate biopsy and has spent 3 days in hospital due to bleeding from the bladder. He also has a heart condition and is taking blood thinning meds. Donna lives away from Maya and Bill, but she tries to be supportive.