What a year!

In late December of 2018 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. It didn't really come as a surprise as my PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level had been rising steadily - although, not all elevating PSA readings are cancerous. However, when mine reached 20, my GP decided to get me in for biopsies (Christmas eve) and the result confirmed the condition. By then the level was at 23.6 and I was given the option of prostatectomy (surgery) or hormone injections together with radiotherapy (20 sessions over 28 days) - and more injections afterward - possibly for another two years. I chose the latter.

The reason I'm telling you about this is that I was lucky, in that my cancer was diagnosed relatively early on and I had options for treatment. Some guys don't get that. Some guys are told the only route is surgery and knowing people who have taken that route (by choice or by no choice) and knowing that it had its problems - albeit they might be temporary and not affecting everyone - it was one I didn't want to go down. My reason mainly was the 'not affecting everyone' aspect meant it affected some - and I feared it would affect me. In 2015 (you can read it in my previous posts) I was given medication to cure a simply problem and I lost my sense of taste for 3 months (a rare occurrence, apparently). Then after the prostate biopsies in 2018 I was given an antibiotic which caused me to contract tendonitis (another rare occurrence - that laid me low for ten days). So, I reasoned that if incontinence was a possible side-effect of prostatectomy, then I would probably become subject to it. 

Anyway, the three-monthly hormone injections and a course of hormone tablets began very quickly to devoid my body of testosterone because (my consultant told me) it helped prostate cancer to grow. So, gradually my PSA level dropped to around 3. Then, in August, I had the 20 sessions of radiotherapy (painless and non-intrusive) which brought it down again to below 1. 

This ousting of testosterone from my body coupled with the radiotherapy, I was told would not come alone - and it didn't. My oncology nurse advised that I would experience symptoms similar to the female menopause - to which my very supportive and caring wife jested "Now, you'll know how I felt for fifteen years!" In addition to the hot flushes, loss of body hair - (not that I had much of that to begin with) and the mood swings, came loss of strength and a level of fatigue I never dreamt possible. Suddenly, even the most menial of physical tasks made me exhausted and I would fall asleep at the drop of a proverbial hat.  I was told not to beat myself up over it as it was to be expected and when it hit me I was to accept it for what it was - overwhelming tiredness - which, over time, would gradually get better.

So, here we are a year on and I'm back at the gym - not training with the weights that I used to - as I have to work myself back to those, but things are improving and hopefully my PSA reading will stay below 1 for the future. 

All of the above I have written because I would like to see guys over fifty have regular blood tests for prostate cancer. The blood test isn't perfect, but it will give a level and perhaps, more importantly, will show if that level is elevating. Like I said earlier, not all PSA readings that are rising are rising because of cancer - some may just be an enlarging prostate making itself known, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Interestingly, on the news this evening was a piece about an MRI scan test which may more accurately replace the PSA blood test. Somewhat surprisingly, I learned that not everyone who is diagnosed with PC had the usual suspects (difficulty peeing, weak flow, erectile dysfunction etc.) for symptoms. 

All I would say is: "Get it checked, Guys" - especially those of you who may have had (as I did) a father who also suffered prostate cancer.

On a lighter note, despite the tiredness I managed eventually to finish my thriller: Worlds Apart (Another life) and it's on Kindle. My next post will be about it. 

Thanks for listening.