Good news of a sort; Lightening can strike twice in the same place but it isn’t necessarily fatal:
Earlier this year my partner was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. It was moderately aggressive on the Gibson Scale, he required treatment immediately and his options were few. In fact he was given two options: radiotherapy and hormone treatment or a radical robotic prostatectomy. We chose the latter, he had surgery immediately and he has been given a very clean bill of health with the usual checks going forward. His treatment at Guy’s Hospital was exemplary. About 18 months ago I had my first routine PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. The reading was 4.5 but my G.P. gave me a digital (that is the gloved finger, not a high tech probe) examination, whereupon he confirmed that the gland was smooth and only slightly enlarged; in his opinion it was probably just inflammation and we should just keep an eye on things for the time being....
A few weeks ago I had another PSA test with a score of 5. My G.P. suggested the same course of action but, in the light of Chris' recent experience, I told him that I wished to be referred to Guy's Hospital at London Bridge. Within days everything was in place and appointments were scheduled. I was given an MRI scan at my first appointment and a potential date for biopsies was scheduled for six days later, on the understanding that if the MRI results were clear the biopsies would be cancelled. However, within three days, I received confirmation that the biopsies would need to be harvested. I was awake throughout the entire procedure and it was totally painless. An appointment was made for a few days later, where I received the results. Twenty-four biopsies were taken, out of which seven contained Cancer cells of 3+3 on the Gibson scale ranging from .5mm to 3mm in size. Whilst the grade of the cancer is cause for optimism, the volume of positive biopsies gave them some small concern.
This all presented me with a great deal more choice than my partner had been given at the time of his diagnosis. Almost every option was made available to me: Direct Beam Radio Therapy, Radio Therapy with Hormones, Brachytherapy (radioactive seeds), Brachytherapy with Hormones, Radical Robotic Prostatectomy or Active Surveillance. I was armed with all the information I needed on the statistics and side effects of all the treatments. The upshot is that they are all effective. Apart from the potential side effects of Radiotherapy the main issue for me is that, with this particular therapy, if the Cancer should recur later in life (remember I am still only a baby of 62years) surgery is more difficult. The same applies to Brachytherapy. However, if they could have confirmed that my willy would glow in the dark after the irradiation thereby lighting my way to the loo in the middle of the night or, more importantly just helping me find the darn thing, I might have considered it as an option for treatment. However, my initial reaction was and to some extent still is that I want the cancer gone/removed. At the time I was erring towards Prostatectomy and I felt that my doctors were guiding me in that direction. I asked for treatment by the same wonderful surgeon who operated on Chris and he entered into the conversation at this stage. He would have agreed to carrying out the surgery but he looked at my results and asked me to think again. He advised that if this was his prostate with these results, he would be opting for Active Surveillance adding that it could remain as it is for twenty years without change. Active Surveillance means having PSA tests every six months with MRI scans every one and a half years and biopsies if necessary. I took his advice based on his experience and his conviction that it would be the correct thing to do.
I'm still nervous. I wake up knowing that I've got Cancer but at least I have more than a little perspective after my consultations with the experts. I am assured that if I wish to have the Brachytherapy or a Prostatectomy sooner rather than later, they will not stand in my way. So for now, all my options are open and I am in expert hands. In fact, I feel so good that I removed all the plaster from the walls of our second bedroom, prior to redecoration. We are both looking to the future and enjoying ourselves.
I posted this on Facebook because I have a great many friends who are either men over 50yrs or who have male partners over 50yrs. I want them all, unless they have already done so, to insist that their G.Ps. prescribe a PSA test ASAP, with the relevant followup action as required. Lightening struck twice in our home. We are both ok and we are going to continue to be ok but it might have been a different story.
So, here’s my problem: I’m trying to be optimistic and retain perspective and humour but I’m scared. I’m not psychologically designed for active surveillance. I wake every morning knowing I have cancer and, even with the very positive outcome my partner has thus far experienced, this unwelcome visitor in our lives is casting a cloud. I’d be grateful for any perspective on active surveillance.
Edited by member 12 Sep 2018 at 15:52
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