I am 64 and was diagnosed with PC at the end of last year after having a health check through my employer in the October. My PSA came back as 10.23. I passed on the info to my GP who organised another test which came back as 8.4. As a result my case was passed on to the Urology Dept of the Royal Surrey County Hospital under the two week rule.
A couple of weeks later I was called in for an MRI scan. At the post-MRI consultation they said there was nothing abnormal but they would still have to find out why my PSA was high and I could either have a biopsy under a local anesthetic now or come back next week for one under a general. I opted for the local. It was a little uncomfortable during the procedure and afterwards for a couple of days, but nothing that would stop me having it again under a local. For the best part of a week you will be peeing blood as things heal. At this time they also did a flow test, the results of which was my urine flow was too low for Brachy.
On the 22th Dec I got the results of the biopsy in a telephone consultation. Out of the 22 samples taken 8 came back positive with a Gleason score of (3+4) 7. The doctor said I had three options prostectomy, radiotherapy or Brachytherapy which did I want to go for? I said it was rather a lot to take in right now and I would like to think about it. They said that there was no rush the make a decision at this stage and they would arrange a Brachy team Consultation.
My details were
- PSA 8.4, MRI 40cc, PIRAD 3 changes bilaterally
- Template biopsy Gleason 3+4, 8/22 cores, max length 9mm
Before the consultation the Brachy Centre sent me an information pack with booklets on PC and the various treatments, a more detailed booklet on the Brachy procedure and a DVD where 3 patients discussed their Brachy experience. Funnily enough I vaguely knew one of these people. So I made contact with him for more info.
The booklets are available for download here:
http://prostatebrachytherapycentre.com/Booklets-and-questionnaires/
I had the Brachy consultation in January where the pro and cons of Brachy treatment was discussed. there was another flow test carried and it was still too low. The nurse also carried out a digit check and said they could feel a tumour and I was Grade 2, T Stage 2A. They also did an ultrasound on my bladder and confirmed that my Prostate has enlarged into my bladder which was restricting flow. If I went for the Brachy procedure they would carry out a mini-TURP to improve my flow.
At this consultation I said I was finding it difficult to make a decision on my treatment options as I favoured Brachytherapy and my wife wanted me to have surgery. I didn’t fancy the surgery route as I was concerned about possible long term continence problems. The Brachy team were very understanding and they said I still had a few months to make a decision. After much research both on this site and elsewhere I decided on Brachy treatment but within a couple of days the uncertainty returned, was I making the right choice? After a day or so I said ‘right - Brachytherapy it is and I am not going to read any more articles on the subject of PC treatment’. On 10 February I emailed the Guildford Prostate Brachytherapy Centre with my decision.
On the 3 March I was admitted for the mini-TURP and an overnight stay. I had the surgery in the morning and came round about 11:00 with a double catheter in me. One feeding in a saline solution to flush the wound and the other to drain my bladder. I was told to drink plenty of fluid to get the colour of the contents of my catheter bag to change from Burgandy to a light rosé! The catheters came out the following afternoon after my outflow was clear. Withdrawing the catheter was uncomfortable but nothing compared to the first few pees which were like peeing glass. Before I could be discharged I had to be able to empty my bladder. After each pee they ultrasounded my bladder to to see what was left in there. I was finally discharged about 5 o’clock.
Naturally they can’t perform the Brachy treatment until your prostate has recovered from the mini-TURP which takes about 6 weeks. Once the post catheter soreness had worn off I found I was peeing like a 20 year old again! There was the occasional shock to begin with when after days of clear urine you suddenly find yourself peeing blood again for a couple of pees as the scab comes off, then it all returns to normal.
After about 4 weeks I had a further consultation to discuss the procedure in detail, sign the paperwork and another flow test. The nurse said my flow test result will probably the best she sees all day!
On the morning of 14 May I was admitted for the Brachy treatment under a general. All told this procedure took about 3 hours and this includes a CT scan to ensure the 92 seeds are in the correct place. Once again you wake up with a catheter in (a single this time) and after the CT scan you are placed on a short stay ward.
My catheter was removed at midnight and once again they had to make sure I was voiding my bladder before discharge. This time there was no discomfort peeing.I was released a 08:00 the following day.
Once back home there were no issues until 3 weeks later when I felt a tender area on the left hand side of my groin. I rang the clinic and the nurse said this was due to the prostate getting inflamed by the radiation. She said as you can’t feel your prostate prostate irritation can manifest itself anywhere in the area around it. Sometimes the tip of the penis. She said just take 400 mg of Ibubrofen 3 times day for a month. This I did and have had no further problems.
The only other side effect I've noticed is that my stools are a lot softer and I have to go to the loo within an hour of getting up in the morning.
Last Friday I had my first post procedure PSA test which came back as 1.73. I will have 3 further PSA tests this year and 2 a year for the next 4 years.
I hope my experience helps someone.
Edited by member 06 Aug 2021 at 17:34
| Reason: Correct typos and add info.