Accept it as an inevitable part of treatment that could save your life
I accepted the side effects of treatment that probably saved my life
Despite experiencing tiredness and muscle weakness I considered it necessary to exercise as best as I could and to walk everyday
Exercise even when you don’t want to
It obviously impacted on my sex life but as I am 75 years of age and both my wife and I consider that this is a price worth paying. I am not as fit as I was before treatment but again I accept that this is part and parcel of the treatment. I take every opportunity to impress on men over fifty the need to have a PSA check.
Radiotherapy was straightforward. Twenty sessions over four weeks. Some tiredness and bladder issues such as urgent need to pee. Both have since improved and I exercise regularly. Treatment included two years of hormone therapy which had a variety of side effects. Impotence, insomnia and loss of muscle strength being amongst the worst. I am now off hormone therapy so time will tell. I am still up peeing two or three times during the night. I have recently experienced radiation proctitis which results in occasional bleeding when having a bowel movement . It was alarming the first time it happened but I now just accept it. I am very grateful for all that has been done for me
I had twenty sessions of radiotherapy followed by two years of hormone injections. The radiotherapy resulted in general tiredness and some peeing issues when there was a real urgency. The hormone therapy was more problematic ~ total loss of libido and impotence, insomnia, muscle weakness were the worst side effects. I have had the six monthly injections for the past two years and as my PSA has remained at 0.01 for the past year, the injections are to be discontinued. I have recently joined a gym and exercise and swim several times a week and walk at least one mile almost every day. I have seen an improvement in my level of fitness. I am still up two or more times a night to pee. My bowel movements are still regular although with a little constipation which I treat with additional roughage in my diet. I have occasional episodes of radiation proctitis which results in bleeding when I move my bowels. It was initially alarming but now I just accept it. I remain grateful for all the treatment and care I have received from the NHS
Yes
It was the only treatment appropriate to my cancer and I wished to go forward with whatever treatment was best for me
I was not given a choice. Radiotherapy and hormone therapy was the only option open to me
I feel it saved my life
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