Hugh's Story

This survey doesn’t seem to allow for assessing multiple treatments, in my case hormone injections, tablets and radiotherapy. The radiotherapy was pretty gruelling, I live alone, travelled to hospital alone. Used train, was handy as urgency a problem. During rail strikes I had to drive an plan pee stops as best I coukd. Nice group of fellow patients at radiotherapy and we all encouraged each other, big help. At end of treatment my daughter organised family gathering and celebration butnI blew it by drinking too much and upsetting folk. It had all just caught up with me so be warned! I’m on jags and tablets for 2 years, half way through now. I get bloods every 4 weeks now and call from specialist nurse or pharmacist every 3 months when new  prescription due. , Was bloods every 2 weeks and call every month but as doing well, no side effects from, the tablets, they have relaxed timings. I have suffered fatigue but just need to listen to body and rest when required. Have lost chest hair, got mini breasts but nothing dramatic. Very active again now, walking a lot and golfing. I’m very lucky that I went to GP in April 2022 after saw PCUK video on Facebook with Stephen Fry urging folk to get checked if family history - my brother had. Inhad no symptoms, doc referred me without waiting for bloods results as DRE showed prostate hard and lumpy. PSA came back about 60. In next few weeks had biopsy, CT scan, MRI and bone scan. Saw specialist nurse for positive diagnosis results after biopsy then Oncologist in August. Cancer had spread to,seminal vesicles and probably lymph nodes. Surgery therefore not sufficient. I have been very fortunate with the joined up healthcare I have had, the speed of diagnosis and treatment and the fact that PCUK gave me a nudge. I am doing what I can to help their campaigns and encourage men to get checked.