Bob
Following a series of PSA tests which showed increasing levels of PSA Bob was referred onto a specialist by his GP. A subsequent biopsy revealed prostate cancer and he had a radical prostatectomy in November 2009.
Bob is a retired teacher who is now self-employed as an IT consultant. He is married with four adult children. Ethnic background is White European.
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Bob’s father died of prostate cancer in 1998 and so he was aware that he might suffer from it and so a few years ago requested that his doctor do a PSA test as part of his regular blood tests. His first PSA level was 2.3, then a year later 3.2 and then 7.1 which was then a ‘red light’ and so his doctor referred him onto a specialist. The consultant advised a biopsy under general anaesthetic, the results of which revealed prostate cancer. He was advised to have a radical prostatetectomy and was happy with this advice although carefully read up what the side effects might be, but these, incontinence and impotence, seemed a price worth paying. He uses the internet a lot, and found the US prostate support websites very useful as they felt personal and had good balanced information about what to expect. He found the UK ones to be blander and is reluctant to join a support group, fearing being regimented into some kind of prostates anonymous group.
Bob had private healthcare and had the surgery at a local hospital in November 2009. He describes the experience of coming round from the operation and how he managed the pain with paracetomol. He was surprised at the size of scar but it healed quickly. The worst part of the whole process was having a catheter in for three weeks post operation. Disappointingly his PSA score had not dropped close to zero but radiotherapy had been planned anyway. A few months later, he had radiotherapy in what he describes as a ‘gentleman’s club’ with leather armchairs and newspapers and coffee. He had a little incontinence after but that he now feels mostly in control, although he describes times when he wishes others would be more considerate. What he doesn’t feel in control about is his impotence although says that he is coping. He welcomes celebrities speaking out about their experience of prostate cancer. He advises others to have a PSA test, it’s not perfect, but it along with a digital rectal examination is better than nothing and can help make an informed decision.
Interview conducted in 2010 by Anne Montgomery